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The Week in Westminster

Factual: Politics

Radio 4's weekly assessment of developments at Westminster

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Week in Westminster

The Week in Westminster: 21/05/2011

21/05/2011

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Steve Richards of The Independent looks behind the scenes at Westminster.

Steve Richards of The Independent examines the government's review of the NHS - with Michael Heseltine who carried out a review of Margaret Thatcher's poll tax.

Steve Richards of the Independent looks behind the scenes at Westminster.

The government is reviewing controversial NHS reforms. But should ministers give in to critics or stick by their plans? The Tory grandee, Lord Heseltine, has experience of conducting a review of a controversial policy: the poll tax. What advice would he give ministers as they pause before a tide of protest ?

Will there ever be an elected House of Lords? This week, Nick Clegg's package of reforms for the Upper House was given short shrift by peers and MPs. Here, the Tory peer, Lord Dobbs, and the former Liberal Democrat Leader, Sir Menzies Campbell MP, take sides.

David Cameron has made his second appearance before the committee made up of select committee chairman. Not much news came out of the hearing. But is that a sign that these kind of sessions have failed? The committee chairman, the Lib Dem, Sir Alan Beith, and Labour's Margaret Hodge, reflect.

Finally, life is changing for political bloggers. Live blogger Andrew Sparrow of The Guardian, discusses why - with veteran bloggers Tom Watson MP and Iain Dale. 

The Editor was Peter Mulligan.

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21/05/2011

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