Friday 9th May 2008

7.30pm PlayPolitical video: John McCain's 'Happy Mother's Day' message

3.45 PlayPolitical: Cameron tells Bob Geldof and the IoD that change is possible, and tours the BackBoris call centre

3.30pm CentreRight selections: Peter Cuthbertson notes that Americans are advocating Boris as President; Peter Franklin fears the Union is doomed if bendy Wendy is its cheerleader and, more seriously, Andrew Lilico discusses regulatory impact assessments.

12.15pm Seats and candidates: CCHQ mustn't delay Henley by-election

Noon ToryDiary: 'New Labour has already won the next election'

Seats and candidates: Fancy a coach trip to Crewe and Nantwich?

Daniel Kawczynski MP on Platform: Conservatives should abolish Proportional Representation for GLA and EU elections

ToryDiary: Tory MPs queue up to offer Brown some advice

Tim Montgomerie on CentreRight: Portillo didn't vote for Boris

A YouGov poll for The Sun gives the Conservatives a 26% lead

Yesterday evening's ToryDiary has more.

"Labour has almost no representation in the south after it lost Reading council. [John] Denham called the fight to win back support in the south "crucial"." - Telegraph | Denham writes for The Guardian

Britain needs an emergency tax-cutting budget - Telegraph leader

David Cameron: Conservatives are the champions of progressive ideals

"A painful reality is dawning on Labour MPs: in its longest unbroken period in office, Labour has done little to advance progressive ideals. A government that promised social justice and economic efficiency has in fact delivered neither, to the dismay of the Labour Party. Instead, it is the Conservative Party that is the champion of progressive ideals in Britain today."- The Conservative leader writing for The Independent

Cameron appoints close friend to be new Tory CEO

"Andrew Feldman, currently a deputy treasurer, will take charge of the party’s national headquarters from July, The Times has learnt. The Tory leader is thought to have assured Caroline Spelman, the party chairman, that she will retain control of the voluntary sector and candidates and that Mr Feldman will report to her." - Telegraph

Networked from birth - John Harris looks at the high number of privately-educated Tory frontbenchers, Guardian

News from the Mayor's office

Boris Johnson to meet New York Mayor, Michael Bloomberg - BBC

Guto Harri to be Boris' communications chief - ToryDiary

"The transition is being handled by Nick Boles, the urbane former head of the Policy Exchange think tank and a dead cert to be a Cameron Cabinet minister. He's assisted by a canny Australian, James McGrath, who has toiled away at Central Office. They will keep Boris on the straight and narrow and ensure that his orders are carried out to the letter. Both have the steel needed to charm, and, where necessary, confront." - Iain Dale in The Telegraph

The Guardian profiles Ray Lewis, Boris Johnson's deputy mayor

The party needs to put itself at the forefront of a progressive alliance that can inspire the electorate - Ken Livingstone writing in The Guardian

Alex Salmond offers Commons pact to Conservatives - Herald

Brown furious as ITV asks about sick son - Independent

Gordon Brown's £1bn boost to Ulster - Telegraph

Driving and cheap flights mean that Britain's carbon footprint is rising - Times


Please use this thread to highlight other interesting news and commentary and visit PoliticsHome.com for breaking political news and views throughout the day. 

Comments

[James Maskell]

About Jacqui Smiths announcement about harrassing low level criminals, surely this is exactly the sort of thing that is successfully challenged in the courts?

[Patsy Sergeant]

I think Michael Heseltine came across well on last night's QT, Piers Morgan on the other hand, resembled a self-serving, spoilt teenager, definitely best suited to a gladiatorial-type arena!

Abbot and Portillo demonstrated how passe, or 'yesterday's people' they are, on This Week.

[Dave B]

David Brooks writes about British Conservatives influence on USA conservatives in the NY Times, "The Conservative Revival".
(found via Comment Central)

[jean shaw]

Jeff Randall places the blame for Post Office problems primarily on the EU
Shortcut to: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/05/09/do0901.xml&DCMP=EMC-new_09052008

[Adam-]

Just thought you all might like to know, that Hizbullah fighters in Lebanon have taken control of most of Beirut, have taken pro-democracy television stations off air (including the one with the attractive female newsreader) and are likely to take much of the rest of the country.

Yet the coverage of this in the west sounds like the whistling of the wind and the rustle of a tumbleweed rolling past. What are the political bigwigs here going to do about it?

[David]

Heseltine is useless. Apart from denying that devolution is about fitting in with the EU's regional agenda, he let it pass that Brown had been a brilliant chancellor of the exchequer.

[Patsy Sergeant]

Well that is a pleasant change, Caroline Flint being interviewed on ITN news just now, looking pale and worried, instead of the usual patronising platitudes accompanied by a smirk. Mind you I am sure SHE doesn't have to worry about a mortgage and losing the roof over her head, only perhaps her 'seat'!

[Dave B]

"it looks as though the LibDems would prefer a minority Labour administration in Reading. Why? The people of Reading voted for change and you want to give them more of the same? " Jane Griffiths

[eugene]

My 2 pennies worth.

I enjoyed seeing Michael H on Question Time...he has lost not one bit of his ability has he?

I actually like 'This Week'...Dianne is one Labour person I can put up with and listen to because she is honest (very rare in that Party) and Portillo....well, I will always like him even though he does not show much loyalty to the Conservatives. The two of them are perfect for a good political programme as neither waste our time on cheap point scoring.