Miliband used the phrase ‘one nation’ 46 times.

He didn’t mention “deficit” once…

Well this one has got people chatting this afternoon. Guido’s favourite figure is that more people would rather not go for a drink with either Miliband or Cameron, but the other figures are rather intriguing.

Labour are ahead, but not thanks to their leader.

Tories are behind, but it could be a lot worse without Dave.

The recent plots have been on the wrong team…

David Miliband is earning £500,000 a year and rarely takes part in the cut and thrust of Westminster any more, but that hasn’t stopped him from being one of the highest expenses claimants in the figures released by IPSA today. Miliband is the 20th greediest MP, trousering £170,500 in expenses over the last year. He needs it, they only pay him £116 a minute for his speeches…

Meanwhile the former Prime Mentalist claimed £127,197 despite the fact that he’s only spoken in one debate during the last twelve months.

Why are we paying so much for his travel when he never turns up?

Guido has already reported the efforts to which the Labour Party are going in order to hit the ground running in the Corby by-election. There is only so far the back-room operation can take things though.

Out on the stump events, and indeed pictures say it all…

Guido’s favourite anecdote so far is the report that Ed asked a group of teenage girls: “what can politicians do for you?“, to which they replied: “Get us a Nandos in town!“.

Finally a policy!

In a bid to prove his foreign policy credentials, Mitt Romney has solved one of the largest ever strains on the Special Relationship. No, he hasn’t declared the Falkands to be British, rather he has promised to restore the bust of Churchill to the Oval Office if he beats Obama. See it is an equal partnership really…

Arriving today for the Olympic opening ceremony and meetings with Cameron and Miliband, the Republican Presidential campaign has been briefing Jon Swaine:

“…advisers told The Daily Telegraph that he would abandon Mr Obama’s “Left-wing” coolness towards London. We are part of an Anglo-Saxon heritage, and he feels that the special relationship is special,” the adviser said of Mr Romney, adding: “The White House didn’t fully appreciate the shared history we have.”

Anglo-Saxon? Not the most subtle dog whistle…

It’s uncanny…

Not everyone at the Durham Miners’ Gala liked Ed Miliband’s speech.

At least the son of Brown didn’t call Isaac Duffy “that bigoted boy”…

Miliband told the Lobby lunch that the Lords reform bill “coming through Commons has to be a bloody good Bill” if the Parliament Act will be used to force it through the Lords. It’s safe to say that if it even gets to that stage it will be a mess of wrecking amendments and contentious points. Who will decide on what a good bill looks like?

Guido fully expects the “it’s not a good enough Bill” to be used as an excuse for the whole thing to be ditched. Ed would be able to blame the Tories for abandoning something his own troops don’t want.

Ed is braving a Lobby lunch:

"I regret the Bob Holness Blackbuster Twitter error. I'm just relieved he didn't present Treasure Hunt" Another Ed Miliband joke!—
Kevin Maguire (@Kevin_Maguire) July 12, 2012

Ed Miliband: 'Like all politicians I don't bear grudges – i learned that from Gordon…'—
Sam Macrory (@sammacrory) July 12, 2012

Miliband explains there are no hard feelings between him and News Corp. "They want me to lose the election. I want them to go to jail."—
Robert Hutton (@RobDotHutton) July 12, 2012

Before he'd even seen it! RT @nicholaswatt Ed Miliband: congratulated brother last night on fantastic edition of New Statesman he edited—
Helen Lewis (@helenlewis) July 12, 2012

Miliband on meeting Aung San Suu Kyi: we talked of years under brutal dictatorship, oppressed day + night, then she said enough about Gordon—
James Chapman (Mail) (@jameschappers) July 12, 2012

He’s here till Thursday…

Yesterday Labour published their policy review report making the case for a British Investment Bank. Ed told an audience at the Co-op bank that the UK’s financial services sector was “socially destructive“, throwing his weight behind Nicholas Tott’s suggestion of a state-run investment bank to help small businesses. That’s the same Nicholas Tott whose credentials include Bromley NHS’ Private Finance Initiative, a scheme with such astounding success that the trust has now effectively gone into administration. Good to know that Ed is listening to the right people on finance…