Friday 27th October 2006

5.30pm ToryDiary update: Neither the guts to rule Iraq, nor the guts to quit

1pm ToryDiary update on MEPs vote for Euro story

BLOGS

ToryDiary: 46% to 33% prefer Cameron to Brown as new Telegraph Editor chooses a more positive approach to Project Cameron

Stephan Shakespeare on YourPlatform: The public's attitude to the Iraq war is so understandable

Seats and candidates: A public service announcement for non A-list candidates

THE FIRST ECONOMIC COST OF DAVID CAMERON'S ENVIRONMENTALISM

"David Cameron pressurised his party's representatives in the European Parliament to vote in favour of sweeping new environmental regulations, despite the MEPs' concerns about the impact on British business and jobs.  Several Tory MEPs were worried about the effects of an incoming law to crack down on dangerous chemicals. Their concern about the legislation, known as REACH, was that it could put too onerous a burden on companies, forcing them to move to countries such as India." - Daily Telegraph

TORIES SEND MIXED MESSAGES ON KELLY'S LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORMS

"Caroline Spelman, the Tories' spokeswoman, said the white paper was "toothless" and a "series of compromises". But Lord Bruce-Lockhart [Tory leader of the Local Government Association] described the paper as "encouraging". He said: "We need to see the full extent of the powers which are actually going to be devolved." - Guardian

ANNABEL GOLDIE TO SAY THAT SCOTTISH TORIES MUST BE IN THE MAINSTREAM

"Ms Goldie will say that everything the party says and does "must focus as never before on the centre ground" and reflect a "modern compassionate Conservative party".  She is expected to say that this has already been reflected in policy pledges she has announced.  "A drugs strategy to take people off drugs - that's going to the heart of people's concerns," she will say.  "Significant help for pensioner households with their council tax - that is going to the heart of their financial anxieties.  "A robust sentencing proposal for repeat offenders - that is going to the heart of the concerns of victims and their communities."  She will also highlight the Conservatives' "eco bonus scheme" as being at the heart of caring about future generations and the environment." - BBC

DAVID CAMERON BACKS GREG BARKER MP

"TORY leader David Cameron is backing his MP mate who has left his wife for a MAN.  Greg Barker, 40, kept a low profile yesterday after details of his marriage break were revealed.  But the Tory leader stood by his close friend and colleague. Party sources say he will not be sacked from his front bench job as shadow environment minister by Mr Cameron." - The Sun

"The 'other man' in the homosexual affair which has rocked the Conservative Party is revealed as a young socialite who used to work for royalty.  Interior designer William Banks-Blaney, 32, had a relationship with married Tory frontbencher Greg Barker after working on the MP's Georgian mansion." - Daily Mail

LABOUR RETREATS ON FAITH SCHOOLS

"Alan Johnson bowed to the pressure of the Roman Catholics, Jews and Muslims yesterday when he dropped plans to force all new faith schools to take a quarter of non-faith pupils." - Times

LISTEN TO MARK STEYN (AND ZAC GOLDSMITH)

Mark Steyn talks to bloggers about his forthcoming book - America Alone.  Listen here now.

Listen to Zac Goldsmith edit the Today programme in December - The Independent

BBC BIAS

"Anyone who could even be vaguely described as Right-of-centre is a rarity. Inevitably, this sets the terms of the debate. And so, as happened in the summer, when a panellist described George W. Bush as a warmongering moron, nobody so much as stirred in dissent. When, a month later, Newsnight tackled the controversy over Ken Loach's allegedly sympathetic film about the IRA, they interviewed two film critics. They were from the Guardian and the Independent on Sunday, and, sure enough, they agreed what a great director he was.  Sometimes, even the BBC notices the bias. Not long ago, I watched a three-man media debate on Newsnight in which two were Guardian writers. The other was captioned with his previous job on another newspaper." - Tom Leonard in The Telegraph

Have we missed any important stories?
Please use the 'Comments' to tell other visitors about interesting links...