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9:30pm update: "Tory chairman Francis Maude has urged the party to be "less arrogant" ahead of its annual conference. He insisted that the leadership wanted to "engage" more with the public and give them more responsibility." - BBC
6.30pm ToryDiary update: Let's go broader, bolder and beefier
BLOGS
ToryDiary: Blair speech temporarily ends Tory lead with parties level-pegging on 36%
Donal Blaney on YourPlatform: The Conservative Party needs a conservative movement
"David Cameron will today unveil radical plans to harness the power of
the internet by reaching out to a blogging generation that is
disaffected and disconnected from mainstream politics.
At the heart of the initiative, which is designed to make the Tories
one of the most technologically progressive parties in Europe, is
"webcameron" - a website for video blogs by their leader. Mr Cameron
will provide regular clips with him speaking direct to camera, as well
as written blogs and podcasts." - The Guardian
>>> Blog reaction to WebCam: Matthew Sinclair, ToryRadio, Harry's Place, Slugger O'Toole
The Guardian compares the web operations of the main parties
FT POLL FINDS VOTERS AGREE THAT CAMERON IS DIFFERENT FROM THATCHER
Key findings of Harris Interactive poll for the FT:
LEADER AND COMMENT ARTICLES ON THE STATE OF THE CONSERVATIVES
The Guardian: "The Tory leader has two tasks ahead of him this week: to put flesh on the bones of Conservative policy, tracing the outlines of themes and ambitions, if not yet specific proposals, and to show that the new Conservatism runs wider than Mr Cameron himself."
The Telegraph: "As for Mr Cameron, in many ways he has done the easy bit. Now he has to set out a convincing vision of how he proposes to make Britain happier, healthier, freer, safer, richer. That does not mean a bit of fashionable fine-tuning to seduce Liberal Democrat/Tory switchers. His real target should be larger, albeit more elusive: the millions who have become so estranged from the political process they simply do not vote. Now that will be a prize worth winning."
"Today’s party is united around the leadership by no comparable sense of what the project is for — except that it is for winning an election. “Six per cent lead in the polls” is a statistic, not a belief. London W11 is a postcode, not a political philosophy. That is far from saying the party has no policies. It has plenty. They include what are, for Tories, a range of striking new ideas. I do get a sense of a gestating but potentially busy manifesto. Yet an impression of vacuity persists. One keeps hearing the sentiment that Mr Cameron’s new Conservatism is likeable enough as far as it goes, but leaves us doubting whether there is any substance beneath the gloss." - Matthew Parris in The Times
"So David Cameron is well placed, but as yet no more than that. He is an attractive addition to our public life. He is the first Tory leader since the departure of Margaret Thatcher who can excite people just by entering a room. If he were a restaurant, he would make you pause and look in the window, possibly persuade you to come in and sit down. But we still don't know whether his food is any good." - Charles Moore in The Daily Telegraph
OTHER NEWSLINKS
"Two of Europe's mainstream centre-right leaders will lend their support to David Cameron at the Conservative conference in a break with convention that signals a shift of tone and focus at the annual gathering. Nicolas Sarkozy, favourite to become the next president of France, had until recently kept his distance from the Tory leader, but will convey his best wishes in a video message after meeting Mr Cameron privately two weeks ago. Fredrik Reinfeld, the new Swedish prime minister, will also give his endorsement." - FT
Cameron will NOT offer tax cuts - The Sun
The Guardian offers thumbnail sketches of David Cameron's inner circle
Boris Johnson for Prime Minister - The First Post
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4pm Bournemouth06 update: Nick Cuff provides A forward look at local government speakers
2:50pm Seats and Candidates update: 26 seats in second phase of second tranche
2:15pm Seats and Candidates update: Henry Smith re-selected for Crawley
BLOGS
PENNY MORDAUNT INTENDS TO STAND AS A 'COMMUTER MAYOR' FOR LONDON
William Hague answers your questions on the interviews blog
MORE THAN £1.5M RAISED BY 'DINNER-WITH-CAMERON CLUB'
"Businessmen who pay up to £50,000 to the Conservative Party can join a secret club that gives them the right to have regular dinners with David Cameron and private telephone chats with him. So far, between 60 and 70 businessmen have joined the Leader's Club, one of several the party is using to harness support and capitalise on the growing popularity of the Conservatives." - Telegraph
IAIN DALE IN THE NEW STATESMAN
"Too often over the past 20 years, Conservatives have gathered at their party conference with one thought in mind: how do we get rid of our useless leader? Not this year. David Cameron's position is, well, unassailable. Elected barely ten months ago by a 2:1 majority, he has used that time to do one thing only - to change the image of the Conservative brand. In that, at least, he scores highly." - New Statesman
TAXPAYERS' ALLIANCE LAUNCH CAMPAIGN IN NORTH EAST ENGLAND
1,000 supporters have already signed up to the new North East chapter of The TaxPayers' Alliance. For more see here.
Editor's comment: "It is interesting that the TPA has launched in the North-East - a traditionally Labour area but one where some of Gordon Brown's stealth taxes are biting hardest. Stephen Byers, who represents a North East seat, has recently led calls for reductions in inheritance tax. So long as the Tories are reluctant to make the case for economy-boosting tax relief the influence of the TPA can only grow."
The TPA launch coincides with news that disposable income has fallen again as stealth taxes bite - Daily Mail
LABOUR'S CONFERENCE COMES TO AN END
"John Reid moved to outflank David Cameron from the Right over anti-terror policy, immigration and crime yesterday in a speech seen as a bid for the Labour leadership. The Home Secretary won a rapturous reception as he tore into the Conservative leader, accusing him of "talking tough and voting soft" on the most pressing issues facing the British people." - Telegraph
"John Reid barged his way into the Labour leadership contest last night by making extraordinary promises to get tough on immigration, crime and terrorism. The combative Home Secretary set out his stall as the main challenger to Gordon Brown by sketching out an ambitious vision of a Britain where the law-abiding majority come first." - Daily Mail
"John Prescott publicly apologised to the Labour Party today for having let it down over the past year as he made his last speech to the party faithful after 12 years as deputy to Tony Blair. Mr Prescott confirmed on the final day of the Labour conference that he would give up his party post, and the role of Deputy Prime Minister, in the next year although, like the Prime Minister, he did not give an exact timetable." - Times
SANDRA HOWARD TO APPEAR ON QUESTION TIME
"Sandra Howard, who has never aspired to political office, will be the first wife of a senior politician to appear on the BBC One programme Question Time. The former catwalk model, who was regarded by some as Michael Howard’s greatest asset when he was Tory leader, will be on the panel next week." - Times
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Noon CF Diary update: IYDU comes to London
BLOGS
ToryDiary: Open letter to Francis Maude re: members' voting rights and what silly tax would you vote for?
YourPlatform: Michael Ediae-Ehioze looks back at the recent Pope controversy
Seats and Candidates: Jane Ellison selected for Battersea (see post-script update)
100policies: David Belchamber advocates a rethink about vocational training
"And nothing Cameron has done since winning the party leadership has been more impressive than his recent speech on foreign policy. For all its inevitable qualifications, it represented something very unusual in recent British politics: a party leader candidly addressing failure and proposing a change of course." - Geoffrey Wheatcroft in the Guardian
TOTE SALE AGAINST EU RULES
"The Conservative Party has attacked the Government's proposed "cosy" sale of the Tote bookmaker to the racing industry, arguing that it is likely to breach European state aid rules. Hugo Swire, the shadow culture secretary, said there was "continuing confusion and uncertainty" over the Government's negotiations with a racing industry consortium, which has tabled a low-ball indicative offer for the state-owned bookie, which owns 540 shops." - Telegraph
UNIONS DEFEAT BROWN
"Gordon Brown clashed angrily with the unions yesterday as they defeated one of the main pillars of the Government’s health service policy and demanded “clear red water” between Labour and the Tories." - Times
VOCATIONAL COURSES
"As of 2008, 14 new diplomas with a strong vocational bent are to be introduced to run alongside the existing GCSE qualifications. If they are to be credible, employers must be involved in their design and execution. While new spending will be involved, it is not a vastly expensive exercise.The content and value of these courses will determine whether those who are now bored at school will be motivated in future. Education, education, education should not mean just money, money, money." - Times leader
MOVE TO BIRTHPLACE OF NULAB OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED
"The move to No. 30 Millbank will take place next year, before the lease for 25 Victoria Street expires in March 2007. CCHQ will rent approximately 16,000 sq foot of office space, similar to its current requirements. The Party will occupy the 3rd floor of No. 30. All staff currently based in Victoria Street will continue to be based in CCHQ at the new location." - Conservative Party
>>> Initial ToryDiary on the move
BARE-KNUCKLE FIGHTING
"Next May's assembly elections will be a "bare-knuckle fight" with the Conservatives, Welsh Secretary Peter Hain will tell the Labour Party later." - BBC
NATIONALIST IS A PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE
"The Scottish Tories claim that radical ideas put forward by senior Nationalist Michael Russell show he has been converted to Conservative thinking." - Scotsman
ACT NOW
"How much evidence do the Government and the international community need? While we prevaricate, women are still being raped by the Janjaweed, and the black African civilians of Darfur are being ethnically cleansed by their own government." - Letter to the Telegraph from Lord Alton of Liverpool
DC/JFK
"Mr McCain, the Arizona senator tipped to become the Republican
candidate for the 2008 presidential election, highlighted the "very
obvious" parallels between his political approach and that of Mr
Cameron, while lavishing praise on the Conservative leadership's youth
and exuberance." - FT
"David Cameron's attempts to move the Conservatives to the centre have been hailed as "a breath of fresh air" by US senator John McCain." - Guardian
>>> Initial ToryDiary on the interview
SCRAP THE RAF
"Regardless of how well or otherwise the Royal Air Force has performed in Afghanistan, is it not time that we considered disbanding the RAF as a separate arm? Since its strategic role has been taken over by missiles it now exists almost entirely to support the other two services, a situation which should surely be rationalised." - Letter to the Times
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10.45pm update: JANE ELLISON WINS BATTERSEA SELECTION
6:30pm Seats and Candidates exclusive: Three quarters of Conservative candidates are male
5pm Seats and Candidates update: Battersea selection tonight
3.30pm Bournemouth 06 update: Conference attendance up 40%
11am ToryDiary update: From Bush-Blair to McCain-Cameron?
THE SEPTEMBER SURVEY OF THE TORY GRASSROOTS IS NOW ONLINE. HAVE YOU HAD YOUR SAY?
BLOGS
ToryDiary: Blair attacks Cameron from the right
Thomas Bridge on 100policies.com: Foreign permanent residents to clear through EU immigration
MARGARET HODGE ADMITS 'DAVE THE CHAMELEON' DIDN'T WORK
"Labour's attempt to portray David Cameron as a chameleon because he changed policies to suit different audiences had failed with many voters, according to Margaret Hodge, the industry minister. She told a fringe meeting at the conference that people had failed to understand Labour's use of the reptile to suggest the Tory leader "flip-flops" on policies." - Telegraph. Given Mrs Hodge's role in the local elections in drawing attention to the BNP I am not sure she has earnt any right to comment on communications but there you go.
TORIES ACCUSED OF UNDERMINING AFGHAN CAMPAIGN
"The Conservatives are undermining British troops in Afghanistan by painting "a picture of confusion" about their mission, the defence secretary Des Browne told the Labour party conference. Britain had always known that securing the south of Afghanistan would be more difficult. "We must never again let parts of Afghanistan become empty spaces on the map - playgrounds for terrorism," he said. "The Tories are trying to paint a picture of confusion in what we are doing in Afghanistan: confusion about whether our soldiers are being sent to destroy the livelihoods of poppy farmers; about whether we are there to rebuild or to fight a war."" - Guardian
OTHER NEWSLINKS FROM LABOUR IN MANCHESTER
Brown aide regrets Labour's battle with BBC over Gilligangate - BBC
Michael Meacher prepares to champion Labour's left: "As Gordon Brown moves this week further to the right, arm in arm with Tony Blair - on foreign policy especially - it is increasingly clear that the Labour party and the public deserve an open contest for the leadership, between candidates representing all the main wings of the party - not just the Brownite right and the Blairite far-right. They want a debate on policies, not a parade of personalities." - Guardian
"Brownites may have had second thoughts about the gala dinner last night. Their master’s leadership-bid speech had been scuppered when the news agency Bloomberg reported that Cherie Blair had called Gordon a liar. The dinner’s sponsors? Bloomberg." - Anthony Browne in The Times
Max Hastings' 'Requiem for a hollow man' - Daily Mail
DYING IN DARFUR
"The United Nations has been one of the chief obstacles to effective action in Darfur. Its failure to stop the killing offers another case study in the U.N.’s debilitating mix of pomposity, cynicism, and moral bewilderment." - Joseph Loconte on National Review Online
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