ConservativeHome: Wednesday 12th December 2007

Grayling to make welfare reform speech

"Single mothers on benefits will be forced to work parttime once their youngest child reaches the age of four under the first of a series of "tough love" Tory welfare reforms. Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Chris Grayling will today unveil proposals requiring primary school parents to seek a job of up to 20 hours a week." - Daily Mail

ConservativeHome will be at the speech and report later.

Mortgage lenders complain at old Tory policies after Cameron encourages "social responsibility"

"The [Council of Mortgage Lenders] replied by lecturing the Conservatives on their “policy mistake” of cutting mortgage assistance benefits in the 1990s. A statement said that the Tories should consider addressing the “woefully inadequate level of state support” for struggling homeowners after cuts made in 1995 to income support for mortgage interest." - Times

"Speaking ahead of a meeting with the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML), Mr Cameron said lenders had to learn lessons from the "huge credit binge". He told the BBC that banks and building societies should consider tapering the rise in mortgage payments, as well as giving advice to customers and switching some to interest-only loans, to prevent a boom in mortgage arrears and repossessions." - Telegraph

"The Council of Mortgage Lenders on Tuesday said first-time buyers spent 20.6 per cent of their income on mortgage interest in October, up from 20.4 per cent the previous month and 17.8 per cent in January." - FT

Yesterday's ToryDiary: 55% of voters expect economy to get worse over next twelve months (just 9% think it will get better)

Mark Prisk leads Tory questioning of Labour claims to have cut red tape - Telegraph | ePolitix.com provides some background

Darling's plans to announce new green taxes next year may pre-empt Tories - Independent

Warsi: Stand up to extremists

"British Muslims need to stand up to extremists and shake off their “victim culture”, Tory peer Baroness Warsi said yesterday. She slammed hardliners who back forced marriages, say women should not be educated and commit “honour killings”." - The Sun

Yesterday's Tory Diary on Baroness Warsi's speech.

42-day maximum pre-charge detention: Jacqui Smith urges David Cameron to "rein in" David Davis; "a man that has shown no interest in seeking a political agreement" - Guardian

Herbert attacks Government after early released prisoner commits murder

"The early release of a man who killed his girlfriend after being released early from a jail term he served for attacking her has been condemned by MPs in the Commons... The Justice Secretary, Jack Straw, was challenged by Tory spokesman Nick Herbert: "What do you have to say to Miss Murphy's relatives about the Government's decision to release such offenders early?" - Sky

Police pay: "The Home Secretary is facing a growing revolt among chief constables and from within the Government’s own ranks over her decision to renege on an agreed police pay deal." - Times

Iraqi translators - a subject for David Cameron at PMQs?

"More than half the Iraqi interpreters who applied to come to live in Britain have had their applications rejected, drawing accusations that the Government is “wriggling out” of its promise to help former Iraqi employees. The Times has learnt that 125 of the 200 interpreters who took up the offer to resettle in Britain have failed to meet the strict criteria laid down for eligibility. The revelation challenges Gordon Brown’s pledge in August that the Government would fulfil its “duty of care” to those who had served with British troops."

The Tories and Scotland

"Some of Mr Cameron's English supporters are happy to think the unthinkable (only Tories can accomplish the logically impossible). For them there is an obvious positive benefit, politically and economically, in seeing the Union ended. They are, as Labour will insist, the SNP's best friends. That observation is of no help to Mr Cameron, the British patriot whose future depends on winning a Westminster election." - Ian Bell in The Herald

The Sun: Sack the incompetent teachers

"Mr Balls promises to tackle the “rare cases” of incompetent teachers. But bad teachers are not “rare”. There are at least 17,000 of them — according to the Government’s own estimate. None has ever been sacked for incompetence. Until they are removed, Mr Balls’ grand designs can never be accomplished." - Sun Says

Government loses MORE personal data

"An inquiry was launched yesterday after vehicle licensing staff admitted losing the personal details of thousands of Northern Ireland drivers." - Guardian

Please use this thread to highlight other interesting news and commentary...