A large part of the reason for the Chancellor backing off is the interplay between the EU referendum and Tory MPs’ views.
Rows, plots, leaks, secret deals, an inquiry, debates in Parliament and the loss of the Defence Secretary – all over “a company with a capitalisation of only £30 million”.
‘Is that it?’…’Cameron aimed low and missed’…’a waste of time and effort’…’fundamental change is not even being requested.’
Yes, it really is spelt like that. Plus: I bet four candidates go through to the London Conservative Mayoral primary, and that Yvette Cooper is Labour’s next leader.
Plus: Labour – Alastair Campbell v Labour failure. Tories – Dale v Massow? Labour again: Watson V Flint V Eagle V…. And: Roy Jenkins’s sex life. P.S: I’m getting married.
With so much real reform to pursue, it would be wrong to waste valuable time and political capital on battles the Government cannot win.
The Tories are losing this campaign. Sir Anthony Garner’s memorial service. Mrs Keith Simpson trashes my property rights. And: Boris is on all fours with Theresa May
The day-in-day-out reporting of the 1975 leadership contest stressed her dogmatism – and the risks for the Party should its MPs be foolhardy enough to vote for her.
As the election looms, the papers are shifting back to their political comfort zones. But the consensus is that Osborne has drawn some of the sting from Miliband’s attack.
Conservative MPs are against panicky measures to boost their party’s poll ratings. But there is support for more projection of the Tory team as a whole.
Victory and peace abroad cannot be won by trying to bomb your enemies into submission.