Conservatives’ EU power struggle may be in vain

MADISON, Wis., Nov. 4 -- President Obama marked the anniversary of his election Wednesday by speaking in unusually personal terms with schoolchildren and educators in a politically friendly state, far from the partisan fray in Washington.

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04.11.2009. 23:42h

MPs' expenses: Christopher Kelly outlines reforms

the widely leaked proposals that have provoked such unhappiness within parliament, but the details appeared to marginally soften the proposals. Kelly's recommendations will now go forward to the new Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa). Predicted announcements included a recommendation to end claims for mortgage interest and allow MPs only to claim rent, up to ?1,250 a month. The next intake will have to rent properties chosen and paid for by a new central agency, but current MPs with mortgages will continue to receive support. Kelly's committee also called time on MPs being able to retain capital gains on properties supported by the taxpayer and urged instead that they be "surrendered to the taxpayer". Kelly said his proposed ban on MPs employing relatives would be phased in over the next parliament, or five years, though he was unable to say whether he thought the proposals would be challenged in court. Relatives employed by five MPs held a meeting after the launch, to register their concern. Fears that MPs living within a 60 minute commuting distance of London would be barred from claiming for a flat in the capital were also allayed by a recommendation that they should be allowed to stay overnight in a hotel costing up to ?120 and ?25 subsistence if they keep receipts. Despite reports that payoffs to MPs who stand down in the middle of a parliament would be axed, MPs in this parliament will still be allowed to claim as Kelly thought it would be unfair to impose rules to penalise the majority who did not flout expenses rules so close to polling day. However, he urged the standards and privileges committee to use the powers it already has to withhold grants to those found guilty of expenses wrongdoing. Kelly was keen to steel party leaders to implementing his reforms wholesale, emphatic that he regarded the proposals as a package of measures that would not survive being "cherry picked". He said: "There is a risk that as the impact of the revulsion fades, some may be thinking of distancing themselves from their earlier determination to implement our report in full. If so, that would in my view be an error. The damage that has been done by what has been revealed about past malpractice and about the culture that goes with it has been very considerable. I don't believe the trust in those who govern us will be restored unless those in authority show leadership in putting the abuses of the past behind them, however uncomfortable that may be to some." All three party leaders welcomed the report, but a difference emerged over Ipsa's role and whether the reforms can be implemented immediately. David Cameron believes they should be in place before the next election and that referring them to Ipsa would, an aide said, "take too long". But the leader of the house, Harriet Harman, was insistent that Kelly's report was a beginning not an end of the process. She told the house MPs could now make submissions to Ipsa on the practicalities. In an interview with the BBC's World at One, Kelly was "fairly reassured" MPs would implement all 60 recommendations, but said: "There is always wriggle room, we are talking about politicians after all." He went on: "I think it would be a shame if [Ipsa] didn't realise that what we produced after a lot of discussion with all sorts of people including many MPs, was a considered and reasonable and proportionate proposals." After the debate in the house about the expenses, the Speaker of the House, John Bercow, wrote to all MPs urging them to comply in "ending the expenses saga," but he added to the ambiguity about the status of Kelly's report, describing it as a "steer" for Ipsa. The more radical and far reaching ideas include a proposal to bring non-politicians into the scrutinising process. Kelly wants two non-politicians to sit on the standards and privileges committee, and three sit on the Speaker's committee on Ipsa. The new rules • Rent not buy MPs to claim a maximum of ?1,250 rent a month and receive no reimbursement for mortgages. • Central agency The new Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) will commission a commercial agency to provide, maintain and handle payments for rented accommodation for new MPs entering parliament; if successful that will be rolled out to all sitting MPs. • No fripperies An end to claims for cleaning, gardening and furnishing. • End to capital gain Those MPs already with a state-funded mortgage can continue to receive support for the duration of the next parliament but any capital accrued once Ipsa is up and running should be "surrendered to the taxpayer". • No more golden goodbyes No more generous resettlement grants for MPs who voluntarily step down - but not until the next parliament. MPs will then get eight weeks' pay instead of the ?64,000 long-serving MPs currently get. Kelly also called for the standards and privileges committee to use its right to withhold resettlement grants to those who flouted the expenses rules. • End to family employment Ban on employing relatives, to be phased in over the five years of the next parliament. • Commute Ban on MPs near London claiming for a second home. Those whose constituency homes are within a "reasonable commuting distance" of London – the details to be decided by Ipsa – will no longer receive support for a second London home. On nights they have to work late in Westminster they will be able to claim the cost of an overnight hotel stay, capped at ?125, and ?25-a-night subsistence with receipts required. • New MP pay regime Ipsa should set MPs' pay and pensions. • Axe communications allowance An end to the ?10,400 fund that some had used for "self-publicity". • No accountancy help • MPs to keep second jobs • Transparency All receipts should be published, including those claims not approved. • More lay people involved Kelly wants two lay people appointed to the standards and privileges committee and three to the Speaker's committee. • An end to double jobbing MPs will not be able to sit in two legislatures at one time by 2011. • Independence for MPs' pay This should be handed over to Ipsa and enshrined in primary legislation so politicians can not amend Ipsa's recommendations. • Sharing MPs Those who currently share a second home as partners will be entitled to make one claim for mortgage or rent payments up to the limit of the cap, plus another third of that. MPs' expenses House of Commons Constitutional reform Allegra Stratton guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Party leaders today welcomed Sir Christopher Kelly's proposals for a new expenses regime at Westminster, although disagreement immediately began to open up on implementation of the former civil servant's 60 recommendations. The report included many of...

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04.11.2009. 23:26h

SECRETARY OF EDUCATION ARNE DUNCAN SPEAKER: PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA [*] SECRETARY DUNCAN: Well, we're thrilled to be here and this is a school that's getting better and better, and you guys are working really, really hard. And we've been lucky. We have...

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04.11.2009. 21:50h

Bradshaw in electoral reform call

The government could hold a referendum on electoral reform on the same day as the next general election, Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw says.

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04.11.2009. 21:44h

Maine rejects same-sex marriage law

him as far as MPs are concerned. They dislike the fact he will be paid up to ?100,000 – ?30,000 more than a backbench MP's basic pay – and made their feelings know with roars of disapproval when the Speaker, John Bercow, announced his appointment. Kennedy was selected by a committee chaired by Bercow to lead the new Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa). Ipsa will have the task of consulting on the reforms proposed in today's report on parliamentary expenses by Sir Christopher Kelly before deciding how they will be implemented. It will also take over responsibility from the Commons fees office for overseeing and approving future expenses claims, and will set MPs' pay, pensions and allowances. An expert on the law and ethics of medicine, Kennedy is emeritus professor of health law, ethics and policy at University College London and chaired the Healthcare Commission from 2003 to 2009. He previously chaired an inquiry into children's heart surgery at Bristol Royal Infirmary, where 29 children died between 1994 and 1995. The inquiry concluded that paediatric cardiac surgery services at Bristol were "simply not up to the task", because of shortages of key surgeons and nurses, and a lack of leadership, accountability, and teamwork. A longstanding member of the General Medical Council, Kennedy is a former president of the Centre of Medical Laws and Ethics, which he founded in 1978. He has been a member of the Medicines Commission and the Department of Health advisory group on Aids. He was on a 1998 committee that recommended pet passports and in 1997 he took part in a government inquiry that gave cautious approval to xenotransplantation (the use of animal-to-human transplants). In the 1980s Kennedy hosted several editions of Channel 4's discussion programme After Dark. Ipsa was established by the government's Parliamentary Standards Act, which was rushed on to the statute book this summer as Gordon Brown tried to douse the furore over expenses and restore the reputation of Westminster. Its establishment means that MPs will no longer have any role in voting for their own pay and expenses. Under the act, Ipsa's chairman and board members are not chosen by MPs, but selected through an independent and open competition similar to that used to appoint members of the Electoral Commission. Candidates were considered by a panel chaired by the commissioner for public appointments for Northern Ireland. MPs' expenses House of Commons Mark Tran guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Man appointed to chair the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority already has one strike against him as far as MPs are concerned Sir Ian Kennedy, who has been chosen to chair the new independent Commons expenses watchdog, has one strike against...

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04.11.2009. 16:28h

Judge paid the penalty for excessive trial length

overhaul of MPs' expenses as it was announced the chairman of the new body overseeing the process would be paid up to ?100,000 a year. The Commons Speaker, John Bercow, confirmed that he had selected Prof Sir Ian Kennedy as the chair designate of the new Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa). During a short statement in the house, Bercow was forced to call order as MPs from all sides reacted noisily to news that Kennedy would be paid "a maximum of ?100,000 a year". He said: "His appointment must be confirmed by the House of Commons before he is formally appointed by the Queen." The announcement came in a short statement immediately after prime minister's question time when Gordon Brown led the calls for Kelly's recommendations to be accepted and implemented as quickly as possible. The long awaited report published today by the chairman of the committee on standards in public life called for a ban on MPs claiming for mortgage interest or employing family members at the taxpayer's expense. An array of stringent new rules, which come in the wake of the expenses scandal, are likely to provoke further objections from MPs but Kelly insisted they were "fair and reasonable" and would bring Westminster into line with other walks of life and other legislatures. In an unusual show of unity all three party leaders today pledged their support for the proposals. Brown said people want to know that the new system would "be open and fair", and said Ipsa would begin work on the committee's recommendations immediately. Ipsa is tasked with consulting on Kelly's proposals before deciding how they will be implemented. It will also take over responsibility from the Commons fees office for overseeing and approving future expenses claims. David Cameron, the Conservative leader, said it was important the Kelly recommendations were accepted "in full". MPs should no longer vote on their pay, expenses, pensions or terms of service, he said. This was an essential part of "restoring faith" in parliament and politics after the expenses scandal. "By accepting this report, today should mark an important day, a day when we say that from now and into the future, MPs should not vote on our pay, our expenses, our pensions, our terms of service, our re-settlement, or our expenses packages. "Isn't that an essential part of restoring faith in parliament, in politics and in this House of Commons, that all of us care about." Brown replied: "People want to know that the system in future will be different. It will be open. It will be transparent. It will be fair. It will not be managed by MPs themselves but by an independent body that will take responsibility for it. "That is why it is right to refer the Kelly report for action and implementation, not by ourselves, but by the independent parliamentary standards authority. That is the recommendation of the Kelly report and that is what we should do. "The vast majority of MPs are trying to do a decent job on behalf of their whole communities. "At the same time we must make sure that the public trust in the institution of parliament is restored and that is why we should accept the Kelly recommendations and make sure they are implemented as quickly as possible." The Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, said: "After a shameful year for this parliament I agree that Sir Christopher Kelly's report finally gives us the opportunity to start restoring people's trust in the work of MPs here, and that is why it must be implemented in full without any further delay." Harriet Harman, the leader of the Commons, said MPs would be asked to approve Sir Ian's appointment "in the next few days". Senior Labour MP Sir Stuart Bell, who sits on the Speaker's committee which is overseeing reform of the expenses system, told Sky News that some MPs may feel "victimised" by the new arrangements. But he added: "I welcome Kelly and I think the house overall will welcome Kelly and accept that it must get public confidence back, restore the reputation of the house and get on with the major issues of the day." Sir Stuart also called for a review of MPs pay so that "MPs will live on their pay and not have to claim any allowances at all, other than travel". Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance campaign group, said the public did not want the reforms being "watered down or cherry picked". "Sir Christopher has produced a firm and fair set of proposals for reforming MPs' expenses, which do justice to taxpayers' concerns," he said. "It is now essential that his recommendations are adopted by parliament and the new expenses authority immediately and in full. People will not stand for another fudge or any more obstructive behaviour." But Tory MP Roger Gale warned there were parts of the report that did not stand up to "close scrutiny". "It is the devil in the detail which does actually need to be examined," he said. "The thought of some parliamentary estate agency deciding whether or not I qualify for a one bedroom, two bedroom, three bedroom, house with a garden because I've got a dog or a cat is a nightmare." A statement from family employees, headed by Gale's wife, Suzy, urged the interim Ipsa chief executive, Andrew McDonald, to reconsider the Kelly recommendations in order to find "a satisfactory way forward". "A number of working spouses made submissions to the committee on standards in public life, and some gave evidence in person, in the expectation that the unique nature of the job that we do would be recognised," they said. The union representing relatives of MPs is due to hold a meeting at 5pm today to discuss the proposals. Dan Whittle, the group's chairman, said in response to Kelly's report: "Sir Christopher said it would be unfair to describe his recommendations as punitive, but, for staff of MPs who are relatives, they are ... There has only been one proved case of an MP's relative not doing the work they have been paid for – it is unfair to conclude because one MP broke the rules 200 MPs' staff should be sacked." Whittle said that legal advice would be given to staff at the meeting and that they initially planned to call for a review of the recommendations on the basis of indirect sex discrimination, because female members of staff were disproportionately affected. MPs' expenses House of Commons Gordon Brown David Cameron Nick Clegg Deborah Summers guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

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04.11.2009. 12:03h

Yesterday in parliament

charged Alistair Darling, his opposite number in the government, with not even being prepared to put the full figure – ?39.2bn – before the Commons. In a statement, Darling said the changes would potentially create three new banks on the high street over five years. Lloyds would raise ?21bn in the open market and begin its "transition" from state support to private finance, while agreeing to pay the Treasury a fee of ?2.5bn. "Today's decisions make Lloyds a stronger bank and provide better value for the taxpayer." Northern Rock The chancellor insisted he was in "no hurry" to sell off the most profitable part of Northern Rock. He told MPs assets would not be sold until the "price offered is right" and the taxpayer got its money back. The EU has approved the splitting of the Newcastle-based lender into a "good" bank – which would hold savers' money and some existing mortgages and lend new mortgages – and a much larger "bad" bank, which would hold the majority of its loans. Darling said he wanted to ensure Northern Rock customers were treated in a similar way no matter which part their money was in. Darling accused the Tories of a "cynical" refusal to back state action to support the economy. In an attack on Osborne, the chancellor said he was "fundamentally wrong" in his opposition to the fiscal stimulus package. Osborne said the government was unable to answer the "simple question" of why the UK was the only major economy yet to emerge from recession. Higher education Lord Mandelson, the business secretary, launched his 10-year strategy for higher education, declaring: "There should be no artificial caps on talent." He told peers that all students must continue to be selected on merit and the government would look at ways of improving access to the most selective universities. Mandelson said he would be asking universities to focus on skills areas where the supply of graduates was not meeting demand. But he stressed that no decisions had yet been made on changes to the limits on tuition fees. Richard Dannatt The decision of ex-army chief General Sir Richard Dannatt to become an adviser to the Tories was attacked by Liberal Democrat Lord Razzall. He asked if it was "appropriate for a senior officer who is still being paid to be paraded in this way by a political party". Lady Taylor of Bolton, the junior defence minister, said Queen's regulations give "some very clear guidance on what should happen in terms of members of the armed forces who are seeking to participate in politics". She said: "It is possible to be a member of a party and not active. There are also rules about leaving service and taking paid employment." City City regulators could be given freedom to impose greater fines on institutions that fail their customers, Darling hinted. He said there "may be a case" for looking at financial penalties available to the Financial Services Authority. Gambling The Treasury claimed it would not be "grading" gambling – despite repeated complaints from MPs over the tax rise for the "innocent" bingo industry after tax rates for clubs were increased from 15% to 22% in the budget. Kelvin Hopkins (Lab, Luton North) asked: "Is it not more sensible to tax the more dangerous forms of gambling to a higher level than the innocent forms of gambling like bingo?" Sarah McCarthy-Fry, the exchequer secretary to the Treasury, replied: "I don't think we're in the position of grading what gambling is. We recognise the important part that bingo clubs play in the community and all these things are taken into account when decisions are made." Constitutional reform The Tories and the Liberal Democrats accused the Government of intentionally restricting debate on important constitutional proposals such as fixed-term parliaments after ministers set a four-day limit on the constitutional reform and governance bill's committee stage. Douglas Hogg, the former Conservative minister, warned that this would mean important proposed amendments would be ignored. His own include allowing ministerial peers to answer questions in the Commons. "That would have the advantage, would it not, of Lord Mandelson being able to come to this house." Jack Straw, the justice secretary, said: "I understand the concerns of the house. I could be forgiven for thinking there was general approbation having four days, since on October 20 the house agreed that resolution for four days without division. I took from that there was general agreement." New Year's Eve New Year's Eve partygoers will enjoy an extra six hours of reduced-VAT drinking before the sales tax increases by 2.5% on 1 January, Stephen Timms, the financial secretary to the Treasury, announced. He told MPs bars and clubs open past midnight on 31 December – when VAT is due to revert to 17.5% – would be allowed to continue charging the current 15% rate until 6am. House of Commons House of Lords guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

3 November session Bank bailouts The Tories accused the government of creating a "new world record" for bank bailouts with its plan to break up the part-nationalised Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group. George Osborne, the shadow chancellor,...

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04.11.2009. 11:47h

Key points of Kelly report on MPs' expenses

The following are the main recommendations from Sir Christopher Kelly's Committee on Standards in Public Life on the reform of MPs' expenses and allowances:

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04.11.2009. 11:46h

Sir Christopher Kelly's recommendation for reform of MPs' expenses at a glance

and maintain rented accommodation for new MPs entering parliament at the next election, to be extended to all MPs if successful. • Second-home payments to continue for council tax, water, fuel, phones, contents insurance and removal at the beginning and end of a tenancy. Expenses banned for cleaning, gardening and furnishings. • No second-home expenses for MPs within a "reasonable" commuting distance of Westminster, as determined by the independent regulator. • Any future capital gains in the value of accommodation purchased with the help of public funds to be surrendered to the exchequer. • Ban on MPs appointing members of their own families to their staff and paying them from public funds. Those currently employing family members should be able to continue to do so for the life of one further parliament or five years, whichever is the longer. • A code of conduct for MPs' staff, barring party political work. • Communications allowance to be abolished. • "Golden handshake" resettlement grant to be retained at a rate of up to nine months' pay for MPs who lose their seats at a general election, as the result of deselection or because of boundary changes, but scrapped for MPs who voluntarily stand down, who will instead receive eight weeks' pay. • Receipts or other documentary evidence to be required for all claims. • MPs to meet the cost of normal commuting journeys themselves. Payments for longer journeys only if they are on genuine parliamentary duties and for family members travelling between constituency and London. Receipts required for all travel claims. • Annual review of maximum claimable amounts by independent regulator, and comprehensive review of the system at least once in every parliament. • Designation of main and second homes to be determined according to an objective test, enforced by the independent regulator. • Cut in the London costs allowance for MPs in the capital. • Only MPs who stay in a hotel to be entitled to claim for the costs of food, currently up to a maximum of ?25 per night, with receipts required. • MPs with existing expenses-supported mortgages to be able to continue to claim until the end of the next parliament or for five years. • MPs who share second home accommodation as partners to be entitled between them to claim up to a limit of one individual cap on rent or mortgage payments, plus one third. • Work of MPs to be subject to robust independent audit, with strict penalties for breach, to ensure public funds are not used for party political activities. • MPs to continue to be able to select and directly appoint their own staff. • Equipment purchased with office expenses should be regarded as public property. • Ban on claiming expenses for accountancy costs to help fill out tax returns. • Ban on claims for travel to or from homes which are not in or close to MPs' constituencies. • Standards and privileges committee to consider stripping MPs of resettlement grant if they seriously breach the code of conduct. • MPs to remain free to undertake some paid activity outside the House of Commons, "within reasonable limits". • All candidates at parliamentary elections to publish, at nomination, a register of interests, including the existence of other paid jobs and whether they intend to continue to hold them if elected. • Ban on Westminster MPs simultaneously sitting in a devolved legislature. • Independent regulator to be given statutory responsibility for setting MPs' pay levels and overseeing MPs' pensions as well as for dealing with expenses. • Independent regulator to be given power to compel MPs to cooperate, require repayments and impose fines. MPs' expenses House of Commons Constitutional reform guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

These are the main recommendations of the Kelly Report • No reimbursement of mortgage interest payments or any other costs associated with the purchase of a property. In future only rent or hotel costs should be reimbursed. • Commercial agency to provide...

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04.11.2009. 11:44h

MPs expenses: MPs banned from taxpayerfunded property deals

MPs will no longer be able to profit from taxpyerfunded property deals under new MPs' expenses reforms announced by Sir Christopher Kelly.

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04.11.2009. 11:42h

‘Jutarnji List’ promotes joining EU, ignores facts

Banac and Cicak say that ‘Jutarnji List’ cover, which claims that Croatia is facing isolation and poverty, has nothing to do with the facts.

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04.11.2009. 11:40h

MPs' expenses scandal: a timeline

Sir Christopher Kelly's report into the MPs' expenses scandal following The Daily Telegraph's revelations will recommend a shakeup of the system in the House of Commons. Here is a timeline of how the story developed.

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04.11.2009. 11:36h

MPs' expenses: Kelly announces reform proposals

period, under the recommendations of Commons' watchdog Sir Christopher Kelly published today. Members of parliament will also be stopped from employing family members by the end of the next parliament or within five years, the long-awaited report stated. Kelly, the chairman of the committee on standards in public life, insisted his proposals were "fair and reasonable" and would bring Westminster into line with other walks of life and other legislatures. He acknowledged that his wide-ranging proposals would mean "substantial change" for MPs and said that, where necessary, they should be phased in with a suitable period of transition. The stringent new rules, in the wake of the expenses scandal, are likely to provoke further objections from MPs but all three party leaders have indicated their willingness to uphold Kelly's recommendations, in a bid to allay public anger over the debacle. Kelly said he had received assurances from all three party leaders that they understood the importance of "putting the matter behind them" and that he hoped that would mean they would uphold his recommendations. Among the proposals are that the generous resettlement grants for MPs who voluntarily step down will be stopped from the general election after next, with MPs receiving just eight weeks' pay instead. Other key recommendations include giving the new Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) the power to determine the pay and pensions of MPs as well as their expenses. On claims for the mortgage interest the report said that there should be no further capital gains at public expense, and the controversial practice of "flipping" properties should no longer be possible. Any capital gains made during the transitional period attributable to public support would have to be paid back to the taxpayer. In future, MPs should only be able to claim for rent or hotel costs, while the expenses scheme should only cover council tax, utility bills, telephone line rental and calls, security, contents insurance and removals at the beginning and end of a tenancy. The costs of cleaning, gardening, furnishings and other items would not be claimable. The committee said that MPs with constituencies within "reasonable commuting distance" of parliament should no longer be able to claim for a second home at all. More details soon ... MPs' expenses House of Commons Deborah Summers guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

troops from Helmand. Howells, who is now Gordon Brown's intelligence and security watchdog, said the billions of pounds saved should be redirected to defending the UK from terrorist attacks by al-Qaida. Writing in the Guardian, Howells, who had ministerial responsibility for Afghanistan until 2008, said: "It would be better to bring home the great majority of our fighting men and women and concentrate, instead, on using the money saved to secure our own borders, gather intelligence on terrorist activities inside Britain." Controversially, he accepts that such an approach would result in "more intrusive surveillance in certain communities" – a tacit acknowledgment that Britain's Muslims would be subject to greater scrutiny by police and intelligence services. He also calls for an expansion of UK intelligence operations abroad, greater co-operation with foreign intelligence services, and more spending on propaganda designed to counter those who encourage terrorism. Howells's comments came as the Ministry of Defence announced the death of five soldiers when a "rogue" Afghan policeman turned his gun on allied and Afghan troops at a checkpoint in Helmand province. Several soldiers were also injured, some seriously. The deaths make this the bloodiest year for the armed forces since the Falklands war. The number of dead stands at 94 for this year, bringing the total number of fatalities since the Afghan conflict began in 2001 to 229. Afghanistan's politicians do not want to see a cut in foreign troops. Abdullah Abdullah, President Hamid Karzai's closest challenger in the disputed presidential election, today called for more, not fewer, foreign troops as the only way to support the regime. Howells's call for a "Fortress Britain" security strategy will have added force because he was a strong supporter of the war during his time as foreign affairs minister between 2005 and 2008. Until now, backbench Labour opposition has been largely confined to the left of the party. His remarks may also provide political cover for one of the two main opposition parties, probably the Liberal Democrats, to go into the general election calling for the withdrawal of British troops. Nick Clegg, the Lib Dem leader, has so far stopped short of calling for withdrawal, but said on Monday that British troops were "being asked to prop up a government in which no one believes". Howells stresses that his call for a UK troop withdrawal is personal, but it is thought to reflect growing doubts inside the intelligence services as to the wisdom of devoting so many counter-terrorism resources to denying al-Qaida a training base in Afghanistan. His intervention comes after Karzai was reappointed president of Afghanistan following the decision of Abdullah, not to compete in an election runoff, arguing that Karzai planned to steal the election through fraud. Deeply embarrassed western governments have been forced to seek assurances that Karzai will finally end corruption and establish a government of national unity. Howells accuses the Kabul government of "largely squandering the opportunity offered to it by the UN-led occupation". He argues: "Sooner rather than later a properly planned phased withdrawal of our forces from Helmand province has to be announced. If it is an answer that serves, also, to focus the minds of those in the Kabul government who have shown such a poverty of leadership over the past seven years, then so much the better. "Seven years of military involvement and civilian aid in Afghanistan has succeeded in subduing al-Qaida's activities in that country but it hasn't destroyed the organisation or its leader, Osama bin Laden. Nor has it succeeded in eliminating al-Qaida's protectors, the Taliban. "There can be no guarantee that the next seven years will bring significantly greater success and, even if they do, it is salutary to remember that Afghanistan has never been the sole location of terrorist training camps." Even the proposed additional 40,000 US troops, he argues, will not guarantee that the Taliban are contained. "Recent attacks in Kabul and other centres suggest that the present balance of territorial control is at best likely to remain, or more likely to shift in favour of the Taliban." Securing the remote mountainous borders between Afghanistan and Pakistan in which the Taliban and al-Qaida thrive is impossible, he contends. Howells suggests that because al-Qaida can readily change the locations of its bases and modify its attack plans, it makes sense for Britain to reprioritise counter-terrorism spending by focusing on defending the homeland. He concedes a withdrawal would have momentous consequences for British relations with Nato, and especially the US. It would also require much more intrusive surveillance in the UK, more police patrols, more border officials at harbours and airports, and more inspectors of vehicles and vessels entering the UK. Britain spent ?2.6bn on its military involvement in Afghanistan last year and is due to increase its troop numbers to 10,000 in the next few months. So far 224 UK service personnel have died. Brown has promised that as the Afghan army is trained up it will be possible for the UK forces to be withdrawn, but has not been able to put a timetable on this. Howells says that it only takes a small number of Afghans to harbour the terrorists to undermine a large military. "Stories emerging from Afghanistan tell of the sense of futility felt by tough, well-trained troops who witness, firsthand, the death of comrades who have fallen, protecting an Afghan population that refuses frequently not only to help their protectors but, sometimes, conspires with the Taliban to kill them." Howells argues that a fundamental rethink may be forced on the government as public support for the war rapidly erodes. Defence policy Labour Gordon Brown Afghanistan UK security and terrorism Civil liberties Patrick Wintour Mark Tran guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Democrats in Congress are embracing the spirit of President Obama's call to slow the runaway rise of health-care costs but are shying away from some of the most aggressive techniques for achieving that.

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04.11.2009. 03:41h