Big Ben, London
Dean Kilpatrick, Reporter
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
9:37 AM
Julian Brazier, Tracey Crouch, Gareth Johnson and Adam Holloway vote against government
Four Conservative Kent MPs rebelled against the proposed House of Lords reforms in parliament yesterday.
Canterbury MP Julian Brazier, Chatham and Aylesford MP Tracey Crouch, Dartford MP Gareth Johnson and Gravesham MP Adam Holloway all voted against the coalitions plans to make the Lords an elected chamber.
However, despite the biggest rebellion the coalition has seen since its formation, the principle of the proposed reforms passed through parliament.
Dartford MP Gareth Johnson told the House of Commons that they should “abolish it at our peril”.
He added: “I feel bitterly disappointed that I shall be voting against my party - sick to the pit of my stomach, in fact.
“But I shall leave this chamber with my head held high (and) able to look myself in the mirror.
“The House of Lords works; it has stood the test of time.”
Bromley MP Bob Neill also voted against the proposals.
Other Kent MPs backed the motion though, including Thanet MP Laura Sandys who insisted Lords reformed was urgently needed.
She said: “This is not a Liberal Democrat Bill - restoring power to the people is at the heart of Conservatism. In this Parliament we have already introduced legislation for elected police commissioners and have promoted city mayors.
“It is absurd to criticise the EU’s lack of democratic mandate but to turn a blind eye to the 825 members who sit on the red benches as a result of some form of patronage.
“Reform is an essential component of strengthening Parliament in the face of a stronger executive. With greater resources and more activism in the House of Lords, both chambers will have an increased capacity to hold Government to account.”
Despite the principle motion being passed, the government decided to drop the vote which would have set out a timetable for the Lords Reform Bill.
Source: www.kentnews.co.uk
Two journalists held in payments probe - The Independent
Justin Penrose, crime correspondent of the Sunday Mirror, and Tom Savage, deputy news editor of the Daily Star Sunday, were the latest to be held.
They are being questioned at separate police stations on suspicion of conspiracy to corrupt and of conspiracy to cause misconduct in a public office.
Scotland Yard said: "Today's arrests relate to suspected payments to a public official and are not about seeking journalists to reveal confidential sources in relation to information that has been obtained legitimately."
The latest arrests mean 41 people have been arrested by detectives on Operation Elveden, the investigation into suspected corrupt payments to public officials.
It is being run alongside Operation Weeting, the Scotland Yard probe into phone hacking.
A Yard spokesman said: "A 37-year-old man was arrested at his home in Kent and a 34-year-old man at his home in south-east London at approximately 6am on suspicion of conspiracy to corrupt (contrary to the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906) and of conspiracy to cause misconduct in a public office (contrary to common law).
"The two, both journalists, are being questioned at police stations in Kent and south-east London."
Trinity Mirror said Sunday Mirror reporter Justin Penrose had been arrested.
A spokesman said: "We have been informed by the police that Justin Penrose was arrested this morning on suspicion of alleged payments to public officials. We are co-operating fully with the police."
Mr Penrose has worked for the Sunday Mirror since 2004, and was made crime correspondent in 2006.
In evidence to the Leveson Inquiry into press ethics, Mr Penrose said the newspaper never paid police for stories.
In a written statement, addressing the question of what ethical issues need to be held in mind by a journalist communicating with the police, he said: "The main ethical issue is that we never pay police officers for stories or seek to put the police in a position where they feel that they should provide information to us in exchange for anything that they consider that they are getting from us."
He also warned that there was a "climate of fear" stopping officers talking to the Press.
He wrote: "I believe that officers should be allowed to speak to the Press about their cases without the fear that they are going to be accused of corruption. At the moment there is a climate of fear in which officers are too scared to talk to the Press."
A spokesman for Express Newspapers, publisher of the Daily Star Sunday, said: "We can confirm that one of our reporters was arrested this morning as part of Operation Elveden and we are working closely with the authorities in relation to this matter."
Trinity Mirror said officers searched Mr Penrose's desk this morning and took away "various items", including his computer.
A spokesman said: "Following a prearranged meeting at 11am, the police now have in their possession various items from Justin Penrose's desk, including his computer.
"There is no further comment to make at this stage."
PA
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Kent spinner James Tredwell helps England to ODI series win over Australia - Kent Online
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by Alex Hoad
Kent spinner James Tredwell produced a fine display to help England complete a one-day series whitewash of Australia on Tuesday night.
Tredwell was called into the side for the seven-wicket stroll against the tourists at Old Trafford in place of Tim Bresnan (sore elbow), having been initially brought into the squad in place of Graeme Swann, who was rested.
The rain-shortened victory completed a 4-0 series win, with the third ODI at Edgbaston having been washed out.
After England won the toss, Tredwell trapped opener David Warner LBW with just his fourth delivery for his first international wicket on home soil.
He then superbly broke the stumps to run-out Peter Forrest from Samit Patel's throw before Matthew Wade was stumped by Craig Kieswetter off a Tredwell delivery which turned viciously.
Those three wickets arrived for the addition of just six runs in a 27-ball spell.
The 30-year-old's off-spin then put the squeeze on the visitors in the middle of their innings and he eventually finished with 2-23 off seven overs, which included a maiden, one of just two on the day.
Australia's total of 145-7 off 32 overs was easily surpassed by England with Alistair Cook and Ravi Bopara each recording a half-century.
Tredwell had previously been called into the ODI squad for the clash with the West Indies at Headingley at June 22 but the game again fell victim to the weather.
Do you think Tredwell has done enough to play himself into the England picture? Have your say below.
Wednesday, July 11 2012
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Source: www.kentonline.co.uk
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