Is this what the Labour counterattack will look like?

The Standard's Paul Waugh blogs on how Labour might outflank the Tories on spending cuts, in rhetoric if not in deed:

"Downing Street has just revealed that Yvette Cooper led a Cabinet discussion on the post-Gershon efficiency review - and made plain that the Chancellor will next week suggest that he wants to go beyond the £30 billion in savings (aka cuts) already announced. Ms Cooper explained to colleagues how "there may be scope to go beyond" the £30 billion, Number

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The Tories should move all their MPs to Witney or Tatton

One of the underappreciated factors in Obama’s success is that his campaign was not based in the Washington area. This meant there were fewer journalists around, fewer bits of gossip were picked up in bars and restaurants and those who moved to Chicago to work for the campaign were focused on getting Obama elected and not worried about protecting their own reputations among the political and journalistic elite. It all aided the ‘No drama with Obama’ mantra and meant that when he hit a rocky patch the effect wasn’t amplified by a string...

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Should the Tories fear these poll numbers?

Courtesy of Political Betting, the headline figures from the latest MORI poll:

Conservatives -- 40 percent (down 5)
Labour -- 37 percent (up 7)
Lib Dems -- 12 percent (down two)

Opinion polls have been varying wildly over the past couple of weeks, so it will be interesting to see if - and how - they settle after the PBR.  In the meantime, numbers like these will fuel the idea that Brown's set to call an early election.

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Credit where credit's due

Today’s news that the Tories will no longer pledge to match Labour’s spending plans will, I’m sure, be welcomed by CoffeeHousers. The word on the street is that there will be more announcements coming soon that will indicate a more robust Tory approach on the economy. But it is worth noting that it is also confirmation of another ConservativeHome scoop following on from the news that the Tories are, as Tim reported back in September planning to downplay—or dump—green taxes. (Personally, I’m not convinced this is a good idea. Those of us on the right should be in favour of...

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The Tories shouldn't let Brown provoke a split

Is the Tory right secretly gunning for Cameron? Rachel Sylvester today raises this prospect, and you can take as read this reflects thinking at a senior level within the Cameroons. This bodes ill and suggests someone is worrying that “the Wicked Tory Right are coming for Dave, that explains all the criticism of George, let’s fight them” rather than “we messed up, we have no clear message, let’s sort ourselves out and quickly.” Sure, there are grumbles in the corridors of Westminster but this is several places on the Richter scale away from a kill-the-leader rebellion. ...

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