WILL ROYAL MAIL FINISH BROWN?

Nationwide
Labour prepares for a hammering at ballot box
School closed after pupil infects four classmates
Clubs face penalties for facist fans
British cases of swine flu jump to 27

International
Obama moves to capture lost tax from multinationals
U.S. bill aims to triple aid to Pakistan
Fiat move for GM would create $100B giant
South Koreans convicted in Iraq scheme

DAILY BLOG REVIEW / by Jennie Rigg

Charlotte Gore has started a meme, which has been picked up by a couple of other people – can you name ten people who would be a better PM than Brown?

Daddy Alex thinks he has found the stupidest thing John Prescott has ever said. Yup even stupider than “I want you, Tracy”.

The e-hippies have done a pretty indepth study on the policing of dissent in this country. It’s long, but it’s worth digging into.

Jonathan Calder has this month’s Wikio exclusive, and the most worrying thing about it is that even after five days’ solid advertising coverage on the MSM (and even this blog), Guido still hasn’t knocked La Dale off his perch. Can anyone unseat the egregious Tory Tosser?

Stuart Sharpe has caused a big kerfuffle in the Lib Dem blogosphere for daring to suggest that we are insular and our websites are rubbish.

Our own dear Sarah talks about Chris Woodhead’s coming out as disAbled.

And finally Mr Eugenides has this week’s Britblog Roundup, or for yet more linkage, you can browse through previous Netcasts

THE ‘FASCIST’ COMES TO EUROPE

Nationwide
MoD under fire for all-male toy soldiers
Whatever happened to Thatcher’s children?
Criminals to face easier deportation
UK swine flu cases rise to 15

International
Hungarian Roma take to streets in defence
The rise and rise of Russian nationalism
How Lehman Brothers got its real estate fix
Hundreds isolated in Hong Kong hotel

DAILY BLOG REVIEW / by Jennie Rigg

SignTube has a video with advice about Swine Flu in BSL.

Meral Ece is a bit annoyed that her cousin, Tracey Emin, is being touted as a Tory.

Mr Quist has a look at how Gordon Brown is getting on with supplying all the things he promised in his mansion house speech in 2007.

Helen on LDV is picking on a poor, dear, sweet, innocent Labour peer who is ONLY claiming £100,000 for an empty flat…

Mark on LDV has the right idea, though, informing us about 6 Tories going to jail for electoral fraud. MUCH more important than Labour misbehaviour.

And finally SugarStacks has pictorial evidence of how much sugar is in lots of foodstuffs (with a USian slant); or if that’s too scary, you can browse through previous Netcasts

SCHOOLS TO ALLOW HOMOPHOBIA

Nationwide
Women take a back seat in the Tory party
Scrap ID cards now, say Cabinet rebels
Calm urged as Swine Flu reaches Britain
Human rights issues in welfare reform bill

International
Pakistani truce is on shakier ground
Taliban gunmen shoot couple dead for adultery
How an interview in ’07 tilted torture debate
Sri Lanka halts heavy attacks on rebels

DAILY BLOG REVIEW / by Jennie

Uncle Steve is mildly annoyed about our top story. Well, when I say mildly annoyed what I mean is, he’s tagged the post assholes.

Caron has news on how you can help the lovely Ms Lumley to help the Gurkha Justice Campaign.

The Radio Four Blog is following the story of the Farming Today beehive. Investigative journalism at its best, right there.

The LSE is having an event to discuss whether tax havens are a cause of poverty. One for all you filthy southerners…

How To Save The World has a very interesting manifesto for education.

Aaronovitch Watch has a review of Aaro’s new book before it’s even out.

Darrell Goodliffe at the social liberal forum on why people who care for traditional Labour values should vote Lib Dem.

And finally our very own Aaron has some handy hints on how to survive the aporkalypse; or if that’s too panic-inducing for you, you can safely and comfortingly browse through previous Netcasts

LABOUR PEERS FACE SUSPENSION

Nationwide
Senior Tory Councillor arrested for Fraud.
Crisis for New Exam System
BNP Candidate arrested for selling illegal firearms
Lib Dem PPC Defects to Tories
Magistrate Quits in Twitter Row

International
British Spy Loses Secrets in South America
Mexican Flu sparks worldwide panic.
Cricket breaks down boundaries in Israel.

DAILY BLOG REVIEW / by Your Name

Mr Quist thinks we shouldn’t be too worried about Mexican Swine Flu. Susan Watts begs to differ. Lay Scientist also has an excellent post on this.

Nadine Dorries plans to sue Damien McBride. Let’s hope she gets quoted LOTS in the media and then everyone will see how clueless she is… Rhetorically Speaking has a great post on this.

Slacktivist lays into his fellow evangelicals for being bigoted.

The Daily Quail on an unlikely champion of rights for immigrants.

Giandujakiss has made a vid on Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse. Those of you wondering what the hell this has to do with politics should watch it.

Political Betting on the possibilities of voter registration.

And finally Septicisle has the usual collection of weekend links; or you can browse through previous Netcasts

TWITTERFAIL AT THE TELEGRAPH

Nationwide
Happy Birthday, Your Maj!
Speed Limits to be cut on A Roads.
Stephen Hawking very ill in Cambridge
Inside Broadmoor

International
Oxfam warns of climate diaster.
Cheney demands Obama reveal torture “success”.
Senegal gay convictions quashed.
Pirates laundering ransom money in Dubai

DAILY BLOG REVIEW / by Jennie Rigg

John Beacroft-Mitchell explains the new Lib Dem tax policy – or you can go to our fluffy friend for a longer explanation.

Amused Cynicism highlights research which proves that faith schools are not, in fact, better.

The World is My Country is one of many having a little giggle about TwitterFAIL.

Stephen Glenn on how the SNP are trying (somewhat ham-fistedly) to get in on this whole “smeargate” thing.

Slipscale at UK Bikers on the government’s proposed changes to the speed limits.

Alix at Lib Dem Voice highlights worrying news about the government sharing secret police surveillance information with E.ON in the run up to the Kingsnorth protests.

Redemption Blues has this week’s Britblog Roundup.

And finally John Rentoul‘s bizarre Blair fetish churns out yet more comedy gold, or if that’s too vomit-inducing for you, you can browse through previous Netcasts

CHAVEZ RESTORES U.S. LINKS

Nationwide
Five killed in head-on M1 crash
Government Apologises to Binyam Mohammed.
Labour’s climate measures mainly hot air
Lib Dem donor accused on Israeli arms deal

International
Revolt stirs among China’s nuclear ghosts
Far-right Geert Wilders plans sequel to Fitna
Iran sentences U.S. journalist to eight years
Google avoids £100m UK tax

DAILY BLOG REVIEW / by Jennie Rigg

Slim pickings today, since the whole internet is awash with the shocking news that dumpy middle-aged Scottish ladies can sing better than airbrushed pouty debs (the bits of it that aren’t still giving publicity to that cock Staines, anyway) so apologies for the paucity of links.

Stephen Tall at Lib Dem Voice makes the best post I have seen on the resignation of Alice Mahon (I also made a small post about it).

The Digger adds to the torrent of new evidence of police violence at the G20 protests.

The Lay Scientist rips into Christian Voice.

Sarah Ismail wants a discussion on disAbility and parenting.

And speaking of parenting, Mr Quist has no truck with Change4Life’s parenting messages.

Alex Wilcock has had a visitation from his local MP.

Tom Griffin thinks there might be an Irish lesson for the middle east.

And, as usual, Septicisle has more, or you can browse through previous Netcasts

POLICE SPIES INFILTRATE PROTESTS

Nationwide
Advisers to be sacked for personal attacks
Teachers demand 10 per cent pay rise
Academics to boycott new student immigration rules
A whistleblowers’ helpline for City fraudsters

International
Two die in clashes as troops besiege Bangkok
Rabbi-in-chief: Obama’s Jewish connection
Yade: The political star who’s eclipsing Sarko
Pakistan agrees to sharia law in Swat Valley

DAILY BLOG REVIEW / by Jennie Rigg

Sorry, sorry, sorry, I know the netcast is late, but LOOK! I has a Dreamwidth! Lookit their Diversity Statement! This is a proper blog platform for Liberals! It’s all open and transparent and does all the cool things LJ does and WordPress does with none of the pains in the butt!

* cough *

Sorry. Bit excited. Will cast net now. Sorry.

Chicky Yog points out some of the things that are being covered up by the MSM hysteria over some pointless emails. Still, who cares about protesters getting arrested or war inquiries when there’s Westminster tittle-tattle to obsess over…

The World is My Country on China’s interaction with Africa and how it affects us all.

Gneil, Charlie Stross, and our very own Sarah have good posts on amazonfail.

LavenderSparkle has a fantastic post on the politics of the hijab (and other head-coverings for women).

Richard Herring reviews The Boat That Rocked in somewhat caustic terms.

The Lay Scientist points out a stunning bit of Daily Fail hypocrisy and double standards.

And if you’re in the mood for feeling some feminist rage, you can read Crimitism‘s long and detailed review of all the fail in The Nice Guy webcomic, or you can browse through previous Netcasts

100,000 MARCH THROUGH LONDON

… and six arrested

Nationwide
Tomlinson: man who was trying to get home
Pakistan pledges UK terror arrests help
Darling to offer £2,000 reward to scrap old cars
MPs earn rent while claiming home allowance

International
“I’m a successful Somali pirate”
Obama brings truce in culture war
U.N. Council may rebuke North Korea
Thailand cancels Summit after protests

DAILY BLOG REVIEW / by Jennie Rigg

Lets get the self-referential, Westminster-centric circle jerk between a gaggle of despicable frauds out of the way first, shall we? If you actually WANT to read about it, HopiSen‘s entry is the one I would go for.

Now, onto things that are actually important:

Stephen Glenn remembers Hillsborough.

Pink Dog has a roadsign for our times.

Bad Conscience wonders why something which seems a straightforward moral issue (policemen shouldn’t attack innocent bystanders) has split along left-right lines.

Charlotte Gore on why Labour talk up the BNP.

David A MacIntee reviews last night’s new episode of Doctor Who.

And if you still crave really vitally important stuff, Lay Scientist has a very serious health and safety video.

If you’re sensible, though, you’ll head on over to AMCTV, and watch one of their many totally legit classic movies which are now online for your pleasure (hat-tip MatGB), or you can browse through previous Netcasts

NUCLEAR’S NOT WORKING

Nationwide
Dead G20 man was ‘confronted by police’
Westminster Bridge closed after Tamil protest
G20 protestors plan new march Saturday
Smoothie operators sell out to Coke

International
US announces major defense spending shifts
North Korea seeks gain fromrocket launch
Iranian candidate calls Ahmadinejad an extremist
Empire State building goes green

DAILY BLOG REVIEW / by Jennie Rigg

Think you’ve spotted a blog we should be linking to? Email and let us know!

James Holden has a make your own terror billboard webapp (thanks to Millennium for pointing it out to me).

Senator Stuart Svyret (he who broke the Jersey child abuse scandal) has been arrested without a warrant.

Guy Aitchison has a fabulous round-up of, and personal angle on, the G20 protests on Open Democracy.

Ouch, the BBC’s disability blog, on how the authorities deal with disability on the streets.

Helen Duffett is panicking about being stopped and searched at the airport, given the contents of her luggage. I say: Order that vegetarian meal and the consequences be damned, Helen!

Diffrent Colours wrestles with an ethical dilemma – is it right to work for a company whose morals you fundamentally disagree with?

Renegade Evolution discusses the possibility of feminist porn.

Will Rhodes has spotted possible grounds for challenging the EU Data Storage directive that allows us all to be snooped on.

And Charles Crawford has this week’s Britblog Round-up, or you can browse through previous Netcasts

POLICE ‘ASSAULTED’ G20 VICTIM

Nationwide
Geoff Hoon’s home expenses come under spotlight
‘Parents to blame’ for problems, say teachers
Archbishop Sentamu waves flag for England
UK torture collusion ‘widespread’, claims group

International
Roman police find sewer children
Scores of Tamil Tigers die in Sri Lanka clashes
Afghanistan to review ‘abhorrent’ sharia law
Large Antarctic ice shelf expected to break off

DAILY BLOG REVIEW / by Jennie Rigg

Think you’ve spotted a blog we should be linking to? Email and let us know!

Adrian Sanders MP (Warning to anti-Murdoch folk: blog is on MySpace) gives us a breakdown of his expenses claim. He might be interested to know that his daily “food and incidentals” claim, while not on the face of it unreasonable, is my entire household’s current WEEKLY food budget…

Melengro talks about sex and gender. It’s nice to read this sort of thing from a guy.

Nicholas Whyte wants us to reclaim þorn.

Bad Conscience on why estate agents should be regulated if we want to avoid getting into this mess again.

Costigan Quist wonders if those behind the anti-terrorism posters are willfully misleading people, or just stupid.

Will Rhodes fisks the new Tory darling Daniel Hannan.

Hagley Road to Ladywood goes all Ben Goldacre on the Torygraph.

David Boyle points out that equality is not just, or even mainly, about money.

And if you still want more, scurry on over to Septicisle, or you can browse through previous Netcasts

RECORD HOUSE PRICES FALL

Nationwide
Brown accused over green spending
Is London having an anxiety attack?
Cut in maternity leave so fathers get time
Council told to switch off CCTV network

International
‘French Eminem’ misogyny prompts outrage
Merkel ready to greet, and resist, Obama
Vast spy system loots computers in 103 countries
Judge OKs torture probe against Bush official

DAILY BLOG REVIEW / by Jennie Rigg

Think you’ve spotted a blog we should be linking to? Email and let us know!

Steve Webb MP details how he spends his expenses.

The Award-winning Alix Mortimer details exactly why we should care about Jacqui Smith’s husband’s porn habit.

Anton Vowl has a forensic dissection of the lies about people not being allowed to celebrate St George’s Day because of politicalcorrectnessgawnMAAAAAAAAAAAAD.

Ekklesia is a bit annoyed with the BNP asking WWJD?

Hagley Road to Ladywood has noticed a stunning little bit of tabloid hypocrisy.

Ampersand (a bloke) writes in defence of male-bashing (although he doesn’t like the term).

And finally, Reza Ghadiri-Zare will reveal an embarrassing story about himself for every £100 of sponsorship he recieves for the London Marathon. There’s only a tenner to go to the next one at time of typing, and the last one was a belter. Or if you are feeling skint, you can browse through previous Netcasts

35,000 STRONG

Nationwide
Scramble to save building society from collapse
Tory donor gives £100,000 to UKIP
PM calls for crackdown on tax havens
Race obsession harms those it’s meant to help

International
Cities switch off for Earth Hour
Vast spy system loots computers in 103 countries
Anglo-American capitalism on trial
Falklands sovereignty ‘not up for discussion’

DAILY BLOG REVIEW / by Jennie Rigg

Think you’ve spotted a blog we should be linking to? Email and let us know!

Craig Murray has an admission from the Foreign and Commonweath Office that they have used evidence obtained by torture.

Sarah Ismail reports on the implosion of the EHRC.

David Price has argument maps as to whether the war in Iraq was legal or not.

Jonathan Calder has discovered that Lembit Opik’s columns are censored by commons internet authorities.

Rhythmaning participated in Earth Hour and found it surprisingly enjoyable.

Dave Godfrey has completed his steampunk computer project (with pictures).

And there’s a weekend roundup as usual at Septicisle, or you can browse through previous Netcasts

“In its natural and ordinary sense [RIPA] is capable of applying to privileged consultations and there is nothing in its wording which would operate to exclude them,” Lord Carswell wrote in his ruling. “It seems to me unlikely that the possibility of RIPA applying to privileged consultations could have passed unnoticed [in Parliament]. On the contrary, it is an obvious application of the Act, yet no provision was put in to exclude them.”

So we can add Lawyer-client confidentiality to the right to silence and habeus corpus and all the other protections for the accused which have gone by the wayside under this government. Another salami slice gone.

Something for my homeboy Huhne to add to his freedom bill, perhaps?

KNIVES OUT OVER CAMPBELL

Nationwide
Brown plans global scrutiny of tax havens
Shoppers need clear labels to stop ‘greenwash’
Course to teach imams about cohesion
Conservatives in disarray on tax promise

International
Outrage at South Africa’s ban on Dalai Lama
Terror fears force India to abandon cricket plans
US seeks investors to buy $1trillion bad assets
A web site’s for-Profit approach to world news

DAILY BLOG REVIEW / by Jennie Rigg

Think you’ve spotted a blog we should be linking to? Email and let us know!

Will Rhodes, James Graham and Chicken Yoghurt are all discussing the database state today, their own inimicable ways. I like Chicky Yog’s pithy post best, but they are all worth reading.

My fiancé is a terrorist. I am very pleased that Gordon Brown is now referring to it as The War Against Terror again, by the way. The acronym is SO appropriate.

Hagley Road to Ladywood is incensed by the fact that hate crime doesn’t get any attention when it’s homophobic hate crime.

Jonny Wright is mildly disbelieving of Patricia Hewitt’s newfound advocacy of assisted dying.

Bad Conscience is amused by the Tories squabbling over Inheritance Tax.

The Art of Restraining Power examines the blogosphere’s react to Obama’s Iranian speech.

Debi Linton has a Very Important Appeal for twitterers and non-twitterers alike. The subject is one close to my heart, so I hope you will do what you can.

And if you hanker after more linkage, this week’s Britblog Roundup is at the very pink Suzblog, or you can browse through previous Netcasts

TORIES SQUABBLE OVER TAX

Nationwide
RBS faces probe over ‘threats’ to directors
Borat-style satire on faith causes outrage
Britain to be most populous EU country
Lord Mandelson spawns new spin empire

International
Americans angered by bigger AIG’s bonuses
Iran says it will change if the U.S. changes
Sesame Street explains the Madoff scandal
India to launch Israel-backed satellite

DAILY BLOG REVIEW / by Jennie Rigg

Think you’ve spotted a blog we should be linking to? Email and let us know!

Matt Taibbi has a very long but very good article on how the financial crisis isn’t about money, but about power.

Chicken Yoghurt compares the labour government to a drunken abusive husband.

Alas, a Blog! has video of Edward James Olmos discussing how we use the word “race”. Cthulhu, I’m going to miss BSG.

James Graham says the Lib Dems don’t need a blogging stategy, they need a Lembit strategy.

Ben Six on why Nick Cohen is a lying liar.

Kevin Williamson looks into his crystal balls and predicts that the summer of rage will start on April 1st.

Jonathan Calder has an exciting competition with fabulous prizes!

And if you hanker after more linkage, there’s lots at Septicisle, or you can browse through previous Netcasts

Oh yeah, and happy Mother’s Day to all my fellow mums.

BROWN’S BEER PRICE PLAN

Nationwide
Economic downturn costs £40,000 for every adult.
Pensioners hire Cherie to sue RBS.
Economy is too fragile to worry about equality says EHRC.
Mothers work harder than fathers

International
Pakistan reinstates judge to divert crisis.
Two Israeli policemen shot dead.
Americans discover that mental aging starts in 20s.
Australian politician denies nude pictures are of her.

DAILY BLOG REVIEW / by Jennie Rigg

Think you’ve got what it takes to be a netcaster? We’re recruiting. Email us a link to your blog and a convincing reason to pick you to and we’ll consider you.

Andrew Ducker reminds us all just how long that “youth of today” meme has been going.

Clay Shirky has a fantastic article about how the internet has broken newspapers, and why they ought to face up to it.

Martin Hickman of the Indy blogs about how you (yes YOU) could claim back hundreds of pounds on mis-sold insurance.

Matt Wardman documents the harrassment of photographers by the police.

Political Betting has a guide to polling methodologies of the different poll companies.

XKCD foretells the future of green energy.

And if you crave more linkage then hop along to Amused Cynicism for this week’s Carnival on Modern Liberty, assuming you’ve not seen it yet, or browse through previous Netcasts

GLOBAL CLIMATE PROTEST

Nationwide
Restaurants fight ban on tips as wages
Lord demands crackdown on bank excess
Cable: ‘RBS would break Scotland’
Riots erupt as republican held over murders

International
Mosquito laser offers new hope on malaria
Pakistan clamps on protests amid fears of coup
G20 make pledge to restore growth
America cheers as Stewart eviscerates Cramer

DAILY BLOG REVIEW / by Jennie Rigg

Think you’ve got what it takes to be a netcaster? We’re recruiting. Email us a link to your blog and a convincing reason to pick you to and we’ll consider you.

Craig Murray shows how much the government cares about your views – they delete your emails without reading them. Hands up all who are surprised? … Anyone? *wind whistles* *bell tolls in distance* *tumbleweed rolls past in a desultory fashion* … Anyone?

Septicisle is very sensible about the Luton protests; Meral Ece makes the same point in more pugnacious fashion.

El Presidente Baroness Ros Scott reports on what Vince Cable is doing at the Scottish Lib Dem Conference (generally being awesome, natch).

Laurie Penny hangs an interesting discussion of how the media treats women’s mental health on Britney Spears

Scholars and Rogues despair of the journalistic profession when America’s most respected journalist is a comedian.

Jonathan Calder discusses the anonymity of children under the law.

Stephanie Flanders has some predictions as to what the G20 will mean for Gordon Brown.

Mr Quist puts his head above the parapet on faith schools.

And if you crave more linkage then hop along to Septicisle, or browse through previous Netcasts

£600 BILLION GUARANTEE

Nationwide
Unions round on Mandelson’s postal plans
ITV proposes merger with Channel 4 and Five
Migrant impact on jobs and wages not harmful
Iceland drops action against UK

International
Obama seeks higher taxes to pay for healthcare
‘Slumdog’ Oscar success divides India
Bangladesh troop mutinies break out
US votes to ease limits on Cuba trade & travel

DAILY BLOG REVIEW / by Jennie Rigg

The Award-winning Alix Mortimer is lined up for another, rather prestigious, award. Pleaaaaase let her win it!

Alas, a Blog! has a barchart of opinion in muslim countries as to what they think the Americans aims are (Look, I’m a Lib Dem, I like bar charts )

Amused Cynicism reports on the Norwegian minister who wants to legalise filesharing.

Mitch Benn is blaming himself for the storm in a teacup over Cerrie on CBeebies.

Jonathan Calder blogs about the central challenge for modern liberals, in philosophical terms.

The Daily Mash has an exclusive on how the police are looking forward to a summer of beating up protesters.

Our own dear Aaron has some tips for businessmen and managers on how to survive the downturn.

And finally, Sunder’s post has inspired me to a poll. Are YOU British?

(previous Netcasts)

Ah yes, David Davis. The man who thinks 42 days is worth resigning over, but 28 days is A-OK! Well, you can paint him as a Tory Champion of Liberty if you like but Cameron and his little buddies, emboldened by the recent opinion poll leads, are distancing themselves from his Liberal agenda at the speed of light.

And yes, that is this Chris Grayling they’re talking about. Oh how corrupt and incompetent and anti-liberty the Labour party are. Isn’t there something Christians say about planks and eyeballs?

And then there’s yesterday’s news (broken by Jo Swinson) that Jack Straw has disobeyed a court order because he’s Judge Jack Straw, and he doesn’t have to go through no stinkin’ appeals procedure! it might be embarrassing for various people.

Surely the Tories were up in arms about this? I mean yes, cabinet meetings in general should be confidential, but when there’s a court order in place, you should obey it or appeal against it, right? The Tories, as champions of law and order and defenders of the Rule of Law, should have been saying this, right?

Nobody is above the law, right? Er… Wrong. Dominic Grieve, the craven coward, muttered a bit about the government’s contempt for FOI before signifying the Tories’ complete support for Judge Jack’s flagrant disregard for the rule of law.

I don’t know if it’s Ming the Merciless – who pinched a line from Alex and said if they’ve done nothing wrong, they’ve nothing to fear from releasing the minutes – or Charlie Brooker who has called this best, but neither Labour nor the Conservative party have the fragrant whiff of roses here.

All of which makes one wonder why a bunch of people who are playing games of Authoritarian Grandmother’s Footsteps with the current administration and trying to get as close to Labour’s policies as they possibly can without getting caught, are packing out the Convention on Modern Liberty?

They couldn’t possibly be attempting a figleaf of acceptability for their own authoritarian tendencies, could they?

All those of you who are saying the current government is evil, authoritarian, nannying, incompetent, and corrupt? You’re right. You’re absolutely right. But it does not follow in the slightest that the Tories would be any different.

TORIES FACE £5M BLACK HOLE

Nationwide
Tories urged to suspend Ashcroft donations
Britain tightens curbs on non-EU migrant workers
Brown launches another bank rescue plan
NHS contaminated blood findings due

International
Israel-Hamas arms embargo urged by Amnesty
Clinton sets framework for US-Asia relations
Citigroup holds talks over bigger govt stake
Taliban truce seems in flux in Pakistan

DAILY BLOG REVIEW / by Jennie Rigg

Lib Dem Voice, among others, has congrats to Nick and Miriam Clegg this morning on the birth of their latest son.

Stephen Glenn, appropriately enough, examines how the government’s plans for parental leave are the a subject of divide in the Labour party.

Andy Worthington, in a sequel to yesterday’s post, discusses Abu Quatada.

Mr Quist does a Ben Goldacre impression, and dissects some dodgy statistics and science reporting.

Anton Vowl points out the misogyny of a popular tabloid media meme.

Martin King pays a visit to the UK’s motor city to see how it is coping with the demise of the motor industry.

Today’s cheerful link: Rob Brydon and Ben Miller snogging on QI (and here is the follow-up tweet).

And there’s more in the Scottish Political Roundup. Also, you can now look back through previous Netcasts

ASHCROFT UNDER INVESTIGATION

Nationwide
The march of the atheist movement
Call for new £20bn economy boost
Parents told: avoid morality in sex lessons
Woolworths ‘last’ pic’n'mix fetches £14,500

International
After Guadeloupe, Sarkozy faces a storm at home
US housing crisis moves beyond sub-prime houses
Al-Qaeda founder launches attack on bin Laden
The secret plan to lift Whale hunting ban

DAILY BLOG REVIEW / by Jennie Rigg

Andy Worthington talks about the repercussions of the Binyam Mohammed case now that he’s coming home. John Rentoul comes at it from a different angle.

Jonathan Calder talks about how top down management is as bad in business as it is in politics, and why.

Alas, A Blog! despairs of the misogyny in mainstream news reporting. There’s a good article in The Graun about misogyny in movies this weekend too. Yes, in the same issue as Sunny.

Lib Dem Voice has two Tory Sleaze stories.

Mr Quist, Lady Mark and Amused Cynicism are discussing the prospect of the BNP winning seats in the Euro elections.

In more cheerful news, Lynne Featherstone is encouraging local wildlife and Steve Webb has obtained a rescue doggie.

And Septicisle has more. LOTS more.

BANK BONUSES BANNED

Nationwide
Anti-terror tactics ‘weaken law’ in UK & US
Angry factory scenes as BMW cuts 850 jobs
‘British jobs’ slogan splits the public
Asylum for lesbian on the run from Iran

International
Avast! Torrent site Pirate Bay goes on trial
Senior US soldiers in trial missing Iraqi billions
Chávez decisively wins bid to end term limits
Pakistan agrees to Islamic law in Swat region

DAILY BLOG REVIEW / by Jennie Rigg

Debi “Innerbrat” Linton has feminist rage about the way the media reports teenage pregnancy.

Hans Nyberg has a 360^o Panorama of a village in Gaza.

Rhodri Marsden is not happy about the way the net can mobilise in vigilante action.

Hagley Road to Ladywood is upset about the second class treatment of agency workers.

Matt Wardman has detailed highlights of the travesty that is the Criminal Defence Service Direct.

To cheer you up after all that doom and gloom, Charlie Brooker reviews the new flavours of Walkers’ crisps in his usual inimitable style (he is kinder than the pub regulars were about Fish ‘n’ Chips flavour, which was universally condemned as tasting like “dirty minge”)

And if you hanker after further linkage, the Britblog Roundup and Scottish Roundup are both now up.

HAPPY ST SKELETOR’S DAY!

Nationwide
Labour suffer a defection.
Blame Brown: Revenge of the Whistleblower.
Richard Dawkins on Charles Darwin.
Pretentious arse pontificates about blogging then picks his top 100 (don’t read his five politics picks unless you want steam to come out of your ears, although he does feature Chris Dillow elsewhere)

International
Global Warming may be much worse than we fear.
Mugabe has bought a secret house in Hong Kong.
Michael Jackson is flogging off his crap.
Scientists Agree: It’s in His Kiss.

DAILY BLOG REVIEW / by Jennie Rigg

President Baroness Ros Scott does the 25 things meme and it’s actually INTERESTING (although not as knicker-wettingly hilarious as Empress Jessica’s version); requisite Lib Dem prowess on the Wii and Doctor Who geekery is evident.

The Award-winning Alix Mortimer feels terribly sorry for Manchester, cradle of the Labour party’s social experimentation.

Mr Quist has a cunning plan for Lib Dem recruitment (which would probably work for the other parties too)

Lynne Featherstone is wondering where all her suitors are, given that she’s second only to Andy Burnham in the sexy politician stakes.

Norfolk Blogger has the knives out for poor old Lembit.

Jonathan Calder has an interesting tale of the consequences of privatising justice.

The Hedgehog From Hell has goatse’d the Daily Fail. Serves the buggers right, I say.

And finally, if you just can’t get enough linky goodness, follow the well-trodden path to Septicisle.

BONUS ROW ESCALATES

Nationwide
Lib Dems to unveil spending plans
Treasury’s bank bonus team to get own payout
UK homes to be offered a green makeover
A call for end to fighting over Darwin’s legacy

International
A hard-liner gains ground in Israel
Sri Lanka says 10,000 civilians flee fighting
Already back on trail, Obama sells a stimulus plan
Attack on Indian women intensifies a clash of cultures

DAILY BLOG REVIEW / by Jennie Rigg

David Semple has a brilliant post on discrimination.

Lizbee has an Aussie perspective on the bush fires.

Smash Boredom wants you to join in the Climate Camp on the 1st of April.

The Honourable Lady Mark has an interesting idea for direct action, too.

Lib Dem Voice congratulates Dr Evan Harris, MP for winning secularist of the year.

Hagley Road to Ladywood wonders why the press are giving the bankers such an easy ride?

Costigan Quist has made it into the top 100 Politics Blogs on Wikio (I link to this merely because he has chosen the Best.Tag.Evar. for the post).

And the Scottish Roundup for this week is up if you hanker after more linkage (or even if you don’t )

A TRAVEL DATABASE?

Nationwide
Hidden records show MMR/Autism truth
Spy centre will track you on holiday
Cover-up in Iraq: Shooting the messenger
Support for Brown’s Labour falls to 28%

International
United on climate change: Obama’s Chinese revolution
Israeli elections: Be afraid. Be very afraid
Biden signals U.S. deal with Russia on missiles
Sri Lankan rebel leader missing, thousands flee war

DAILY BLOG REVIEW / by Jennie Rigg

Peter Black, AM, points out the flaws in the government’s PFI Welfare to Work schemes.

Amused Cynicism, meanwhile, highlights more problems at the DWP: their benefit-cheat-catching scheme doesn’t work.

Jane Merrick has some bears-are-catholic, pope-shits-in-the-woods news: the MOD are lying to people.

Political Betting wonders if Jacqui Smith is toast.

Ben Goldacre helps us all to spot the flaws in polling data.

Rhetorically Speaking has a great example of nowtrage in (surprise surprise) the Fail on Sunday.

Hagley Road to Ladywood accuses Silvio Berlusconi of necrophilia.

And, as ever, head on over to Septicisle for more. My pick of his picks is definitely the one from 5 Chinese Crackers about the Drunken Sailor nowtrage.