‘We believe passionately that if liberty is to mean anything, it must include the freedom to mock, offend or question the beliefs of others, within the limits of democratically decided law. On any other day, the Mail would feel only distaste for a French magazine with a history of sniggering at faiths held sacred by billions worldwide. But today, freedom lovers everywhere, whatever their religion, should proclaim the slogan of solidarity with the murdered staff of Charlie Hebdo: ‘Je suis Charlie!’’ – Daily Mail Leader
Comment
Editorials
>Today: ToryDiary: Islamists don’t hate us for what we do. They hate us for who we are.
>Yesterday: ToryDiary: Charlie Hebdo. To make truth laugh.
‘I am just back from a ‘Je suis Charlie’ vigil in Trafalgar Square, and the solidarity was good to see. I fear it won’t last. I may be wrong. Perhaps tomorrow’s papers and news programmes will prove their commitment to freedom by republishing the Charlie Hebdo cartoons. But I doubt they will even have the courage to admit that they are too scared to show them.’ – Nick Cohen, The Spectator
‘The PM also accused Mr Miliband of using the NHS as a “political football”. He said: “The leader of the Opposition apparently said to the political editor of the BBC, ‘I want to weaponise the NHS’. I think that is disgraceful. The NHS is not a weapon, it’s a way we care for our families.’ – The Sun (£)
>Today: The Deep End: The NHS policies of the two main parties: essentially the same
>Yesterday:
‘On her last visit to Britain before the general election in May, the German chancellor identified action to limit welfare abuse when asked how she could help Mr Cameron to win a better deal for Britain in the EU. However, she ducked a question on whether she agreed that Brussels legislation would have to change. With attention distracted by the terrorist attack in Paris, the formal agenda for Mrs Merkel’s visit to London was truncated.’ – The Times (£)
‘David Cameron will set out his plans on Thursday for turning Britain’s northern cities into the British equivalent of Los Angeles or Chicago, at the start of a Tory offensive intended to boost the party’s support. Mr Cameron will be joined in Manchester by chancellor George Osborne at a relaunch of the party’s “northern powerhouse” initiative, which aims to connect northern towns and cities to form a single economic unit.’ – FT
‘Labour’s ill-founded claim to the moral high ground will go unchallenged. Mr Cameron has decided he has to be a borecon to be re-elected. This might be wise electoral politics but I can’t help wondering if, by the end of the campaign, he will feel as unsatisfied by it all as the rest of us. He surely will if he is defeated.’ – Tim Montgomerie, The Times (£)
‘The mayor of London made clear his opposition to plans by Theresa May, the home secretary, to force foreign students to return home immediately after finishing their courses. “I think that foreign students play an absolutely indispensable part in the economy of higher education,” he said. “Having graduated, they can also be hugely important to the UK economy and are often responsible for start-up businesses.”’ – The Times (£)
‘A new analysis of 114 seats surveyed individually by former Tory deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft suggests there is ‘no consistent pattern’ that will allow pollsters to predict the outcome in May with any confidence. ‘It is possible that a handful of seats could decide whether Her Majesty gives the first shot at forming a government to David Cameron or Ed Miliband,’ the peer said.’ – Daily Mail
‘Genetically modified food should be grown in Britain because it is more ‘eco-friendly’, the Environment Secretary claimed yesterday…‘I think GM crops have a role to play here,’ she said. ‘If you look at what has happened in the US, crops are being grown in a more environmentally friendly way with less water usage and less pesticide usage. I would like us to have that opportunity. Our farmers need access to technology that will help them work in world markets.’’ – Daily Mail
‘Backbench Labour MP Rob Flello last night told the Mail that he is planning to table a so-called ‘early day motion’ in Parliament – possibly as soon as today – calling for an investigation into fuel prices in the UK. He said that ‘prices at the pumps should be decreasing in line’ with the fall in the oil price but added ‘this is not the case’.’ – Daily Mail
‘Tony Blair has finally agreed to be questioned about a controversial scheme that was devised to reassure IRA suspects “on the run” that they were no longer wanted by police. The former prime minister had been accused of being “extremely disrespectful” for appearing to dodge requests to appear before a committee of MPs investigating the scheme.’ – The Times (£)