Snowmail: Zimbabwe round two

Seconds out, round two: that might well be the headline tonight.

It seems the Zanu-PF politburo (sounds so odd using that word in 2008 doesn't it?) has agreed to back Robert Mugabe for a second round of election voting in Zimbabwe.

It was the most likely outcome once it became clear he wasn't going to go quietly. He'll still be behind, and may still try to rig it his way, but it may help avoid bloodshed for now. All to be confirmed, but that's the word at the moment.

Question is will the opposition MDC play along, or cry foul? And of course Britain and the rest of the world have to work out what it will do if democracy is thwarted.

The pious words we've heard from Brown et al won't cut much once the deeds are done in Harare. Not to mention what would happen if things started to turn tasty.

Court shown alleged martyrdom videos

We could just as well lead on the chilling words of the alleged plane bombers on trial at Woolwich Crown Court.

Supposed martyrdom videos have been played today which it is claimed depict well motivated, educated and hate filled young men, furious at the killing of Muslims in Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine, and determined to punish Britain for its role.

Simon Israel will have the details.

A £2,000 cleaner; MPs costs revealed

The revelations of MP expenses were finally dragged out of the commons' authorities, revealing some strange old things about what we taxpayers give MPs for their trouble.

We paid John Prescott £4000 for groceries for his second home, Tony Blair claimed for a second TV license. And Gordon Brown got us to pay for his cleaner to the tune of £2000. What do all these sums add up to?

Well, perhaps just a sense that we are paying MPs for things they should pay for themselves. They of course claim to be great value for money, and underpaid. We shall be examining the claims and counter claims.

Rich cash in ahead of rate change

Plus, Katie Razzall on the unseemly rush by the rich to save on capital gains tax changes that kick in this weekend.

And Prince Philip is unwell, but not very seriously, they say.



See you at seven.



Krishnan

More4 News

And on More 4 News at 8 o'clock, all the developments on the day of news, and we'll be revealing the top five most value for money MPs in the commons.

There's a constant stream of bad publicity about MPs, so we thought we'd work out who actually does give value for money by comparing expenses claimed with attendance in parliament.

Also tonight, what would it actually be like to live in an "ecotown"? We've been to Freiburg in Germany to find out and were surprised by the results. One thing's for sure, if an ecotown is going to work, then you will simply have to obey orders.

Also this evening, should there be all-black shortlists for parliamentary candidates? The 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King's assassination is, say some campaigners, an opportunity to address equal representation.

Share this article

Send this article to a friend »

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Reddit
• Facebook
• StumbleUpon

What are these?