The Wardman Wire

Here is today’s roundup of stories.

Comment

Marina Hyde (Guardian) - Just a hunch: might police like to stop and search MPs?
The deafening silence in Westminster at the news of Derek Conway and his extraordinary family can only raise suspicions

Mark Lawson (Guardian) - TV matters
In the third week of the head-to-head between the returned News at Ten (ITV1) and the BBC Ten O’Clock News (BBC1), an intriguing tussle of editorial judgments is becoming clear.

Economist (Economist) - A strike against al-Qaeda: The killing of Abu Laith al-Libi
HE WAS not Osama bin Laden or Ayman al-Zawahiri, the most famous of al-Qaeda’s leaders. But to the devotees of global jihad on the internet, Abu Laith al-Libi, was an increasingly well-known figure.

Economist (Economist) - Growth hits a 31-year high in the Philippines
Despite the dark clouds gathering over the global economy, the Philippines has put in its best economic performance in over three decades.

Alan Cane (FT) - What it means to me: It is not just the IT – we’re transforming work practices, too
Keith Little is the BBC’s chief information officer, the first to hold such a position in the biggest UK broadcasting organisation.

BBC (BBC) - Change planned on cloning consent
The government may allow scientists to clone embryos from tissues donated for research without the need for donors express consent, the BBC has learned.

News

Patrick Wintour (Guardian) - I’ll be president of Europe if you give me the power - Blair
Former PM consults old Downing Street allies on campaign for new EU role

Times (Times Online) - Book chain The Works becomes latest victim in story of horror on high street
About 1,600 jobs are under threat after The Works, the cut-price book chain, was forced into adminstration yesterday, a move that added to fears of more failures on the high street.

Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent (Times Online) - Bishop of Rochester, Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, faces death threats
The Bishop of Rochester, Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, is under police protection after he and his family received death threats over his claim that parts of Britain had become “no-go areas” for non-Muslims.

Economist (Economist) - Microsoft and Yahoo: bet $45 billion
IT IS a potential deal that has been talked about for years, but has suddenly become a real possibility. On Friday February 1st Microsoft, the world’s biggest software company, made a $44.6 billion offer for Yahoo!, an ailing internet giant.

Mail (Mail) - Spice Girls cancel their world tour after both the Mels quit
The Spice Girls have cancelled their world tour after just two months of performances and two continents amid reports of poor ticket sales.

FT (FT) - Cathedrals plan dozens of music schools
Cathedrals are in talks with ministers about setting up dozens of academy schools to infuse Britain’s youth with a passion for choral music.

Francis Elliott, Rajeev Syal (Times Online) - Papers show Ken Livingstone used public servants in vote battle
The Ken Livingstone 2004 campaign instructed public servants to write articles in support of his last reelection as Mayor of London in a breach of rules forbidding political abuse of taxpayer cash.

BBC (BBC)

- Alexander should list donations
Holyrood standards watchdog has told Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander she needs to declare donations to her leadership campaign.

Wales

BBC (BBC)

- Labour AM faces standards inquiry
A Labour AM is facing an inquiry by the Welsh assembly Independent Standards Advisor over allegations she misused public money.

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