5pm Donna Edmunds on Comment: How an obscure Swedish tobacco product could hold the key to reversing Cameron’s EU problems
12.30pm ToryDiary: Ministers warn of radicalisation on campus. But what's their position on FOSIS?
ToryDiary: Plots and whispers
Alex Dismore on Comment: Yes, many Conservative members really ARE swivel-eyed loons – and Cameron should purge them
Columnist Jesse Norman on the wisdom of Michael Sandel: There are some things that money just can't buy
Local Government: Rules must change to cut the numbers in bed and breakfast
The Deep End: Conservatism means telling people what they don’t want to hear
May calls for new controls after Woolwich and security chiefs call for Communications Data Bill (a.k.a Snoopers Charter)…
"Security chiefs backed Mrs May, lining up to call for the revival of the Communications Data Bill, which was dropped from the Queen’s Speech at the start of this month after being vetoed by Nick Clegg. But the Liberal Democrats, civil liberties groups and Britain’s leading Muslim organisation warned against a “knee-jerk” reaction to the killing of Drummer Lee Rigby. Mrs May suggested that ministers could also impose new controls on satellite channels and groups that propagate extremist messages as she warned that thousands of Britons could be vulnerable to radicalisation." – The Times (£)
…As does Michael Howard…
"Mr Clegg sparked fury last month by blocking a new law to let the police and MI5 monitor terrorists, paedos and serious criminals online. Home Secretary Theresa May said yesterday the powers the Deputy PM blocked were “essential”. Hours later, Lord Howard said: “It makes no sense to let the Liberal Democrats veto it. “I hope they can be persuaded to change their mind. “But if they can’t, the Conservative part of the Government should explore getting this legislation through with the co-operation of Labour.” – The Sun
> Yesterday:
Home Secretary also calls for a University crackdown on extremist groups and hate preachers
"Home Secretary Theresa May yesterday pledged to look at introducing new powers to tackle Al Qaeda sympathisers who try to recruit impressionable students at colleges. She has criticised universities for being ‘complacent’ in tackling the risk of radicalisation. One of Drummer Lee Rigby’s killers, Michael Adebolajo, 28, converted to Islam in 2003 at the same time that he studied at the University of Greenwich. He was radicalised by the banned group Al-Muhajiroun." – Daily Mail
Boris agrees with May: there's a problem in our universities
"People like Abu Qatada should be put on a plane, and those that preach hate and violence must be arrested…The universities need to be much, much tougher in their monitoring of Islamic societies. It is utterly wrong to have segregated meetings in a state-funded centre of learning. If visiting speakers start some Islamist schtick – and seek either to call for or justify violence – then the authorities need to summon the police." – Daily Telegraph
Cameron rests in Ibiza
"After being mocked for his choice of leisure wear during a break to Tuscany two years ago, which included a pair of creased work shoes with no socks, black trousers and a blue shirt, the PM did his best to blend in. He swapped his trademark dark suit for a casual navy shirt, dark cotton shorts and leather sandals as he chatted lovingly to his wife…The Prime Minister found a quiet table and ordered two bottles of chilled water and their favourite cappuccinos before a light lunch." – Daily Express
Senior Conservative MP gives Cameron twelve months
"MP for Bury St Edmunds, David Ruffley said today the Prime
Minister has to win the argument on the EU in the coming year or UKIP
will split the Tory vote at the European Elections in 12 months…'I don’t
think UKIP are going to win seats but they could split the Conservative
vote if they are very strong and let Labour through in those marginal
seats. 'But I think David Cameron has got 12 months to show that his
strategy works.' " – Daily Mail
Pickles resists plans to force millions of private landlords to carry out immigration checks
"Eric Pickles, the Communities secretary, is understood to be trying to ensure that ordinary people who rent out a property are not saddled with red tape. A source said: “It is just making sure implementation is done in a commonsense way. We want to do it in a way that does not inflict red tape on millions of people. “What we want to avoid is disproportionate regulations on the private rented sector. “If you are British we don’t want a bureaucratic check, the cost of which is passed onto the landlord and then the tenants. It is question of getting the balance right and targeting the regulations at high risk areas.” – Daily Telegraph
Hague's call for loosening Syrian arms embargo meets European resistance
"The foreign secretary, William Hague, is to join with the French to
table a call for watering down the embargo at a meeting of other EU
foreign ministers. But several countries – notably Austria, the Czech
Republic, Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden – oppose it for fear that
weapons might fall into the hands of Islamic extremist groups such as
Jabhat al-Nusra. Germany has been trying to fashion a compromise." – The Guardian
Ruth Davidson under attack over Holyrood policy as Conservative Scottish conference opens
"The
pro-Union parties in the independence debate are under pressure to set
out their plans for further devolution if Scots vote to remain in the UK
in next year’s referendum. Ms Davidson had secured the Tory leadership
after declaring a “line in the sand” to more devolution, but performed a
U-turn earlier this year with the announcement that a commission under
Lord Strathclyde would examine the prospect, particularly of extending
tax-raising powers." – Scotsman
Lords gears up for gay marriage battle
"Lord Dannatt, a former head of the Army, and Lord Lothian, a former Tory chairman, are both understood to be preparing to criticise the proposals. Other opponents include Lord Luce who said: “You can’t suddenly pounce on the 2,000 year-old institution of marriage after such little consultation and with such little thought. This is all being handled in a very slap happy, careless manner.” Even Lord Hodgson, a Tory peer expected to support the proposal, admitted: “It looks very close.” – Daily Express
Tim Montgomerie: Do we face a future of low growth?
"Professor Gordon doubts that tomorrow’s innovations can improve our economic wellbeing as those made in the last 100 years. He challenges inventors to come close to matching the impact of the car, the jet, electric light, central heating, air conditioning and 20th-century medicine. I’m not as pessimistic. For a start, western economies will benefit from the spread of 20th-century technologies to the developing world. We should also be optimistic about the potential of technology to end congestion, enhance the brain, improve the performance of government and raise agricultural productivity. Professor Gordon points us, however, to the key questions.' – The Times (£)
Miliband's graduate tax would push up borrowing by £7 billion
"The policy would also present problems for Labour’s election strategy because it would allow opponents to accuse the party of planning higher public sector borrowing. However, the study concluded that a graduate tax could be made to work. The political risks will be set out in a report next month by a higher education commission set up by the Institute for Public Policy Research, a left-leaning think-tank. The tax would involve scrapping university tuition fees and student loans, and instead levying an extra 2p on income tax for 40 years for all new graduates" – The Times (£)
Will Abbott's 'campaign of no' make him Australia's Prime Minister?
"Support for the Coalition is much stronger today, but there are still enough soft voters currently "parked" with the opposition to change the election outcome if they decided their disillusionment with Gillard was insufficient justification to vote for Abbott. Abbott and his strategists know this, and are determined to avoid the Pox On Both Your Houses effect that delivered the balance of power to a motley collection of Greens and Independents at the 2010 federal election." – Paula Matthewson, The Guardian
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