CONHOME WOULD LIKE A COPY OF THE LETTER THAT JEREMY MIDDLETON RECENTLY SENT OUT RE DESELECTION PROCEDURES. PLEASE EMAIL US IF YOU CAN HELP.
5.15pm ToryDiary: Do you want me to use unnamed sources?
4.45pm CentreRight:
Noon Patrick Nolan on CentreRight: Improve health productivity or ration more care
On CentreRight, Stephan Shakespeare argues that "The Conservative Party didn’t choose David Cameron because they loved
his policies, nor because he’d be a good mate. They chose him because
they saw him as a winner." He goes on to say that Cameron mustn't let MPs off the hook on expenses.
Local government: New Conservative administration in Devon begins with cutting allowances bill
Jonathan Delaney on Platform: How British rejection of the
European Security and Defence Policy could lead to fundamental reform
of the European Union
WATCH: Hazel Blears talks to the BBC after surviving an attempt to deselect her
MPs face universal condemnation over “disgraceful” censorship of their expenses claims – Telegraph
"Yesterday's exercise in obfuscation suggested that for all the
breast-beating and the agonised mea culpas, the House of Commons has
learnt nothing. After the recent disclosures, how could anyone have
imagined that putting censored information into the public domain in
such a way would do anything other than make voters think that, once
again, their MPs have something to hide, or are totally out of touch?"
– Telegraph leader
"Is this what Gordon Brown meant when he promised us transparency
and open government? Is this what David Cameron and Nick Clegg regard
as acceptable behaviour? The blanking out of information on MPs'
expense forms was Labour's decision. But MPs of other parties all went
along with it. Shame on them." – The Sun Says
Cameron to repay £947 in mortgages expenses – Times
Commons spent fortune blacking out expenses – Times
Brian Binley attacks The Telegraph for abandoning fair and honest reporting
"Sadly, such is now the Telegraph's thirst and hunger for making mischief since obtaining the records of MPs' expenses, that it has long since abandoned the idea of fair and honest reporting. Of course, some MPs have deservedly been exposed for the misuse of public funds, be it claiming for non-existent mortgages, "flipping" between homes, or claiming a fiver for a wreath they bought for Remembrance Sunday. But now the newspaper has turned it into a McCarthyite witch-hunt for the sake of a circulation increase. It is doing the reputation of British journalism a lot of damage." – Brian Binley MP in The Independent
The New Labour orthodoxy on public spending is over – The Economist's Bagehot
Annabel Goldie's enthusiasm for further Scottish devolution is not shared by some Tory MSPs – Telegraph
Outgoing European Parliament president Hans-Gert Poettering attacks Cameron for leaving EPP and for Lisbon tactics – EU Business
'I disagree with her on nearly everything' but Johann Hari says he'd support Ann Widdecombe as a "no-bullshit Speaker" – Independent
Margaret Thatcher to undergo surgery on broken arm – Guardian
Brown u-turns and concedes that Iraq Inquiry may be partly public – BBC
Clare Short wants to become Mayor of Birmingham – Telegraph
Today's clutching at straws award… goes to the New Statesman for this: "The Tories are ahead in the polls but remain unpopular."
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