Sunday 9th October 2005

"I love government when it lifts people up to compete. I hate government only when it stifles competition and coddles. I hated the old welfare system, which pushed its victims away from work. I love welfare reform, which encourages work. I hate government that directs ever more money to the affluent elderly, but I would love a government that gave poor children savings accounts at birth, which would encourage them to think about the future and understand that their destiny is in their own hands." - David Brooks, New York Times

5.30pm update on the Commentators blog: Rowan Williams warns against the Assisted Dying Bill - due to be discussed in Parliament this week.

5.30pm update: "David Cameron's Tory leadership rivals have raised doubts about whether he is ready to take on the party's top job.  Shadow home secretary David Davis warned against choosing a leader because of his presentational skills... Meanwhile, Fox also urged the party to avoid a "cult of personality"." - ePolitix.com

12.30pm update on the Leadership blog: ICM poll undermines Clarke's 'I am most popular' claim whilst Mail on Sunday urges David Cameron to clear the air on drugs.

BLOGS

Leadership: David Davis should relaunch with a 'Battling for Britons' campaign.

Commentators: David Brooks examines how an ageing population challenges the individualist conceptions.

Your Platform: Jonathan Sheppard explains why he is voting for David Davis.

CONSERVATIVE NEWS & COMMENTARY

YouGov/ Sunday Times poll on how party members would vote in a leadership election (also discussed on the leadership blog).  Support for Mr Cameron has also risen amongst the general public: "Of 1,000 adults polled by ICM for the BBC's Politics Show, 13% thought he would be best, up from 4% last month.  Backing for top-placed Ken Clarke fell from 40% to 27%; David Davis' backing - up 3% from 10% - matched Mr Cameron's." - BBCi

Is David Cameron the Tories' Tony Blair?   Andrew Rawnsley, in The Observer, writes that Tories think he is and that's what explains his meteroric rise over the last week, but he's no so sure: "Comparisons with Tony Blair flatter him. When he became leader of the Labour party, Tony Blair had been an MP for 11 years and made a success of three different positions in the shadow cabinet. David Cameron has been an MP for just four years and his biggest job to date has been to write the manifesto which the voters rejected in May. He was a political advisor to Norman Lamont as that Chancellor's reputation imploded on Black Wednesday, and then to Michael Howard as he became the most unpopular Home Secretary for many years. He used to help prep John Major before Prime Minister's Questions. So he has been at the ringside as a second for several searing political crises, but he has never fought in the actual ring."

The Sunday Times explores how Labour would try and undermine a Cameron-led Tory party.  Labour would probably begin by noting Mr Cameron's role in advising Norman Lamont on Black Wednesday...

The Sunday Telegraph notes that David Cameron has won the support of former London mayoral candidate Steve Morris and enjoys the support of 51 MPs overall (25 of whom have declared publicly).  It also suggests that he may be already planning his first 100 days as Tory leader...

The Observer: Battered Davis to relaunch 'imploding campaign' with speech on healthcare.

Gerald Warner, writing in Scotland on Sunday, reviews the Tory week and pays tribute to Dr Fox: "The most honourable speech, if one can use that term without disparaging the other candidates, came from Liam Fox. It was classic Toryism through and through, including the description of his humble origins combined with the admission that they did not amount to a right to lead his party. Dr Fox did himself a huge amount of good. He does not look like a prime minister in waiting, but he has placed himself close to the throne, whoever occupies it."

OTHER COMMENTARY

Fraser Nelson's 'Perfect time to go nuclear' op-ed is based on a Business news report that Tony Blair is sending the nuclear industry 'positive signals'.

OTHER NEWS

"The Archbishop of Canterbury remains opposed to voluntary euthanasia despite seeing his mother Nancy's "last painful months of decline and dementia" - BBCi

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