Britannia Radio

Wednesday 7th January

Wednesday 14th JanuaryBritain's leading conservative blog Who should be the next Party Chairman? In the most recent ConservativeHome readers' survey a clear majority of party members (59%) thought that the choice of Party Chairman should be decided by members. But who should it be? Four people are the most likely candidates: Chris Grayling, Jeremy Hunt, Eric Pickles and Caroline Spelman. Please cast your vote today here. Today's other top ConservativeHome features ToryDiary: David Cameron enhances the role of his "deputy", William Hague Jonathan Isaby in Parliament: Returning after its 24-day recess, the Commons rises early two days running - without a word of debate about the economy Stewart Jackson MP on Platform: Exposing Labour's insidious transfer of powers to new quangos and bureaucrats Seats and Candidates Search for 100 Peers: Andrew Roberts Cllr Neil Reddin in Local Government: How do you keep cutting costs after the first term? The example from Bromley Local Government: Middle East conflict features in Haringey Council byelection WATCH: George Bush awards Tony Blair the Presidential Medal of Freedom Today's other newslinks Government to announce "pale imitation" of Tory loan guarantee scheme "David Cameron is preparing to denounce Labour's latest move, the credit guarantee scheme due to be announced by Lord Mandelson, the business secretary, this morning, as a pale and over-complex imitation of the £50bn scheme he has championed since November. The Cameron scheme has been the riposte to Labour claims that the opposition offers a do-nothing response to the recession." - Guardian "Shadow chancellor George Osborne said the government appeared to be offering a belated version of the £50bn scheme floated by the Tories several weeks ago. "Let us hope that they will properly implement this Conservative policy rather than a pale imitation, or else they run the risk of repeating the mistakes of their expensive temporary VAT cut and achieving nothing," he said." - BBC Yet more speculation about a shadow cabinet job for Ken Clarke "David Cameron is preparing to face down the Conservative Right and hand Ken Clarke the business brief to raise the party’s profile during the recession, The Times has learnt. The Tory leader believes that the former Chancellor is the only senior Conservative, other than himself and George Osborne, who can command the media spotlight." - The Times "He would never confront Mr Mandelson in person as they sit in different Houses. I do not see what benefit Mr Cameron would gain from having him back in the Shadow Cabinet, as opposed to his current role heading the democracy task force defending Parliament, and perhaps the occasional frontbench apparance in big debates. Mr Clarke can gain public attention. But there are risks in his outspokenness." - Peter Riddell in The Times > Last night's ToryDiary: Reshuffle speculation is getting out of control Cameron recommits to vote on Lisbon Treaty "Britain will have a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty in October if the Tories win a 2009 snap election, David Cameron declared last night. The Tory leader and his shadow foreign secretary William Hague vowed to put the hated constitution to a national vote in the autumn." - The Sun Theresa May casts doubt on proposed social mobility law "The Government thinks social inequality can be solved by passing a law. You don't make people's lives better by telling them they have a legal right to a better life. You do it by tackling the root causes like family breakdown and poor education." - Theresa May quoted in the Independent Backing for David Cameron's plan to reduce the number of MPs "When belts are being tightened across the country, there is no reason why Parliament should not do the same. At best, a leaner, fitter House of Commons should be the result, along with a fairer system of representation. Perhaps he could think about introducing fixed parliamentary terms as well." - Independent editorial "Reduced by at least 10 per cent, Mr Cameron argues that Parliament can do just as good a job (which may not be saying much) "without any trouble at all". We agree and suggest Mr Cameron applies this rule of thumb to the whole of the public sector. And why stop at 10 per cent?" - Daily Telegraph editorial MPs' pensions set to increase "MPs are set to help themselves to even more lavish pensions using taxpayers’ cash. New figures have revealed that an extra £2.2million was poured into their scheme last year compared with 2003 – a rise of almost 25 per cent... Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Philip Hammond said last night: “We need to end the pensions apartheid that exists between the public and private sectors. Moving new MPs on to a defined-contribution scheme is a crucial first step in any wider reform of public sector pensions.” - Daily Express Welsh Tory leader Nick Bourne sets out his agenda for 2009... "Mr Bourne announced he would be making a series of speeches on key policy areas, such as the economy and public services, in the coming weeks... Mr Bourne also said he would be talking to Plaid and the Liberal Democrats this year to sound out "potential dancing partners" for coalitions after the next election in 2011. He said: "That is important in looking forward as to how we can ensure there is an alternative to Labour domination in Wales." - South Wales Evening Post ...as there is further controversy over his expense claims "Nick Bourne claimed yesterday he was the victim of a “witch-hunt” and condemned the controversy which has surrounded his recent expense claims. Mr Bourne accused his fellow AMs of making “massive” expense claims for things like meals, but said these had gone unquestioned... The pressure intensified yesterday when it emerged he appeared to claim more than £1,800 from public funds to run a website that did not exist." - Western Mail Daniel Finkelstein: The kinder Conservatism of David Cameron is not just a slogan. It's central to Tory strategy and applies in bad times too "One of David Cameron's constant refrains is that he believes in a stronger society, but not a stronger State... In place of much state coercion and regulation, there will be a stronger society based on voluntary initiative. This is an ambitious idea at the best of times, but will be severely tested in a harsh economic climate. But it cannot work at all without the right prime ministerial leadership. It needs Mr Cameron to be gentle, socially concerned, caring. Kind and efficient become essential partners, rather than political choices." - Daniel Finkelstein in The Times Police seek new rights for searching rail passengers - Guardian Mervyn Davies of Standard Chartered Bank to be ennobled and made trade minister - Daily Telegraph Straw revives controversial plans to hold inquests in secret - Daily Mail Ministers seek to revitalise affordable homes market - Guardian BNP links to immigration service staff - Independent Brown faces backbench revolt over Royal Mail - Daily Telegraph And finally... Labour councillor used pseudonym to praise own work "A councillor came under fire today for using a pseudonym to praise his own work. Ben Grower posted comments under several aliases on the Daily Echo's website. But the newspaper in Bournemouth, Dorset, decided to name and shame the councillor after he posted praise for himself under the name Omegaman. In one post about plans to build Europe's first artificial surf reef in Boscombe, the Labour councillor wrote: "At least two councillors seem to be concerned about this mess. Well done Cllrs Ratcliffe and Grower." - Independent Our main sites Homepage. ToryDiary. Seats and candidates. Local government. Parliament. Platform. CentreRight. International. PlayPolitical videos.

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