Thursday 27th September 2007

5.30pm ToryDiary: Brown hides behind the UN as Burma's protestors join the list of the peoples failed by the "international community"

5.30pm PlayPolitical: Clinton the robot

3.30pm PlayPolitical: Now we see the violence inherent in the system!

1.30pm ToryDiary: Hague wishes he entered Parliament 200 years ago

10.30am LondonMayor: Some quick reflections on the mayoral vote

LondonMayor: Boris wins 79% in mayoral vote

ToryDiary: Brown's not so big tent

Interviews: Any questions for Pauline Neville-Jones?

Columnist Louise Bagshawe: Vote Labour

Platform: Robert Halfon introduces Conservative Friends of Israel

£1m boost for David Cameron

"David Cameron was boosted by a £1 million donation from a businessman angered by Labour's failure to tackle violent crime.  Sports shop tycoon Dave Whelan has pledged to hand over the cash within 14 days if a general election is called." - Guardian | Yorkshire Post

The Telegraph has a profile of Mr Whelan.

Will the Tories behave in Blackpool?

"The Conservatives are in a febrile state, yet the possibility of an imminent election means a public civil war in Blackpool becomes less likely. Surely even the Conservatives can keep their mutinous instincts at bay if they sense that the following week they will be fighting an election. Here in Bournemouth journalists cannot wait for the drama of Blackpool after the forbidding unity on display over recent days. At the same time, cabinet ministers speculate mischievously about whether the next unofficial leadership contest for the Conservative party will get under way at that even stormier seaside resort. I wonder whether they will be disappointed." - Steve Richards in The Independent

Will there be pass troubles in Blackpool?

The Scotsman is reporting that journalists will have to queue for their passes... raising worries that the accreditation troubles of last year may return.

Osborne 'über-moderniser' interview

"George Osborne, the Shadow Chancellor, has distanced himself from Conservative “über-modernisers” and defended a decision to campaign on the issue of immigration.  Mr Osborne publicly revealed the tensions at the heart of David Cameron’s leadership in an interview on the eve of the Tory party conference in Blackpool." - The Times

Fraser Nelson - who was Mr Osborne's interviewer - is surprised at the fuss: "George was just stating the obvious, making it refreshingly clear where he personally stands in a party which is openly in the middle of a policy debate..."

...Fraser was writing on the Spectator's Coffee House blog which has just had a facelift - Take a look!

The ToryRadio and the Henry Jackson Society websites have also been refreshed.

Parades for our troops

"The Government has bowed to pressure and urged local councils to give troops a proper welcome home... Gerald Howarth, a Tory defence spokesman who has championed the idea of welcoming local troops home, said he was pleased at the Minister's response.  Mr Howarth, MP for Aldershot, Hants, worked with Rushmoor council to put up banners in the town to salute those returning from Afghanistan." - Telegraph

>> Yesterday's ToryDiary: Tories in Hampshire lead the way in thanking our troops

"They were not responsible for the deceits of the Labour Government. They can't be faulted for the failure to find any Weapons of Mass Destruction, or the failure of the Pentagon to plan for the aftermath of the war.  They were sent out by our democratically elected Government to fight for what they honestly construed to be our good and our safety. Some of them have fought harder and longer than any British soldiers since the Second World War.  Many have sustained injuries more terrible than in the past, for the simple reason that modern medicine allows them to survive.  They are owed the thanks of all of us, and I am sure the public is more than willing to give it. " - Boris Johnson in The Telegraph

EU referendum campaign

100,000 people have signed The Telegraph's petition.

Mariella Frostrup - after appearing as a star turn at the Labour conference - has backed The Sun's campaign.

Jack Straw attacks Tory commitment to the Union

"David Cameron’s policy of "English votes for English laws" might seem like a neat and tidy solution to the so-called "West Lothian Question", the debate about whether Scottish MPs should be able to vote on matters only affecting England, but in practice it would lead to constitutional chaos and the break-up of the United Kingdom." - Telegraph

Labour in Bournemouth

"Gordon Brown was accused last night of rehashing old phrases from Bill Clinton and Al Gore without attribution in his first speech to a Labour conference as Prime Minister.  An analysis by The Times has found strong similarities in both words and structure between Monday’s address and speeches made by the two Americans – both former clients of Mr Brown’s close adviser Bob Shrum."

>> This Danny Finkelstein story was blogged on TheWrongMan yesterday.

"Home owners and "have-a-go heroes" defending themselves against burglars and muggers will have greater protection from prosecution, under an urgent review of the law to be unveiled by Jack Straw today." - Telegraph

Quentin Letts yawns through Gordon Brown's Q&A: "He talked and talked and talked, about Darfur, citizens' juries, 'York-shyre' and unlocking everyone's talents. The conference fell asleep.  It was all an exercise in spin, the very thing of which Labour's attack hounds accuse David Cameron.  Mr Cameron, however, might have made it all rather more suave and self-deprecating. He might at least have left women thinking, 'hmmn, nice haircut.'  Mr Brown just left them thinking, 'zzzzzzzz.'" - Daily Mail

We can't be bothered to love or loathe him - Stephen Glover in the Daily Mail reflects on how quickly the nation has forgotten Tony Blair.

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