Geoff Hoon will appear before MPs today to make a statement on an American request for a British armoured battle group to relieve US Marines south of Baghdad.

The defence secretary will tell MPs that any decisions will be operational and will reject claims that the move is politically motivated by the imminent US presidential election.

The prime minister's political allies spent the weekend denying that the troop deal was designed to boost George W Bush's re-election prospects.

Alan Milburn, Labour's election supremo, told the BBC Radio 4 programme The World This Weekend: "People will look pretty askance at those who are saying somehow or other there is some sort of tawdry political deal that has been done here.

"All these decisions are taken on an operational basis."

The Times claims that General Sir Michael Walker, the chief of the defence staff, and his senior operational commanders have strongly expressed concern about the sudden change in policy.

In a letter to Hoon, the Conservative defence spokesman, Nicholas Soames, said that sending troops to the American sector would represent a "fundamental change" in the nature of the British deployment in Iraq.

Mike Tomlinson will today unveil plans for sweeping reforms of school-age qualifications.

Charles Clarke is expected to back the former chief inspector of schools' proposals, which include abolishing GCSEs and A Levels within a decade and replacing them with a diploma for all students aged 14 to 19.

However, business leaders are warning that standards could decline.

John Cridland, the deputy director general of the CBI, said that while members wanted radical action they "will take some convincing that a major shake-up of exams will resolve the issue".

Unions however are welcoming the plan.

David Hart, the general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: "What I want from the government is strong support for the Tomlinson report - I don't want any fudge."

Ministers are facing complaints after Newcastle was chosen to be the headquarters of the Gaming Commission, the new body which will oversee the expansion of gambling in Britain.

Peter Dean, the chairman of the Gaming Board, said: "I don't pretend I welcome this from a regulatory perspective. It is a problem."

The government has repeatedly said that the board and its 76 civil servants would transfer to the commission.

The Gaming Board is based in London, near the headquarters of many casinos, relevant government departments, industry trade bodies and problem-gambling support groups.

Boris Johnson will travel to Liverpool later this week to apologise for an editorial in the Spectator which accused the city of wallowing in "victim status" following the death of Ken Bigley.

One shadow minister told the Independent: "Boris has got away with this for a long time. You might get away with it as a backbencher because you do not take the party with you, but it is different on the front bench."

Another Tory MP added: "He is a loose cannon. This was not a nice thing to say. It was bloody insensitive. They put him in that job to calm him down. He is articulate and bright, but I suspect he does not care enough. I don't think he has the killer instinct that you need."

The UK Independence Party has descended into "open warfare" after Robert Kilroy-Silk's supporters confirmed he intends to seek the leadership and field candidates in every constituency in the country.

The Kilroy faction accused current leader Roger Knapman of doing "shoddy electoral deals" with the Conservatives.

The government is set to repeal Britain's of blasphemy and blasphemous libel laws.

The Home Office also wants to include a new offence of incitement to religious hatred, in order to make clear that freedom of speech and the freedom to criticise religions will not be curtailed.

The government's focus on persistent offenders is undermining the drive against serious crime, a report warns today.

In a new study the Crime and Society Foundation warns that offences such as domestic violence are being overlooked by a crime policy based on "the usual suspects".

New figures on NHS productivity, to be released for the first time today, will show that the large increase in spending is delivering better services.

Meanwhile, John Reid has announced that ministers will no longer answer detailed questions about foundation hospitals.

The health secretary issued a written statement telling MPs that if they want information they will have to ask the board that runs it rather than table a question in the Commons.

A 100-strong parliamentary group is set to take up the fight on behalf of small companies disadvantaged by the introduction of new corporate governance standards.

Labour is considering plans to offer automatic council tax benefit to two million pensioners.

The policy is being considered in order to tackle growing anger at council tax rates.

Meanwhile Alan Milburn has warned that the party must tackle the "politics of pessimism" if it is to secure a third term.

The Cabinet minister conceded Labour must find ways of countering Tory claims about third term tax rises.

The chairman of the biggest chamber of commerce has warned that business people in the North East are becoming increasingly sceptical about plans for a regional assembly.

As ballot papers are sent out this week, opinion polls suggest the all-postal referendum will be close.

The Conservatives will tomorrow mount a last ditch bid to amend the Companies Bill.

The party is critical of "draconian" measures which will allow government inspectors to enter company directors' homes.

The FT reports that the government has watered down measures to tackle corruption by British exporters following pressure from business groups.

Government sources have confirmed that ministers are poised to accept a recommendation which will see peers' daily allowance rising by 20 per cent to £290 a day.

The government also looks set to back a two per cent increase in MPs' salaries.

Lord Falconer has pledged that the government will not charge prohibitive fees for information under the Freedom of Information Act.

Interviewed in the Guardian, the constitutional affairs secretary says the legislation "marks a big cultural change in the way government is conducted".

"This is regarded as a really big deal in Whitehall. We are determined that it will make a big difference, and believe it will produce evidence-based, higher quality government," he said.

Sandra Howard has attacked Tony Blair over his claim that the permissive sixties were to blame for many of today's problems.

In July the prime minister hit out at the "liberal and social consensus on law and order".

The Conservative leader's wife, who spent the 1960s as a model, told the Sunday Herald that she remembered the era as a "wonderful time".

"Some things may have got out of hand, but it was a time when people became more liberated. It is not true to say it was a time of hedonism. It is excessive to say that," she said.

IN THE PRESS REVIEW

Hoon under pressure over troop move

Ministers braced for exam report

Casino regulators slam proposed Newcastle move

Howard orders Johnson to Liverpool

UKIP descends into open warfare

Blunkett ponders blasphemy reform

Report slams 'usual suspects' approach to crime

Data shows NHS getting better

MPs and peers to champion small companies

Labour proposes council tax aid for pensioners

Business sceptical on regional assembly

Conservatives target companies legislation

Ministers water down anti-corruption drive

Peers set for 20 per cent pay hike

Falconer defends FoI Act

Sandra Howard defends 1960s