“Almost twice as many Conservative local chairmen will vote to leave the European Union than stay in, according to the most extensive survey of Tory grassroots since the referendum. In a major blow to David Cameron’s attempts to win over his party, some 42 per cent of constituency chairmen were found back Brexit while just 24 per cent support retaining EU membership.” – Daily Telegraph
Chamber of Commerce:
Campaign:
“We now have up to half our law coming from the EU (some say two thirds); and if the Five Presidents get their way, the process of centralisation will simply continue – much of it in the name of the “Single Market”. It’s time we learnt the lesson. The federalists do mean it when they sketch out these programmes. The ratchet is clicking forwards. When you come to vote, the status quo is not on offer.” – Daily Telegraph
>Today:
>Yesterday: Video: WATCH: Boris on why he wants Brexit. There are issues of “political control and accountability”
“George Osborne is planning a tax giveaway for middle-class voters in next week’s Budget. Government sources say the Chancellor is set to raise the threshold at which people start paying 40p tax, following years of it being held down. The starting point for basic rate tax will also rise faster than expected.” – Daily Mail
Motoring:
Education:
>Yesterday: Mark Field MP in Comment: As the Budget approaches, the storm clouds gather – and the long haul back to sustainable recovery goes on
“Brandon Lewis, the Local Government minister, said, under the compromise deal, councils would be able to “draw a red line” around town centres and high streets “so that they had the liberalisation, but not the out of town shops”.
Ministers are hoping that the last minute change will win support of Tory MPs because it could lead to a boost in trade on high streets, which have been in decline for some years.” – Daily Telegraph
>Yesterday: ToryDiary: His Sunday trading scheme shows how the worst of Osborne is harming the best of Osborne
“Firms failing to fix neglected Armed Forces homes have been warned they risk losing their lucrative contract. Bosses of Carillion and Amey apologised after thousands complained. They have until the end of April to turn round the worst-performing area, the South East, or face losing their multi-billion pound contract.” – The Sun
>Today: Andrew Boff in Local Government: Bring back the prefab
“Coming in a distant second may not sound an inspiring electoral goal, but Scotland’s Conservatives are quietly excited by the idea they might soon surpass Labour to become the main opposition to the ruling Scottish National party. At a spring conference just two months before a parliamentary election that polls say the SNP will win by a landslide, Scottish Tories see winning more seats than Labour as a turning point in their long decline north of the border.” – FT
“Sadiq Khan, Labour’s London mayoral candidate, has suspended one of his aides over a series of sexist, homophobic and offensive posts on social media. Shueb Salar, a parliamentary assistant to the former minister, was removed after Mr Khan’s team admitted that there were “serious issues” with messages allegedly published by him on Twitter in 2012. It came as Zac Goldsmith, the Conservative contender, accused Mr Khan of giving oxygen to people who held “totally disgusting views”.” – The Times (£)
“Jeremy Corbyn is set to come under attack from his MPs tonight over defence, Europe and his views on prostitution when he faces questions from the parliamentary Labour party. There is anger that he told students last week that he was “in favour of decriminalising the sex industry”. MPs want him to declare how many council seats he hopes to win this year amid predictions that he could be the first opposition leader since the Falklands conflict to suffer council losses.” – The Times (£)
>Today: Nadhim Zahawi MP’s column: The Tea Party provides a warning to Labour
“Disaffected Labour MPs – along with Tories left isolated by their party’s split over Europe – will be able to apply for financial backing from a new £6.5 million fund if they stand as independents at the next general election… a new pressure group, the Charter for a Free Parliament (CFP), plans to hold “primary” elections for independent candidates in every UK constituency.” – The Independent
“The Florida senator thrashed his rivals on the island, picking up 73.8 per cent of the votes compared to Donald Trump’s 13.6 per cent. He is expected to win all 20 delegates determined by the primary, just a day after Trump urged him to exit the race. And hard-left Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders picked a win in Maine, a day after beating former First Lady Hillary Clinton in Kansas and Nebraska.” – Daily Express