“Mr Cameron was given a hero’s welcome by Conservative MPs in the House of Commons yesterday, as he defended his decision to oppose Mr Juncker’s appointment “right to the end”. More cheers came when Mr Cameron said he would do what was in “the national interest” if he failed in his bid to reform Britain’s EU membership, a hint to Tory MPs that he might yet campaign for the UK to leave the EU.” – Financial Times
“There was strong support for Cameron even from his critics on the Tory benches. Stewart Jackson, a eurosceptic Tory MP, said: “I always knew he had lead in his pencil. But it is good to see him sharpening it on the inexorable drive to ever closer union as personified by Mr Juncker.” Stephen O’Brien, a former Tory international development minister, likened Juncker to a Luftwaffe Junkers Ju 88 aircraft. O’Brien said: “In a previous Battle of Britain we saw off Junkers.” – The Guardian
“The Labour leader claimed that the Prime Minister was “humiliated” in the 26-2 vote by EU leaders in favour of Mr Juncker’s appointment at a summit in Brussels last week. “You returned to Britain on Friday having failed; not some mild small failure, but an appalling failure of relationship building, winning support and delivering for Britain,” Mr Miliband told Mr Cameron. Mr Cameron hit back by likening Mr Miliband to former Labour leader Neil Kinnock for his long-winded attack.” – Daily Express
> Today:
> Yesterday: John Stevens on Comment: The four point EU reform programme that Cameron should push now
“The latest weekly poll by Lord Ashcroft puts the Tories on 33 per cent, up five points,and Labour on 31 per cent, down two points. The survey will concern senior figures in the Labour Party following weeks of infighting and criticism of Mr Miliband. Downing Street believes that Mr Cameron’s popularity will be boosted if he is seen to take a tough position during negotiations with the EU. Writing on the ConservativeHome website, Lord Ashcroft said: “The boost in the Tory share may well be largely thanks to Jean-Claude Juncker: the poll was taken between Friday afternoon and Sunday evening, when political news was dominated by David Cameron’s stance against the appointment of the new European Commission president.” – Daily Telegraph
> Yesterday: Lord Ashcroft on Comment: The Conservatives gain five points and overtake Labour in this week’s Ashcroft National Poll
“A Tory party newly triumphant would not be emollient: Cameron might well join the Outs. The drumbeat of Murdoch, the Telegraph, Mail and Express would overwhelm rational argument. Look at their jubilation already: the Sunday Times leader this week denied Treasury figures showing 3.3m British jobs were linked to EU membership and said Juncker’s appointment had “indeed pushed us close to the exit”…Look back at the AV referendum: the power of the Tory press and a well-financed No campaign managed to persuade an electorate deeply disenchanted with existing parties that they didn’t really want a little more electoral choice.” – The Guardian
“David Cameron stood up for Britain and stood up for what the British people want. He took Ukip’s victory in the Euro elections seriously and has recognised that the EU is unpopular and that it has to change. He also chose to side with the electorate in his home country rather than the eurocrats in Brussels. Anti-EU parties have been very successful across Europe but Mr Cameron has distinguished himself as a national leader honest enough to listen to the wishes of their people and courageous enough to openly oppose the appointment of Mr Juncker. This country needs a Prime Minister with exactly those attributes. It is no wonder that Mr Cameron’s actions have enhanced his chances of returning to Number 10 after the next election.” – Daily Express Editorial
“Danielle Lineker was joined by singer Katherine Jenkins, Strictly hosts Sir Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly, and screen legend Helena Bonham Carter at the glittering event. he buxom brunette was joined by singer Katherine Jenkins, Strictly hosts Sir Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly, and screen legend Helena Bonham Carter at the glittering event. But Hollywood star Harrison Ford failed to show up – despite being spotted living it up at top London hangout the 34 Restaurant the night before. Dame Maggie Smith and Sherlock’s Benedict Cumberbatch were also no-shows.” – The Sun (£)
“A former immigration minister who resigned after discovering his Colombian cleaner did not have a work permit is to make a dramatic return to government. David Cameron will give Mark Harper a second chance and make him a mid-ranking minister again in his upcoming reshuffle, The Sun can reveal. The Forest of Dean MP left office less than six months ago after revealing the scandal himself in February. But the PM has told aides he is determined to reward the talented young Tory for acting so honourably.” – The Sun
“Mr Clark and Lord Heseltine have just decided how much each LEP is to be given from the Local Growth Fund, an annual £2 billion pot of government money, after a competitive process under which the best applicants will be given millions of pounds to realise ideas in areas such as resolving skills shortages, providing small business support and overhauling infrastructure and transport policy. The results are expected to be announced in the coming days.” – The Times (£)
“New city or county regions will be given the power to keep all growth in their business rates income and use it to build new housing and infrastructure, and reskill their local workforce, under plans to be announced on Tuesday by Ed Miliband and former Labour cabinet minister Lord Adonis. In what is being billed as a decisive shift away from decades of Whitehall centralisation, Adonis also proposes that at least £6bn a year of transport, housing, welfare and infrastructure budgets are devolved from central government to large city councils or combined authorities.” – The Guardian
> Yesterday: The Deep End – The dead hand at the centre of British politics
“Support for a “yes” vote in September’s referendum is falling away and now stands at just 39 per cent — down three points since March — in the poll by YouGov for The Times. One expert said that it left Scotland’s first minister in need of a “gamechanger”…An investigation by this newspaper has shown that sniping among leading figures in the Better Together campaign figures continues to undermine its work. One pointed out that the team, which is led by Alistair Darling, is not “battle hardened”.” – The Times (£)