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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Lib Dems: Tuesday at-a-glance | Lib Dems: Tuesday at-a-glance |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| THE BIG ISSUE | THE BIG ISSUE |
| The party leadership are hoping to get their "blueprint" for the election manifesto agreed by the party. This document would pave the way for spending cuts and some long standing party policies might be axed. Nick Clegg's aides say it is part of the process of the Lib Dems "growing up". | The party leadership are hoping to get their "blueprint" for the election manifesto agreed by the party. This document would pave the way for spending cuts and some long standing party policies might be axed. Nick Clegg's aides say it is part of the process of the Lib Dems "growing up". |
| TUESDAY'S AGENDA | TUESDAY'S AGENDA |
| 0900 Emergency debate on the conflict in Afghanistan | 0900 Emergency debate on the conflict in Afghanistan |
| 0940 Debate on the rail network and train operating franchises | 0940 Debate on the rail network and train operating franchises |
| 1040 Speech by Lib Dem president Baroness Scott | 1040 Speech by Lib Dem president Baroness Scott |
| 1100 Debate on party's election blueprint A Fresh Start for Britain | 1100 Debate on party's election blueprint A Fresh Start for Britain |
| 1420 Debate on measures to strengthen child protection | 1420 Debate on measures to strengthen child protection |
| 1500 Speech by home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne | 1500 Speech by home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne |
| 1520 Debate on energy and climate change | 1520 Debate on energy and climate change |
| 1635 Q&A on the economy | 1635 Q&A on the economy |
| 1730 Report from the Federal Executive Committee | 1730 Report from the Federal Executive Committee |
| TORY LOVE-IN? FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | TORY LOVE-IN? FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| Conservative chairman Eric Pickles is hoping to woo some Lib Dems to join his party - and he made a start with the party's home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne. Describing him as "an absolutely charming individual" he said he'd be very welcome in the Tories. Mr Huhne initially laughed it off as "an amusing bit of cheekiness" but the temperature dropped after a stinging attack on the Tories' allies in Europe. "He's just playing hard to get," the Tory chairman complained. "I AM hard to get, I'm not playing hard to get," retorted Mr Huhne. "Why didn't you join the Liberal Democrats when you had a chance?" he demands. "Bless your heart," smiled Mr Pickles. | Conservative chairman Eric Pickles is hoping to woo some Lib Dems to join his party - and he made a start with the party's home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne. Describing him as "an absolutely charming individual" he said he'd be very welcome in the Tories. Mr Huhne initially laughed it off as "an amusing bit of cheekiness" but the temperature dropped after a stinging attack on the Tories' allies in Europe. "He's just playing hard to get," the Tory chairman complained. "I AM hard to get, I'm not playing hard to get," retorted Mr Huhne. "Why didn't you join the Liberal Democrats when you had a chance?" he demands. "Bless your heart," smiled Mr Pickles. |
| THE MISSING SKINHEAD William Hague: No longer a skinhead | THE MISSING SKINHEAD William Hague: No longer a skinhead |
| Chris Huhne's hard-hitting attack on the Tories in his keynote conference speech will not be quite as savage as first planned, it seems. He had been planning to describe shadow foreign secretary William Hague as a "skinhead" in a strongly-worded section on David Cameron's new friends in Europe. The first draft of the speech, circulated to journalists, included the lines: "Skinhead Hague has toured the beer cellars of central Europe, and has come up with the dregs." But reporters were told on Monday evening the line had been dropped. "There were more important points he wanted to make about the Tories' policy than just William Hague's hairstyle and drinking habits," explained Danny Alexander in the morning press briefing. | Chris Huhne's hard-hitting attack on the Tories in his keynote conference speech will not be quite as savage as first planned, it seems. He had been planning to describe shadow foreign secretary William Hague as a "skinhead" in a strongly-worded section on David Cameron's new friends in Europe. The first draft of the speech, circulated to journalists, included the lines: "Skinhead Hague has toured the beer cellars of central Europe, and has come up with the dregs." But reporters were told on Monday evening the line had been dropped. "There were more important points he wanted to make about the Tories' policy than just William Hague's hairstyle and drinking habits," explained Danny Alexander in the morning press briefing. |
| CONSIDERING POSITIONS | CONSIDERING POSITIONS |
| Nick Clegg on Baroness Scotland | Nick Clegg on Baroness Scotland |
| Some confusion over the Lib Dems' position on Baroness Scotland, the attorney general who's just been fined for breaching the law on employing illegal workers. This morning Chris Huhne told the BBC that "law makers really cannot be law breakers" and he thought she would have to "consider her position". But his leader, Nick Clegg told the BBC while it was "awkward" he would not "rush to say she has got to lose her job". Conflicting viewpoints from the two former leadership rivals? | Some confusion over the Lib Dems' position on Baroness Scotland, the attorney general who's just been fined for breaching the law on employing illegal workers. This morning Chris Huhne told the BBC that "law makers really cannot be law breakers" and he thought she would have to "consider her position". But his leader, Nick Clegg told the BBC while it was "awkward" he would not "rush to say she has got to lose her job". Conflicting viewpoints from the two former leadership rivals? |
| Not at all, said Mr Huhne: "I think they are exactly consistent and the great thing about BBC journalists is you're obviously all trained in Kremlinology and the bad old days of the Soviet Union. The line was absolutely seamless and we were both saying the same thing." Listen and decide for yourselves. | Not at all, said Mr Huhne: "I think they are exactly consistent and the great thing about BBC journalists is you're obviously all trained in Kremlinology and the bad old days of the Soviet Union. The line was absolutely seamless and we were both saying the same thing." Listen and decide for yourselves. |
| CONFERENCE ROUND-UP | CONFERENCE ROUND-UP |
| Some members of the Lib Dem frontbench are understood to be unhappy about Vince Cable's "mansion tax" proposals. They believe Mr Cable should have consulted them before announcing the policy of extracting a 0.5% levy from the owners of £1m plus homes and that it will not go down well with voters. They are expected to air their grievances at a meeting of the Lib Dem frontbench in the conference hotel. | Some members of the Lib Dem frontbench are understood to be unhappy about Vince Cable's "mansion tax" proposals. They believe Mr Cable should have consulted them before announcing the policy of extracting a 0.5% levy from the owners of £1m plus homes and that it will not go down well with voters. They are expected to air their grievances at a meeting of the Lib Dem frontbench in the conference hotel. |
| Home Affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said the NHS should prescribe heroin to more addicts as part of the effort to reduce drug-related crime. He said further trials were needed following a successful pilot scheme run by London's Maudsley Hospital but the scheme was a "potentially fruitful way forward". It could make the job of police easier and help tackle overcrowding in jails, he added. | Home Affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said the NHS should prescribe heroin to more addicts as part of the effort to reduce drug-related crime. He said further trials were needed following a successful pilot scheme run by London's Maudsley Hospital but the scheme was a "potentially fruitful way forward". It could make the job of police easier and help tackle overcrowding in jails, he added. |
| Labour was accused of having "systematically mugged" the very people who supported the party over 12 years in power. Housing spokeswoman Sarah Teather said those living in "chronic housing hell" were the people Labour took for granted at election after election. | Labour was accused of having "systematically mugged" the very people who supported the party over 12 years in power. Housing spokeswoman Sarah Teather said those living in "chronic housing hell" were the people Labour took for granted at election after election. |
| MYSTIC VINCE | MYSTIC VINCE |
| Has Vince Cable's reputation as the man who predicted the credit crunch gone to his head? We only ask because he seems to be making predictions all over the place this week. Most seem to involve what the Tories would do if they win the election. On Sunday he predicted they would put VAT up 25% as they "had done it before". On Monday he had his crystal ball out again. "I think that within a year's time... maybe two years' time... there will be a major constitutional crisis in Britain," he told a hushed fringe meeting. This would be caused by a Tory government with "probably one or two Scottish MPs" being on a collision course with the government in London, he reasoned. You read it here first... | Has Vince Cable's reputation as the man who predicted the credit crunch gone to his head? We only ask because he seems to be making predictions all over the place this week. Most seem to involve what the Tories would do if they win the election. On Sunday he predicted they would put VAT up 25% as they "had done it before". On Monday he had his crystal ball out again. "I think that within a year's time... maybe two years' time... there will be a major constitutional crisis in Britain," he told a hushed fringe meeting. This would be caused by a Tory government with "probably one or two Scottish MPs" being on a collision course with the government in London, he reasoned. You read it here first... |
| TAXING QUESTION | TAXING QUESTION |
| Her Majesty the Queen will have to pay Vince Cable's million pound mansion tax , we are told, although no one has been able to work out how much it will cost her, but what about Vince himself? Probably not, reckons an aide. The Lib Dem Treasury spokesman lives in a four bedroom house in Twickenham, which have been going for about £750,000 or thereabouts - although prices in nearby Richmond are bit steeper, with the more expensive residences fetching more than £2m. Better stay in your own neighbourhood, Vince. | Her Majesty the Queen will have to pay Vince Cable's million pound mansion tax , we are told, although no one has been able to work out how much it will cost her, but what about Vince himself? Probably not, reckons an aide. The Lib Dem Treasury spokesman lives in a four bedroom house in Twickenham, which have been going for about £750,000 or thereabouts - although prices in nearby Richmond are bit steeper, with the more expensive residences fetching more than £2m. Better stay in your own neighbourhood, Vince. |
| SAVAGE BEAST | SAVAGE BEAST |
| Nick Clegg has really "thrown down the adjectival gauntlet" to David Cameron, reckons Tony Blair's ex-policy guru Matthew Taylor. How will the Tory leader top "savage" public spending cuts , mused Taylor at a fringe meeting? "Bloody awful"? | Nick Clegg has really "thrown down the adjectival gauntlet" to David Cameron, reckons Tony Blair's ex-policy guru Matthew Taylor. How will the Tory leader top "savage" public spending cuts , mused Taylor at a fringe meeting? "Bloody awful"? |
| PREVIOUS DAYS | PREVIOUS DAYS |
| Sunday at-a-glance Monday at-a-glance | Sunday at-a-glance Monday at-a-glance |