7.30pm WATCH: Grantham-Style!
1pm MPsETC: Gove's critical take on Thatcher: "Social bonds need to be nurtured more carefully"
Tory Diary: Why is Cameron letting Labour, which last won 29% of the vote, gain 77% of the appointments?
Peter Hoskin on ConservativeHome's Culture Column: Margaret Thatcher, screen icon
Michael Fallon MP on Comment: Why we're right to modernise Royal Mail
Cameron and the EU 1) As preparations continue for Margaret Thatcher's funeral, he lobbies Merkel for support for his vision of Europe
"In a major victory for the Prime Minister, a senior member of the country’s ruling Christian Democratic Union party said they were “open for arguments” on changing the way the EU is run. The breakthrough came as Mr Cameron and wife Sam were due to spend the night with German chancellor Angela Merkel and her husband at her country retreat near Berlin. He will use the meeting to discuss “all aspects” of EU reform, his spokesman said." – The Sun
Cameron and the EU 2) He and Samantha dine with the Merkels at the Chancellor's country residence
"A small team of five officials accompanied the Camerons to work with German counterparts on the British call for reform of the EU, including the return of powers to the national level…Officials were excluded from last night’s dinner but the Camerons were spared the rather daunting prospect of conversing alone with Mrs Merkel, a trained physical chemist, and her husband Joachim Sauer, a professor of quantum chemistry." – The Times (£)
Cameron and the EU 3) Leadsom says that compromise is essential
"Andrea Leadsom, the MP who heads the Fresh Start Group, which has drawn up a detailed manifesto for the repatriation of powers to the UK, said that there was no one in the party who wanted Cameron to "lay down the law" to Britain's EU partners and that compromise was essential…Leadsom, who was been canvassing support in other EU states for the Fresh Start proposals, said on Friday that Tory Eurosceptics accepted that compromise would be necessary as talks about the future of Europe get underway." – The Guardian
The Thatcher funeral: the Order of Service
"From the singing of I Vow to Thee, My Country to the choice of readings, every aspect of the occasion will reflect some part of Baroness Thatcher’s character: her love of Britain, her Christian faith, her belief in tradition…The funeral, to be held at St Paul’s Cathedral on Wednesday, will also feature readings from the Book of Common Prayer, including the burial prayer that begins: “Man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live and is full of misery. He cometh up and is cut down like a flower.” – Daily Telegraph
There will be a short service the day before in the Palace of Westminster
"Downing Street announced that there would be a short service led by the Dean of Westminster when Lady Thatcher’s body arrives on Tuesday afternoon at the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft in the Palace of Westminster. The 4pm service, for about 100 people, will be attended by the family and senior figures from both Houses of Parliament. The rest of the seats will be offered to members of staff who knew or worked closely with the late Prime Minister, such as housekeepers who looked after her office in Parliament." – The Times (£)
Wicked Witch V I'm In Love With Margaret Thatcher. Battle is joined.
"The BBC has sought to minimise controversy surrounding airplay of
Ding Dong! the Witch is Dead – which is being pushed by those with less
than fond memories of the late PM – by saying it will only play only a
snippet of the song during Radio 1’s chart show on Sunday evening. In an
example of rapid musical retaliation, Thatcher supporters have also
been campaigning on Twitter and on social media to get their own song
into the charts. The pro-Thatcher “buycott” is pushing I’m in Love with
Margaret Thatcher , a punk micro hit for the Notsensibles in 1979, the
year of her first election." – Financial Times (£)
> Yesterday: VOTE, VOTE, VOTE for I'm in Love With Margaret Thatcher
Trafalgar Square this evening. On the one side, ex-miners…
"A delegation of ex-miners from Durham is due to attend the protest with the north-east area banner and others are expected to travel from former mining heartlands in Yorkshire and Wales. Tensions were ratcheted up on Friday when mayor of London Boris Johnson said police were prepared for outbreaks of disorder. Speaking to LBC Radio, Johnson said: "We live in a democracy where people are entitled to protest, where they are entitled to have fun and do what they want." – The Guardian
…And on the other…Millwall fans?
"Clashes between protesters and Millwall fans returning from today’s FA Cup semi-final at Wembley are feared. Last night some supporters threatened on Twitter to confront the anarchists. One said: “To all you pr**** protesting on Sat at Trafalgar sq about thatcher, be warned Millwall in town and in force, expect abuse.” Cops fear troublemakers hope to re-create scenes like those of the 1990 poll tax riots." – The Sun
Lord Ashcroft: let's have that Thatcher statue. Boris: let's fund it by public subscription – Daily Telegraph
Gerri Halliwell U-turns on U-turn – The Guardian
Memories of Thatcher
Charles Moore: The measure of Maggie
"Measure Margaret Thatcher by the change she made, by the way she improved our country’s reputation in the world, by the prosperity she brought. Measure her by the fact that she created something called Thatcherism that means something to all nations now and in the future. Measure her by the way she permeated the consciousness of everyone – the subject of jokes, songs, fantasies, puppets, hatred, adulation, fascination. Measure her by her eloquence, her style, her energy, and her courage. No Briton born in the 20th century can match her." – Daily Telegraph
> Yesterday: Tory Diary – Maggie the Revolutionary? Tune in to Channel 4 at 7pm tomorrow evening and find out
Janan Ganesh: The Conservatives' problems in the north
"In the 1951 general election, the party won half of all seats in the northwest and 16 per cent of those in the northeast. In 2010, the numbers were 29 per cent and 7 per cent respectively. There are cities with no Conservative presence in parliament or on the local council. The party’s collapse in Scotland has been even steeper. The Tories fret about their northern problem even more than their unpopularity with ethnic minority voters (although this amounts to the same thing in some northern cities) and with women. They have recruited advisers to address the issue." – Financial Times
Miliband supporters hit back at Blair
"Labour ministers spoke out yesterday after Mr Blair criticised the
party’s strategy under leader Ed Miliband, complaining that Labour only
opposed cuts. In an article in the New Statesman magazine, Mr
Blair said the prospect of continuing cuts to public spending was less
problematic for the Conservative Party. He said: “For the Conservatives,
this scenario is less menacing than it seems. They are now going to
inspire loathing on the left. But they’re used to that." – Scotsman
Make drunk louts pay for using A & E, says Clegg
"Speaking during his weekly Call Clegg programme on LBC Radio the Deputy Prime Minister admitted it would be “tricky” to implement the fines but that he has “quite a lot of sympathy with the basic principle”. “I’ve actually got quite a lot of sympathy with the basic principle that says why should someone that goes out and gets completely blind drunk, behaves appallingly, gets themselves into trouble and a scrap – why should other people always have to pick up the tab to help them out?” Mr Clegg said." – Daily Telegraph
Quentin Letts: The Left controls more public bodies, not fewer, since David Cameron came to power
"Reds under the bed? If only that was the only place. These people are everywhere. In fact, it would not be going too far to say that after nearly three years of a Tory-led Government, it is still the Left that controls the real levers of power in Britain…Recent figures showed that more Labour supporters are working for public bodies under David Cameron than did so under the last Labour government. Mr Cameron loves to be thought Centrist, moderate, not a tribal fellow. The Left sees this and takes him for a fool." – Daily Mail
> Today: Tory Diary: Why is Cameron letting Labour, which last won 29% of the vote, gain 77% of the appointments?
Monday sees the Benefits Cap come in: one in four of those facing a cut to their benefits has found work
"Estimates had suggested 56,000 would be affected, losing an average of around £90 a week. However, that has been cut to 40,000. Officials said 8,000 people have found jobs and others have moved to cheaper homes. Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said: “We will provide support to those who need it, but the days of outrageous claims giving people incomes far above those of working families are over.” – Daily Express
Tuesday sees a Commons vote on building extension freedoms: Tory MPs to revolt
"A group of Tory MPs, including environmentalist Zac Goldsmith, MP for Richmond, Anne Main, who represents St Albans, and Bob Blackman of Harrow East, have said they will vote for an amendment to let councils opt out of the laws, which double the size of extensions that can be built without permission…The campaign against the changes is led by Mike Jones, leader of Tory Cheshire West and Chester Council." – Daily Mail
News in Brief:
* Oh…and…er…Lord Kinnock: I have difficulty respecting her and won't attend the funeral – The Times (£)
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