Midnight ToryDiary: LibDems collapse to 12%
5.45pm ToryDiary: Resign and fight a by-election says Quentin Davies' Chairman
5.40pm ToryDiary: What others say about the defection
5.25pm Update: Tony Blair to stand down as an MP tomorrow - BBCi
4.53pm ToryDiary: David Cameron's response to Davies
4.12pm ToryDiary: Keep those seatbelts fastened
2.45pm BREAKING NEWS:
QUENTIN DAVIES MP DEFECTS TO LABOUR
PICK OF THE WEB
- The Difference is holding a large poll on various policy ideas which Cameron could use for his "blizzard of ideas". It also has an interesting post supporting the Conservative position that opium crops in Afghanistan should be licensed.
- Open Europe have incisively fisked of Blair's entire speech to Parliament about the EU treaty negotiations yesterday.
- Ben Brogan says Cameron's Chief of Staff is having reconciliation talks with Angela Merkel
- Matt Wardman points out the flaws in the Alexa website hits company and is experimenting to see how easy it is to skew its rankings.
- Curly's Corner Shop goes back to 1983 and reflects on how Blair will remember his first election.
- PragueTory notes the dip in BAE's share price and how the prospect of a US investigation could harm the government.
- Watlington has restarted blogging with a post pondering whether Brown's ascent will transform Cameron from Prince Hal to Henry V.
12.45 ToryDiary: Two issues for David Cameron
10.45am Seats and Candidates: Hendon open primary
ToryDiary: Conservatives 5% ahead in Communicate Research poll
Seats and Candidates: Finalists for West Lancashire open primary
YourPlatform: Tom Richmond on the balance between too much policy substance and too little
CAMERON ATTACKS BLAIR OVER TREATY
"Tony Blair yesterday dismissed Tory calls for a referendum on a European treaty as "completely and utterly absurd". In his final statement to the Commons as prime minister, he said the talks last week showed Britain was no longer on Europe's margin. The Tories were just going though the motions in condemning the deal." - Guardian
"Mr Cameron lashed out as a string of European leaders lined up to admit the treaty is the same as the constitution dumped two years ago." - The Sun
"For some, the draft treaty is a betrayal, the surrender of British independence and a step towards a superstate. That seems over the top. My reading of the confusing 31 pages of conclusions points, rather, to a messy series of compromises." - Peter Riddell in the Times
"Once again, we see that, as well as being undemocratic in itself, the EU traduces democracy within its member nations. That is why the referendum matters so much. And that is why you should add your name to our petition." - Dan Hannan in the Telegraph
>>> Yesterday's ToryDiary: Cameron - Let the people decide and Telegraph launches petition for a referendum
EASING THE TRANSITION FROM POWER
"Tony Blair’s nomination for the post of international envoy in the Middle East is likely to be confirmed as early as today despite grumbles from Europe and last-minute wrangles over his job description." - Times
"The rush by his team to try to announce some kind of role by today, the last day of his premiership, seems designed to ease the sting of surrendering high office more than to solve the problems of the Middle East." - Bronwen Maddox in the Times
HOW SOON WILL THE ELECTION BE?
"Tory leader David Cameron threw down the gauntlet to Gordon Brown yesterday with a challenge to call a General Election “right now”." - Express
"The prospect of Gordon Brown calling an early general election receded after the latest monthly poll for The Independent gave the Tories a five-point lead over Labour. According to CommunicateResearch, David Cameron's party has extended its lead by one point in the past month. It dampened speculation that Mr Brown will seek a personal mandate from the voters sooner rather than later." - Independent
"Of course, for all Mr Brown's braggadocio, he knows that Labour is no more capable of fighting a snap election than the Tories, because both parties are strapped for cash. Indeed, one of the purposes of the whole early election tease is to get the donations rolling in - a task that will prove more difficult for Labour following the police investigation of the cash-for-honours affair. Nevertheless, there remains a powerful case for an early election on the simple grounds of democratic legitimacy. Mr Brown will never have the genuine authority of a prime minister until he has faced the voters. The sooner he does that, the better." - Telegraph leader
IN PRAISE OF SARKOZY
"On one thing, at least, the US and France are fully agreed: the world’s response to the mass murder in Darfur has been appalling. Speaking in Paris, Condoleezza Rice said that the international community had not “lived up to its responsibilities”. President Sarkozy was blunter: “Silence is killing.” The lack of decisiveness and action were unacceptable, he added. Indeed, they are. And Mr Sarkozy deserves credit, not only for recognising that France has, until now, been dragging its feet over Darfur, but for taking a lead in pressing for effective measures to halt the slaughter." - Times leader
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