News round-up 23/10: Gove renews schools assault

Education

Michael Gove is considering fresh legislation to speed up the takeover of failing schools after becoming frustrated by obstructions to his academy reforms, the Times reports. The education secretary has asked lawyers to identify ways to strengthen his powers to force weak schools to become academies that can take effect within weeks. This could take the form of time limiting the stages of the process that follows the issuing of an Academy Order.

Second homes

Almost 2.5m people in England and Wales have a second home, with Cornwall the most popular county, the Times reports. Statistics published by the Office for National Statistics showed that about 12% of second homes were for work and 11% for holidays. Seventy seven per cent were categorised as ‘other’, including student homes. The headline number does not relate to the number of actual second homes as more than one person can be recorded as having the same second address.

Police commissioner elections

Ministers fear turnout at next month’s police and crime commissioner elections could be as low as 10%, the Times reports. But the Conservative leadership is preparing to defend public apathy as mere “teething problems”.

Polling

The Conservatives have emerged from the ‘plebgate’ affair largely unscathed, polling reported by the Times suggests, with the party slashing Labour’s lead. A populous poll has the party on 35%, up five points from last month, compared to Labour’s 40%, down five points. However, Ed Miliband has made up some ground on David Cameron on the question of whether he is a suitable prime minister.

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