Politics Live - Monday 1 June

Susan HulmeCopyright: Susan Hulme

Today in Parliament on Radio 4 - with Susan Hulme - kicks off at 23.30 BST with a report on Britain's role in the world. Should Britain be in or out of the EU? And how much should it spend on defence? Also, as Fifa's Sepp Blatter continues in his job, some MPs suggest creating an alternative World Cup in 2018 and 2022.

In the House of Lords, there's not much enthusiasm for the government's devolution proposals.

And many new MPs decide to make their maiden speeches today. There are some memorable contributions so do tune in.... 

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In his first Commons speech since returning to Parliament as an MP, Boris Johnson has insisted that Britain must be prepared to walk away from the EU if sufficient reform is not achieved.

He told the Commons he believed David Cameron would be successful in his EU reform efforts and congratulated him on his "schmoozathon" around Europe.

But he stressed that Britain had to be willing to "strike out" in the event the desired result is not secured.

Quote Message: If we don't get the deal that is either in the interests of this country or of Europe, then we should be prepared to strike out and forge an alternative future that could be just as glorious and just as prosperous with a free trading arrangement."

If we don't get the deal that is either in the interests of this country or of Europe, then we should be prepared to strike out and forge an alternative future that could be just as glorious and just as prosperous with a free trading arrangement."

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Johnny Mercer, a former army captain, has used his maiden speech to focus on the treatment of veterans.  

The Conservative MP for Plymouth Moorview said there was a "fundamental misunderstanding" that the care of veterans should be undertaken by charities. 

"I'm not a charity", he told MPs, "and neither were my men. We gave the best years of our lives. It is therefore the duty of this House to look after them and their families when they return."

He said that in 2012 more veterans killed themselves than were killed during operational service. He talked about a serviceman under his command in Afghanistan - Lance Sergeant Dan Collins of the Welsh Guards - who "endured events that were atypical" and returned to Britain "a deeply scarred man".

He entered a "dark, dark place" and eventually took his own life. He recorded a message on his phone for his mum saying he felt he had turned into a "horrible person".

Quote Message: With that our nation failed one of her bravest sons once more as yet another victim of the Afghanistan war lost his life."

With that our nation failed one of her bravest sons once more as yet another victim of the Afghanistan war lost his life."

PACopyright: PA

Here's a round-up of the main political stories of the day:

Trials of a scheme to double free childcare allowance is to be brought forward a year to 2016, the government announces

Culture Secretary John Whittingdale says the government will do all it can to bring about change in Fifa following the "disappointing" re-election of Sepp Blatter as its president.

The 2015 general election was the "most disproportionate in British history", the Electoral Reform Society has said, revealing its new analysis.

Norway's Foreign Minister Borge Brende says it makes sense for the UK to stay in the European Union.

And one lucky pensioner in Glasgow collected his £240,000 winnings after betting £30,000 on a Conservative majority at the UK general election.

Tory former Lord Chancellor Lord Mackay of Clashfern has criticised any move to leave the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR), but called for changes to it.

Speaking in the House of Lords, he highlighted the UK's refusal to grant any prisoners the vote, in contravention of a European Court of Human Rights judgment.

"I must confess to a feeling of great anxiety that the United Kingdom, with its tradition for respect of the rule of law, not the rule of lawyers, should be in breach of a treaty by which it is bound," he told peers.

Lib Dem justice spokesman Lord Marks of Henley-on-Thames has said he would "vehemently disagree" with any move to pull out of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). 

"Leaving the convention would set a dreadful precedent for other countries and would undermine our making a moral case for human rights internationally," he told the House of Lords.

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David Cameron has set up 10 new taskforces to oversee the delivery of policy in key areas, including housing, immigration, extremism and childcare.

Downing Street said the bodies, chaired by ministers, would track progress in policy implementation and "make sure actions are followed through".

The move echoes the setting up of a Delivery Unit in No 10 by Tony Blair in 2001 to monitor delivery of priorities.

This was abolished when the coalition government took office in 2010.

More here.

Getty imagesCopyright: Getty images

The Scottish government has said that £1m will be earmarked for early years education staff development. The funding was announced to coincide with the publication of an independent review of early learning and the childcare workforce.

The money will be used to implement some of the report's recommendations.

Trade union Unison said the report had drawn similar conclusions to previous ones, and that it was now time for action.

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Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission president, has told the Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper that the UK has no "desire" to leave the EU.

But UKIP leader Nigel Farage said British people were fed up "to the back teeth with Eurocrats telling us what we want".

Quote Message: Mr Juncker should wind his neck in about what the British people want or do not want, he does not know us."

Mr Juncker should wind his neck in about what the British people want or do not want, he does not know us."

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Former Labour celebrity donor Mick Hucknall has told BBC Radio 5 live that " justice was seen to be done" when Labour lost the election, saying the great British public had "acted with collective wisdom".

The Simply Red singer - who donated to the party during the Blair years - said that the current Conservative government was "the inheritor of the Blairite mantel".

He said some of Labour's policies were "veering close to Marxism" and that Ed Miliband was "clearly not the right man [to lead Labour]... it was blatantly obvious".

The singer said it was not just about personality, but about policy. "The more I looked at the policies... the more I thought this is not going to work," he said.

Former SNP leader Alex Salmond, now his party's foreign affairs spokesman, highlights his party's election success, while introducing some members of the party.

"I have brought a few friends along with me since I last spoke in this House just to help me out in case I encounter any difficulty," he tells the Commons.

"We now have 56 [MPs] and we intend to make Scotland's voice heard on international and European affairs across the range of responsibilities."

Leaving the European Convention on Human Rights is not "on the table" but the government does want to ensure British judges rule on the law in Britain, Philip Hammond has told MPs.

The foreign secretary was challenged in the House of Commons by SNP foreign affairs spokesman Alex Salmond, who said: "You have already mentioned a list of matters the world over which have within them threats to human rights. Do you therefore support this country's withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights?"

Mr Hammond replied: "That is not the proposal on the table - the proposal as you know is to ensure that our obligations in respect of compliance with the human rights agenda are overseen by judges in this country in the context of what is happening in this country."

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Commenting on the government's childcare plans, shadow children and families minister Alison McGovern told the BBC the scheme will help get more people into employment.

Quote Message: It means that for some people they will for the first time have no childcare bill. So if you're somebody who wants to go back to work part time it's possible now to go back to work without a childcare bill. Families as a group didn't do as well as other groups under the past five years so I think it is right actually to offer them this support, because it helps family incomes but also it helps people get back to work.

It means that for some people they will for the first time have no childcare bill. So if you're somebody who wants to go back to work part time it's possible now to go back to work without a childcare bill. Families as a group didn't do as well as other groups under the past five years so I think it is right actually to offer them this support, because it helps family incomes but also it helps people get back to work.

On the EU referendum, Hilary Benn, Labour's shadow foreign secretary, said:

Quote Message: We will argue for British 16 and 17 years olds to be given a say in that decision because it is about their future too, just as we argued in the general election just fought that the franchise for all elections in this country should be extended to 16 and 17 year olds."

We will argue for British 16 and 17 years olds to be given a say in that decision because it is about their future too, just as we argued in the general election just fought that the franchise for all elections in this country should be extended to 16 and 17 year olds."

The new Culture Secretary John Whittingale has paid tribute in the Commons to Arsenal for retaining the FA Cup after their 4-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday.

The MP for Maldon in Essex is a Gooner, but admitted not everyone would welcome the result, like David Cameron who is an Aston Villa fan.

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Boris Johnson - the London mayor and, once again, an MP - asks about what can be done to protect architectural treasures in Syria from Islamic State. The Foreign Secretary replies that "for what it's worth" IS has given some limited assurances about its intentions with regard to the site in Palmyra. Philip Hammond also notes the difficulty in deploying air power where there are historical sites.  

A pensioner who bet £30,000 on a Conservative majority in the general election has collected his £240,000 winnings.

The man placed his bet at odds of 7/1 in a branch of Ladbrokes in Glasgow city centre on 29 April.

Alex Donohue, of Ladbrokes, said: "I can confirm that the gentleman has been paid in full and has specifically asked not to be identified.

"Once again, we congratulate him on his record-breaking election win." 

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Looking at the general election statistics, and competing calls for voting reform - or sticking with first past the post - with Electoral Reform Society chief executive Katie Ghose, UKIP candidate Steve Stanbury, Labour MP Tulip Siddiq and Tory MP James Cleverly.Watch the debate

Liberal Democrat spokespeople in the House of Lords have been announced by Lord Jim Wallace of Tankerness, leader of the party in the Lords.

Lord Wallace was re-elected unopposed as leader of the group and has re-appointed Lord Newby as chief whip. 

He said the spokespeople will be "protecting liberal values and promoting radical policies".

Quote Message: There has never been a more important time for Liberal Democrats to be at the forefront of the fight against authoritarian and illiberal policies. Our spokespeople will take every opportunity to champion Liberal Democrat priorities in Parliament and out in the country."

There has never been a more important time for Liberal Democrats to be at the forefront of the fight against authoritarian and illiberal policies. Our spokespeople will take every opportunity to champion Liberal Democrat priorities in Parliament and out in the country."

At the German Embassy in London, Dr Norbert Rottgen spoke to Jo Coburn about David Cameron's grand European tour and what the UK PM may achieve.

Speaking of the timing on the British referendum, the CDU MP said: "We would prefer the earlier the better, but if you start such a debate it needs time, and so we accept the timetable which is worked out in Great Britain."

Watch the interview

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There are 177 new MPs in the 2015 Parliament, but the average MP is still a man, aged about 50 years old, and he probably worked in politics before.

Giles Dilnot looks at the changing face of Parliament, where a record number of women and non-white MPs will be sitting on the green benches, and hears about their first weeks in the new job.

Watch the film

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Mr Whittingdale said that a boycott by England would be "self-defeating".

He said: "If we are to put pressure on FIFA to change… it will only be effective if we can get the support of other countries."

Mr Whittingdale said: "This a game loved by millions across the world, the World Cup is seen to be the greatest sporting competition, second only to the Olympics… it is the fans ultimately who will lose out unless change is brought about in FIFA."

Mr Whittingdale said: "In terms of investigations by the serious fraud office these are operational matters and I do know they are assessing information they have received and I cannot provide any details beyond that."

Mr Whittingdale said the sponsors are "one of the ways we can best exert pressure on FIFA to make change."

On Sepp Blatter, Labour shadow secretary of state for Culture, Media and Sport, Chris Bryant, said:

Quote Message: By clinging on he is dragging FIFA further and further into the mud."

By clinging on he is dragging FIFA further and further into the mud."

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In reply to an urgent question from Labour MP Chris Bryant about government action following Friday’s re-election of Sepp Blatter as the president of FIFA, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport John Whittingdale said: 

Quote Message: If any evidence of criminal wrongdoing in the UK emerges we will support the fraud office in pursuing those involved. For the good of the game we must work to bring about change. For the good of the game it is time for Sepp Blatter to go."

If any evidence of criminal wrongdoing in the UK emerges we will support the fraud office in pursuing those involved. For the good of the game we must work to bring about change. For the good of the game it is time for Sepp Blatter to go."

Anna Feuchtwang, chief executive of the National Children's Bureau, said the government's plan to provide 30 hours of free childcare for children aged three and four is a "welcome move for working families" but warned that "considerable care" was needed to ensure children "really benefit".

She said that problems recruiting "well-qualified and experienced staff" were "further compounded" by "inadequate funding that sees many early years settings running at a deficit when providing free childcare".

Quote Message: With an ambitious timescale for introducing the expanded free childcare, we must ask whether providers will have both the number of staff and facilities needed to expand childcare to more children while retaining the quality needed to give young children the best start in life."

With an ambitious timescale for introducing the expanded free childcare, we must ask whether providers will have both the number of staff and facilities needed to expand childcare to more children while retaining the quality needed to give young children the best start in life."

PACopyright: PA

Over at The Guardian, political columnist Steve Richards has some advice for the next Labour leader: look to David Cameron to learn lessons "on how to lead an apparently doomed to power while largely sticking to its ideological course".

He notes that Cameron  has "'seen off' Brown, Miliband, Clegg and Cable while being the first modern serving prime minister to increase his party’s share of the vote".

Quote Message: Like Cameron in 2005, the next Labour leader will face a prime minister who will not fight the general election, and with an electoral mountain to climb. For Labour the parallels are much closer than they are to Blair’s early days. When he became leader in 1994 the Conservatives were in disarray and Blair knew he would be facing an already weakened John Major at the general election."

Like Cameron in 2005, the next Labour leader will face a prime minister who will not fight the general election, and with an electoral mountain to climb. For Labour the parallels are much closer than they are to Blair’s early days. When he became leader in 1994 the Conservatives were in disarray and Blair knew he would be facing an already weakened John Major at the general election."

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Norway's Foreign Minister Borge Brende says it makes sense for the UK to stay in the European Union, where it "can have more influence" than outside.

Norway is not in the EU but enacts most EU legislation in order to maintain access to the single market.

"Europe without Britain I don't think is as strong a Europe as with Britain inside," Mr Brende told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Across the parliamentary estate, the House of Lords is back in action today, too. Baroness Altmann and Lord O'Neill of Gatley - two new peers who have been appointed government ministers - will formally take their seats in upper chamber. Peers will then turn their attention to a half-hour questions session, with topics ranging from shared medical data, to migrants, to the EU referendum. 

The bulk of the day will be taken up by a debate on the Queen's Speech, in particular on aspects relating to constitutional, legal and devolved affairs. A statement on Fifa will also be repeated in the Lords.

The House of Commons meets at 14:30 BST, with the first item on the agenda an urgent question from Labour on world football's governing body, Fifa. It comes after Sepp Blatter's re-election as Fifa president last week, in a vote overshadowed by arrests and corruption allegations.

Immediately after that, MPs will continue their debate on the Queen's Speech with a focus on Britain's role in the world. That will run until about 22:00 BST, after which the Conservative MP for Bridgwater, Ian Liddell-Grainger, will lead a short debate on upland farming. 

Michael Fallon says the government balanced the Ministry of Defence's budget in the last parliament, saying this shows ministers can run the budget "properly" and "invest for the future". 

"We will always go on looking for ways to make defence more efficient to ensure that more of the money is spent on the frontline," he adds, and stresses once again that the 2% target will be met in this financial year. But he won't commit to meeting it beyond that.

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Michael Fallon, the Conservative defence secretary, says the US defence secretary, Ash Carter, was "right" to say Britain has "always punched above its weight" and is an "indispensable partner".

He says the government has made it "very clear" that it will go on meeting the 2% target in this financial year. And what about afterwards? He says the spending review of all government departmental budgets will take place in the autumn, and stresses the scale of the fiscal challenge ahead, adding: "We're no different to any other department in that."

But Green Party spokeswoman Rebecca Johnson tells the same programme that Britain's security needs have to be looked at "in context", saying the 2% target is an "arbitrary" figure.

"We should look at what our real risks and threats to defence and security are and then look at what we ought to spend. That may be 2%, it may be more, or it may be less," she says.

Conservative MP Julian Lewis tells the World at One he wants the government to commit to meeting the Nato target to spend 2% of national income on defence in the years ahead. It comes after the US defence secretary said he fears the UK could become "disengaged" if it makes further cuts to defence spending. Mr Lewis, a member of the Commons Defence Committee in the last Parliament, said that to fall below the target, which is "a minimum", would be "frankly staggering". 

The MPs arriving at Parliament for the first time can face problems as a newbie, including navigating their way round the building, as Tory MP James Cleverly explains:

Quote Message: I came down a flight of stairs, through a door which I was fairly certain would take me out to a corridor and once again, for about a fifth time, entered a broom cupboard."

I came down a flight of stairs, through a door which I was fairly certain would take me out to a corridor and once again, for about a fifth time, entered a broom cupboard."

On the proposal to leave the European Convention on Human Rights, Labour MP Tulip Siddiq tells the BBC's Daily Politics:

Quote Message: What kind of signal does that send to the rest of the world about pulling out of something that protects rights for the LGBT community, protects vulnerable children, it make sure people’s freedom of speech is protected? I worry about what the bill of rights will actually contain but I am very much alarmed by these calls to withdraw from the convention."

What kind of signal does that send to the rest of the world about pulling out of something that protects rights for the LGBT community, protects vulnerable children, it make sure people’s freedom of speech is protected? I worry about what the bill of rights will actually contain but I am very much alarmed by these calls to withdraw from the convention."

Conservative MP James Cleverly tells the BBC's Daily Politics:

Quote Message: We are not eradicating human rights - what we are saying is when British courts come to a judgement that disagrees with European court, it should be the British Court that is supreme.”

We are not eradicating human rights - what we are saying is when British courts come to a judgement that disagrees with European court, it should be the British Court that is supreme.”

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Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg tells the BBC's Daily Politics that time is being taken to make sure that the pledge to replace the Human Rights Act with a British Bill of Rights "has the widest possible support".

Quote Message: There are some people who would like to leave the convention all together, in my view that is not strictly necessary. You can leave the court without leaving the convention. The convention in its original form without judicial exaggeration is a very reasonable document."

There are some people who would like to leave the convention all together, in my view that is not strictly necessary. You can leave the court without leaving the convention. The convention in its original form without judicial exaggeration is a very reasonable document."

There will be an urgent question in the House of Commons at 14:30 BST on what further action the government will be taking following the re-election of Sepp Blatter as president of FIFA. The question is being asked by Shadow Culture Secretary Chris Bryant. It is yet to be confirmed which minister will reply for the government.

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David Cameron is setting up 10 cross-government "implementation task forces" because he thinks the government needs to "identify specific areas where we continue to deliver things" that are a priority for the government.

The move has echoes of Tony Blair's "delivery unit" - which was scrapped when the coalition came to power in 2010 amid criticism that it imposed too much central control on departments.

The committees will be chaired by cabinet ministers or junior ministers and they will report to the prime minister and the cabinet "regularly", although the prime minister's official spokesman didn't say precisely how often that would be.

They do not plan to publish reports but instead to "track progress... identify problems... and maintain momentum".

The full list of task forces is: 

Housing

Health and social care

Earn or learn

Immigration

Childcare

Tackling extremism in communities

Troubled families

Exports

Digital infrastructure and inclusion

Syrian returnees

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Childcare minister Sam Gyimah tells the BBC's Daily Politics that the childcare scheme is a "simple and direct policy" that will "really help" those who want to work more hours.

Quote Message: I’m agreeing with the sector, that we need to look at the funding rate for the first 15 hours in terms of what exactly that amount is. You can’t prejudge it until you have done a detailed review looking at what is happening in different parts of the country. The people that this will principally benefit are those who do not work and cannot work more hours because the cost of childcare is too high."

I’m agreeing with the sector, that we need to look at the funding rate for the first 15 hours in terms of what exactly that amount is. You can’t prejudge it until you have done a detailed review looking at what is happening in different parts of the country. The people that this will principally benefit are those who do not work and cannot work more hours because the cost of childcare is too high."

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Shannon Hawthorne, from the Pre-School Learning Alliance, told BBC's Daily Politics that the childcare scheme "in principle" was a "positive thing".

But she said: "What we are talking about is making sure the plan is sustainable in the long term and that is where our concerns lie."

She said there would be a £250m shortfall per year with the extension if it is funded at current rates.

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There is "no dispute or division" in the Conservative Party about whether the UK should withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights, George Osborne has said.

The Daily Telegraph reported that David Cameron had dropped the plans, contradicting the view of cabinet ministers Michael Gove and Theresa May. 

But speaking in Derby earlier the chancellor said the Conservative Party was "united" in "believing that we should have more control as a country over the decisions that affect our citizens and that it's our courts and our Parliament".

Quote Message: There is no dispute or division in our party about the policy because the policy is set out in our manifesto and that is what we'll do. We'll create that bill of rights, we'll bring powers back to this country and give the British people the final say over the decisions that affect our lives."

There is no dispute or division in our party about the policy because the policy is set out in our manifesto and that is what we'll do. We'll create that bill of rights, we'll bring powers back to this country and give the British people the final say over the decisions that affect our lives."

Prime Minister David Cameron told ITV's This Morning that the childcare scheme would be funded by "taking away some tax privileges from people's pensions who earn over... £150,000".  "That's how we pay for it," he said.

Quote Message: But what matters is why we're doing it, which is, you know, for many families childcare is not one issue amongst many, it is the issue, the cost of childcare."

But what matters is why we're doing it, which is, you know, for many families childcare is not one issue amongst many, it is the issue, the cost of childcare."

Tristram Hunt, Labour's shadow education secretary, said it "remains unclear" how the Conservatives propose to "fill the funding gaps in the plans" on childcare.

Quote Message: Education in the early years of a child's life is so crucial for improving their future prospects. The omission of a government strategy to address educational inequality in the early years exposes a failure of the last government that looks set to continue under this one. Ministers seem content to say nothing about improving education standards for all children so that they are school ready."

Education in the early years of a child's life is so crucial for improving their future prospects. The omission of a government strategy to address educational inequality in the early years exposes a failure of the last government that looks set to continue under this one. Ministers seem content to say nothing about improving education standards for all children so that they are school ready."

The US defence secretary says he fears the UK could become "disengaged" if it makes further cuts to defence spending.

Ashton Carter told the BBC Britain had "always punched above its weight" and "it would be a great loss to the world if it now took action that would indicate disengagement".

The UK government has not committed to meeting Nato's target of spending 2% of GDP on defence beyond 2016.

It says budgets will be determined in the next spending review.

Ministry of DefenceCopyright: Ministry of Defence

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The leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats has said scrapping Wales' health watchdog should be considered.

Kirsty Williams said a damning report into Glan Clwyd Hospital's Tawel Fan unit in Denbighshire was a "scandal".

She said Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) had failed as the "final backstop and assurance mechanism" to ensure care was "first class".

HIW said it provided a "robust" service, and the Welsh government said it was "largely fit for purpose".

Email Message: Why should taxpayers be subsidising childcare, either a woman wants a family or a career? My parents brought eight of us up and my father earned less than £8 a week in the mines. Neighbours helped one another in those good old days, unlike today's rat race where everyone thinks only about number one.

from Norman, Durham

Why should taxpayers be subsidising childcare, either a woman wants a family or a career? My parents brought eight of us up and my father earned less than £8 a week in the mines. Neighbours helped one another in those good old days, unlike today's rat race where everyone thinks only about number one.

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On the Daily Politics, Jo Coburn will be looking at childcare issues with Shannon Hawthorne of the Pre-School Learning Alliance, and the Childcare and Education Minister Sam Gyimah.

She will examine the EU referendum debate with former Conservative MP Laura Sandys, who would like to stay in, and the more sceptical Labour MP Kelvin Hopkins.

And there will be a look ahead to the week in Westminster with journalists Andrew Pierce and Joe Watts.

Later on, Conservative MPs James Cleverly and Jacob Rees Mogg, and Labour's Tulip Siddiq, will look at the reported split in the cabinet over whether or not to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights.

UKIP’s Steve Stanbury will join in for a debate on electoral reform. And there will be a film from Giles Dilnot on new MPs. It's all on TV on BBC 2 and online on the Live Coverage tab on this page from 12:00 BST.

Email Message: The UK is being ripped apart because we do not have a fair system of voting/representation.  Well over half of the electorate feel totally disenfranchised and either don't bother to vote or consider their vote a total waste of time as they are in 'safe' seat.  Beckett's comment (see 8.10am entry) is nonsense and is typical of the Westminster contempt for the people.

from Jason S, Coulsdon

The UK is being ripped apart because we do not have a fair system of voting/representation.  Well over half of the electorate feel totally disenfranchised and either don't bother to vote or consider their vote a total waste of time as they are in 'safe' seat.  Beckett's comment (see 8.10am entry) is nonsense and is typical of the Westminster contempt for the people.

Asked about his recent whistlestop tour to some European countries the Prime Minister said he didn't want Britain to be part of "ever closer union", that he wanted to make sure Europe was "more competitive", that there was "less regulation" and that Britain had "better control of immigration".

On the in-out EU referendum David Cameron said: "I don't have to rush this."

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Any working parent will tell you the cost of childcare burns a massive hole in the family wallet. So to many, the prospect of a free 30-hours-a-week will sound like a fantastic offer.

But when the government, in other words the taxpayer, is footing the bill for a policy, there are other questions. Such as what does it expect to get back from spending the money, other than a lot of grateful parents?

Read more from the BBC's Education Editor Branwen Jeffreys here.

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Emily Jane Clark, mum to a two and three-year-old, told the BBC Victoria Derbyshire programme that she would have the option of taking on more work thanks to the childcare scheme, but she "worries" where the funding will come from for the nurseries.

Quote Message: When we really were struggling the most was when the children we very, very young. I don’t think the cost of childcare is the only issue. What we struggled with was just the sheer cost of living."

When we really were struggling the most was when the children we very, very young. I don’t think the cost of childcare is the only issue. What we struggled with was just the sheer cost of living."

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Mr Cameron told ITV's This Morning: "The best use of money now is for those parents who want to go out to work but who find it difficult because of childcare costs...

"I am confident that this will have a lot of all party support… so I am confident we will get this through."

Speaking to  ITV’s This Morning about today's childcare announcement, Prime Minister David Cameron said: “That is going to take time to get this right because obviously we need an expansion of the childcare sector."

He added: "I think it is very exciting for so many families as the cost of childcare is such a big issue."

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Today's report from the Electoral Reform Society suggests:

• 50% of votes in the 2015 election - 22 million - went to losing candidates
• 2.8 million voters were likely to have voted "tactically"
• The election saw an MP win on the lowest vote share in electoral history 24.5% in Belfast South
• 331 of 650 MPs were elected on under 50% of the vote, and 191 with less than 30% of the electorate

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Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon wants the country's island communities to have more powers to "grow their economies".

In an interview with BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme, Ms Sturgeon said she planned to consult on island powers.

Quote Message: We are very serious about devolving as much power as possible down to local communities so that we put the power into the hands of people in local communities to grow their economies and to take the decisions that are right for them."

We are very serious about devolving as much power as possible down to local communities so that we put the power into the hands of people in local communities to grow their economies and to take the decisions that are right for them."

Prime Minister David Cameron has ruled out withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights despite objections from Justice Secretary Michael Gove and Home Secretary Theresa May, The Daily Telegraph reports .

The newspaper says it is the "first major cabinet split since the election" as Mr Gove and Mrs May believe that pulling out of the convention may be the "only solution" to re-establishing the supremacy of British courts.

A senior government source told The Telegraph that withdrawal for Mr Cameron is "off the table".

The move to double free childcare for working parents was a key pledge of the Conservatives' general election manifesto.

Speaking ahead of the introduction of the Childcare Bill, which will enshrine the measure in law, Prime Minister David Cameron said that the government was "on the side of working people, helping them get on and supporting them at every stage of life".

Quote Message: That is exactly why we are pressing ahead with these reforms so that not a moment is lost in getting on with the task, going further than ever before to help with childcare costs."

That is exactly why we are pressing ahead with these reforms so that not a moment is lost in getting on with the task, going further than ever before to help with childcare costs."

Linda Symonds, owner of Kidz Kabin nursery in north London, said the government's announcement about free childcare trials was "misleading".

Quote Message: The way they have put it across to parents is very misleading. The government is pulling wool over all these families' eyes if they tell them this childcare is free. At the moment we don't even break even on what they pay us. Unless we make some profit we can't invest and pay staff properly."

The way they have put it across to parents is very misleading. The government is pulling wool over all these families' eyes if they tell them this childcare is free. At the moment we don't even break even on what they pay us. Unless we make some profit we can't invest and pay staff properly."

PACopyright: PA

One of the founding members of the Social Democratic Party, Shirley Williams, has backed former care minister Norman Lamb to replace Nick Clegg as leader of the Liberal Democrats.

In a statement printed in the Guardian, Lady Williams said Mr Lamb as a "wonderful constituency MP" who has "brought politics at its best to his county".

She described the MP for North Norfolk as one of the finest MPs and ministers she had met in her "long political life".

Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi is warning against further substantial cuts to the Foreign Office in next month's Budget. Writing on ConservativeHome , Mr Zahawi suggests the Foreign Office already has less funding at its disposal than Kent County Council and is struggling with a "lack of manpower and a lack of time". The department, he says, needs to be properly resourced to address the complex foreign policy challenges facing the UK in the Middle East and the former Soviet Union. As part of any new settlement, he also says there needs to be "greater accountability" with ambassadors more regularly appearing before parliamentary committees to explain their strategic priorities. 

Quote Message: I’m not arguing for a blank cheque. There’s still more work to do to ensure the FCO spends less on managing itself in Whitehall and more on overseas engagement... our embassy staff do an extraordinary job, often in hostile conditions, and we can be proud that we have one of the best diplomatic services in the world. But there are huge foreign policy challenges in the Parliament ahead, and we now have to commit to remaining the best."

I’m not arguing for a blank cheque. There’s still more work to do to ensure the FCO spends less on managing itself in Whitehall and more on overseas engagement... our embassy staff do an extraordinary job, often in hostile conditions, and we can be proud that we have one of the best diplomatic services in the world. But there are huge foreign policy challenges in the Parliament ahead, and we now have to commit to remaining the best."

PACopyright: PA

UKIP could have won as many as 80 MPs and the Greens 20 had other voting systems had been used, according to new analysis from the Electoral Reform Society.

UKIP received 3.9 million votes and the Greens 1.2 million, and they ended up with one MP each.  

Katie Ghose, chief executive, described the current voting system, usually known as first-past-the-post, as "archaic" and "divisive".  

Quote Message: It's about time we had a fairer system for electing our MPs."

It's about time we had a fairer system for electing our MPs."

BBCCopyright: BBC

The government wants to double the amount of free childcare available for working parents in England but Priti Patel, employment minister, concedes they haven't worked out the full cost yet. She said a review of the charges will take place this summer with providers.

Quote Message: We have pledged to increase funding rates for providers in different parts of the country, and we'll be starting a review into the rates, across the country before this summer... going to consult with providers on this."

We have pledged to increase funding rates for providers in different parts of the country, and we'll be starting a review into the rates, across the country before this summer... going to consult with providers on this."

The Pre-School Learning Alliance has warned the childcare system faces "meltdown" if the Government does not raise the amount it pays providers. 

The charity's chief executive Neil Leitch told the BBC that extending funded hours "without first tackling this shortfall is clearly only going to make a bad situation worse" and said it was "crunch time".

Quote Message: I think there will be a meltdown. You will see more and more providers withdrawing from the system and that will undermine and just railroad the entire policy."

I think there will be a meltdown. You will see more and more providers withdrawing from the system and that will undermine and just railroad the entire policy."

Margaret Beckett has rejected suggestions that an inquiry she is chairing into Labour's election defeat will be the equivalent of a "truth and reconciliation" commission - a phrase used by acting leader Harriet Harman. Mrs Beckett, a former acting leader herself, told the BBC that "it's not called that at all", adding that the panel would try and make sense of the "different patterns of voting" seen in different parts of the country. 

Quote Message: Basically, we need to know exactly what happened... we need to look and see and listen to people about what they actually think, as opposed to what other people are saying they think."

Basically, we need to know exactly what happened... we need to look and see and listen to people about what they actually think, as opposed to what other people are saying they think."

BBCCopyright: BBC

The day's headlines focus on a possible breakthrough in treatment of cancer. On the political front the the Daily Mail is urging the government to scrap the Human Rights Act, which it describes as a law which defends the rights of criminals and terrorists, while betraying those of the law-abiding.

Read the full paper review

The government has confirmed that it will launch a share sale open to retail investors "in the next 12 months". "Further details will be set out in due course," the Treasury added.

Mr Osborne has previously pledged to make some Lloyds shares available to small investors - at a discount to the market price - as part of the share sell-off.

The  government also said  it would extend its plan to sell off shares in Lloyds to the end of the year. The scheme was originally due to end at the end of June, but will now finish on 31 December.

Read more

The Employment Minister, Priti Patel, says "there is no row" in Cabinet over whether Britain should withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights. The government is to bring forward proposals for a British Bill of Rights to replace the Human Rights Act.

The Telegraph reports David Cameron has ruled out going further and pulling out of the convention but Home Secretary Theresa May and Justice Secretary Michael Gove believe withdrawal is the only way to restore the supremacy of British courts.

Ms Patel told Sky "we are committed to delivering a British Bill of Rights" and it is "right and proper we consult and take the time to develop the policy in the right way".

APCopyright: AP

Labour's Margaret Beckett disputes the idea that people want a change to the voting system - she says that a system which provides a majority government is preferred:

Quote Message: All the commentators had been saying 'The people no longer want these old-fashioned parties, the people do not want a majority government'. Well, actually they did. And to me, one of the virtues of our present system is that the British people understand it, they know how to work it. In 2010, they didn't like any of us and didn't give any of us a majority, but in 2015 they said 'Hang on a minute', they'd rather have a majority government of one or the other than a mess."

All the commentators had been saying 'The people no longer want these old-fashioned parties, the people do not want a majority government'. Well, actually they did. And to me, one of the virtues of our present system is that the British people understand it, they know how to work it. In 2010, they didn't like any of us and didn't give any of us a majority, but in 2015 they said 'Hang on a minute', they'd rather have a majority government of one or the other than a mess."

Debate continues about the fairness of the electoral system. The 2015 general election was the "most disproportionate in British history", the Electoral Reform Society has said.

In a new analysis the society - which campaigns to change the voting system - says under a different system UKIP could have won as many as 80 MPs and the Greens 20. UKIP received 3.9m votes and the Greens 1.2m, but only got one MP each.

Read more

PACopyright: PA

The main government announcement this morning has been that trials of a scheme to double free childcare for working parents in England are to be brought forward a year to September 2016. Parents in some areas will be entitled to the extra childcare earlier as pilot schemes are rolled out.

The government has also committed to better funding for the free places. But the Pre-School Learning Alliance says the system faces "meltdown" if the government does not raise the amount it pays providers. The funding review must be "full and thorough", said the charity.

Currently, all three- and four-year olds in England are entitled to 570 hours of free early education or childcare a year, which works out as 15 hours each week for 38 weeks of the year.

The Childcare Bill, announced in last week's Queen's Speech, would double this for working parents.

Speaking ahead of his announcement, David Cameron said the government was "pressing ahead with these reforms so that not a moment is lost in getting on with the task, going further than ever before to help with childcare costs".

Read more

Hello and welcome to what is already shaping up to be a busy political week. We'll be bringing you all the action, analysis and reaction as they happen. You can get in touch by emailing us at politics@bbc.co.uk or via Twitter @bbcpolitics or @ialexhunt