Tuesday, 13 October 2009

Today's top features

ToryDiary:

OdoneQuote Cristina Odone on Platform: David Cameron must not repeat Labour's mistake of forcing mothers into work

Local government: Councils should check the reading age of truants (argues Nick Seaton) and Cllr David Parsons of Leicestershire County Council rebuts an attack on his care of council taxpayers' interests.

6a00d83451b31c69e20120a6348f47970c-150wiIn her CentreRight debut, Harriett Baldwin warns that Independent Financial Advisers may be put out of business unless they make their voices heard now

WATCH: Jacqui Smith has apologised 'unreservedly' to the House of Commons over her expenses claims

Tory lead at 10% in Populus poll
Populus Tory lead drops to 10% in Populus poll - Times | Yesterday evening's ToryDiary
Today's other newslinks

Party leaders urge unhappy MPs to comply with Legg and repay money - Guardian

The government sell-off of £16bn worth of assets will realise only £3bn in funds that can be used directly to pay off government debt of £175bn - Guardian

"The Government is clearly attempting to offset massive deficits by one-off sales, rather than tackling the inherent fiscal weakness by cutting costs and balancing the books. It's the first-year student mistake of spending more money than goes into the bank account at the start of term." - Matthew Elliott and Lee Rotherham in The Telegraph

Political rift between Brown and Cameron over quantitative easing - FT

I will NOT sign Lisbon Treaty, says Czech President

WillYouSign"President Klaus, the fiercely Eurosceptic Czech leader, is the last obstacle for the agreement after its ratification in the other 26 EU states but he has told supporters that he will never sign, The Times has learnt. Asked during a walkabout on Sunday not to put his name to the treaty, Mr Klaus replied: “Don’t worry, I won’t.”" - The Times

Labour drops Glenys Kinnock as Europe Minister, replacing her with Chris Bryant in sign that Labour is ready to make Europe an election issue - Independent

Mr Bryant revealed his new job on Twitter - three hours before Downing Street made the official announcement.

The quality of candidates is in decline as parties use more democratic selection procedures

"In both the Conservative and Labour parties the selections of candidates are more democratic than they used to be. Yet the change has often benefited mediocre local figures at the expense of more talented ones. One member of a local Labour constituency party in London tells me of a recent selection process that he took part in. The winner was a councillor from the constituency who had cultivated the local membership almost as a full-time job for a couple of years." - Steve Richards in The Independent

"Twenty-five years after they were almost killed by the Brighton bomb, Norman Tebbit and his wife Margaret yesterday made an emotional return to the site of the blast." - Daily Mail

Enfield Conservatives mark 25th anniversary of Brighton bomb by renaming their constituency office after their MP who died in the blast

Renaming (From left to right: Mayor of Enfield, Cllr Elefterios Savva, Sasha (daughter of Sir Anthony), Lady Berry, David Burrowes and Stephen Twigg.)

Enfield Southgate's constituency office was renamed 'Sir Anthony Berry House' yesterday in recognition of his 20 years service as MP which was ended by the Brighton bomb 25 years ago.

Lady Berry, Sir Anthony Berry's widow, attended with her daughter together with Stephen Twigg, MP for Enfield Southgate 1997-2005, Enfield's Mayor, Cllr Elefteris Savva, party agents, local councillors and party members who had worked for Sir Anthony.

David Burrowes MP issued this statement:

"It is a great privilege to pay tribute to the long service of Sir Anthony to the constituency of Enfield Southgate. It was good on this sad day for the Berry family to be reminded of the fond memories which remain in the constituency. At a time when the character of politicians is under scrutiny Sir Anthony's dedication and compassion is a shining example to follow. My constituency office now with his name will try and emulate his values of hard work and service for the benefit of his and my constituents in the years to come."