Sunday 30th September 2007

11.45pm ToryDiary: Ten quick observations from day one

3pm ToryDiary: Campaign north is making progress

12.15pm ToryDiary: Hague - You're no Margaret Thatcher, Mr Brown

9.30am ToryDiary: Highlights of David Cameron's interview with Andrew Marr

ToryDiary:

• Two surveys give Labour 7% leads
• Thatcherite CWF launches hard-hitting campaign to highlight Britain's under-equipped military

Platform: Andrew Selous outlines ten pro-family policies

Columnist: Graeme Archer's Diary

Blog of the week

The blog of the Sky News political team is our blog of this week.

After yesterday's promise for help for two parent families...
The party announces plans to help first-time homebuyers

"The Conservative Party conference is due to get under way in Blackpool with a pledge that the Tories would abolish stamp duty for most first-time buyers.  Amongst a raft of new policies, leader David Cameron is expected to say that he would scrap the tax for first-time buyers on homes worth under £250,000." - BBC

"Conservative policies should resonate more loudly with ordinary people: there are few who do not share the fundamental Conservative instinct that individuals, rather than state officials, are best equipped to make the decisions which affect their own future. Mr Cameron must stress this core Conservative vision much more forcefully, while persuading voters of Mr Brown's failures. If he does, he might yet win." - Telegraph leader

Cameron urges Gordon Brown to stop dithering on Election timing

"David Cameron this weekend challenged Gordon Brown to “stop dithering” and call a general election as the Tory leader unveiled radical tax-cut plans ahead of a make-or-break party conference in Blackpool... “He should stop dithering,” Cameron said. “He’s got himself into a position where he either bottles it or he has given us a hell of a lot of notice of his intentions. We’ve had lots of time to hunker down and plan the election, which has been good. The machine is really ready for an election.” - Sunday Times

Full transcript of David Cameron's interview - Sunday Times

Michael Heseltine urges strong attack on Gordon Brown

"He should also unleash the dogs of war on the record of Gordon Brown and his Government. Educational standards are a scandal. Housing conditions for too many people are sub-standard and a growing number cannot get on the housing ladder in the first place... David Cameron has been perhaps a little too nice; he should now turn his fire on Labour's record of failure over the past 10 years." - Michael Heseltine in The Sunday Telegraph

Caroline Spelman tells The Sunday Express that a large part of the Tory £10m warchest will be used to expose Gordon Brown.

Also in The Sunday Telegraph, Matthew d'Ancona urges the Tory leader to retain his optimism.

The Conservative Party has not had time to process the policy reviews

"Time has been Cameron’s worst enemy. The policy reviews conducted over the summer needed to be sifted at leisure to gain maximum impact and provide a suitable policy platform. Undigested, they have added to the confusion about what the Conservatives stand for. The Tory leader also needed time to reassert his authority over his internal critics after the summer squalls. He now has to do it at supersonic speed this week. His tone should be commanding, but not angry." - Martin Ivens in The Sunday Times

Sayeeda Warsi: People who vote for the BNP have legitimate views on immigration and crime

The Shadow Communities Minister's remarks cause unnecessary excitement at the Independent on Sunday.

68 Association Chairmen respond to small Mirror poll on prospects

"Of the 68 Tory chiefs who responded, only 46 per cent believe he will win if Premier Gordon Brown calls a snap General Election. And 54 per cent could not bring themselves to back the man they elected as leader two years ago." - Sunday Mirror

After Gordon Brown used a US speechwriter this week:
Are we seeing the Starbuckisation of politics?

"The Starbucks effect is being felt in politics. Political conventions are starting to feel like high street coffee shops, serving up the same formulas: the intellectual equivalent of tall skinny lattes for everyone." - James Harding in The Sunday Times

Please use this thread to highlight other interesting news and commentary...