The smell of compromise is once more in the air, this time over the controversial issue of control orders. The Lib Dems have been seeking an end to the way in which terrorism suspects can be placed under close supervision – somewhere short of house arrest but involving tags and curfews – without any public evidence of their wrongdoing. Currently nine individuals are living under such restrictions. The Tory right believes equally strongly that control orders should be kept to maintain public safety.

The Sunday Times reported at the weekend that Nick Clegg had won the internal debate and that the orders would be “scrapped”. Read more

Nick Clegg may live to regret his phrase “two-horse race” to describe the Oldham East and Saddleworth byelection – if his own party is pushed into third place.

It is an outcome that most commentators seem to have discounted. (Paddy Power is offering 4:1 on Labour first, Tories second and Lib Dems third, which offers good value in my opinion.) But it seems feasible given that Nick Clegg’s party is currently suffering in the national polls at around 11 per cent support – half where they were last spring. Read more