The All Party Parliamentary Group on Rebalancing the Economy is holding a discussion at Portcullis House in two weeks time. Guest speakers include Jan Hall – headhunter, Julia Hobsbawn – media monitor, Helena Morrissey – an investment manager and the former pollster Nadhim Zahawi MP. A grand total of zero attendees from manufacturing industry. Guido suggests a rebalancing of the APPG…
The wittiest suggestion wins another copy of D.C. Alden’s “The Horse at the Gates“ – a cracking read. The plot involves a nuclear blast detonated in Pakistan, a car bomb in Downing Street and another in a Luton mosque. Best of luck…
The Guidogram round-up of the week is going out shortly.
Thousands of Westminster insiders read the Guidogram, everyone from Downing Street insiders to Fleet Street never miss it. This week Guido brought you the news of Leveson losing it, a topless photo scandal in the lobby and a surprise guest at one of Baroness Warsi’s dodgy dinners. It’s been a comedy circus…
Join the conspiracy and become a subscriber to the Guidogram, free, to keep in the loop. You’re either in front of Guido, or behind…
There is usually radio silence over at the Pearson-owned FT whenever Pearson-owned Edexcel are in the news, so Guido was surprised to see the paper wade into the debate on exam boards this morning. They argue: “Mr Gove’s plan to approve just one exam board for each subject…is a welcome step forward. Abolishing competition need not lead to falling standards if the government sets the bar high enough.” According to FT education correspondent Chris Cook, this was a rare sign of editorial independence:
https://twitter.com/xtophercook/status/216070100023902208
However, he added one crucial caveat:
https://twitter.com/xtophercook/status/216071461335597056
Cook went on to admit that the move “might not be as bad for Edexcel as many people suspect“. Guido can’t imagine why he would back abolishing the competition…
Cameron’s offer to “roll out the red carpet” for French tax exiles fleeing French socialism provoked screams from French politicians, most poignantly expressed above by media mogul Laurent Joffrin, the epic champagne socialist son of the extremely wealthy, castle-owning, yacht sailing and oil company directing Jean-Pierre Mouchard. No surprise that he is telling the readers of the French Observer to “F**k Cameron”, they fear losing enormous amounts of 75% higher rate taxes to be brought in by the newly elected socialist Parliament. Vive la 30% difference!
Ian Birrell in the Indy writes…
“…tough talk on immigration blurs the image of Ed Miliband as an out-of-touch north London liberal (which he is, of course).”
