ConservativeHome: Monday 25th June 2007

6pm ToryDiary: Telegraph launches petition for a referendum

4.30pm Seats and Candidates: Dewsbury open primary and Rochester & Strood postponement

4.15pm ToryDiary: Let the people decide says Cameron

PICK OF THE WEB

Nadine Dorries MP highlights how pro-choice advocates have "rigged" the British Medical Association's choice of motions at its conference, and repeats her call to sign this petition to the BMA urging that the "1967 Abortion Act should be reviewed in the light of advances in scientific understanding and changes in public opinion"
Open Europe has a useful list of European leaders who have been telling their respective countries that the EU treaty is virtually the same as the old constitution
Richard Spring MP writes a brief post about his recent visit to Sederot, an Israeli town "livng in fear"
The Telegraph's Health section has an article written by a junior doctor who is starry-eyed about Cameron's stance on the NHS and the junior doctors fiasco
Oliver Kamm believes Defamation Law needs to be adapted to take into account the age of the internet, an issue with which he has some experience
Ellee Seymour reckons Harriet Harman had the best blog of all the Deputy Leadership candidates
Fraser Nelson has written a transcript of what he wishes Cameron had said to John Humphrys about social mobility this morning

3.30pm ToryDiary update: A question for Tony Blair

Lunchtime BritainAndAmerica updates:

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11.45am ToryDiary: A General Election within one year? (Watching the Mail and Sun watching Brown)

ToryDiary: David Cameron on social mobility (but not on Europe) and New Labour leadership team find solution to Party funding problem

20070625markpritchardp YourPlatform: Mark Pritchard MP: Conservative MPs must remain cool under fire

BROWN...

"Gordon Brown put his party on a "honeymoon" general election war footing yesterday as he used his coronation as Labour leader to promise a decisive break with the Blair era." - Telegraph

"Gordon Brown was yesterday anointed Labour leader, promising he personifies both "the change from the old politics" and the chance for "a public life based on values" for which he said the country has been yearning." - Guardian

"Gordon Brown gave the first indications on Sunday of the shape of his new cabinet and how he intends to overhaul Whitehall, declaring his determination to meet the challenge of change". - FT

"In about two days, we will have a prime minister who was not elected to that office by anybody. His Cabinet (if all goes according to his plan) could well include members of a party that has not been elected to national government in living memory." - Janet Daley in the Telegraph

"Gordon Brown has long seemed like the St Simeon Stylites of British politics. This 5th-century holy man is best known for the manner in which he detached himself from the rest of humanity." - Tim Hames in the Times

...AND HARMAN

"Harriet Harman, Labour's new deputy leader, yesterday vowed to use her victory to be a "champion for women" and put family policy at the heart of the party's pitch to the electorate." - Guardian

"Gordon Brown moved quickly to limit her influence as Labour's new deputy leader, announcing that she would have a party role rather than a top government job, and would not succeed Mr Prescott as Deputy Prime Minister. Aides said that she would not deputise for Mr Brown at Prime Minister's Questions, and she is not expected to follow Mr Prescott's lead by taking charge when Mr Brown goes on holiday." - Times

Profile - Guardian

CAMERON FACES REVOLT OVER HOUSE BUILDING

"David Cameron has been warned that he could face another grammar school-style revolt if he gives the green light to a fresh wave of house building in the South East." - Telegraph

"RAINBOW" COALITION FAVOURED IN WALES

"A "rainbow" alliance of Plaid Cymru, Liberal Democrats and Conservatives is the most popular coalition option for governing Wales, according to a poll." - BBCi

IRISH CALL EU REFERENDUM PUTS PRESSURE ON BROWN

"Gordon Brown was under pressure to perform a U-turn over Europe and grant a referendum on the proposed EU treaty night, after Ireland said it would call a national vote." - Telegraph

"Tony Blair, with Gordon Brown by his side, will today reject Tory calls in the Commons to stage a referendum on the wide-ranging constitutional package agreed by EU leaders early on Saturday." - Guardian

WHAT NOW FOR BLAIR

"One of life's more desolate occupations is former prime minister. When Tony Blair leaves Downing Street on Wednesday he may keep a car and a bodyguard, but there will be no more scrambled telephones, massed cameras or summits." - Geoffrey Wheatcroft in the Guardian

STOP USING ARTS MONEY TO PAY FOR OLYMPICS

"No more money should be diverted to the 2012 Olympics from arts and heritage funds if the Games exceed their £9 billion budget, MPs will say today. The Culture, Media and Sport Committee reveals in a highly critical report that it has deep concerns about the impact the loss of funds has had on the arts in Britain." - Times

OBAMA CRITICISES THE CHRISTIAN RIGHT

"Barack Obama, the Illinois senator aiming to become America's first black president, has accused evangelical Christian leaders of "hijacking faith" and politicising religious beliefs in an effort to divide the country." - Telegraph