Nick Robinson's Newslog

Clarke interview in full

• Nick
• 25 Apr 06, 07:55 PM

So Home Secretary Charles Clarke has admitted mistakes were made when foreign inmates were freed instead of deported. You can see my full interview with him by clicking here.

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Tough at the top

• Nick
• 25 Apr 06, 02:33 PM

Who on earth would want to be home secretary?

For years, Tory holders of that great office of state would quake when the phone rang late at night, fearing news of another prison break out or a riot. I don't know if prisoners are less revolting these days but Labour home secretaries seem more bothered by immigration rows.

Pity then Charles Clarke as he faces a double whammy - a row about foreign prisoners. Wonder too at his bravery or foolhardiness in attacking the very people who will now report this news, on the eve of the announcement.

It's so much easier commenting than governing!

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Fancy dress

• Nick
• 25 Apr 06, 10:15 AM

Breathe easier dear taxpayer. A couple of Vulcans, a bevy of groundhogs, Cherie Blair's paranoia about her hair and Michael Howard's about his "5 o'clock shadow" may have saved you a fortune (see Election make-up costs revealed).

The revelation of how our political parties spend their election funds is likely to have set back the cause of the state financing of politics more than any debate, pamphlet or speech.

By the way, can it really be true - as The Guardian reports - that Tony Blair sought £53.46 for the drive from Number Ten to the Palace on the day he dissolved Parliament? Perhaps this is regarded as party not government business. I think we should be told.

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