27 Jun 2010 08:51:01

Weblinks for Sunday 27th June 2010

7.45pm ThinkTankCentral: Gavin Poole and Mark Florman take charge of Centre for Social Justice

5.30pm ToryDiary: William Hague must champion religious freedom with the Islamic group to which he's linked Britain

2pm ToryDiary: Is this what you want David Cameron's Government to achieve?

11am WATCH: Cameron and Obama exchange beers; discuss Afghanistan and economy

ToryDiary: Iain Duncan Smith wants to help council tenants escape jobless cities

Stefania Caddick-Adams on Platform: Is Mr Gove lost for words about languages in the primary curriculum?

LeftWatch: Labour's huffing and puffing won't break the Coalition

Local government: Housing Quango spent £100,000 lobbying Government

Harry Phibbs on CentreRight: Review THESE Quangos

48% of Lib Dem voters are less inclined to back them because of VAT hike - Observer

> Yesterday evening's ToryDiary: Liberal Democrats squeezed in two new opinion polls

Matthew d'Ancona attacks the IFS' silly claim that the Budget was regressive

"One such ripple has been the confected row over the “fairness” of the Budget. According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, if you strip out the Labour measures that the Coalition has decided to enact, the Budget was regressive. But since the Coalition is not ditching these inherited measures, the exercise is entirely artificial. It’s like saying: if Cameron had abolished the Labour‑founded NHS on becoming Prime Minister, the poor of this country would be denied health care. But he didn’t and they’re not." - Matthew d'Ancona in The Sunday Telegraph

> 49% of those polled by YouGov said Budget was fair, 36% unfair

'Why should the aid budget be protected when the Home Office may have top sack police officers?' - Mail on Sunday

Liberal Democrats put fairness at the heart of the budget - Danny Alexander writing in The Observer

Lib Dem rebels in secret talks with Labour on tactics to block Budget - Independent on Sunday

The Observer: Where is George Osborne's employment plan?

"In opposition, the Tories made much of Labour's neglect of so-called Neets, young people not in education, employment or training. But in government, they have presented no strategy to include them in the labour market. Instead, the coalition's first budget risks creating a lost generation, like the one that missed its first vital step up the ladder of prosperity in the early Eighties. A vital lesson from that period is that high unemployment carries a massive social and economic cost – in poorer health, higher crime, social breakdown – that does not immediately show up on a national balance sheet." - Observer leader

Gove and Willetts have a new guru - the repairman who extols manual work - The Sunday Times (£)

Obama: UK-US relationship is 'rock solid' - BBC report and video

'World leaders back Cameron's aim to pull British troops out of Afghanistan within five years'

"A closing summit statement called on the country's president Hamid Karzai "to make concrete progress to reinforce the formal justice system and expand the capacity with Afghan national security forces to assume increasing responsibility for security within five years"." - News of the World

"In a surprise breakthrough, world leaders at the G8 Summit in Muskoka, Canada, set Afghan President Hamid Karzai an ultimatum for his forces to take responsibility for his country’s security. It was the first time the international community had spelt out a timescale to withdraw troops and came 24 hours after the PM paved the way for a 2015 deadline to pull out Britain’s 10,000-strong force." - Sunday Express

> Yesterday's ToryDiary: David Cameron wants out of Afghanistan as soon as possible

"Today's G20 communique is expected to be a classic attempt to paper over the cracks that everyone knows exist – recognising that it is right for countries such as Britain to cut back, but just as right for countries such as the US to maintain the stimulus." - Observer

William Hague sets out new foreign policy with outreach to India and Brazil - The Sunday Telegraph

"Over the past decades, Mr Hague believes British foreign policy has effectively frozen into three main “blocs” – the US, the European Union and the Middle East. His most ambitious plan is to tear up this blueprint and replace it with what he calls a “distinctive British foreign policy”. This means being unafraid to promote better links with smaller countries, as well as emerging economic powerhouses such as Brazil, India and China. As well as trade, relations can be maintained through education, culture, sport, diplomacy and military co-operation, Mr Hague thinks." - The Sunday Telegraph

Mr Hague also discusses how the LibCon Coalition became possible: "[It] was made possible by the Conservative Party having become more socially liberal, stronger on civil liberties, while the Lib Dems became more fiscally conservative – robust about our economic decisions." More.

Tories ‘back down’ over immigrants’ English test

"Home Secretary Theresa May was accused last night of watering down a Tory pledge to bar immigrants unless they can speak good English. The promise was a central part of David Cameron’s Election campaign. But it has now been disclosed that the families of asylum seekers allowed to settle in the UK will be exempt from the ban. Labour MPs said the Conservatives had been forced to drop their hardline stance by their Liberal Democrat Coalition partners who support uncontrolled immigration." - Mail on Sunday

Vince Cable has led Coalition rebellion against Tory immigration cap pledge - The Sunday Times (£)

Ann Widdecombe lined up as ambassador to the Vatican - The Sunday Telegraph

Ms Widdecombe is also likely to be one of two dozen new Tory peers

"The new Tory peers are likely to include Ann Widdecombe, a former Home Office minister, and General Sir Richard Dannatt, former head of the army. Michael Spencer, boss of the City firm ICAP and the outgoing Tory treasurer, will also be made a Lord." - The Sunday Times (£)

Labour's former Home Secretary Alan Johnson: 'I failed on binge drinking' - Mail on Sunday

And finally... Labour protests at plan for Downing Street to employ Cameron's £35,000pa photographer, Andrew Parsons - Mail on Sunday

The election week edition of The Times carried one of Andrew Parsons' most striking photographs on its frontpage:

Please use this thread to highlight other interesting news and commentary and visit PoliticsHome.com for breaking political news and views throughout the day.

26 Jun 2010 09:00:12

Armed Forces Day 2010

8.30pm ToryDiary: Liberal Democrats squeezed in two post-Budget polls

6.30pm: Parliament: Simon Reevell stresses integration and John Stevenson localism in their maiden speeches

4.15pm ToryDiary: The Cabinet's most troubled relationship - David Cameron and Liam Fox

12.45pm Parliament: In their maiden speeches, George Eustice invites the Government to harness a culture of enterprise and Matthew Offord asks them to instill in people a sense of aspiration

Noon WATCH: The Louisiana oil spill is on the agenda for David Cameron's first talks as Prime Minister with President Obama

11.15am Parliament: Jack Lopresti, Steve Brine and Rebecca Harris all consider the forthcoming Strategic Defence Review in their maiden speeches

10am Steve Baker MP on CentreRight: Essential market analysis of the crisis

ToryDiary: Cameron wants out of Afghanistan as soon as possible

Andrew Murrison MP on Platform: The Government is acting quickly to deal with combat stress suffered by our veterans

Parliament: Conor Burns uses his maiden speech to highlight the absurdity that potential English language students from overseas have to learn the language before they can come to Britain... to learn the language

Local Government: Eric Pickles to axe the "weekly Town Hall Pravdas"

WATCH:

• David Cameron brushes off talk of divisions within the Coalition
• David Cameron tells Nick Robinson that he and Angela Merkel may watch England v Germany together on Sunday

Lots of stories emanating from the Summit in Canada:

David Cameron says that not cutting the deficit is the biggest economic risk

"David Cameron will defend his decision to slash Government spending as he meets US President Barack Obama for one-on-one talks on the fringe of the G8 summit in Canada." - Press Association

"David Cameron said on Friday that he was not at odds with the United States over plans to cut deficits and that the G8 would conclude that countries with big fiscal problems should act. "The risk to us, and the Americans and others recognise this, is not taking action," he said. "I think that the G8 will actually conclude that those countries with the worst problems need to accelerate their action, which is what we have done." - Reuters

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper praises this week's UK Budget

"I'm delighted to have you here just off a Budget where you highlighted the very fiscal consolidation that we're trying to steer the G20 towards. I appreciate your responsible and difficult decisions in that regard." - What Stephen Harper told David Cameron, according to CBC News

David Cameron accuses leaders of dragging their feet over aid

"David Cameron last night hit out at his fellow world leaders after the G8 dropped the promise to meet the historic aid commitments made at Gleneagles in 2005 from this year's summit communique. European countries such as France, Germany and Italy are off track to meet their 2005 promises to increase aid to the world's poorest nations, and they led efforts yesterday to keep any mention of Gleneagles out of the summit's final agreement." - The Guardian

Cameron and Medvedev pledge to improve Anglo-Russian relations - Associated Press

On Armed Forces Day, Liam Fox blasts 'hate-filled religious protesters' at troops' parades

"Islamic extremists who disrupt the homecoming parades of British troops should be 'silenced', the Defence Secretary will say today. In a speech to mark the annual Armed Forces Day, Dr Liam Fox will express his revulsion at the sight of extremists screaming abuse at soldiers returning from tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq. 'Let's silence the negative voices that attack our Armed Forces but gladly enjoy the security and freedom our Armed Forces provide,' he will say." - Daily Mail

"Towns and cities across the UK are preparing to show their support for the work of the UK's military personnel. Armed Forces Day is being hosted in Cardiff, but there are more than 350 other events planned across the UK." - BBC

"More than 350 events have been organised across the country to honour troops past, present and future, from the oldest veteran to the youngest cadet." - Press Association

Government to revive competitive games in bid to turn nation back into champions

"Competitive games are to be revived in schools in a bid to turn Britain back into a nation of sporting champions. As the country holds its breath over the World Cup and Wimbledon, ministers want their new 'School Olympics' programme to end the culture of 'prizes for all'... As they launch the initiative [on Monday], Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Education Secretary Michael Gove will say it is intended to ensure the 2012 London Olympics leave a lasting sporting legacy." - Daily Mail

Theresa May to announce immigration cap on Monday

"Thousands of foreign workers will be turned away from Britain next month when the Government introduces an immigration cap for the first time. Theresa May, the Home Secretary, is to announce a nine-month temporary limit to prevent a last-minute influx as workers from outside the EU try to beat permanent new controls due to come into force next April." - The Times (£)

"Theresa May, the home secretary, is expected to announce that a maximum of 24,100 workers will be allowed into Britain from outside the EU before April." - The Guardian

> Yesterday's ToryDiary: Britain needs an immigration cap this year

David Cameron could speak at Liberal Democrat conference as coalition cosies up

"Liberal Democrat and Conservative co-operation is to be taken to a deeper level by coalition cabinet members speaking at each other's party conferences, with the possibility that David Cameron will address the Lib Dems. The issue is due to be discussed at a joint political cabinet at the end of July, when the two parties will also decide how to co-ordinate policy announcements at their respective conferences and how to sell the success of the joint government's first few months." - The Guardian

Clegg to take charge of relations with China - The Times (£)

Cameron will stay in charge as PM even when on holiday - Reuters

> Yesterday's ToryDiary: Senior Tory and Lib Dem figures "will address each other's conferences" this autumn

Andrew Grice: Budget cuts mean the coalition charm offensive is over

"Fifty days into their coalition, David Cameron and Nick Clegg have been taking stock...The Tory and Liberal Democrat leaders have bonded and joke that they get on "20 times better than Tony Blair and Gordon Brown". Not their most difficult task, perhaps. But the coalition leaders guessed that the honeymoon would end with this week's Budget and it did." - Andrew Grice in The Independent

"Before Britain’s election he was widely depicted as “Boy George”, as a political opportunist with a shaky grasp of economics whose wealthy background and supposedly sneering manner made him a political liability. Lacking popular appeal, he played a low-key role in the Conservative election campaign. After less than two months, he has almost visibly grown into the job. On visits to Brussels and in a speech to City grandees at Mansion House , onlookers remarked that he seemed bigger than they had imagined. His office and the scale of his task have somehow magnified him." - George Parker profiles George Osborne in the FT

Liberal Democrat MPs back Nick Clegg despite benefit freeze and VAT rise - The Guardian

Accept cuts or we'll target pensions, David Cameron warns unions

"David Cameron will use the threat of cuts to public-sector pensions as a bargaining tool to counter trade union unrest over massive reductions in spending. The Prime Minister’s advisers believe that widespread industrial action can be avoided if public sector workers are offered a deal over pensions." - Daily Telegraph

The unions are itching for a fight - Philip Johnston in the Daily Telegraph

Cameron: I won't waste 10 years in power like Blair did - Daily Mail

BP must not be destroyed, says Cameron as shares hit 14-year low - The Independent

Top Tory donor becomes treasurer

"David Rowland, a financier who moved his business back to the UK last summer in order to become one of the Conservative party's biggest donors, has taken up the role of party treasurer. The financier, who made his estimated fortune of more than £700m in property and banking, has given nearly £3m to the Conservatives since he moved his business onshore from the Channel Islands in August 2009. At the time, he said he did so to help protect Britain's "liberty" and economic future." - FT

> Yesterday's ToryDiary: David Rowland to become Conservative Party Treasurer

Cash-strapped Scottish Tories sack communications chief

"The Scottish Conservative Party is facing an angry backlash from senior Tory figures in London following its decision to sack Michael Crow, its director of comunications. The former television presenter was dismissed from his highly paid post by the cash-strapped Scottish party after it admitted it could no longer continue to employ him." - The Times (£)

Lembit for London?

"A charismatic politician with an exotic heritage, a talent for self-promotion and sufficient levels of public recognition to make a surname surplus to requirements is once again plotting to win control of London. Lembit Öpik, the colourful Liberal Democrat who lost his Welsh seat last month, has said he will run for the job of London mayor if he wins his party's blessing." - The Guardian

Michael Gove lists the schools that could become academies by September - The Guardian

Ed Balls seeks to block academies from cherrypicking pupils - The Guardian

Shopworkers' union backs David Miliband for Labour leader - The Independent

Ed Miliband backs a graduate tax to replace tuition fees - The Guardian

Former DUP MP Iris Robinson questioned by police over loan to teenage lover - Sky News

And finally... Cameron and Merkel seek to watch the football together tomorrow

"David Cameron will roar on England tomorrow while he sits next to German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The two leaders will be at the G20 summit when their countries clash in the World Cup. And Mr Cameron said: "Let's hope it doesn't go to penalties. I'm not sure the collective hearts of the nations can stand it." The summit in Toronto will clash with the 3pm kick-off, but the PM said both he and Mrs Merkel will try to sneak out of the talks to catch the end of the last 16 match." - The Sun

Please use this thread to highlight other interesting news and commentary and visit PoliticsHome.com for breaking political news and views throughout the day.

25 Jun 2010 08:56:30

Friday 25th June 2010

7.30pm WATCH: David Cameron tells Adam Boulton he wants British troops out of Afghanistan within five years

7.15pm ToryDiary: Senior Tory and Lib Dem figures "will address each other's conferences" this autumn

5.45pm Jim McConalogue on CentreRight: Has the European Commission been given further powers to control the UK Budget?

5.15pm LeftWatch: Andrew Neil eviscerates Diane Abbott

3pm Jonathan Isaby on CentreRight: David Cameron flew into the G20 Summit with Virgin Atlantic, not BA

2.45pm Iain Anderson on CentreRight: The Financial Reform Package

1.30pm ToryDiary: David Rowland to become Conservative Party Treasurer

Noon Parliament: Karen Bradley calls for Parliament to pass simpler and clearer laws in her maiden speech

11.45am Local Government: Yesterday's Local Government by-election results

11.30am Seats and Candidates update: Baroness Warsi invites unsuccessful general election candidates to a campaign debrief and thank you reception

10.45am ToryDiary: Don't assume that the Home Office is rampant for 28 days

ToryDiary: Britain needs an immigration cap this year

Seats and Candidates: Mystery surrounds CCHQ's plans for the candidates' list and candidate selection

Howard Flight on Platform: George Osborne is to be congratulated on his Budget - but there remain a number of challenges for the future

Local Government:

• Eric Pickles announces bonfire of Town Hall red tape
• Brent Council temp on £750 a day

CentreRight:

• Derek Brownlee MSP: What is the Centre-Right vision for Scotland and how should that translate into policy?
• The Lurcher: Number 10 should be backing new ministers not briefing against them
• Alex Deane: I am afraid that the government’s promise to safeguard rights and liberties is hollow

WATCH: David Cameron reassures sailors on HMS Ark Royal that the Royal Navy has a glorious future ahead of the Strategic Defence Review

David Cameron demands that G8 and G20 summits are more than just talking shops

"David Cameron has arrived in Canada for his first international summit as prime minister, calling for them to be "more than just grand talking shops". Mr Cameron said they should be tightly focused on key priorities. Political leaders from the G8 are meeting in Muskoka, Ontario on Friday to discuss trade, aid and maternal health in the poorest countries. The G20 group of nations gather in Toronto on Saturday, with the global economy on the agenda." - BBC

"Too often, these international meetings fail to live up to the hype and the promises made. I’m sure other leaders would admit that. A lot of money is spent laying them on. Host cities are disrupted for days or even weeks. The cavalcades roll into town. Good intentions are shared in productive talks. Then, somehow, those intentions rarely seem to come to fruition in real, tangible global action." - David Cameron writes for the Toronto Globe and Mail

"So, is there to be a fight over fiscal frugality in Toronto or not? That appears to depend not just on whom you ask, but on which day you ask them." - FT

Anger at Theresa May's decision to keep 28-day detention without charge for terrorism suspects

"Rules allowing suspects to be held for 28 days without charge are to remain in force for another six months. The Coalition has indicated that it wants to reduce the limit, which is the longest in the developed world. But in a Commons statement yesterday, Home Secretary Theresa May announced that the rules would stay in force while the Government conducts a six month review of Labour’s counter-terrorism legislation." - Daily Mail

> Yesterday's ToryDiary: David Davis challenges Theresa May over her decision to extend 28-day detention

Theresa May goes into battle with Trevor Phillips - The Independent

Francis Maude to scrap three quarters of government websites (and save £100million)

"Around 600 Government’s websites will be closed, saving £100million, Francis Maude has announced. Mr Maude, the Cabinet Office minister, said he would be scrapping three quarters of the Government's 820 websites. Whitehall sources were reluctant to name which sites will close although one suggested that www.lovechips.co.uk – a website run by the marketing department of the Potato Council – would be unlikely to survive the cull." - Daily Telegraph

Top Lib Dems fire warning to Tories over Budget cuts

"Fears among senior Liberal Democrats about the coalition with the Tories were brought into the open yesterday as Simon Hughes, the party's newly elected deputy leader, raised the prospect of tabling rebel amendments to the finance bill." - The Guardian

"The historical precedents suggest a sorry end for the Liberal Democrats. On three occasions, the Liberals and the Conservatives have formed a coalition in government and on three occasions the pact has divided the Liberals." - Times (£) editorial

Tory and Lib Dems row over winter fuel payments - The Times (£)

The Left is furious about public sector workers being asked to suggest cuts

"The Prime Minister David Cameron and his deputy Nick Clegg have written to all six million public sector workers, asking how to make "fair and responsible" spending cuts. But union leaders reacted with anger, saying they could barely believe that hard-working public sector workers were being asked to get involved in how to axe services." - Daily Telegraph

"The new chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Margaret Hodge, has written to the prime minister and his deputy to ask that they withdraw a claim that the committee will help sift through ideas from the public about how to trim waste." - The Guardian

Treasury sends back Lansley plan to give GPs control of £80 billion

"The Treasury is stonewalling over the publication of Andrew Lansley's radical blueprint for the NHS after officials said the health secretary's plans would "hand over £80bn of public money to 35,000 GPs who are private businesses", according to Whitehall sources." - The Guardian

The Economist's verdict on the Budget

"Mr Osborne’s budget puts Britain on the path to fiscal redemption, but that path is a hard one. The economic risks are clear; the political risks no less so. The Tories’ coalition partners have taken the fiscal-austerity whip so far, but many show signs of unease as details of spending cuts unfold. Mr Osborne’s toughness may just reveal the government’s underlying fragility." - Economist editorial

"This was the most painful budget in living memory, and one of the riskiest." - Bagehot in The Economist

European commission to go ahead with vetting of EU nations' budgets despite UK objections - The Guardian

Military covenant to become law for first time, says David Cameron

"The military covenant is to be rewritten and enshrined in law for the first time, the Prime minister announced yesterday, opening the possibility of Service personnel taking legal action against the Government if they feel it has been breached." - The Times (£)

Philip Hammond criticises Network Rail bonuses

"Network Rail has been criticised for paying senior management a total of £2.4m in bonuses last year, despite a warning from the rail regulator. Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said he was "very disappointed", and called for a "far-reaching" review of pay." - BBC

New intake to dominate the select committees

"By my reckoning, of the 82 select committee members elected by a secret ballot of the parliamentary party (excluding ministers), no fewer than 69 were new boys and girls. That’s a stonking 84 per cent of all Tory select committee members (excluding the chairs). It was a clean sweep for the 2010 intake in half the committees." - Jo Johnson MP on the FT website

> Yesterday in Parliament: Members of the 2010 intake dominate the Conservative membership of Select Committees

Retirement age may be raised every five years

"The age for retirement will rise every five years under radical moves by the coalition to curb the £55 billion-a-year state pension bill. New laws are expected to be introduced in this Parliament that will link pension payments to life expectancy for the first time, senior government sources told The Times." - The Times (£)

"When the current retirement age of 65 for men was fixed in 1940, their average life expectancy at birth was 60; for women it was 65. Now, according to the Office for National Statistics, a 65-year-old man can expect to live for another 17 years, a 65-year-old woman for 20... An early rise in the retirement age is, therefore, unavoidable." - Telegraph editorial

> Yesterday's ToryDiary: Iain Duncan Smith confirms that the state pension age will rise to 66 ten years early

> WATCH: Iain Duncan Smith explains how the Government's overhaul of the pension system will "reinvigorate retirement"

London's Evening Standard assesses how Boris Johnson is doing as Mayor

"On some issues — expanding rape crisis centres, promoting cycling — he has stolen a march on “progressive” Labour opponents. On others, like ousting Sir Ian Blair from the Met, he has displayed raw muscle... Yet the question haunting him is how much difference to people's daily lives he has actually been able to make." - Evening Standard

> Yesterday in ToryDiary:

• Boris Johnson summarises his key achievements in London over the last two years at the annual State of London debate
• Boris needs to make a new offer to fire up his re-election chances

Expenses scandal led to £2 million cut in payouts to MPs

"Some MPs carried on claiming expenses right up until tighter new rules came into force, while others took heed of the public outcry and scaled back their claims in the six months of last year, figures released yesterday showed... Almost all the fall was accounted for lower claims towards the cost of MPs’ second homes – the aspect of their expenses which has caused the greatest amount of controversy." - The Independent

David Miliband: Osborne and Cameron are "Thatchers in trousers"

"It felt like I was looking at a page from Mrs Thatcher's diaries," he says. "The bit where she would write, 'I wish we didn't have to do these cuts but we all have to take our medicine.' Osborne and Cameron are simply updated matrons in trousers." - Daivd Miliband interviewed in The Mirror

Will Clegg follow Cameron's lead and turn down the plum pension?

"David Cameron's promise to give up his £66,000 pension puts the spotlight on his coalition partner and deputy, Nick Clegg. Why doesn't he do the same? As well as his parliamentary pension well-heeled Clegg, whose father was chairman of United Trust Bank, will also draw a £17,000 EU stipend as a former MEP." - Daily Mail

Families saving more money than borrowing for first time in 20 years - Daily Telegraph

And finally... 44 days after resigning, Brown is finally spotted in the Commons chamber - for a moment

"Questions were being asked about when Mr Brown would return to the Commons and some opponents were privately suggesting that he was "sulking" about losing the election... However, yesterday Mr Brown, 59, returned to the Commons surrounded by minders who kept journalists at bay. He spent a short period in the Chamber talking to some fellow Labour MPs before having a brief exchange of words with Speaker John Bercow and then leaving. It is understood that he does not intend to make a speech in the Budget debate." - The Scotsman

Please use this thread to highlight other interesting news and commentary and visit PoliticsHome.com for breaking political news and views throughout the day.

24 Jun 2010 08:57:31

Thursday 24th June 2010

9.15pm ToryDiary: Boris Johnson summarises his key achievements in London over the last two years at the annual State of London debate

8.45pm WATCH: Iain Duncan Smith explains how the Government's overhaul of the pension system will "reinvigorate retirement"

5.45pm Parliament: Richard Fuller and Andrew Jones commend the work of charities and social enterprises in their maiden speeches

5.30pm Robin Simcox on CentreRight: Does the government have a control orders policy?

4.45pm Parliament: Members of the 2010 intake dominate the Conservative membership of Select Committees

4pm ToryDiary update: John Howell and Lee Scott are latest PPS appointments

3.15pm WATCH: Julia Gillard addresses the Australian Parliament as Prime Minister for the first time 

2.15pm ToryDiary: David Davis challenges Theresa May over her decision to extend 28-day detention

2pm Local government: Boris and Dalston's £40 million concrete slab

1.45pm Parliament: New Lancashire Conservative MPs Mark Menzies and Eric Ollerenshaw cover defence matters in their maiden speeches

12.30pm ToryDiary update: Government publishes call for evidence on when to raise the state pension age to 66

12.15pm Melanchthon on CentreRight: Cameron agrees there should be a new EU Treaty

11.30am ToryDiary: Captions please...

10am ToryDiary: Could Osborne emerge as the darling of the Right - and a challenge to David Cameron?

9.45am Gazette update: Robin Walker MP pays tribute to his late father, Lord Walker of Worcester

ToryDiary: Boris needs to make a new offer to fire up his re-election chances

 Also in ToryDiary:

• Iain Duncan Smith confirms that the state pension age will rise to 66 ten years early
• Conservatives hit 42% in post-Budget poll - which also gives George Osborne a thumbs-up

James Laughlin on Platform: Why this student is in favour of top-up fees

Parliament: Rory Stewart delivers an unconventional maiden speech in Westminster Hall

Local Government: Leicester Council bans prayers at Council meetings

Steve Baker on CentreRight: The budget debate - why economists disagree, why they are so often wrong and where economic thinking goes next

Jason Groves in International: Why Australia's newly installed first woman Prime Minister could face defeat at the polls within months

WATCH: Kevin Rudd resigns as Australian Prime Minister

Cameron asks public sector workers how to spend less

"David Cameron and his deputy Nick Clegg wrote to six million public sector workers on Thursday asking for ideas on how to save money and tackle a record peacetime deficit... The letter to all state employees from the leaders of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition is an attempt to win support for the toughest round of spending cuts in decades." - Reuters

Cameron says 'I'm giving up my £66,000 pension' as he warns of reduction in civil service pensions

"David Cameron agreed to give up his £66,000-a-year prime ministerial pension last night as he came face to face with public sector workers angry about cuts to their pay and perks. The Prime Minister made a joint TV appearance with his Lib Dem deputy Nick Clegg on the BBC programme Face The Audience." - Daily Mail

> Last night's ToryDiary: First Cameron/Clegg TV interview: would you know which one was Prime Minister?

Government to seek further cuts

"The Government will seek even deeper cuts in welfare than those announced in the Budget in order to protect frontline public services, George Osborne said yesterday. The Chancellor will invite cabinet ministers to suggest specific cuts in the £180bn-a-year welfare system once they have settled their departmental budgets in negotiations with the Treasury during the government-wide spending review to be completed by October." - The Independent

"In just a taste of what will spread across Whitehall, plans were unveiled by the Ministry of Justice yesterday for four out of every ten courts to be shut, along with ‘old fashioned’ police stations – with officers based in High Street shops instead." - Daily Mail

"In order to force through his measures, Mr Osborne has devised a "star chamber" – made up of him, Danny Alexander, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and a few other ministers – that will judge how much each department should be punished financially. The plan is sensible, but does not go far enough. In such an ideologically diverse coalition, it would be better if the first word on cuts came from an independent voice." - Edmund Conway in the Daily Telegraph

You ain't seen cutting yet - The Sun

"It is a shame that the health budget has been protected for political reasons because this is a moment for a fundamental assessment of what government should and should not do. Over 13 years of Labour government the State has become like Gaudí’s Sagradia Familia — accumulating yet another ill-designed feature, poorly coordinated with the rest." - Times (£) editorial

Budget "will hit poor harder than rich"

"Britain's leading experts on tax and spending have strongly challenged George Osborne's claims to have delivered a "tough but fair" budget, concluding that the measures in the emergency package would hit the poor harder than the rich. The Institute for Fiscal Studies said the chancellor and Nick Clegg could only assert that the better off were the big losers from the austerity move by including reforms announced by Labour, such as the changes to pension contributions." - The Guardian

James Forsyth: Osborne is becoming the true Tory leader

"George Osborne has digested the election result, does not regard it as a success, and is seeking to learn from it how best to create a Tory parliamentary majority in this country again. He has been observing recently that Gordon Brown spent 13 years successfully creating Labour voters — mainly through state dependency — and that the Tories need to reverse this process if they are to win. It would also mean fostering a new set of Tory voters in the way that Margaret Thatcher did with council house sales and the ‘Tell Sid’ expansion of share ownership. This is the strategy that underpins Osborne’s first Budget" - James Forsyth in The Spectator

Lib Dems threaten revolt over cuts and VAT rise

"Liberal Democrat MPs are threatening to revolt over the Budget amid accusations that they had 'betrayed' voters. A crisis meeting of the party was called in the House of Commons last night so that MPs could air their grievances over the VAT hike and proposed spending cuts. A briefing from Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, failed to convince some of the Lib Dems over the more punitive Budget measures." - Daily Mail

Coalition a poor ideological fit, says Lib Dem MP - BBC

Sinn Fein MPs could lose huge expenses payouts unless they take up seats at Westminster

"Sinn Fein MPs could lose their right to claim hundreds of thousands of pounds a year in expenses unless they take up their seats at Westminster, David Cameron hinted yesterday. The Prime Minister pledged to 're-examine' the position of Sinn Fein MPs, who have always refused to take the oath of loyalty to the Queen required of all MPs." - Daily Mail

> Yesterday's ToryDiary on PMQs

UK committed to Afghan strategy after McChrystal sacking

"Britain remains "absolutely committed" to the allied strategy in Afghanistan after President Barack Obama sacked his top Afghanistan commander, Prime Minister David Cameron's spokesman said on Wednesday." - Reuters

> Last night's ToryDiary: David Cameron and Liam Fox welcome General David Petraeus's appointment to lead the international forces in Afghanistan

Conservative MP hands £60,000 profit from the sale of his taxpayer-funded second home to charity

"A Conservative MP has donated £60,000 from the sale of his taxpayer-funded second home to charity. John Baron bought the three-bedroom house in Billericay, Essex, in 2000 for £153,500 and has claimed expenses on the mortgage repayments since he was elected in 2001." - Daily Mail

Boris Johnson poised to stand for second term as Mayor

"Boris Johnson is preparing to run for another four years as the Mayor of London, Conservative sources disclosed last night. Mr Johnson is expected next month to confirm his candidacy for the 2012 election in which he could face a rerun of his dramatic battle with the previous Mayor, Ken Livingstone, who has put himself forward for the Labour nomination." - The Independent

> Yesterday's ToryDiary: Confirmation "imminent" that Boris Johnson will seek re-election as London Mayor

Michael Gove's free schools face costly challenge - The Guardian

Lord Walker of Worcester, 1932-2010

"Lord Walker of Worcester, who died on June 23 aged 78, was a dynamic 1970s meritocrat who, remarkably, held Cabinet office under both Edward Heath and Margaret Thatcher, in the latter case surviving for a decade. A committed Tory "wet" who in private – and not infrequently in public – disputed Thatcherite orthodoxy, Peter Walker possessed the ability and staying-power to outlast not only his fellow Heathites but also devotees of the Iron Lady who were found wanting." - Daily Telegraph obituary

> Yesterday's Gazette: Former Cabinet Minister Lord Walker of Worcester has died

The Canadians are disappointed that Samantha Cameron will not be at the G20 this weekend

"Laureen Harper’s guest list just got a little smaller. The “very pregnant” Samantha Cameron will not be joining her recently elected husband Prime Minister David Cameron at his first major international summit, a spokesperson for the U.K. High Commission confirmed Wednesday... Dubbed “SamCam” and “Supermum” by the British media, Cameron is widely regarded as of the world’s most stylish political wives next to Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni." - Toronto Star

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