10pm update: David Gold selected for Eltham
12.45pm ToryDiary update: Immigration is endangering Britain's quality of life, warns Julian Brazier
TOP HEADLINE: "John Howard has written to his parliamentary colleagues declaring he wants to stay on as Prime Minister and Liberal leader and fight the next election campaign." - The Australian
BLOGS
- Blair's popularity falls to new low (and more people are now dissatisfied with Cameron than satisfied)
- The Federation of Conservative Students
On the day that CCHQ despatches the second set of letters advising candidates if they are on the 'Priority list top-up' ConservativeHome publishes a short history of the A-list.TORY LONDON MAYORALTY PRIMARY
LondonMayor blog: Nick Boles to submit application for London Mayoralty process
The Times' Tim Hames is unimpressed with the Tory decision to choose a Mayoral candidate 21 months before polling day:
"Unless some even slightly well-known contender can be cajoled into standing in the next 100 hours, then the Conservative Party will be inviting seven million citizens to plump between two Kensington and Chelsea councillors of whom the overwhelming majority have never heard. It will be a minor miracle if 70,000 people can be bothered to make the effort — a turnout of 1 per cent of voters. This is not a platform on which to build for ultimate victory... If the process were put back by 12 months there would be more chance of heavyweights coming forward."
BLAIR TO MURDOCH EXECUTIVES
"The era of tribal political leadership is over in Britain with "rampant cross-dressing" on policy set to become a permanent feature of modern politics, Tony Blair told News Corp executives in conclave in the Californian resort of Pebble Beach yesterday." - The Guardian
Tony Blair "will use his visit to California to promote Britain as a world leader in stem-cell research. He will promote a joint Anglo-California biotech conference later this year. He will also claim that Britain has "turned the corner" in tackling attacks by animal rights extremists on medical research companies.' - Telegraph
"The prime minister has spent the last two days in San Francisco talking to political and business leaders about similar themes, and on Monday flies to Los Angeles where he will host a climate change summit. As part of the summit, Blair will meet California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to discuss progress being made on carbon emissions." - ePolitix.com
And quote of the day goes to Bruce Anderson in The Independent:
"It is hard not to admire the coolness with which our Prime Minister conveys his contempt for the Labour Party. At least half his cabinet is desperately unhappy, as is a majority of his MPs. Yet Mr Blair's message is unchanged: that the only mistake which the Israelis have made is not to kill enough Hizbollah quickly enough. Having given Mr Bush his backing Mr Blair flies on to receive Mr Murdoch's blessing. It is impossible to withhold one's admiration..."
THE
LIBDEMS HAVE CONTRADICTORY POLICIES ON MOST THINGS...
"The former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy has denied reports that he hopes to challenge his successor for his old job. His statement followed claims that he was meeting key advisers to discuss a possible leadership bid and coincides with his return to frontline politics." reports The Guardian but The Independent has a different take: "Charles Kennedy has declined to rule out a return as Liberal Democrat leader, despite dismissing speculation surrounding "a plot" against his successor."
>>> ToryDiary: Cleggie's coming
DOHA FREE TRADE ROUND
"A failure of Doha would strengthen those who want to turn their backs on globalisation and retreat into protectionism. It would undermine the WTO system, which has brought stability and predictability to the global economy. It would make it much harder to anchor China, India and other growing economies into an open, fair and multilateral trade system. What is at stake if we fail greatly outweighs the relatively small gaps that divide us. We must avoid burning our bridges. We should try to find a way back to the table. None of us will get all we desire and, indeed, Europe has already dropped many of its aspirations for the round. But the costs of no agreement are far greater than the inconveniences of a less than perfect one." - Peter Mandelson in the FT
LABOUR RAID NATIONAL LOTTERY
"Labour has plundered £3billion of National Lottery cash to bail out ailing public services, according to the Tories. Almost a third of money meant for good causes is now used to maintain schools and hospitals, claims Conservative research." - The Sun
The West Wing ended on More4 on Friday. For those of us who loved the series it was a "suitably inspiring, and characteristically sentimental, end." That's Janet Daley's verdict anyway in her Telegraph column. Read the rest of her excellent review here.
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