Plus: John Randall’s Serbian restaurant. Soames goes AWOL. Cash goes ballistic. And: Did Letwin and Redwood write the briefs for Page 3?
The Conservative campaign needs some warmth, uplift and outreach. That means focus on what helped Thatcher and Macmillan to win elections – housing.
As next May draws nearer, no political party is yet facing up to the scale of challenge of deficit reduction.
The Tories may have been unprepared for Civil Service reform in 2010, but the same won’t happen in 2015. The plan is already in place and already working.
Gove, May, IDS, Grayling, Maude. Unlike the minnows of Labour and UKIP, these are serious people delivering serious change for serious times.
Cameron shouldn’t abandon his campaign on the economy and security.
The past week has been instructive: things have improved, but not by enough to effect proper change.
The Prime Minister will have more influence in the appointment of senior officials. That should help Whitehall know who’s boss.
There are suggestions that the Conservatives should seek to impose emergency controls – and dare Nick Clegg to break up the Coalition.
Or is he? Much will depend on how much support this businessman within Whitehall gets from No.10.
What does JFDI mean? The minister tactfully translated it as “just do it”.
As Matthew Elliott pointed out yesterday, there’s a long way to go. But there’s a story of progress in key appointments that should be told.
Reforming strike laws would give power back to ordinary, moderate union members.
For all the lefty smokescreens, requiring a majority in strike ballots can be a vote-winner.
The party should be commended for its innovations in candidate selection – here’s how to make the process even better.