A new era of ‘hard choices’
‘Alistair Darling will prepare the Labour party on Tuesday for a new era of “hard choices” and a smaller state, with ever tighter public spending targeted on vital infrastructure and on confronting long-term problems such as climate change and an ageing society.’ – George Parker, FT
‘Forget about the party conferences. They will come and go as they always do. The most important event of the year is the pre-Budget report to be delivered in late October or November. The event is the Government’s last chance to clarify precisely where it stands in relation to “tax and spend”, the policy area that decides elections. After that there will be no opportunity for further revisions. There is a limit to the number of “clarifications” a government can make.’ – Steve Richards, The Independent
Alan Duncan demoted
‘Alan Duncan lost his job in the Shadow Cabinet yesterday, paying the price for his remark that MPs were having to survive “on rations” after the expenses scandal.’ – Francis Elliott and Helen Nugent, The Times
‘David Cameron has appointed Sir George Young to replace Alan Duncan as the shadow leader of the House of Commons.’ – BBC
Miliband’s global warming tour
‘As part of a diplomatic push by Britain to persuade rich countries to put climate change at the top of their agendas, Miliband will address EU, French, Swedish and Danish foreign ministries in the next 48 hours.’ – John Vidal, The Guardian
BNP to appear on Question Time?
‘The BBC has confirmed it may invite British National Party leader
Nick Griffin to appear on a future edition of the Question Time
programme.’ – BBC
‘A senior Labour figure will go head to head in a debate with Nick Griffin, the leader of the BNP, after the party dropped its opposition to sharing a platform with the far-Right.’ – Nigel Morris, The Independent