[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18413431

Lib Dem MPs are to abstain in a Commons vote on Wednesday calling for an investigation into whether Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has broken the ministerial code of conduct.

Labour want his handling of News Corp's BSkyB bid referred to David Cameron's adviser on ministerial interests.

The BBC's Nick Robinson said Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg had told a meeting of his MPs and peers not to "support the Tories on this one" and "to stay away".

The outcome of Wednesday's vote - on an opposition motion - will not be binding on the government and even if all 57 Lib Dem MP withhold their support by abstaining, the vote is still likely to go the government's way.

However, our political editor said it would cause significant tension within the coalition and was an implicit criticism of the PM's judgement on Mr Hunt's future.

Nice one, Cleggy, but not enough .....

[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18419662

Jeremy Hunt has denied Labour claims that he lied to Parliament over his handling News Corp's proposed takeover of BSkyB, amid furious scenes in the House of Commons.

MPs also rejected a call for an inquiry into whether the culture secretary broke ministerial rules.

Labour's Chris Bryant said Mr Hunt had deliberately misled MPs over his contacts with News Corp.

But Mr Hunt rejected the claim, saying the evidence had "vindicated" him.

Labour's motion, calling for the culture secretary to be referred to an inquiry by Sir Alex Allan, the prime minister's adviser on the ministerial code, was defeated by 290 to 252 votes.

No surprise there, but the point was made and put on record .....

[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18432466

It may now seem as if all the sound and fury has changed nothing. After all, David Cameron has made clear that he's backing his culture secretary; the prime minister's independent adviser on the ministerial code says he sees no reason to investigate; and the Commons has now voted to back that judgement.

Much, though, has changed. Mr Hunt may survive but his long-term future looks far from certain. Tory MPs have been given yet another reason to resent their Liberal Democrat coalition colleagues. They will now look for a chance to retaliate. Doubts have been raised about the point of Sir Alex Allan - an adviser who has chosen neither to investigate Mr Hunt nor to advise Mr Cameron.

The prime minister insists that who is in his cabinet is properly - and must remain - a matter for his judgement alone. Ultimately it is his judgement which was on trial today and his judgement which his deputy Nick Clegg refused to back.

Good for Clegg, bad for Hunt, worse for Cameron, who, of course, is being "examined" today .....