10pm International: Merkel will use setbacks in regional votes to warn Germans against extreme Left-wing coalition
6.45pm ToryDiary: David Davis is just one of the big beasts needed on the Tory frontbench
6pm International update: Japan moves to the Left in historic election
1.15pm Tim Montgomerie on CentreRight: Sun journalist says John Prescott is right about BBC
12.45pm WATCH: Jack Straw accused of facilitating Lockerbie bomber's release as part of an oil exploration deal with Libya
9.45am ToryDiary: Support for Alan Duncan sinks still further
Shane Frith on Platform: Can we get over this myth that the NHS is the envy of the world?
International: Japan set to vote for more interventionist government in watershed election
Mark Wallace on Local government: One cheer for John Denham's investigation into Council CEO pay-offs
Also on Local government: Councils act to save the apostrophe
AmericaInTheWorld: Anti-Americanism has declined across the world since Barack Obama's election
Conservatives 17% ahead – Observer | Yesterday evening's ToryDiary
Lockerbie bomber set free for oil – The Sunday Times has the latest damning insights
Today's must-read: The Tories aren't being honest writes Andrew Rawnsley
"No British government of any complexion has ever managed to make a
real term cut to public spending of 10% and at the same time
miraculously generated more police officers, extra high-speed rail
links, a larger and better equipped army, improved healthcare and
better schools. The Tories are either conning themselves or they
are trying to dupe the voters – it is probably a blend of both – when
they suggest that you can have both deep cuts and better public
services." – Andrew Rawnsley in The Observer
Michael Portillo is pessimistic about the possibilities of meaningful welfare reform – The Sunday Times
Matthew d'Ancona says the Tories can't reform education and health at
the same time and the leadership has shown schools reform – The Sunday Telegraph
Peter Hitchens is furious with Michael Gove for praising Tony Blair – Mail on Sunday
Chris Grayling's use of The Wire trivialised an important message about violent Britain – Janet Daley in The Sunday Telegraph
Chris Grayling has no plan to fix his broken society – John Rentoul in the Independent on Sunday
Caroline Spelman has written to Conservative MPs and councils advising them to delay housing developments until after the General Election – Observer
Caroline Spelman blasts £25,000 cost of changing the Department of Communities and Local Government to just Communities and Local Government
"Caroline Spelman, Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, said: ‘This is a Whitehall farce at taxpayers’ expense. Taxes have gone through the roof under Labour and examples like these show how the public’s money is squandered on Ministerial vanity projects and a corrosive culture of spin.’" – Mail on Sunday
Patrick Mercer backs more troops for Afghanistan – BBC
"The Government plans to talk to Taliban supporters as part of a radical new strategy to end the war in Afghanistan." – News of the World
Andrew Tyrie wants independent judicial investigation into rendition – Independent on Sunday
Zac Goldsmith's marriage is over – Mail on Sunday
"An independence referendum and minimum pricing for alcohol are among the bills to be introduced at the Scottish Parliament in the coming year." – BBC
And finally… The story of the Andrew Marr show that was in the schedule but…
"The programme was listed in the Radio Times as starting at 9am last Sunday, only it didn't. That came as a surprise not only to the viewers but to the executives within BBC Television Centre, who, with minutes to go before the scheduled transmission time, were horrified to find no one in the production team's office. A programme controller went down to the studio to check that everything was OK, only to discover to his horror that no one was there at all," says my man at the Beeb. A series of panicked phone calls ensued and the controller was informed that Marr and all his colleagues were on holiday. At the last minute it was decided that the only thing that could be done was to go over to the News Channel." – The Sunday Telegraph
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