02/04/2011

Available for over a year

Steve Richards of The Independent looks behind the scenes at Westminster. Education Secretary Michael Gove was roundly attacked in the commons this week by his opposite number Andy Burnham, for being more of a journalist than a minister. Does he deserve the criticism? Former Conservative Education Secretary Kenneth Baker and Labour MP Pat Glass fill in his report card. The Liberal Democrats are the junior partner in the coalition but on economic policy they appear to carry weight. Have they more clout than we think? Michael Fallon is a deputy chairman of the Conservative party and John Thurso a Liberal Democrat member of the Commons Treasury Select Committee. How do they see it? Labour is constantly accused of not being specific about its economic plans. But at what stage in the electoral cycle should they show their hand? Gavin Kelly of the think tank the Resolution Foundation and formerly an adviser to Gordon Brown, discusses this with Matthew Hancock a Conservative MP who worked for George Osborne until May last year. And fixed term parliaments: Former Speaker Baroness Boothroyd explains the problems this would throw up the role of the speaker. The Editor was Marie Jessel.