Saturday 10th May 2008

8.45pm: ICM poll puts Tories 4% ahead of Labour in Crewe and Nantwich - Iain Dale and UK Polling Report

7pm Louise Bagshawe on CentreRight: Frank Field threatens Brown with "no confidence"

3.30pm Seats and candidates: Labour MP Chris Mullin MP quits in face of the Tories' 'Sunderland surge'

1.15pm Seats and candidates video: Meet Edward Timpson MP... the next Conservative MP for Crewe and Nantwich?

ToryDiary: Boris' first week

Neil Reddin on Platform: Shifting the centre rightwards

Martin Parsons on CentreRight: A Conservative government should...replace the term 'Islamophobia' with 'Muslimophobia'

PlayPolitical video: McCain says it's "nonsense" that he didn't vote for George W Bush

Nick Clegg calls for aid to be parachuted into Burma

"The Lib Dem leader told BBC Radio 4's The World at One: "I think the time is now coming, drawing very close to taking the most drastic step of all, which is dropping aid directly into Burma, irrespective of the wishes of the Burmese regime.  "This, of course, in practical terms is not an ideal solution because you're dropping aid from the air, it doesn't guarantee it gets to the people who need it.  "But I think it would be an important step to show that the international community is simply not going to stand idly by."" - BBC

John Redwood blogs that only negotiation will succeed in bringing aid to the stricken.

News from Crewe and Nantwich

"Gordon Brown has been warned that "class war" attacks on the Tories are backfiring.  Senior ministers are said to be dismayed over attempts to mock the Conservative candidate in the upcoming Crewe by-election for being a "toff."  Labour activists, dressed in top hats and tails, have been sent to shadow Edward Timpson - son of John Timpson, the founder of the key- cutting chain - on the campaign trail." - Daily Mail

The Independent finds Labour supporters in open revolt.

Jonathan Isaby notes the Tory strategy of getting out their vote in Nantwich and outlying areas.

> Click here if you can join other ConservativeHome readers on Sunday 18th May for an action day in Crewe.

An overview of David Cameron's week - Rosa Prince in The Telegraph

Greg Clark MP highlights doubling of 'garden-grabbing' in last decade - Daily Mail

New Tory councillor resigns over allegations he lied about cancer - Guardian

Brown and Cameron both opt for state schools - Scotsman

Peter Oborne: Does Cameron understand that politics has changed?

"Voters have woken up to the fact that the Clinton governing method, as adapted by Tony Blair and now attempted by Gordon Brown, doesn't work. They have lost faith with the recycled initiatives, the bogus announcements and the structural dishonesty.  If Cameron carries on with this flawed methodology, he may win office at the next election, but he will ultimately fail in government." - Peter Oborne in The Daily Mail

Jon Cruddas MP warns that Labour is being 'out-thought' by David Cameron

"Labour must re-establish its belief in equality. Equality is the moral standard of fraternity. It is the ethical core of social justice. It holds that each person is irreplaceable and of equal worth. As the dust settles on these elections, Labour needs to rediscover its soul." - Guardian

Unhappy Labour supporters let rip on party website - Independent

Peter Hyman suggests Gordon Brown makes David Miliband his Chancellor - Times

Serialisation of Cherie Blair's autobiography begins in The Times

"Tony Blair would have resigned ahead of the 2005 general election if Gordon Brown had not dragged his feet over the pace and direction of public service reform, Cherie Blair claims today.  In an interview with the former premier's wife which accompanies extracts from her forthcoming memoirs, she also says Blair is advising Brown on how to win the next election, and she says Blair believes Brown can beat David Cameron." - Guardian

"The former Prime Minister’s wife tells how Mr Blair had a “crisis of confidence” over the Iraq war and feared that he had become an electoral liability.  But he decided to stay and fight for his domestic legacy because Mr Brown was “rattling the keys above his head”." - Telegraph

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

[sbjme19]

If you want some rather desperate pro-Labour press coverage to-day, have a look at the headline and politics section in the...Guardian? The Mirror? No the FT!

[Dave B]

Andrew Haldenby from the think tank Reform and Matthew Elliott of the Taxpayers' Alliance both appear on today's Week in Westminster.

[myenemyphobic]

The Mail has almost a whole page on Cameron getting his school of choice for his daughter.He has clearly played politics and jumped the queue through the back door,having overtly and regul;arly attended the relevant church miles from his home.
With his background and dosh he should have followed Osborne and IDS and send her to a private school thus not depriving some poorer soul a place.This is so Blairlike.

[Chris Blore]

myenemyphobic, I beg to differ. If he'd have sent her to a private school, there would be a row over the fact that he can afford to do that whereas others are not so fortunate. Personally, I think you're damned if you do and damned if you don't if you're in those shoes and how you choose to educate and bring up your kids should not be relevant. Everyone wants what's best for their children and what matters is that politicians don't deny other parents the choice for their kids, ie. by closing private and grammar schools when they have been so privileged themselves!

[nigelc]

Did you notice that the Radio 4 news at 5pm yesterday announced Gordon Brown's son's school place but made no mention that David Cameron's daughter is also going to a state school- bias?

[nigelc]

Did you notice that the Radio 4 news at 5pm yesterday announced Gordon Brown's son's school place but made no mention that David Cameron's daughter is also going to a state school- bias?

[NigelC]

Opposition to Eco towns rising- front page of Telegraph.
Just who will be buying these houses and who will be lending to them?

[Paul Kennedy]

Maybe they should parachute Nick Glegg into Burma!

[Paul Kennedy]

Oops, it should be Clegg

Ed can you correct original and delete this post. Cheers Paul

[Oberon Houston]

Guido is breaking a story about the latest leaflets labour are handing out in the Crewe by-election campaign. They've stooped very low indeed.

[Jack Stone]

Its no surprise Labour are playing gutter politics in there desperation to stay in power but I hope the Conservative Party doesn`t follow suit and just takes the moral high ground. Lets stop the petty name calling and insults, lets stop the childish pranks and lets just go out there and talk policy.Lets make people remember the mistakes and the falures of the last ten years but lets go out and tell people what a Cameron Britain would be like.

[Annabel Herriott]

What I woulld like to know is, how does a "bankrupt" labour party afford those Big Glossy technicolour, inaccurate newsheets? They are too big to be called a mere leaflet.
I was up there today with the Yorkshire contingent, and a couple of these dreadful efforts were "liberated" for inspection in the normal time honoured fashion.
I wouldnt care, but they were not even accurate!!They stooped to the lowest, very, very, common denometer. I trust they will backfire spectacularly.

[Northernhousewife]

Labour Home not too happy about the BNP/Labour c&n leaflet.