Conservative Conference 1) Cameron to pledge increase in NHS spending for another five years
“David Cameron will promise today to keep increasing the NHS budget for five years if he wins the general election — a move that will condemn other public spending to savage cuts. The prime minister will use his last conference speech before next May’s poll to try to blunt Labour’s offensive on the health service while wooing supporters back from Ukip. However, his promise “to protect the NHS budget and invest more” each year of another Conservative government exposes other departments’ budgets to real-term cuts of more than 20 per cent across the next parliament.” – The Times(£)
- “In his closing speech to the Conservative conference in Birmingham, the prime minister will also try to broaden the terms of an NHS debate that often seems unwinnable for the Tories by asserting “you can only have a strong NHS if you have a strong economy”.” – The Guardian
- “The Prime Minister will also challenge Ukip’s suggestion that Britain has gone to the dogs. He will insist the Conservatives are building ‘a Britain that everyone is proud to call home’.” – Daily Mail
- “Addressing the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, Mr Cameron will say that the death of his son Ivan in 2009 made him “understand very personally” the importance of the NHS.” – Daily Telegraph
- “The Prime Minister is to deliver a deeply patriotic speech in a vision of a country “where hard work is really rewarded” while the workshy are penalised with benefit cuts. But he will say that can only be achieved if the Conservatives win an overall majority at next year’s general election.” – Daily Express
- Cameron “has little to fear from Labour” – Philip Johnston Daily Telegraph
- Party conference speeches don’t matter – James Kirkup Daily Telegraph
>Today: ToryDiary: Cameron: My vow to the NHS
Conservative Conference 2) Boris says “Eat kippers for breakfast”
“Boris Johnson has said a Conservative election victory next year is “within our grasp” as he rallied activists in his annual turn at the conference. The Mayor of London said the Tories could see off the threat from Labour and “eat UKIP for breakfast”. He brandished a brick on stage to emphasise the Tories’ record on building new homes and home ownership. And he joked that David Cameron had “permission to purr” about Scotland remaining within the UK.” – BBC
- Boris scuttled in like a Benny Hill character – Quentin Letts Daily Mail
- Dry run for leadership fight – Tom Newton Dunn The Sun(£)
>Yesterday: ToryDiary: Media treat Boris and Theresa speeches as a leadership hustings
Conservative Conference 3) May says British values will beat the extremists
“A future Conservative government would seek new powers to ban extremist groups and curb the activities of “harmful” individuals, Theresa May has said. Banning orders and “extreme disruption” orders will feature in the party’s 2015 election manifesto, the home secretary told the party’s Birmingham conference. She got a standing ovation as she said “British values” would prevail in the end in the battle against extremism.” – BBC
- “THERESA May used to be dismissed as a lightweight notable only for her kitten heels. Those days are long gone.She has proved the most effective Home Secretary in years.” – The Sun Says
- The new Iron Lady – The Sun(£)
- Lib Dems attack “snoopers charter” – The Guardian
- Boris delivers laughs but it’s Theresa that has the audience purring – Nicholas Watt The Guardian
Conservative Conference 4) “Emergency break” plan on EU immigration
“Britain is to propose an ‘emergency brake’ that could be applied to prevent large numbers of immigrants arriving from Europe. A system that would allow the UK to impose a block on incomers from particular countries if numbers become too big is being backed by senior ministers. Initial negotiations are already under way over what would be a fundamental reform of the EU’s founding principle of free movement of people between countries, Government sources say.” – Daily Mail
>Yesterday: Sunder Katwala on Comment: Immigration – making promises you can keep
Conservative Conference 5) Morgan promises to reduce teachers workload
“Education Secretary Nicky Morgan held out an olive branch to the teaching profession in England with the promise to reduce their workload. Speaking to the Conservative party conference, she said it would be her priority to “reduce the overall burden on teachers”. Mrs Morgan said parents did not want stressed and exhausted teachers. The National Union of Teachers has threatened to strike over excessive workload. Teachers have complained that they face long hours and excessive bureaucracy.” – BBC
- 35 more free schools given the green light – The Sun(£)
- Pendleton’s message on school sport – BBC
- Mention of Gove prompted standing ovation – Daily Mail
Conservative Conference 6) Farage claims there will a “big surprise”to upstage Cameron’s speech
“Nigel Farage stoked rumours of further defections to Ukip last night by announcing a mysterious event timed to coincide with David Cameron’s conference speech. The Ukip leader would meet “somebody of interest” today in Bristol, sources said. The party promised to reveal the news this morning before holding a press conference just before evening news bulletins. Ukip has enjoyed taunting the Conservatives during their last party conference before the general election.” – The Times(£)
- UKIP is doomed to be the dead parrot party – Daniel Finkelstein The Times(£)
- Cameron must “stamp out UKIP’s bonfire” – Dan Hodges Daily Telegraph
- Richard Barnes and William Cash Jnr join UKIP – The Independent
- UKIP “will win four seats at next election” – Daily Telegraph
>Today: Cllr Patrick Harley on Local Government: Coping with UKIP in Dudley
Conservative Conference 7) Hunt announces access to records online
“EVERY British patient will get access to their own medical record online for free from next year, Jeremy Hunt has announced. The Health Secretary said England would be the first country in the world to introduce the move. It means NHS patients will easily be able to see past test results, prescriptions and vaccinations. At the moment people have to pay up to £10 to view their health records. In a speech to the Tory conference in Birmingham, Mr Hunt said free access to GP records would be launched next April. “You will be able to see it and show it to anyone you choose,” he said.” – The Sun(£)
Conservative Conference 8) Irvine Welsh complains of Osborne’s Trainspotting “rip off”
“Turns out, Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh is less than impressed that George Osborne “ripped off” a passage from his novel in his speech announcing more brutal austerity measures on Monday. “Choose jobs. Choose enterprise. Choose security,” his paraphrased address, announcing £3billion of welfare cuts, went. “Choose prosperity. Choose investment. Choose fairness. Choose freedom. Choose David Cameron. Choose the Conservatives. Choose the future.” Which, while not exactly the same, is rather like this famous piece of dialogue: “Choose life. Choose a job. Choose a career… Choose a f**king big television. Choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players and electrical tin openers…” – The Independent
Conservative Conference 9) Grayling to ban young offenders from playing computer games all night
“Young offenders will be banned from staying up all night playing computer games in their cells, Chris Grayling has said. The Justice secretary told Tory supporters said that adult prisoners would be banned from watching Sky Sports and 18 certificate DVDs to end a “holiday camp” culture in the prisons service. Mr Grayling also said that the Tories would reform the Human Rights Act if they win power outright in next May’s general election, but he declined to give details.” – Daily Telegraph
>Yesterday: ToryDiary: Grayling’s message of toughness and tenderness
Goodwin: Farage is outflanking the Tories and they have no answer
“With Cameron in charge, most Ukip voters will not return. It really is that simple. Nor have the Tories learned their lessons. On Monday evening, while Cameron talked about reassuring these voters, Boris Johnson was suggesting that they have sex with vacuum cleaners .” – Matthew Goodwin The Guardian
RAF jets strike first ISIL targets
“RAF jets have carried out their first strikes on Islamic State targets in Iraq, attacking a “heavy weapon position” and an armed pick-up truck. The Ministry of Defence said the attacks were in support of Kurdish units in the north-west of the country. The strikes – by two GR4 Tornados – came four days after Parliament approved military action, and were said to be “successful”.” – BBC
- Cameron has a huge lead on trust about decisions on ISIL – The Independent
Clegg summons Chinese ambassador to talk about Hong Kong
“Britain’s relations with China soured dramatically on Tuesday night over the country’s failure to allow the people of Hong Kong to freely elect their next leader, as tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters amassed for a sixth straight day of unrest. The Chinese ambassador to the UK has been summoned for an urgent meeting with Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, who said hewanted to express “dismay and alarm” at the denial of universal suffrage to the former British colony.” – The Independent
- Hong Kong protestors “pose little threat to China” – Daily Telegraph
News in brief
- 1.2 million are on the minimum wage – The Sun(£)
- Adoption rate up 60 per cent in four years – Daily Mail
- Brown calls for devolution promises petition – BBC
- EU credit card rules threaten free banking – The Times(£)
- Stamp Duty revenue increases by £1.5 billion – Daily Mail
- Newmark Twitter trap was “not fishing exercise” – BBC
- Cameron makes another Royal gaffe – The Times(£)
- Growth revised up – BBC
- Sturgeon “will be most left wing First Minister ever” – The Times(£)