HAGUE DEFENCE WARNING
Military spending must be protected, William Hague tells the FT's George Parker and Kiran Stacey. "I'm totally in favour of maintaining Nato obligations, and I've been totally in favour of spending 2 per cent — at least 2 per cent — of our national income on defence in this parliament," the former Tory leader says. "The world is becoming systematically less stable. That is certainly one of the things I conclude from the experience of being foreign secretary." This is a big deal. There's a growing sense in Tory circles that Mr Cameron has to move towards some sort of promise to protect defence spending. Keep watching this one. ED BALLS: SEX GOD
Growing up with a surname like Balls clearly creates a healthy sense of humour. Yesterday the shadow chancellor boasted he was a "long, slow burner" in bed on LBC radio after the presenter Iain Dale played out recordings from members of the public rating his sex appeal . The Times has the story. SCRAP BBC LICENCE FEE
The BBC licence fee is becoming "anachronistic" and should be scrapped, a cross-party committee of MPs has said. Steven Swinford writes the MPs accuse the corporation's broadcasting of not being "brave enough" and that the BBC Trust, the body which oversees the corporation, has "failed to meet expectations" and should be abolished in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal. NHS DEVOLUTION
Westminster is to devolve NHS spending power to Greater Manchester. Ten councils will gain control of £6bn a year of NHS spending. The aim of such decentralisation is to improve the link between NHS services and social care. It is part of the chancellor's plan to create a "northern powerhouse" that rivals London's economy. Most of the councils are Labour-dominated. Yet there is conflict in the Labour party about such devolution. In today's Daily Telegraph James Kirkup explains the policies and politicsbehind the Chancellor's plan to empower northern cities. LABOUR CHAOS IN BRADFORD
Ed Miliband has seized control of the contest to choose a candidate to challenge George Galloway's seat after accusations of vote-rigging, Laura Pitel reports in the Times. An emergency meeting was held to discuss the Bradford West constituency after its chosen candidate stood down just 72 hours after selection, following claims of clan-based politics among local British-Pakistanis. ASK ME ANYTHING. JUST NOT THAT.
George Galloway was left red-faced after inviting Twitter users to send him questions using the hashtag #AskGalloway. The Respect MP received a barrage of abuse and refused to answer any questions. "I must say there is nothing like Twitter to remind you of the sea of ignorance, filth, racism, hatred and utter banality that's out there," he wrote. CALM DOWN, DEAR
In what can only be described as a rant, John Cleese yesterday likened journalists arguing for self-regulation to murderers wanting to police themselves during a press reform rally. He also accused newspaper editors of being cold-blooded liars who only wanted control to remain fully within the industry so they could be "free to do what they damn well like". His comments at a Hacked Off event in parliament angered campaigners who were following proceedings on Twitter. Confrontation resulted after Guido Fawkes reporter Alex Wickham was asked to stand up and was then subsequently berated by Hacked Off associate director Evan Harris.
| 
