They put Chloe Smith on Newsnight and Nick Clegg on Newsround. Sounds about right…
After dipping his toe into the blogging world on key occasions this year, Damian McBride has created plenty of ripples. Speculation has been spreading that the disgraced Brown spinner was touting for a book deal by giving us a glimpse of what such a tome would be like. Needless to say there have already been offers, which do not come as a suprise to anyone who has read his illuminating posts.
McBride denies he is interested though and says he has rejected deals.
Guess he will have to stick to the blogging.
Guido could use the competition…
Congratulations are in order for Gaby Hinsliff, who has joined fashion mag Grazia as political editor at large. Gaby quit the Observer in 2009 saying she wanted to “get a life” but her career has gone from strength to strength ever since. Her first weekly column starts tomorrow. Guido hopes there are pictures…
It seems the Prime Minister’s PPS is gearing up for an angry reaction when Cameron takes to the Despatch Box later to report on last week’s EU summit*:
From: SWAYNE, Desmond
Sent: 02 July 2012 14:34Subject: Statement 3.30
Comrades
Ed’s main effort is to engineer blue on blue. Let’s not help him. Dessie
Guido reckons it’s going to take more than that to quell the crowd behind Dave…
* The summit he used to rule out a referendum.
The latest briefing to Tory MPs gives an interesting clue as to Cameron’s next move re-Europe:
From: CCHQ
Date: 2 July 2012
To: MPs Lines To Take
Subject: Political Topline: 2 July 2012Good afternoon. Please see below the political top line:
The Prime Minister is clear that an in-out referendum is not the answer right now. Instead we should first set out how we want to change our relationship with Europe and then as the end point becomes clear we should consult the British people, either in a general election or a referendum. He will set out more details of the Conservative Party’s position in the Autumn.
Faced with his choppiest conference yet as leader, it seems the PM is preparing some EU shaped hats and rabbits in time for Birmingham.
Dave might think that Jimmy Carr is morally repugnant but that has not stopped the Tories from advising their wealthy donors on how to avoid tax. The Conservative Foundation, an organisation run by an array of Tory grandees and city types, is offering donors the chance to dodge inheritance tax through a scheme in which they leave a “legacy” to the Tory party. The scheme promises to “reduce or even remove completely” the inheritance tax liability of rich Conservative backers, while its website explains how to take advantage of rules allowing tax-free donations to political parties. Although the scheme appears to have been set up on the quiet it is startlingly open about its intentions:
Cameron was always going to be a hostage to fortune over tax avoidance, now he faces the inevitable dilemma of having to deal with questions about his party’s wealthy financiers. He’s hardly making it easy for himself.
