12.30pm ToryDiary update on Blair interview: "Nobody in the Labour Party to my knowledge has sold honours or sold peerages."
A yellow-socked John Mayor was on Sunday AM this morning and strongly resisted the idea that 'the sleaze' associated with his government was comparable to that now dogging Blair's government. The instances that blighted his administration were largely cases of individual failings and the central cash-for-questions row dated back to the 1980s, he insisted. In comparison the Blair government's problems were systemic - relating to the leadership's attempts to fund its election campaigning. A YouGov poll yesterday found that voters thought Blair's government more sleazy and disreputable than Major's.
BLOGS
ToryDiary: Case for economy-boosting tax relief grows and Labour to portray David Cameron as slippery estate agent
LABOUR SLEAZE
"Cherie Blair was last night at the centre of a damaging sleaze row amid revelations that she used her position to help the partner of her personal fixer to lobby for lucrative NHS contracts." - Mail on Sunday
"Yesterday's YouGov poll in The Daily Telegraph showed that 65 per cent of voters suspect that Labour did trade peerages for loans, and 82 per cent think this Government has failed to clean up politics. Whatever the police now do, Mr Blair is already under citizen's arrest." - Matthew d'Ancona in The Sunday Telegraph
NORTHERN IRISH VOTES FOR ENGLISH LAWS
The Tories have partially surrendered to Northern Ireland Unionist objections to 'English votes for English laws' - The Observer
HOODIES NEED A DAD
A superb article in The Sunday Times from Jill Kirby:
"Cameron is a famously devoted father. But neither he, nor indeed ministers such as [Caroline] Flint, can really be under the illusion that love is enough. Family stability and long-term commitment by fathers are critical factors in enabling children to flourish. A hug is a manifestation of that commitment, not a substitute for it."
TORIES WILL KEEP VOTING METHOD FOR LONDON MAYORALTY SECRET UNTIL 'LAST MINUTE'
"On some date "before Christmas," Londoners will be able to vote by text and phone for their favourite on this shortlist. In contrast to TV talent shows, however, multiple votes will be weeded out. The Electoral Reform Services, which specialises in overseeing elections, will be used to vet the process. The Tories are refusing to release any more details on the electoral controls that will be used until closer to the ballot date. "Whilst we believe that the checks will be effective, we do not want to give potential troublemakers too much advance notice," a party official said." - FT
TORYSPOTTING
"Irvine Welsh - the former heroin addict, one-time socialist and best-selling novelist who famously chronicled the dying days of Thatcherism - has revealed himself as an unexpected convert to the Conservative cause." - Sunday Telegraph
Also in Scotland on Sunday.
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