Newslinks for Saturday 23rd July 2011

5.45pm WATCH: Cameron: Norway deaths "hard to comprehend"

3.45pm LeftWatch: Ed Miliband's contradictory views on competition

2.45pm Matthew Sinclair on Comment: The Guardian/Greenpeace investigation isn't convincing. Conservative MEPs have made up their own mind to oppose even more radical EU emissions targets

1.45pm ConHomeUSA: Today's top American conservative news

12.30pm Local government: Lib Dem councillors attack Government plans for elected police commissioners

Noon WATCH: Huge bail-out for Greece buys €urozone more time

10.45am Tim Montgomerie on Comment: Don't be so gloomy Charles Moore. There's never been a better time to be alive and it's Right-wing policies that did it.

ToryDiary: A change in the Cameron-Osborne relationship?

Andrew Lilico on Comment: EU renegotiation – another, different, bite at the cherry?

Local government: Kent Council leader attacks academies

WATCH:

• PMQs AT FIFTY: David Cameron's first PMQs as leader, against Tony Blair

David Cameron and George Osborne plan EU renegotiation

"Senior Conservatives believe Britain may be able to regain control of some social and employment regulations and secure the future of the rebate as a condition of allowing closer integration among countries using the euro. The plan would lead to tensions in the Coalition as the Liberal Democrats are likely to block any move for Britain to dilute its relationship with the EU. ... Treasury insiders hope Europe will drop plans for regulation of the City in return for British support. The EU is seeking a possible reduction in the rebate negotiated by Margaret Thatcher." - Daily Telegraph

"David Cameron will enrage Eurosceptics by refusing to hold a referendum on dramatic changes to build a European economic superstate." - Daily Mail

However... Conservative MPs call for a referendum - Daily Express

• UK pays £1.3bn to bail out Greece - The Sun
• Government cuts interest rate to Irish loan - The Independent
• "UK's place in Europe may not be satisfactory, but it is too important to be hostage to PM's domestic political difficulties" - Guardian editorial

> Yesterday on ToryDiary: Will Clegg let Cameron renegotiate Britain's relationship with Brussels?

Iain Martin: Britain has a once-in-a-generation chance to break free from Europe

"The Germans and French will need to amend existing EU treaties to make their new arrangements work. And the crucial point is that Britain will have the power of veto over any changes, as well as a new law requiring new EU treaties to be put to a referendum in the UK. This means we can demand the return of powers back from the EU — if ministers push hard enough. ... [Cameron] said it just might be possible to win some concessions on the European Working Time Directive that imposes constraints on the length of the working week. Pathetically, that was about it. The Foreign Office, ultra-cautious as usual, is urging everyone to calm down." - Iain Martin, in the Daily Mail

Iain Martin also reveals: "Deep inside the Treasury, officials have been ‘war-gaming’ various scenarios — trying to work out what the damage would be to Britain if Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Italy or even Spain were forced to leave the Euro."

• Euro-geddon: The EU, born out of idealism 60 years ago, is now a byword for waste, financial chaos and unaccountability - Dominic Sandbrook, in the Daily Mail

Bruce Anderson: The euro crisis could pull the Coalition apart

"Most of Mr Cameron’s supporters are still angry about the Brown government’s breach of faith over the referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. According to a ConservativeHome poll, Mr Cameron’s failure to offer his own retrospective referendum remains the grievance of grievances for a large number of Tory supporters. They believe that the power of Europe has increased, is increasing and ought to be diminished. They want to re-commission Maggie’s handbag. If an opportunity for renegotiation arose and Mr Cameron refused to take it, he would face a serious revolt." - Bruce Anderson, in the Daily Telegraph

• "The question that arises now, as it did then, is what Britain should do about it, and what the implications are for our future in Europe? For David Cameron these are troubling questions, since the answers could wreck the Tory-Lib Dem Coalition. He has tried to avoid a clash over Europe – but the fight has come to him." - Daily Telegraph editorial

David Cameron condemns Norway attacks - BBC

> Yesterday on ToryDiary: David Cameron and William Hague's messages to Norway

"Three weeks off" for Cameron and Clegg - leaving William Hague in charge

"William Hague will be in charge of the country for a week as David Cameron and Nick Clegg take holidays over the summer. The Prime Minister and his deputy will take three weeks off each. Although Mr Hague in effect will hold the reins of power during the first week of next month, No 10 insists that the Prime Minister is always in charge and able to keep up with ‘the details of government’, even when on holiday." - Daily Mail

George Osborne had dinner with Rupert Murdoch two weeks before BSkyB bid decision - Daily Telegraph

• Phone hacking inquiry judge attended parties at home of Rupert Murdoch's son-in-law - Daily Telegraph

Prime Minister calls on James Murdoch to ‘clarify’ evidence - Daily Mail

• Calls for police to look into James Murdoch's disputed evidence - The Independent
• Sunday Mirror phone-hacking claim revealed by Newsnight - BBC
• Labour MPs attack BBC business editor over his reporting of hacking scandal - Daily Mail
• Andrew Grice: Revenge is sweet for politicians as they hit back at newspapers - The Independent

Cameron pledges £25m to fund 10,000 new apprenticeships

"Ministers are expecting grim growth figures on Tuesday, which are predicted to show the economy slowing again. When Mr Cameron returns from his summer holiday, he will attempt to show that he is doing more to boost growth. The money announced yesterday will increase the number of apprenticeships in hi-tech industries such as advanced manufacturing, information technology and engineering. Small and medium-sized companies will be able to bid for the money to hire apprentices." - Daily Mail

Whitehall departments have been ordered to draw up plans "to make Britain happier"

"The Cabinet Secretary, Sir Gus O’Donnell, has asked leading civil servants across government to assess the impact Coalition policies will have on the happiness of the population and to consider options for increasing individuals' satisfaction with their lives. Plans could include improving the mental health of the workforce so people with depression and other illnesses find jobs, protecting parks and green spaces, and reducing pressure on children and families." - Daily Telegraph

• Cameron's pursuit of happiness, a policy made in Bhutan... - Daily Telegraph

Cheryl Gillan triggers new high speed rail row

"She has triggered a formal complaint to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards over her decision to employ a lawyer at her Westminster office purely to challenge the project. Mrs Gillan, the Tory MP for Chesham and Amersham, has been an outspoken opponent of plans to run 250 mph trains through her Buckinghamshire constituency, even though she is a member of the Cabinet." - Daily Telegraph

Prison population reaches record high

"The total number of prisoners hit 85,578 – 83 more than the previous record of 85,495 set last October and just under 2,500 short of the usable operational capacity of 88,073, Ministry of Justice figures showed." - The Independent

England is the divorce capital of the world - Daily Telegraph

John Bercow: parliament has rediscovered its 'balls' - The Guardian

Chris Huhne targets Tory MEPs who don't support his programme of unilateral action on climate change - The Guardian

Charles Moore: I'm starting to think that the Left might actually be right

"It has taken me more than 30 years as a journalist to ask myself this question, but this week I find that I must: is the Left right after all? You see, one of the great arguments of the Left is that what the Right calls “the free market” is actually a set-up. The rich run a global system that allows them to accumulate capital and pay the lowest possible price for labour. The freedom that results applies only to them. The many simply have to work harder, in conditions that grow ever more insecure, to enrich the few. Democratic politics, which purports to enrich the many, is actually in the pocket of those bankers, media barons and other moguls who run and own everything." - Charles Moore, in the Daily Telegraph

Graeme Archer: Opinion polls: it's not about reading the entrails, it's about thinking for yourself

"The constant opinion polls aren’t only misleading: they can actually alter political events. Some countries ban them in the run-up to general elections for that very reason. That’s the biggest worry (not that I care what happens to Ed Miliband). Polls are active, not passive. Politicians are no different to any other mammal and will respond to positive stimulus – they will be led by poll findings and focus groups, rather than by their own original ideas." - Graeme Archer, in the Daily Telegraph

Richard Cook: Leaders-in-waiting must put themselves forward

"A leadership contest looms for Scottish Conservative members. Despite the Scottish Parliament lapsing into summer recess not one candidate has declared their intention to stand - let alone put forward any sort of argument as to the future direction of the party they might hope to lead." - Richard Cook, in the Scotsman

• Coalition accused of forgetting Scotland - The Herald

And finally... MP criticised for socialising with "Made in Chelsea" star

"Brooks Newmark had told organisers in his Halstead constituency, in Essex, that the House of Commons whips needed him at Westminster. The meeting, to debate the future of the towns postal depot, started at 8pm. But at 8.30pm he told his Twitter followers he was enjoying a drink with Made in Chelsea star and diamond mining heir Francis Boulle, and posted a picture of them together." - Daily Telegraph

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