7.45pm WATCH: Andrew Mitchell on the humanitarian situation in Libya
6pm Tim Montgomerie on Comment: Some suggestions for new villains for future BBC drama
2.30pm ToryDiary: The Iron Lady – A series of interviews with Charles Moore about Baroness Thatcher
2pm Charles Tannock MEP on Comment: Reflections on the mental state of Muammar Gaddafi
Noon Elizabeth Smith MSP on Comment: Murdo Fraser has got what it takes
Noon ConHomeUSA: Today's American political news
ToryDiary: The politics of the squeeze
Thomas Byrne on Comment: The idea that David Cameron is right wing is a joke to most Tories. The voters aren't laughing.
Local government: Four councils to pilot Social Impact Bonds
Gazette: Ed Llewellyn, David Cameron's chief of staff, has become a dad
WATCH: NATO attacks pro-Gaddafi forces near Sirte
Coalition divided over Vince Cable's plan for land tax
"A split between Conservative and Liberal Democrat ministers emerged yesterday as Nick Clegg's party demanded higher taxes on land and property to hit the rich. Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat Business Secretary, who has already proposed a "mansion tax" on homes costing more than £2m, floated the idea of a "land tax". Tory MPs dismissed the proposal as unworkable and fear it could alienate the party's natural supporters. It is likely to be vetoed by George Osborne, the Chancellor." – Independent
Lib Dems plan to target wealthy suburbs with higher taxes
"Households in more affluent parts of the country should pay more tax so money can be “transferred” to poorer councils, a party policy paper says. Lib Dem officials have identified almost 70 areas where better-off residents should pay significantly more in tax than their council spends on services for them." - Daily Telegraph
Neil O'Brien: David Cameron must show us that his party is not just for the rich
"When Disraeli died, one obituary said that he had carved out a new Conservative working class in the same way "the sculptor perceives the angel prisoned in a block of marble". As the polls, show, there are plenty of potential voters who might be willing to switch to the modern Tories if they weren't put off by a belief that the party is not for them. Like Disraeli, Cameron can win them over – but to do so, he must be far bolder." - Neil O'Brien, in the Daily Telegraph
The Daily Mail urges a return to "old-style Toryism"
"Financially beleaguered, overtaxed, worried about immigration and school standards, voters are crying out for real change after 13 years of Labour profligacy, red tape and political correctness. They want strong leadership, economic discipline and the restoration of national control over our courts and our borders. In short, they want a little ‘old-style, traditional Toryism’." - Daily Mail editorial
> Yesterday on LeftWatch: Labour's new strategy will highlight the Conservatives' most popular policies. We're not making this up.
William Hague hopeful over Fletcher case… - BBC
…but Libya may refuse to extradite Yvonne Fletcher murder suspect - Guardian
> Yesterday on ToryDiary: Tory members now oppose HiSpeed rail, want David Davis back at the top table and think Cameron was right on Libya
Ministers back independent abortion counselling reforms
"The government has caved in to calls from anti-abortionists to overhaul existing protocols and strip charities and medics of their exclusive responsibility for counselling women seeking to terminate a pregnancy. The Department of Health confirmed that it would change the rules to ensure that women are also offered counselling "independently" of existing abortion services." – Guardian
"Tory MP Nadine Dorries, who backs such a ban, said the independent advice would not be compulsory but an option. She said her aim was not to achieve fewer abortions but that could be the consequence, which would be "good"." – Independent
Government health advisor: Give patients "choice" over when they die
"Martin Green, a dementia expert for the Department of Health, said patients who were too frail to take their own lives were being denied “choice” and “autonomy” because assisted suicide is illegal in the UK. In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, he urged ministers to review the law and suggested that a referendum or a free vote in Parliament should be called to settle policy on the issue." – Daily Telegraph
David Cameron's flagship proposals to relax planning laws condemned as an attempt "to make Britain a giant building site"
"Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors have attacked the Coalition’s new planning rules, with warnings the reforms could turn Britain into “a giant building site.” … Critics of the draft national planning policy framework include the National Trust, which has said the changes will mean unrestrained development in many rural areas." – Daily Telegraph
Liam Fox attacks government over countryside blight of 150ft pylons
"In a letter to Environment Secretary Chris Huhne, Dr Fox says the ‘short-term’ attempt to plug Britain’s energy gap will damage sensitive landscapes such as the Somerset Levels, Snowdonia and the Kent Downs. He urges Mr Huhne to insist that new power cables are buried underground. In a highly unusual move, Dr Fox confirmed the contents of the leaked letter, saying the choice of pylons – each up to 150ft tall – was ‘short-termism of the worst sort’." – Daily Mail
Reform plan set to spark political turf war
"Tensions are set to come to a head in the next few weeks because MPs will see the first draft of the new English boundaries on September 12, soon after they return from the summer recess. … Overall the Tories are likely proportionately to come off best, losing 15 seats, while Labour loses up to 25 and the Lib Dems shed six, according to Rob Hayward, a Conservative psephologist." – The FT (£)
Kwasi Kwarteng MP: We still need the values of the British Empire
"The Empire promoted the belief that young men could get on through diligence and enterprise. In many ways it was a strenuous life. Young men could find themselves running courts in the oppressive heat of the Sudan or overseeing the building of the railways in India. But merit was rewarded." – Kwasi Kwarteng, in the Times (£)
Philip Davies MP condemns Sally Bercow's Big Brother appearance as "bad for the House of Commons"
"It has been bad for the Speaker and bad for the House of Commons. It has totally demeaned her husband and been an unmitigated disaster for her." – Philip Davies MP quoted in the Sun
ConservativeHome's Intelligence unit questioned by Labour MP John Mann – Daily Mirror
Lib Dems seek candidates for police commissioner posts, despite peer revolt
"The Liberal Democrats are advertising for candidates to become elected police commissioners despite the party's peers still believing they can derail the policy in the House of Lords. The bill to bring in one of the prime minister's and home secretary's most cherished policies was defeated in the Lords by Lib Dem peers in the last parliamentary term." - Guardian
Labour seeks law change to stop News Corp renewing BSkyB bid – Guardian
British arms exporters cash in on Arab Spring – The Times (£)
And finally… Michael Howard is the chauffeurs' favourite passenger
"…there is one man whom they would appear to love having in the back of their cabs. He is, believe it or not, Lord Howard, the former Tory home secretary, who had, until now, been believed to have "something of the night" about him." – Daily Telegraph
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