John Randall, Deputy Chief Whip seen entering No 10. Tory sources deny rumours he will resign if his boss does not.
— Nick Robinson (@bbcnickrobinson) October 17, 2012
John Randall back in the Commons now & joking that it must have been his lookalike – Labour's John Spellar – in No 10.
— Nick Robinson (@bbcnickrobinson) October 17, 2012
UPDATE:
Tory sources say Andrew Mitchell's Tory deputy John Randall has been 'talked out of quitting' #plebgate
— James Chapman (@jameschappers) October 17, 2012
The Telegraph has this afternoon published a story claiming that GNM is ‘close to axing the print editions of the Guardian and Observer’. It is a rehash of a blog written on a small advertising website.
I can confirm this is completely untrue.
The newspaper makes up two thirds of our revenue and remains core to our strategy. The figures for going digital only and abandoning print simply don’t add up.
As David pointed out in his email this morning, Guardian content is accessed by 5.8m across print, web and mobile in GB every week – more than any other national quality title, including the Telegraph.
This is something that we should all be incredibly proud of.
Andrew
https://twitter.com/dansabbagh/status/258606328619081728
Rusbridger’s sword of truth has spoken…
Guido understands that the Tory Deputy Chief Whip John Randall has threatened to resign if Andrew Mitchell does not jump. He is currently not returning Guido’s calls, but a senior Tory confirms that there is serious consternation in the Whips office and has indicated that Randall is not the only one considering radical action. Guido speculated about this earlier and the threat is said to have “not fizzled out”.
A possible safe pair of hands if Mitchell does go, Randall was very close to former Chief Whip Patrick McLoughlin. Randall has form in walking on matters of principle: he resigned as an opposition whip in 2003. He is well regarded on the backbenches and Mitchell’s position would be untenable were he to go. Developing…
UPDATE: Looks like Tim Shipman has been doing a phone around:
John Randall told Tory MPs of his intention to quit in the Commons tea room last night before last division. But he's now gone to ground.
— Tim Shipman (@ShippersUnbound) October 17, 2012
UPDATE II: And within 15 minutes Sky are running with the story:
Referendum-pledging Dave admitted in PMQs today that he actually doesn’t want an in/out referendum at all, but merely a “new settlement with Europe”, whatever that means. Effectively he is saying that the only choice he will give the British public is whether they want to stay in the EU… or stay in the EU. Ukip gain.
UPDATE: James Forsyth has the detail in tomorrow’s Spectator about Cameron’s plan:
“As a precursor to this renegotiation, the coalition is undertaking a ‘balance of competences’ review. This might sound a thoroughly dull, bureaucratic exercise. But it is terribly important because for the first time it will reveal just how much the European Union influences our national life. It will call for evidence from government departments, business, civil society, think tanks and parliamentary committees. And the government plans to publish the evidence submitted.
The review won’t make any recommendations, but when it concludes in 2014 it will form the evidential basis for renegotiation. Cameron’s plan is, before Christmas, to commit to a referendum after the next election. The Cameroons hope that this will be enough to satisfy the party’s Eurosceptics. Conservative strategists believe such a move would check Ukip’s advance. The prospect of Nigel Farage’s merry band pushing the Conservatives into third place in the European elections in 2014 sends many of them into cold sweat, and worse.”
Guido is not sure that will be enough to buy off the growing legion of ‘merry men’…
It is being reported that the Guardian’s newspaper operation could be shut down…
Read all about it over on MediaGuido…
Rusbridger’s broadband poll tax was laughed all the way out of Guardian HQ when it was floated through David Leigh last month, the family silver is being sold off and up to seventy hacks face the sack. Now media analysts are reporting that, for the first time, the paper’s bosses are seriously considering ditching the print edition altogether in favour of an all-digital operation. Rusbridger has been left isolated by the Scott Trust, GNM’s owners, and is reportedly close to becoming the only person left on the company’s board opposed to signing the newspaper’s death warrant. This could be the beginning of the end…
UPDATE: Rusbridger himself says it’s untrue.
Telegraph story abt the Guardian http://t.co/iteG0LmG simply untrue. Largely copied from http://t.co/FemN8G8P Also untrue
— alan rusbridger (@arusbridger) October 17, 2012
Never believe anything until it’s officially denied…
