Daily Bulletin: Thursday 31 May

Today, Julie is in the constituency. The House of Commons is on Whitsun recess.

Headlines

The UK's secret services are behind the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko, says the man accused of his murder; schools in England are given the legal power to search pupils for knives; and a non-nicotine drug specifically designed to help smokers is approved for the NHS.

Politics

Tony Blair is in South Africa; the issue of all-black and minority ethnic shortlists divides Labour's deputy leadership candidates; and the Government sells its shares in nuclear energy to pay for the cost of shutting down nuclear power stations.

Tory war over grammars rages on

David Cameron’s grand plan to embarrass Labour and show how the Tory party has changed has unleashed the kind of Tory infighting we haven’t seen since they were thrown out of office in 1997. Cameron’s team have unintentionally found themselves in an apparently unending war with their own party.

Frontbencher Graham Brady, who has resigned his post, told the press that he wasn’t alone in his opposition to Cameron’s climb-down. He said: "A great many of my colleagues share my view. I have very strong support in the Conservative party, in the House of Commons and the country."

Fellow Tory MP, Nigel Evans, said: “Graham would not have been doing his job if he had not stepped in and defended the grammar schools.”

Adding petrol to the flames, one of Cameron’s closest confidants, Ed Vaizey, said this morning: “It would be nice if Graham Brady supported David Cameron but there you go, I’m not going to go off on one. Never mind, you know? David Cameron working hard to get Tories re-elected, great support from one of our colleagues!”

Channel 4 News polled Tory council leaders and found that far from leading his party, Cameron is losing the argument over a stone age debate on grammar schools. Of 52 Tory council leaders interviewed, more than half — 28 — opposed their party’s climb-down on schools policy. Channel 4 also saw a private letter to the Shadow Education Secretary David Willetts, where Kent's council leader accused senior Tories of being completely out of touch.

Meanwhile, polls continue to show Tories on the slide — the Independent’s Communicate Research poll shows 40% believe the Tories are divided and has Labour back up 4%, with the Tories again on the slide, down 3%.

Meanwhile, the Tory grass roots are in revolt on Tory-supporting websites. One asked on Iain Dale's website: "How many signatures does it need in November to trigger a leadership election?" Another said: "Sacking a man, face to face, is one thing. Briefing behind his back that he may expect to be sacked is another thing entirely. It is not the conduct of a gentleman. But then, Old Etonians' behaviour is generally worse than that of Grammar School boys." Someone with the online handle 'Used to vote Conservative' said: "Remove yourself, Cameron, and give us the Conservative Party back."

Have we missed a story? Want to discuss these issues? Leave a comment below.

Comments

[mariosandrrz]

cheers
is here someone who smoke cigars ?
have a nice day



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[gregory leslie]

Dear Julie Morgan

I would like to tell you of an event to raise the profile of darfur in the local community, and to show solidarity with the people of darfur. Please could you advertise it as much as time permits: contacting all your contacts both in the website, plus all local MPS, AMS, and councellors
Many thanks,

gregory Leslie, UNA Cardiff

UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION
Cardiff and District Branch
CYMDEITHAS Y CENHEDLOEDD UNEDIG
Cangen Caerdydd a’r Cylch





‘A DAY for DARFUR in WALES’


at the Temple of Peace, Cathays Park, Cardiff

JANUARY 5TH 2008

Walk of Support begins at 2.00 p.m. from the Temple, through Cathays Park, along Queen’s Street to Aneurin Bevan’s statue, returning to the Temple of Peace for 3.00 p.m. followed by

A PUBLIC MEETING

Speakers: Ahmed Abaker Idris, S L M
- Sudanese Liberation Movement

Monsur Saad, Darfur Commumity in Wales

Eltahir Bakhit, JEM (c-l) Justice & Equality Movement

Abdulgebbar Sharfadeen, Darfur Community, UK


All welcome Contact 02920 765077 for further information