The shadow chancellor has launched a scathing attack on the strength of the pound - stating that he believes more government borrowing could lead to a run on the currency. You could almost sense he wants it to happen.

A survey of the conservative grassroots has shown a wholesale abandonment of their shadow chancellor -

The result of 1600 respondents reveal an approval rating of just 2% as compared with 70% only a month ago. If the tory grassroots have no faith in his ability to run the economy; why on earth should the voters?

Giddeon is the weakest link on the tory front bench, especially as we are headed into recession - Brown and Darling should be more than capable of wiping the floor with the lightweight.

http://conservativehome.blogs.com/torydiary/2008/11/grassroots-have.html 

Once Obama takes office, what action will he take to mark a clear departure from Bush's aggressive foreign policy?

And if we can now expect a Presidency that is more committed to multilateral discussion, on what issues should those on the left around the world apply pressure, in order to ensure progressive change?

Have a read of this brilliant opinion piece in the new york times today. The analysis is spot on and clearly shows the decisiveness and breathtaking speed that our government has moved to stem the rot.

From the mail (shock horror...)

"He spent Friday on the sunny shores of Lake Como, on the final day of a luxury break organised by the hard-pressed bank's private wealth division.

While he enjoyed the balmy surroundings of one of Europe's most expensive hotels, where rooms can cost £1,000 a night, markets in London and America went into freefall."

Richard Caborn added: 'This is classic Tory hypocrisy. On the one hand David Cameron is frantically trying to distance himself from his chums in the city by slagging off bankers' bonuses. On the other hand his right-hand man is jetting off to join a £500,000 bankers' banquet in Italy.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1076370/Top-Tory-William-Hague-flew-Barclays-500-000-Italian -jolly-markets-crashed.html

No More Pinochets in Latin America - Bolivia and Venezuela in the front line

Tuesday 14 October, 7pm,
Committee Room 11, House of Commons. (Nearest tube: Westminster)
 
Speakers include:

• Maria Beatriz Souviron, Ambassador of Bolivia to Britain
• Samuel Moncada, Ambassador of Venezuela to Britain
• Colin Burgon MP, Chair of Labour Friends of Venezuela

The frontbench tory who has argued that councils should actively oppose the goverment has revealed his true colours today.

I know we shouldn't really take personal matters into political beliefs, but it helps to explain my support for the Labour party.

I joined Labour because earlier this year I had a heart operation. And I only waited 12 weeks for it. Had I been waiting 18 months for my operation, I could be very ill.

I joined Labour because they gave enough funding to schools that they couldn't give up on me, even with a learning "disorder".

I joined Labour because they've given the economic security through redistribution for my mum to be free.

When my family has been poor and alone, a Labour government did not abandon us. They helped. Whether it is through EMA's, or SureStart, or the minimum wage, a Labour government didn't forget me. And I haven't forgotten their help.

Our government has taken decisive action to avert financial meltdown. B&B has been taken into public ownership and could be merged with Northern Rock.

Great news in Greenwich. Last night in a by-election in the Plumstead ward, Labour retained the seat with 6.6% swing from the Tories.

A top tory, Shadow International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell has suggested in an interview with epolitix that the economic crisis is a incredibly good moment for THEM. This is a government in waiting (supposidly....) and when people are stuggling to make ends meet - all they can think of is themselves.

"We have seen the effect of the credit crunch, the looming recession -which I hope doesn't come but is now increasingly likely- and people are beset with problems and difficulties and they want to know how the Conservative party would tackle them. This is an incredibly good moment for us, both in terms of policy and in terms of the fact that David Cameron has earned us the chance to be heard, for us to get across how we would tackle those problems".

http://waugh.standard.co.uk/2008/09/top-tory-says-d.html 

Brown has halved that tory lead. His brilliant speech has given us a 7 point boost according to a YouGov poll. 39% of people wanted Brown to remain PM - up 10 points.

Our Prime Minister has unveiled an ambitious new plan to deliver free nursery places for every 2 year old.

As part of his drive to increase social mobility in the country - the £1 billion pound pledge is exactly the type of progressive policy that the people of this nation expect from a labour government.

It is turning into quite a good conference. The polls are going to be very interesting come the next round. 

Our priorities contrast totally with the tories. Tax cuts for millionaires vis a vis nursery places for hard working families. 

I know which one I prefer. 

Did anyone see Harriet Harman make Alan Duncan squirm on Question time last night?

Mr Duncan retreated into lies and deceit - so typical tory policy. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00djn5r/ 

19 mins in or so. The crowds reaction is brilliant.