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CAMERON RULES OUT THE TAXPAYER FUNDING A NEW YACHT FOR THE QUEEN'S DIAMOND JUBILEE

Cameron's spokesman said: "we don't think it would be an appropriate use of public money at the present time" - Telegraph
'Cameron slaps down Gove on royal yacht for jubilee' - Times (£)
Clegg also ruled out the suggestion, saying: "this isn't top of their [the public's] list of priorities for the use of scarce resources" - Guardian
"Clegg's strong slapdown will lead many to believe the Libs leaked Gove's letter to Jeremy Hunt. Chris Huhne, of course, has form on ringing the Graun to diss the Tories. Surely he's not behind this one...?" - PoliticsHome
What could you buy for the price of a yacht? - Guardian
James Forsyth details Gove's Roayl yacht proposal in full - Spectator
Ed West: 'Buying the Queen a new yacht is a daft idea: there are lots of other projects we can spend £60 million on' - Telegraph

CLEGG'S SPEECH TO BUSINESS LEADERS ON THE ECONOMY

Clegg unveiled plans to create a "John Lewis economy" by radically increasing employee share ownership - Guardian I Telegraph I BBC
Clegg admits that the Tories are blocking his call for a mansion tax, signalling another defeat for Liberal Democrat policy - Telegraph
..... but vows to continue pushing for a mansion tax - Telegraph
Conservatives have ruined my 'mansion tax' plan, says Clegg - Evening Standard
Pete Hoskin: "Clegg's words today will still leave some Tories frustrated that the Lib Dems are trying to hog the caring, anti-Establishment mantle for themselves. Particularly as there's some speculation that they leaked Gove's idea to the Guardian in the first place" - Spectator
Would you like to live in a "John Lewis economy"? - Guardian

GEORGE OSBORNE'S TRIP TO CHINA & A CURRENCY DEAL WHICH WILL BOOST THE CITY OF LONDON

'We will weather the storm': Osborne wins the City billions from China as he slams eurozone for 'not doing enough to stand behind currency' - Daily Mail
Ed Conway: 'How China might represent the City's future': It is "important not to downplay the significance of the trip. It may represent one small step in the future direction for one of the most important parts of the UK economy" - Sky News
Andrew Peaple: "Osborne has done no harm by demonstrating London's willing. But he shouldn't hold his breath waiting for meaningful results" - Wall Street Journal
Alex Brummer: "George Osborne’s decision to refocus Britain’s future trade and finance on China and the Far East is eminently sensible. It is clear that euroland no longer offers Britain any economic salvation" - Daily Mail

TOM HARRIS' RESIGNATION OVER SALMOND-HITLER PARODY

Scottish Labour MP and social media tsar Tom Harris forced to resign over a parody comparing Alex Salmond to Hitler - Guardian I Telegraph
'Spoof Hitler video MP quits social media role' - SkyNews
Harris apologies. The SNP call it "silly, negative nonsense" - BBC
Tom Chivers: 'How long before the Downfall spoof of Ed Miliband firing Tom Harris comes out?' - Telegraph
PlayPolitical: The spoof Downfall video that forced Tom Harris's resignation as Labour's social media tsar

LUKE BOZIER LEAVES LABOUR TO JOIN THE CONSERVATIVES

Dan Hodges:'There's nothing cowardly about Luke Bozier's defection from the Labour Party': "I’m sorry Luke Bozier has left Labour. And I hope he comes back. Because he’s a much better man than several of those he’s left behind" - Telegraph
John Rentoul: "Surely what matters are the reasons he [Bozier] gives and the likelihood of their being shared by others. And the reasons he gives ought to make every elected Labour representative, party member and well-wisher wince" - Independent

OTHER TORY & POLITICAL NEWS

Ministers set to make further concessions over proposed changes to disability benefits -BBC
The Guardian live blog covers the Welfare Reform Bill being debated by the House of Lords - Guardian
Labour seeks Lib Dem support to fight grammar school plans - Guardian
James Forsyth: "The 301 Group is the nearest that David Cameron has to a loyalist backbench support group" - Spectator
Benedict Brogan: "I'm not convinced there will be a reshuffle this year after all. Mr Cameron shows no sign of wanting one, no ministers are performing so badly that one is required, and as time passes and the Government continues to perform why bother?" - Telegraph
Norman Tebbit: 'If the real Margaret Thatcher had been like Meryl Streep's Iron Lady, I wouldn't have supported her' - Telegraph
Meryl Streep discusses playing the Iron Lady with the Huffington Post.
Following on from the Institute of Economic Affairs' report, ...and the Pursuit of Happiness: wellbeing and the Role of Government, Ruth Porter asks if the Government can make us happy - Telegraph
Under this Coalition, the bill for ministers' cars has been cut by 44% - BBC
Nick Wood: 'Labour’s two Eds are still in denial about the past and the future' - Daily Mail
Olivia Cole has a guide to British film for David Cameron - Spectator

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