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Wednesday 1st April 2009Britain's leading conservative blog Today's top ConservativeHome features ToryDiary: A Britain obsessed with celebrity, indifferent to serious learning and unsure of its values and history risks being unable to defend itself Edward Leigh MP on Platform: Our bishops should talk more about God than global warming Tim Montgomerie on CentreRight: The five economic 'cures' that are worse than the sickness Local government: Millions more living under unitary authorities from this morning Thurrock scraps 50% parking charge hike Lord Hanningfield: £100 Council Tax rebates for 30,000 Essex residents Seats and candidates: Adrian Berrill-Cox adopted for Islington North WATCH: Jeremy Hunt MP promises to end "out-dated" ownership rules that stop local newspapers from investing in local radio and TV Alistair Darling welcomes Barack Obama to Britain Submit your questions for the candidates standing to be chairman of the National Conservative Convention So what issues would you like to raise with the candidates for the post? The candidate selection process? The role of members' in policy-making? The future of party fundraising? Communication within the Party? Click here. Today's other newslinks Tories face investigation into donations from Syrian millionaire's family - Telegraph John Randall MP warns against Google's Street Views "Last week, using the new Google Street View, I spent half an hour touring round my constituency of Uxbridge and the surrounding area. In that time, I was able to view details of the entrances and security measures of RAF Uxbridge and RAF Northolt. In particular, CCTV cameras, security railings and signs detailing locations of various parts of the military bases are all clearly visible. It is also possible to see over the top of RAF Northolt’s fencing into the interior of the base." - ePolitix David Davis to flex muscles with defence of grammar schools In his first major critique of any policy of the current Tory leadership, David Davis MP will be taking place in a Spectator debate on 23rd June in defence of grammar schools.  Mr Davis will be speaking alongside grammar school champion Graham Brady MP. More information at Spectator Events. Boris Johnson to "slash" London environmental team in half - Guardian John Bercow MP: Boost the minimum wage by 10% - ePolitix Lord Tebbit on Britain's two nations of public and private sector workers "Britain is fast becoming two countries, one occupied by workers in the private sector, victims of market forces and the deepening recession and the other by public sector employees, wallowing in the privilege of having their pay and pensions guaranteed by the Government." - Lord Tebbit in the Daily Mail ...and, if to make Lord Tebbit's point: 'Outrage over inflation-busting rises for judges, top brass and mandarins' reports The Scotsman The Committee on Standards in Public Life has announced it plans to bring forward its inquiry into MPs' expenses - BBC "One of parliament's most senior former officials warns today that Gordon Brown's rushed initiative to set up an independent inquiry into MPs' expenses is doomed to fail because of the ability of MPs to "covertly sabotage" or "overturn" its findings... [Sir Roger Sands] warns: "Members of parliament are distinct from other elements of the public service, such as judges, army officers and senior civil servants, in having this ability to overturn, or covertly sabotage, the findings of the independent review body."" - Guardian "The worst sort of politician is the professional politician, and the present system of remuneration ensures we have them in abundance." - Simon Heffer in The Telegraph A businessman offered to sell the details of every expense claim made by MPs over the past five years to The Times for £300,000 - Times Taxpayers were asked to foot £800,000-a-year bill to bail out MPs' gold-plated pension scheme - Independent | Express Alistair Darling announces last hour (£600m) reprieve on business rates "Caroline Spelman, the shadow communities secretary, also called on the Government to take action on other tax increases due to add to the pressure on small businesses. She said: ``We welcome this U-turn because in large part it follows the campaign we have mounted asking the Government to look again at the impact business rate increases will have at this time of recession.However there are a range of other tax increases which will damage businesses in the UK." - Telegraph Labour's Europe Minister hasn't read Lisbon Treaty - Telegraph | Yesterday's Parliament page Regional Development Agencies generate £4.50 for regional economies for every £1 invested - FT Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will meet her eleventh US President today - Sky News