An afternoon in Whitehall with the Guardian's Andrew Sparrow:
• Nick Clegg has launched the process which will lead to a referendum on electoral reform taking place next year. The referendum (set for 5 May 2001) will be included in a bill that will also make provision for a boundary review equalising the size of constituencies and cutting the size of the Commons from 650 to 600 at the time of the next election. Clegg said that he wanted the next election to be fought on the new boundaries using AV. But he faces strong opposition from a coalition of MPs committed to first-past-the-post (mostly Tories) and Labour MPs opposed to the boundary review.
• But the Electoral Commission has not endorsed the plan to hold the referendum on the same day as the Scottish and Welsh elections. Several MPs criticised this aspect of Clegg's plans, often on the grounds that differential turnout in Scotland and Wales might make the overall result unfair. The Electoral Commission is not going to say whether or not it supports the timing until the government has published its bill. But a spokesman has just told me it can see "advantages and disadvantages" in holding the referendum on 5 May 2001.
• Clegg also announced a partial climbdown on the coalition plans for fixed-term parliaments. The government will legislate to fix 7 May 2015 as the date for the next general election. But the proposal to create a law saying that there will be no general election unless 55% of MPs vote to over-ride the fixed-term parliament legislation has been revised. Clegg confirmed that a majority of MPs would still be able to pass a vote of no confidence and he said that if a new government could not be formed within 14 days of successful no confidence vote, an election would be called. But, in other circumstances, two thrids of MPs would have to vote for a dissolution of parliament, Clegg said.
• Michael Gove, the education secretary, has just announced the Building Schools for the Future projects covering nearly 700 schools will be cancelled with immediate effect. In a statement, he also announced a review of all capital spending in schools. Ed Balls said it was "a black day for our country's schools".
• Nick Clegg has launched the process which will lead to a referendum on electoral reform taking place next year. The referendum (set for 5 May 2001) will be included in a bill that will also make provision for a boundary review equalising the size of constituencies and cutting the size of the Commons from 650 to 600 at the time of the next election. Clegg said that he wanted the next election to be fought on the new boundaries using AV. But he faces strong opposition from a coalition of MPs committed to first-past-the-post (mostly Tories) and Labour MPs opposed to the boundary review.
• But the Electoral Commission has not endorsed the plan to hold the referendum on the same day as the Scottish and Welsh elections. Several MPs criticised this aspect of Clegg's plans, often on the grounds that differential turnout in Scotland and Wales might make the overall result unfair. The Electoral Commission is not going to say whether or not it supports the timing until the government has published its bill. But a spokesman has just told me it can see "advantages and disadvantages" in holding the referendum on 5 May 2001.
• Clegg also announced a partial climbdown on the coalition plans for fixed-term parliaments. The government will legislate to fix 7 May 2015 as the date for the next general election. But the proposal to create a law saying that there will be no general election unless 55% of MPs vote to over-ride the fixed-term parliament legislation has been revised. Clegg confirmed that a majority of MPs would still be able to pass a vote of no confidence and he said that if a new government could not be formed within 14 days of successful no confidence vote, an election would be called. But, in other circumstances, two thrids of MPs would have to vote for a dissolution of parliament, Clegg said.
• Michael Gove, the education secretary, has just announced the Building Schools for the Future projects covering nearly 700 schools will be cancelled with immediate effect. In a statement, he also announced a review of all capital spending in schools. Ed Balls said it was "a black day for our country's schools".
•Danny Alexander, the chief secretary to the Treasury, has announced spending cuts worth £1.54bn. He said that although these commitments were made by Labour, the money was not available.
