5.15pm ToryDiary: Slow weekend ahead
4.30pm TheWrongMan: Voters believe that Brown spins and steals (policies)
1pm CF Diary: The Exec/Chairman candidates announced so far
Noon ToryDiary: 'Lord Ashcroft merely levels the playing field'
11.45pm Seats and candidates: Oliver Colville adopted for Plymouth Sutton
11pm PlayPolitical: A YouTube video of David Cameron's mauling of Gordon Brown at this week's PMQs, a documentary trailer advocating the prosecution of MPs for lying and, on the day Al Gore wins the Nobel Peace Prize, a video in which scientists challenge his view on global warming.
10.15am Parliament reports:
- Andrew Mackay and Mark Harper challenge Hutton over Labour's links to Royal Mail's union
- Daniel Kawczynski holds the Government to account over Foot and Mouth
- Theresa May raises Labour's new raid on pensions and its impact on women
- David Lidington highlights China, Burma and Zimbabwe in Westminster Hall debate on human rights
We also have our first posts from outside of the Commons:
- Neil Parish MEP takes a stand against dog-fighting
- Richard Barnes, Member of the Greater London Assembly, writes about the rising cost of London 2012
ToryDiary: Is the centre right really winning the battle of ideas?
Theresa May MP uses her column to record one of the most momentous weeks in Parliament for many years.
Peter Hoskin of Reform on the Platform: CSR 2007 - spending without reform:
"The two main parties need to readjust their approaches to public spending. In a period of economic slowdown, the first priority of policymakers should be to drastically rein in spending by deriving better value from public services. Not only can widespread reform deliver this better value, but it would also catalyse improvements in public sector performance and create fiscal space for tax reductions. In the end, reform is the one sure route to the low taxation and the high quality education system which are prerequisites for UK success in the coming decade."
Sun poll gives the Conservatives a 3% lead
"The Tories have swept to a three-point lead in the wake of Gordon Brown’s disastrous week, an exclusive poll for The Sun reveals today. David Cameron has steered his party to 41 per cent support – with Labour trailing on just 38 per cent." - The Sun
The Mirror still manages to contrive this headline: The PM still leads the polls (!)
>> Yesterday evening's ToryDiary on the poll
Cameron in California with Governor Schwarzenegger
"David Cameron last night discussed tackling gang culture and climate change with California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger during a "very friendly and constructive" hour-long meeting in Sacramento." - Telegraph
>> Yesterday's ToryDiary on Cameron's speech to Google's California Conference
"Mr Cameron's [conservatism] is beginning to look
like a sort of understated cousin of Reaganite or Schwarzeneggerean
can-do Californian Republicanism. This seems likely to be—and, to the
extent that it has forestalled the early vote that Mr Cameron never
really wanted, already has been—a better pitch than the miserabilism
and scaremongering that lost his predecessors the last two elections.
It is a better answer to the riddle of being in opposition in
relatively fat times: how to persuade the country to ditch a government
that, apart from Iraq (a huge exception, but one that most voters are
prepared to make), has presided over much local incompetence but no
real catastrophes." - Economist
'Cameron needs a Goeglein'
"Many people - including shadow cabinet members - complain that they cannot get to see Cameron for meaningful discussions. Others want to feed in ideas, but feel they are ignored. In the Bush White House, there is a director of coalition relations called Tim Goeglein. His job is to keep the Republican Party and the wider conservative movement sweet. Cameron could do worse than appoint his own version of Goeglein, whose job would be to liaise directly with the party and hoover up good ideas and suggestions." - Iain Dale's sensible advice in The Telegraph
Read Donal Blaney's ten points of advice as to how David Cameron can build on last weekend's events.
Polly Toynbee rages at Gordon Brown
"To give the children of the well-off a £1.4bn inheritance bonus while the children of the poor only got another 48p a week in tax credits is symbolically far worse than that notorious 75p for pensioners. The halfway mark to abolish child poverty by 2010 will be missed by miles. Holding down public sector pay rises to 2% for three years, only half next year's expected private sector increase, will increase inequality. To cut capital gains tax on buy-to-let property, antiques, paintings and jewellery is as shameless as it is dysfunctional." - The Guardian
A less surprising critique comes from Richard Littlejohn and new lyrics for Coward of the County - Daily Mail
Business fury over impact of corporation tax reform - FT
Opposition parties criticise Darling's handling of Northern Rock - ePolitix
Hospital scandal is the politicians' fault, says leading NHS analyst - Harriet Sergeant in The Daily Mail
Senior LibDem MPs warn Ming to stand down or face leadership contest - Telegraph
Europe needs reform, not new powers - Alistair Tebbit in The Guardian
Head of National Audit Office under fire for "lavish" expenses - Independent | Burning Our Money has been pursuing this issue for some time
Special ConservativeHome.com poll - What stopped the autumn election? Which shadow cabinet minister performed best during the crucial period? What should the Conservatives do next? Click here to have your say in a special ConservativeHome.com readers' survey on the 'non-election'.
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