Ann McKechin

Member of Parliament for Glasgow North

In the space of a month, Jessops closed with 2,000 jobs lost, Blockbusters closed with 4,000 jobs at risk and HMV, employing 4,300, entered restructuring with an uncertain future.

Omar Shahid

Politics editor, Live Magazine

Without a thorough review of immigration system, many families will continue to live with the shadow of uncertainty.

Sarah Ludford

Lib Dem European justice spokeswoman and London MEP

If there was any silver lining to the postponement of the speech, then it was the fact that circumstances meant he had to deliver it in London. It's about time that Conservative prime ministers (Churchill, Thatcher) stopped addressing foreign audiences about Britain's role in Europe and started delivering a few home truths to their British fellow citizens.

Iain Anderson

Director, Cicero

This speech did not disappoint and British business will not be disappointed. Whatever you think of David Cameron, this really was a historic speech. David Cameron has an ability to rise to the occasion and he did just that.

Raymond Ressy

Writer on financial markets, economics and politics

Even before Prime Minister David Cameron's speech on Europe this Wednesday, we know that it will be disappointing.

Emily Stacey

Golf enthusiast and freelance writer

It seems the prime minister is not afraid of intervention, and believes it is necessary for Britain to respond willingly to international circumstances.

Adnan Al-Daini

Blogger who abhors injustice, hypocrisy and double standards

This is a measure that at best will be a waste of time, a precious resource in teaching, and could well lower the quality of teaching. I can't imagine a headteacher who values the cohesion of his staff and their goodwill wanting anything to do with this.

Darren Ennis

Director at MHP Communications

So David Cameron is finally making his long-awaited speech on Europe. But who really cares? Well, some diplomats and EU officials that I have spoken to in Brussels and a few of my friends from other EU nations are interested, but the majority most definitely don't care as much as the Westminster bubble.

Hugh Salmon

Surprising human insights from the big, wide world

So now we are here in another New Year and, in the UK, the savagery of social welfare cuts continues to slice through our society.

Charlie Mullins

MD Pimlico Plumbers – UK’s biggest independent plumbers

It saddens me to see the cynical degradation of the proud institution that is the 'apprenticeship' by big business, not for the betterment of young workers, but to boost their bottom lines.

Jonathan Portes

Director of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research

I would still argue that the pace has been too fast, and that the very large cuts to public investment were wholly misguided. But we should at least give the government credit for not making things even worse - which a misguided attempt to stick to the original plan undoubtedly would have.

David Prescott

Director of Commucan, Former BBC Editor

This Thursday, LBC launches 'Call Clegg' - a weekly phone-in with the deputy prime minister on Nick Ferrari's breakfast show. (Personally, I think they should have called it 'Nick, Nick' or 'Let's Have Clegg for Breakfast!').

Mike Robb

Head of Corporate Communications at Cicero Group

today's re-launch didn't tell us a huge amount. We were promised action on childcare support, support for first-time buyers and, yet again, greater investment in infrastructure... But detail remains largely absent, with more to be dripped out between now and the Budget in April.

James O'Keefe

Strategic communications specialist

So what can our British political leaders draw from 'donkey politics.'

Caroline Davey

Director of Policy at Gingerbread, the national charity for single parents

While it may seem obvious on many levels that of course the government should take money from higher earners in a difficult economic environment - in particular when one of the other political debates raging at the moment is about introducing real-terms benefit cuts for those on the lowest incomes, a move likely to plunge even more children into poverty - it has always struck me as singularly unfair that the only higher earners being asked to pay more are those with children.

Peter Kellner

President of YouGov, political commentator and journalist

Today, Cameron and his family are at Chequers, enjoying perhaps the happiest new year of his premiership. He is the undoubted master of Britain's political landscape. His Labour, Lib Dem and Ukip opponents have turned in on themselves. His own backbench rebels have fallen silent. He is already dreaming of how to win his third general election in 2020.