A spin doctor was paid £800 a day to defend the disgraced council that failed to stop seven-year-old Khyra Ishaq being starved to death, says the Daily Mail. Terry Brownbill is said to have earned £113,000 for 141 days' work. As well as the morality, there are questions over whether Birmingham Council's procedures for approving the contract were followed. A Freedom of Informa...

I have been rushed with work lately - hence no update on the blog yesterday by me or indeed, by anyone else. But hey, it is Friday, and time for a spot of photo nonsense. I am not sure I would want to play chess with any of them, mind. (H/T, David Thompson)....

EU institutions will work hard to fill management posts with administrators from new member states by the end of 2010, European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič said yesterday (11 March), presenting a major overhaul of the EU's recruitment procedure. 

Report gives insight into everyday work of security services

I arrived home from work this evening to find a letter from the NHS. This letter was informing me that unless I opt out by the 31st of May, the NHS will create a “summary care record” in their spangly new multi-billion pound database.  The pitch informs me that in the first instance only details of

Trust in politics is low. We will make a start in changing this by being open and transparent, publishing every item of council spending over £500. It's your money; we'll be straight with you. We should be accountable when spending your money. I've seen this work in other authorities. People consider their actions more carefully when they are laid open to wider scrutiny. The v...

Any remaining pretence that the Lib Dems are on the centre-left has been smashed by Nick Clegg's nauseating praise for Margaret Thatcher in the Spectator today ( There's a useful way to work out exactly where the Lib Dems are on the political spectrum, which is to look at the proposed mix of tax increases and public spending cuts the three main parties are proposing for tackling the deficit. These...

Combat Stress is a remarkable charity carrying out truly remarkable work, writes the Prince of Wales.

Kathleen Sebelius, US health secretary, threw down the gauntlet to the health insurance industry, telling executives "it's not too late to work together" and pass healthcare reforms

Talks are to be held over Edinburgh's tram project in a bid to end a stalemate which has halted work on sections of the route.