The Daley (Half) Dozen: Sunday

1. Charles Crawford on a US physicist who has resigned in style over climate change.
2. The Daily (Maybe) wonders where this fresh, new Labour Party is.
3. A Very Public Sociologist on Tristram Hunt's view of the Coalition.
4. Tom Harris bemoans the apparent end of his front bench career. Patience, dear boy.
5. Walaa Idris writes an open letter to the Bracknell Blogger about standards of English.
6. Bracknell Blog is giving up because he's frustrated by his English. I urge him to think again.

Podcast: 7 Days Show: Episode 44

The latest edition of the Seven Days Show is now online.

In the show this week we talk about how the recent party conference went in Birmingham; the recent announcement on Child Benefit and benefit reforms in general; the Big Society and what it actually means; party membership and its drastic drop; elections to the Shadow Cabinet; Labour’s continued link to the Trade Unions; and finally Ann Widdecombe’s dancing success..

To listen to the podcast click HERE, or you can also subscribe to the show in the Tory Radio section in the podcast area of Itunes.

Video: Where the Truth Lies

Here's a 10 minute highlights video of the Editorial Intelligence Where the Truth Lies breakfast seminar at the top of the Gherkin about 10 days ago. It includes a brief spatette between Guido Fawkes and myself.

Quote of the Day: Andrew Marr

"Most citizen journalism strikes me as nothing to do with journalism at all. A lot of bloggers seem to be socially inadequate, pimpled, single, slightly seedy, bald, cauliflower-nosed, young men sitting in their mother's basements and ranting. They are very angry people. OK – the country is full of very angry people. Many of us are angry people at times. Some of us are angry and drunk. But the so-called citizen journalism is the spewings and rantings of very drunk people late at night."

Andrew Marr at the Cheltenham Literary Festival

Hmmm. Fair comment, or a deranged rant?

I wonder if Anna Raccoon would agree.

Lapdancers in Cleverness Shocker

This month's Prospect Magazine informs us that one in four lapdancers has a degree.

I am not sure why anyone should be surprised at this.

Apropos of that, I remember an old FCS poster from the 1980s showing a scantily clad young woman with the slogan "At £80 an hour, it's not me who's being exploited". I think it was designed to wind up the feminists around university campuses, and it certainly did the trick.

Happy days. Caroline Flint was one of the feminists on my campus at UEA who we used to rather enjoy winding up. She wasn't quite the glamourpuss that she is today. But I suppose, as head of the 'Wimmins' Group', Chanel Number 5 was a bit out of the question. My main memory of Caroline at university was debating with her one evening at the student union the subject of taking VAT off tampons. To her absolute astonishment I agreed with her on the basis that there was nothing 'luxury' about tampons.

I am sure my chum Eric Pickles will enjoy his jousts with her, just as I did 25 years ago.

The Labour Front Bench in Full - Contain Your Excitement!

I've just looked through the full list of Ed Miliband's shadow ministerial appointments. With some notable exceptions, it is a list full of has beens and probable never was's. And it is a very Brownite list, with no places for some notable MPs of the Blairite persuasion.

No Ben Bradshaw. No Pat McFadden. No David Cairns. No Tom Harris.

But we can all rest easy in the knowledge that Kerry McCarthy has been promoted to a shadow Treasury post - and that Jack Dromey will be covering local government.

Here's the full list...

Leader of the Opposition Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP
PPS to the Leader of the Opposition Anne McGuire MP
PPS to the Leader of the Opposition Chuka Umunna MP

International Development

Shadow Secretary of State for International Development Rt Hon Harriet Harman MP
Mark Lazarowicz MP
Rushanara Ali MP

HM Treasury

Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP
Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Angela Eagle MP
David Hanson MP
Chris Leslie MP
Kerry McCarthy MP

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP
Rt Hon John Spellar MP
Wayne David MP
Stephen Twigg MP
Emma Reynolds MP

Government Equalities Office

Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP
Fiona MacTaggart MP

Home Office

Shadow Secretary of State for the Home Department Rt Hon Ed Balls MP
Vernon Coaker MP
Phil Woolas MP
Gerry Sutcliffe MP
Diana Johnson MP
Shabana Mahmood MP

Department for Education

Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Election Coordinator Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP
Kevin Brennan MP
Sharon Hodgson MP
Iain Wright MP
Toby Perkins MP

Ministry of Justice

Shadow Lord Chancellor, Shadow Secretary of State for Justice (with responsibility for political and constitutional reform) Rt Hon Sadiq Khan MP
Shadow Minister (Political and Constitutional Reform) Chris Bryant MP
Helen Goodman MP
Andy Slaughter MP
Rob Flello MP

Department for Work and Pensions

Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP
Stephen Timms MP
Karen Buck MP
Margaret Curran MP
Rachel Reeves MP

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Rt Hon John Denham MP
Gareth Thomas MP
Ian Lucas MP
Gordon Banks MP
Gordon Marsden MP
Nia Griffith MP
Chi Onwurah MP

Department of Health

Shadow Secretary of State for Health Rt Hon John Healey MP
Shadow Minister (Public Health) Diane Abbott MP
Emily Thornberry MP
Derek Twigg MP
Liz Kendall MP

Department for Communities and Local Government

Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Rt Hon Caroline Flint MP
Alison Seabeck MP
Barbara Keeley MP
Jack Dromey MP
Chris Williamson MP

Ministry of Defence

Shadow Secretary of State for Defence Rt Hon Jim Murphy MP
Kevan Jones MP
Russell Brown MP
Michael Dugher MP
Gemma Doyle MP

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Meg Hillier MP
Huw Irranca-Davies
Luciana Berger MP

Office of the Leader of the House of Commons

Shadow Leader of the House of Commons Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP
Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Commons Helen Jones MP

Department for Transport

Shadow Secretary of State for Transport Maria Eagle MP
Jim Fitzpatrick MP
Andrew Gwynne MP
John Woodcock MP

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Mary Creagh MP
Willie Bain MP
Jamie Reed MP
Peter Soulsby MP

Northern Ireland

Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Rt Hon Shaun Woodward MP
Eric Joyce MP

Scotland Office

Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland Ann McKechin MP
Tom Greatrex MP

Wales

Shadow Secretary of State for Wales Rt Hon Peter Hain MP
Owen Smith MP

Culture, Media and Sport

Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Ivan Lewis MP
Shadow Minister for the Olympics Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP
Ian Austin MP
Gloria De Piero MP

Shadow Leader of the House of Lords

Shadow Leader of the House of Lords Rt Hon Baroness Royall of Blaisdon

Olympics

Shadow Minister for the Olympics Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP

Cabinet office

Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP
Shadow Minister of State – Cabinet Office Jon Trickett MP
Roberta Blackman-Woods MP

Law Officers

Shadow Attorney-General Rt Hon Baroness Scotland
Shadow Solicitor-General Catherine McKinnell MP

Whips Office (Commons)

Opposition Chief Whip Rt Hon Rosie Winterton MP
Deputy Chief Whip Alan Campbell MP
Pairing Whip Tony Cunningham MP
Whip Lyn Brown MP
Whip Mark Tami MP
Whip David Wright MP
Assistant Whip Stephen Pound MP
Assistant Whip David Hamilton MP
Assistant Whip Dave Anderson MP
Assistant Whip Angela C Smith MP
Assistant Whip Phil Wilson MP
Assistant Whip Lillian Greenwood MP
Assistant Whip Jonathan Reynolds MP
Assistant Whip Graham Jones MP

Whips Office (Lords)

Lords Chief Whip Rt Hon Lord Bassam of Brighton

Book Review: Chris Mullin's Diaries Vol 2

OK, I am a sucker for political diaries. I can't remember ever reading a set of political diaries which I didn't enjoy. And Chris Mullin's second volume of diaries, DECLINE & FALL, is no exception. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that this volume is better than the first. They are quite different in tone and much more self deprecatory.

The first volume was full of Mullin moaning about his lack of ministerial power. At the time, I said I found this rather irritating - he could moan all he liked, but he seemed to do nothing about it. In this volume, which starts in May 2005, the thread which runs through the book is the author coming to terms with the end of his political career. He avoids feeling sorry for himself but constantly vacillates between deciding to stay on for another parliament and announcing he will stand down. In the end he opts for the latter, but clearly lives to regret it. One of the final diary entries recounts his final speech in the House of Commons, where he nearly breaks down with the emotion of it all.


The fact that a man of 62 feels he has to stand down from Parliament because he has nothing further to contribute is either an indictment of our parliament, or of the man himself. In this case, it is clearly the former. Despite being disappointed by his lack of political advancement and his lack of power as a junior minister, what are we to make of the fact that Mullin couldn't see any role for himself in parliament? He had twice been chairman of a select committee but couldn't see that a return to a select committee chairmanship would have given him the job satisfaction he so clearly craved. And there must be part of him which wondered how he might have fared if he had stood for the Speakership. He would certainly have garnered more Conservatives votes than the eventual winner managed to.

But it was his own colleagues who would undoubtedly have let him down. Labour MPs clearly viewed Chris Mullin as a maverick who didn't understand what it meant to be a team player. However unfair that might have appeared, they probably had a point. Mullin is a man of principle who hated entering into the necessary political compromises needed to guarantee political advancement. And in the end that's why he's now embarking on a new phase of his life speaking at literary festivals and writing more books. I suspect he'll get more satisfaction out of it than if he had stayed in parliament, even if he hasn't quite realised it yet.

For those of us who enjoy his writings, it is to be hoped that his next project might be a sequel, or even a prequel, to A VERY BRITISH COUP, as well as a further volume of diaries. Mullin is a very talented writer and I hope he provides us with many more books over the coming years.

Buy DECLINE & FALL by Chris Mullin HERE.

The Daley Dozen: Saturday

1. Gates of Vienna has some disturbing evidence of electoral fraud.

2. Antony Little has a brilliant analysis on the good and bad things about the Tory conference.

3. Tory Totty is back online.

4. Next Left on how Charlie Whelan is refusing to gloat. At all. Never let it be said.

5. Paul Linford on which political leader faces the toughest task.

6. Jerry Hayes on the deprivation of the Balls family.

7. Skipper on the ten tasks facing Ed Miliband.

8. Paul Waugh reviews Tony Blair's memoirs for Critical Reaction.

9. Michael Heaver doesn't know whether he's Arthur or Martha on AV.

10. Nick Robinson on why Alan Johnson is Shadow Chancellor.

11. Ben the Prisoner on Ken Clarke's ideas for working prisoners.

12. Tom Harris says to IPSA: "Come and have a go if you think you're hard enough".

Gisela Stuart Should Replace Diane Abbott on THIS WEEK?

So, Diane Abbott has accepted a front bench job as Shadow Minister for Public Health. It's quite an expensive decision for her, as I understand from sources close to THIS WEEK that she will no longer be allowed to share the sofa with Michael Portillo and that she did her last show this week.

So that begs the question as to who should now replace her. It won't be an easy decision for the THIS WEEK production team to make as few of her 'deputies' have made much of an impact. I quite liked the Hazel Blears/DD combination but I doubt whether there will be much appetite to axe Michael Portillo too.

Tessa Jowell would have been great, but she's in the Shadow Cabinet, as is Caroline Flint who was quite entertaining when she took over. Oona King is a possibility, as she was also good when she appeared one week.

I think they key thing is that whoever takes over has a sense of humour and has an incisive insight into Labour politics. Diane met the first criteria but not the second.

The only names from the Labour Party I can suggest are Ann Clywd, Fiona Mactaggart, Dawn Primarolo (No, really)*, Kate Hoey and... Gisela Stuart. Gisela would be my tip if they want an MP. She's funny, quite non conformist and transparently nice.

Of course, it doesn't have to be a serving MP. It could be an ex MP or a peer.

Who would you suggest?

* UPDATE: Dawn Primarolo is a deputy speaker, a fact which I had forgotten!

My Health Report for Policy Review TV

At the Conservative conference I spoke to various politicians about GP commissioning and whether it would work.

The Archers & Politics

As part of The Archers 60th anniversary celebrations the BBC is planning a radio programme to reflect the relationship between life in Ambridge and the wider political world. Do you have a secret, or not-so-secret passion for the nation's longest-running soap. Do you follow the business of the parish council, the furores over GM crops or anaerobic digesters?

Do you remember fondly the days when Shula was a scion of the Young Conservatives, and Mike Tucker a fiery trades union activist? If you feel you may have something to contribute with regard to The Politics of Ambridge, then the producer, John Beesley would be delighted to hear from you. He can be contacted by email. The address is john.beesley@bbc.co.uk.

Widders Conquers Strictly (Yes, I Know I'm a Week Late)

I've only just seen this. Words almost fail me. But as Brucie would say, didn't she do well?

A Tight Wad Publisher

My copy of the British General Election of 2010 arrived today. I always order the hardback copy because I have the complete set since 1945 in hardback. Imagine my surprise, though, when I discovered that this year Macmillan appears to have been so tightfisted that they haven't even put a dust jacket on it. I paid the best part of £50 for a naked book. So if they want a link for people to buy it, they can whistle for it. Indeed, I'm so appalled, I am not even going to review it, as I had originally intended. Apologies to Dennis Kavanagh and Phil Cowley, but they have been shortchanged by a publisher who ought to know better. Shame on you, Macmillan.

The Daley Dozen: Friday

1. Peter Hoskin thinks Alan Johnson was a wise choice.
2. Tom Harris is terrified by IPSA.
3. John Redwood divides Britain into three.
4. Daniel Hannan commends Mario Vargas Llosa on his Nobel Prize.
5. Better Nation takes a look at the Shadow Cabinet and their opponents.
6. Simon McGrath analyses Lord Ashcroft's latest report.
7. Alastair Campbell mixes politics and sport.
8. Don Paskini wants our priority to be childcare, not child benefit.
9. Mary Riddell reckons George Osbourne has breathed a huge sigh of relief.
10. Nick Robinson reports that Ed M is a deficit cutter.
11. David Jones is pleased that Peter Hain has returned.
12. Thanks to EU Referendum, let the parodies begin.....

On My LBC Show Tonight From 7pm...

On my LBC show tonight from 7...

7.10pm As comuter fares look set to rise, how much more can commuters take?

8pm What is Britain's place in the world. As the government threatens to cut the defence budget, does this signal the end of Britain's role as a world policeman?

9pm The LBC gadget hour.

You can listen to LBC on 97.3 FM in Greater London, DAB Radio in the Midlands, parts of the North, Glasgow & Edinburgh, Sky Channel 0124, Virgin Media Channel 973 or stream live at lbc.co.uk

To take part in the programme call 0845 60 60 973, text 84850, Email iain AT lbc DOT co DOT uk or tweet @lbc973

If you miss the programme and want to download it as a podcast (minus the ads!) click HERE. There is a £2 monthly charge but you have access to the entire LBC archive and schedule.

Coming Tomorrow: The 1970 BBC Election Night Programme

Just to tip you off, tomorrow from 9am, BBC Parliament will be showing a rerun of the 1970 election night programme.

Thought you'd like to know.

Caption Competition

The Return of Ruffers

I bring good news. I hear from sources close to Tory MP David Ruffley that he will be returning to the Commons on Monday. You may remember that in June David was involved in a terrible incident in which he fell under a train pulling into Victoria Station. (original story is HERE). He had been suffering from depression.

I know everyone will want to welcome him back into the heart of the Westminster Village. He's very popular across the party divides and I am sure his colleagues will be delighted to see him again.

The New Shadow Cabinet

Alan Johnson - Shadow Chancellor
Yvette Cooper - Shadow Foreign Secretary
Ed Balls - Shadow Home Secretary
Andy Burnham - Shadow Education Secretary
Sadiq Khan - Shadow Justice Secretary
Harriet Harman - Shadow International Development Secretary
Angela Eagle - Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Douglas Alexander - Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary
Jim Murphy - Shadow Defence Secretary
John Denham - Shadow Business Secretary
John Healey - Shadow Health Secretary
Caroline Flint - Shadow Communities Secretary
Rosie Winterton - Chief Whip
Meg Hillier - Shadow Energy Secretary
Maria Eagle - Shadow Transport Secretary
Hilary Benn - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Mary Creagh - Shadow Environment Secretary
Ivan Lewis - Shadow Culture, Media and Sports Secretary
Peter Hain - Shadow Welsh Secretary
Ann McKechin - Shadow Scottish Secretary
Shaun Woodward - Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary
Tessa Jowell - Shadow Olympics Minister
Liam Byrne - Shadow Cabinet Officer Minister

Two New Books on the Formation of the Coalition

On November 15th, Biteback will be publishing two new books analysing the formation of the Coalition in May. 22 DAYS IN MAY is written by David Laws, who was a leading member of the LibDem coalition negotiating team and spent an all too short time as Chief Secretary to the Treasury. It's a real insider's account of what happened and gives some astonishingly frank account of the events and conversations leading to the formation of the Coalition, along with an essential desription of the early days of the government.

David Laws was one of the key Lib Dem MPs who negotiated the coalition deal, and the book includes his in-depth, behind the scenes, account of the talks with the Conservative and Labour teams after the General Election, as well as the debates within his own party about how the Lib Dems should respond to the challenges and threats of a hung parliament.

Rob Wilson's book FIVE DAYS TO POWER is a very different book. It gives the first full account of the tri-party negotiations that led to the political earthquake of a Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government. With unique access to the participants from all three parties involved in the drama, Rob Wilson, Conservative MP for Reading East, looks at the key relationships, the arguments and the secret meetings, and reveals how and when the key decisions were made by the parties. He paints the first full picture of the coalition talks. This is a book that provides a compelling insight, and substantial new information and material into a ruthless competition for power that developed over five days in May.

Preorder David Laws' book HERE.

Preorder Rob Wilson's book HERE.

Britain's Best Young Blogger

Are you aged between 16 and 24? Do you write a blog? Channel 4 has launched a search for Britain's best young blogger. If you'd like to enter, click HERE.

I am on the judging panel, along with Jon Snow, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Josh Halliday, Benjamin Cohen, Vicky Taylor and Richard Bacon.

The closing date for entries is 15 October.

His Grace Is Not Amused

A south London school has suspended its deputy head teacher. Her crime? Making a speech at the Conservative Party Conference...

His Grace has the story, and he's not happy. At all.

And may I just say how nice it is for His Grace to return from dead, like a phoenix from the flames, once more. He was sorely missed.

UPDATE: Dizzy has an interesting twist on the story. The head teacher was the one who allowed Blair to use her school to launch his 2001 election campaign! Quentin Letts's new book "Letts Rip!" includes an account of the day Bishop allowed her south London school to be used by Tony Blair for the launch of the 2001 general eleciton campaign. It notes that "Mrs Bishop is a fanatical Blairite who considers him the most wonderful Prime Minister in the world".
The piece describes how Blair used Bishop's school remorselessly for political ends. For Birbalsingh now to be accused of political agitation is unbelievably hypocritical.

The Daley Dozen: Thursday

1. Walaa Idris sums up Cameron's speech perfectly.
2. Rhys Morgan-Jones thinks 10:10 could spend their money on better things.
3. Toby Young is amused at left wing schmoozing.
4. Ellee Seymour isn't happy that the missing people agency is being axed.
5. Mark Wallace wants to scrap middle class child benefit.
6. Liam Rhodes analyses the drop in tory membership.
7. John McTernan ridicules an elected Shadow Cabinet.
8. Peter Hoskin explains how Cameron and Simon Cowell are connected.
9. Guido admires the fine poetry of Chris Bryant.
10. Paul Goodman takes a look at Theresa May's speech.
11. Dilenttante writes an open letter to Nick Bourne on the Welsh Language.
12. Fraser Nelson thinks the battle is on for the working class.

On my LBC Show From 7pm Tonight...

On my LBC show tonight from 7, today live from the Conservative Conference in Birmingham...

7.10pm The Labour Shadow Cabinet election results and how important is personality in politics? Guests: Tom Harris and Stephen Pound

8pm Why do working mothers increasingly want to return to the home?

9pm The LBC Legal Hour with Daniel Barnett. Phone in your questions on any aspect of the law.

You can listen to LBC on 97.3 FM in Greater London, DAB Radio in the Midlands, parts of the North, Glasgow & Edinburgh, Sky Channel 0124, Virgin Media Channel 973 or stream live at lbc.co.uk

To take part in the programme call 0845 60 60 973, text 84850, Email iain AT lbc DOT co DOT uk or tweet @lbc973

If you miss the programme and want to download it as a podcast (minus the ads!) click HERE. There is a £2 monthly charge but you have access to the entire LBC archive and schedule.

It shouldn't happen to an interviewer

You can read the full transcript of the interview HERE

Hattip: Political Scrapbook

Caption Competition

Your captions please...

Sally Bercow & Migration Watch Come to a No Score Draw

Migration Watch have just released a statement which draws a line under their libel dispute with Sally Bercow.

In a discussion programme on Sky News on 18 August, Mrs Bercow associated Migrationwatch with Mosley and Hitler. When we heard about this, we asked for a copy of the program and obtained a transcript of precisely what she had said. After taking advice from counsel we asked our solicitors to write to her seeking an apology and an undertaking not to repeat such an allegation. In their response, solicitors for Mrs Bercow said that she "did not intend to (and did not) allege that Migrationwatch is a fascist or racist organisation", that she was expressing an honest opinion about the handling of a Migrationwatch report by the Daily Express and that she had a right to do so in a democratic society.

Migrationwatch are strongly in favour of free speech. We accept her assurances about her intentions, and consider that important and sensitive issues such as immigration should be debated without descending into derogatory language and associations.

In view of the assurance contained in her solicitor’s letter, we do not intend to take the matter further.

Good.

UPDATE: Twitter seems to have gone beserk with people saying this was not a no score draw and it was total capitulation by Migration Watch. I'm not sure that ties in with their statement, but there you go. Those who are having a go at me might like to remember the blogpost I wrote last week where I made clear my support for Sally Bercow's position vis a vis Migration Watch's threats.

However, as a commenter points out, few people would take any notice of Sally Bercow's thoughts were she not married to the Speaker - something which must constantly give her pause for thought. I rather like her and I enjoy our broadcasting jousts, but let's not kid ourselves as to why she's invited onto these programmes, because it certainly isn't for her incisive left of centre political analysis!

The Ins & Outs of the Shadow Cabinet

Now, contain your excitement, but tonight aat 9pm the Shadow Cabinet election results will be announced. Forty nine Labour MPs have put themselves forward for the 19 places on offer. Six of those places have to go to women. I've been looking through the list and I will put my neck on the block and predict that these will be the 'lucky 19'. So that's put a curse on them then...

Douglas Alexander
Ed Balls
Hilary Benn
Andy Burnham
Liam Byrne
Yvette Cooper
John Denham
Caroline Flint
Peter Hain
John Healey
Alan Johnson
Tessa Jowell
Sadiq Khan
Stephen Timms
Stephen Twigg
Angela Eagle
Meg Hillier
Diane Abbott
Ben Bradshaw

I think Ben Bradshaw might be at risk and I doubt whether Shaun Woodward will get on. If Labour MPs have any sense they will elect Chris Bryant and Tom Harris, but I suspect those two won't be lucky, but for different reasons.

If I am right about most of these people, the Shadow Cabinet will look very similar to Gordon Brown's last Cabinet, which could be a real problem for Ed Miliband. If he had a free hand and could chose his own team I suspect at least five of these names wouldn't appear on his own list.

I'll bring you the results live on my LBC show tonight as soon as they are announced.

Quote of the Day

" When I told him what I really thought of the European Parliament he said “my God it’s worse than I thought” "

David Cameron negotiating with Nick Clegg on the EU

A Powerful, Meaty Speech

I listened to David Cameron's speech while driving back to London. And I am afraid this will have to be quick as I need to get to LBC to prepare for tonight's programme.

I wasn't expecting this speech to be especially memorable. In a sense it didn't need to be. It wasn't one of those make or break conference speeches. But a speech which invokes the collective spirits of Lord Kitchener, Margaret Thatcher, Winston Churchill and JFK deserves to be remembered.

It was a speech which bore all the hallmarks of the Big Society. A speech which laid out in simple, stark terms, the financial situation facing the country. It was a speech which explained where the blame for that lies and how we can get ourselves out of this mess. Wll it be heard? I wonder how many people were watching, because if it was a large audience it will have had an impact. If not, people will just get the soundbites from the news bulletins later.

I thought the Big Sciety passages were especially powerful. It was a real call to arms, for people to make a contribution in the full recognition that the state can't do everything. Nor should it. Time will tell what the response will be.

This was a better speech than I was expecting, and a more meaty speech. Yes, there were the ritual attacks of Labour, but it was a speech which made you think. And that's unusual in a party conference leader's speech.

I'm now wondering which aspect of it to concentrate on on my phone in tonight. What would you suggest?

My Local Government Report

Top 100 People on the Right: 100-76: 25-1

The Daily Telegraph publishes today numbers 1-25 in its Top 100 Influential People on the Right compiled by Brian Brivati and me with an expert panel.

50-26
75-51
100-76

Today's installment includes Eric Pickles at number 6, IDS up to 15, Francis Maude up to 4 and a surprising new entry at number 3.

This time last year David Cameron looked set to be master of all he surveyed. The political year did not quite turn out like that but he forged a Coalition and has made a commanding start to his tenure in Number Ten. As Gordon Brown seemed to shrink which each day he was office, so Cameron has grown into the job. This, combined with the strength of the younger members of his team, Osborne growing into the job, (steady at 2) Gove though faltering at times sticking to his guns, (down from 9 to 13), his chief of staff Edward Llewellyn (up from 9 to 5) and the resilience of the old timers, means Cameron is looking increasingly likely to get his five years.

The old timers have certainly played their part. There are second and in some cases third acts in politics. Look at the top twenty: Francis Maude, Iain Duncan Smith, Theresa May, Kenneth Clarke – very little new generation material here. However, what a luxury for a PM to be able to hand over tricky areas to an experienced team.

Lower down the list the internal opposition is mustering their forces. So long as the agenda remains fixed on deficit reduction, the Euro-sceptics and the neo-liberals will be held at bay. For now they seem to have judged that Cameron’s progressive rhetoric was actually more or less in tune with their own direction of travel.

A good barometer of this is Matthew Elliott who has held his ranking even if he has changed position. As the Conservatives went into power you might have expected a pressure group like the Taxpayers' Alliance to fade but they have not. Now Elliott has moved to lead the No to AV campaign, his influence remains potent.

The Liberal Democrat David Laws, recently defenestrated from the government over his private life, remains a powerful figure and more popular in the Conservative Party than in his own. He will return to government but the question many ask is if it will be a Liberal Democrat or a Conservative who will make way. And would it make any difference which it was?

That the smooth intellectual style of David Laws sits in the same coalition as the forceful bulk of Eric Pickles, shows that just because something can fit together does not mean it will make a pleasing match - think of the platypus. How things look do not actually matter all that much. What works is what counts. That will determine how long the coalition lasts.

Arriving in the mid 20s comes Graham Brady, the sometimes wayward head of the 1922 committee, who is responsible for understanding the motives of any rebels and then transmitting their concerns to the leadership. Delivering during the Coalition talks, he is going from strength to strength. He will need all his personal and political skills to keep the Coalition going as the impact of cuts bite in the new year beyond and some of the weaker minded Conservative MPs start to buckle under pressure.

The biggest falls within the 100 are Stephan Shakespeare who has fallen 46 places and Michael Spencer who dropped 74 places to 86. Both had money and seemed to be key players in the lead-up to the election. Neither has proved substantial elements in the Coalition building process or now in government. Philip Blond, head of the ResPublica think tanks, is a controversial omission from this year’s list – a vote had to be taken among the panel and he narrowly lost out due to his apparent overselling of his own and his organisation’s influence on the Cameron inner circle.

Dropping out of the top 100 for the first time since this list began are the Lords Trimble and Hurd. The Conservatives have their own new generation coming through the ranks. Bucking the trend of fading oldies comes Ken Clarke, on the outside always a marshmallow, while on the inside and when running a Ministry a highly effective executive decision maker. His elevation is also reassuring to the pro-European wing of the party.

Some people allege that Conservative governments are born with hubris, while Labour governments acquire hubris over time. Cameron’s managerialism as statecraft has managed to inject a humility into the return of the Conservatives above and beyond that which the failure to win a majority represents. There is an ideological heart to this government but for now it is masked. This is in part because the central team is simply not sure how far it can go and because their communicators - Steve Hilton for example, who has slipped down a little to 10 - have mainly been experts in the optimism of opposition.

Most of the messaging that was planned has not been used and while they search for good news, it is the older generation who get the Today progamme interviews and lay out just how tough things are going to get. This might alter but the challenge for this government, reflected and defined by the rising and fallings on this list, will be to define itself more clearly in terms of what it is for as well as what it is against.

As that positive agenda begins to unfold, it could allow the rebels, the Euro-sceptics and others to galvanise the internal opposition to the Cameron project. But it is highly doubtful whether internal opposition will be any more successful over the next four years than it has been in the last four.

This year the Lib Dems dealt with the trauma of power, as Labour delivered a psycho drama about the loss of power. The Conservatives have simply not been that interesting: they have regained power and enjoyed it. The next year will tell if they have used it wisely.

Where Are the MPs?

Yesterday, I spoke at a Hansard Sciety/Institute of Government fringe which was discussing the job of an MP. I was the only non MP on the panel, which was very entertainingly chaired by Lord Adonis. Nick Boles, Mary Macleod, Sir George Young, Andrew Tyrie and Stephen Dorrell were the other speakers.

One point I made which the audience seemed to agree with, was that MPs are elected as representatives of their own party and as such owed their party a duty to attend their party conference. It's the one time of the year the party's grassroots has a chance to mix with and quiz MPs. Unfortunately, as usual at this conference the MPs are notable by their absence. Obviously I don't have the figures, but I doubt whether much more than a third of the parliamentary party have put in an appearance in Birmingham -certainly no more than a half. I reckon it was the same at Labour last week. LibDem MPs have a much higher proportion attending their conference as they are more noticeable if they don't.

Yes, it is expensive to attend a party conference, but it's the same for ordinary representatives.

Net year, perhaps the whips might like to gently encourage their flock to attend. It would be appreciated by the party workers who worked so hard to get the MPs elected in the first place.

On My LBC Show Tonight From 7...

On my LBC show tonight from 7, today live from the Conservative Conference in Birmingham...

7.10pm Chris Grayling will be in the studio to take your calls on welfare reform.

8pm Is the Catholic Church right to criticise the Nobel Prize awarded to British IVF pioneer Robert Edwards?

9pm The LBC Medical Hour with Dr Rob Hicks. Phone in your questions on any aspect of health.

You can listen to LBC on 97.3 FM in Greater London, DAB Radio in the Midlands, parts of the North, Glasgow & Edinburgh, Sky Channel 0124, Virgin Media Channel 973 or stream live at lbc.co.uk

To take part in the programme call 0845 60 60 973, text 84850, Email iain AT lbc DOT co DOT uk or tweet @lbc973

If you miss the programme and want to download it as a podcast (minus the ads!) click HERE. There is a £2 monthly charge but you have access to the entire LBC archive and schedule.

Top 100 People on the Right: 50-26

The Daily Telegraph publishes today numbers 50-26 in its Top 100 Influential People on the Right compiled by Brian Brivati and me with an expert panel.

Click HERE to see numbers 50-26
75-51
100-76

Today's installment includes Nick Boles, Tim Montgomerie, Damian Green, David Willetts and Andrew Lansley.

Is the Prime Minister for Turning on Child Benefit?

I haven't spoken to a single representative here at the conference who has welcomed, without reservation, the child benefit announcement yesterday. To a man and a woman they all think the principle of taking benefits away from top rate taxpayers is correct, but like me, they all believe that the anomalies need to be sorted out - and sorted out quickly. It's no good Cabinet Ministers going on the airwaves pretending that everything is sorted and that all is sweetness and light. Any fool can see that there are issues to be resolved here. David Cameron has an acute pair of political nostrils. And if he is sniffing the wind this morning I think I know what he will smell.

Ignoring the detail for a moment, I think it is worth asking how we got to this point, because the whole thing has come as a very unpleasant surprise. The hallmark of the first six months of the coalition has been the rigour of the policy formation process. Policy is tested again and again between the coalition partners. You have to ask if that happened here, because it would appear not. Good policy is tested and tested and tested again - not just for the political consequences, but to see if it is fair and will work.

We all know there will always be winners and losers in any reform of the welfare state. It goes with the territory. But you have to be explain to losers why they are losing out and the reasons for it. Most people will understand, if they can see both a logic in the argument and an inherent fairness. What they won't understand is a policy which is transparently unfair and full of anomalies.

Another issue here is aspiration. Everyone on £35,000 wants to earn £44,000. But it will no longer be in their interests to do so. Indeed, they will be asking their employer not to give them a pay rise which takes them into the 40% tax bracket. Madness.

Finally, we must not lose sight of the real issue here. It is economic madness to give benefits to people who don't need them. I don't believe anyone capable of paying the 40% rate of tax should be entitled to claim ANY benefit at all. Remember, that's a takehome pay of £3,000 a month or not far off. Why on earth should a basic rate taxpayer on £20,000 a year contribute to benefits for someone earning more than £40,000? Indeed, why should a Mum earning £12,000 a year on a supermarket checkout contribute to it, either?

I don't think there are many defenders for universal child benefit any longer. And those that do defend it need to examine their motives for doing so. But that should not mean that the coalition should view this as an easy political hit. I agree they have the right policy, but they also need to get the detail of it right, and demonstrate a willingness to do so. At the moment, we are very far from that place.

Guido in 'Sleeping with Employee' Shock Revelation

Remember how I took Guido Fawkes to task for his insinuations about William Hague and his assistant, Chris Myers after they innocently shared a room together during the election campaign?

I interviewed blogger Harry Cole on LBC during the furore and reminded him of the time he shared not only a bedroom, but a bed, with fellow blogger Mike Rouse. He made the perfectly fair point that Mike wasn't his boss.

So what are we to make of the revelation that Guido Fawkes and his able seaman employee Harry Cole have been sharing bunks in a barge moored alongside the conference centre here in Birmingham.

I wonder if bargepoles are being touched...

Imagine it, a leading blogger banged to rights for rank hypocrisy. Who'd have thought it.

PS Please don't say it's not the same as the Hague situation because Guido isn't using taxpayers' money to pay Harry. Nor was Hague. It was before the Tories got into government.

UPDATE: Harry says there are two bedrooms on the barge. Bet he doesn't keep his door locked though :)

UPDATE: Guido and Harry have kindly provided this documentary evidence.... which, let's face it is rather more than they ever had for their original story!

My Education Report for Policy Review TV

A Cut Which Surely Even Labour Can Support

Can anyone seriously doubt that in these economic times it is right to withdraw Child Benefit from people who pay tax in the 40% and 50% bracket? Like most people, I believe benefits should go to people who really need them, not people earning £44,000 and above.

It will be interesting to see how Labour respond. Will they accept that this is the sort of cut which has to be made, or will they play to the crowd? I wonder...

Dizzy is less than impressed, however. He makes the point that while the principle is right, the implentation is not. He says that two people earning £43k each would still get Child Benefit, while a family with one earner on £44k wouldn't. If true, that is idiotic, but I trust it will be sorted out.

Top 100 People on the Right: 75-51

The Daily Telegraph publishes today numbers 75-51 in its Top 100 Influential People on the Right compiled by Brian Brivati and I with an expert panel.

Click HERE to see number 75-51.

Today's installment includes Nigel Farage, David Laws, Philippa Stroud, Guido Fawkes, Caroline Spelman and Andrew Mitchell.

Podcast: 7 Days Show: Episode 43

The latest edition of the Seven Days Show is now online.

The latest Seven Days Show is now online, recorded here at Party Conference in Birmingham. In the show this week (episode 43) we have I partake in a little karaoke, before we talked about the IMF backing the stance the Government is taking on the deficit; what Ed Miliband's speech was like; whether Labour can really be tough on the Unions; was Ed Miliband asking the BBC not to strike an own goal; how important party conference is for the Tories; will the media be looking for criticism of the coalition; will Cameron’s speech as PM be as important as important as Ed Miliband’s; what the conference is like this year and whether conference itself should be scrapped; and finally what are the must go to events this year.

To listen to the podcast click HERE, or you can also subscribe to the show in the Tory Radio section in the podcast area of Itunes.

See No Evil, Hear No Evil and Speak No Evil

This is the clip of Tim Montgomerie, Guido and me previewing the party conference with Adam Boulton yesterday.

Yet Another Ridiculous Libel Case

You may remember that back at the end of August, Sally Bercow and I did a Sky News paper review together. Quite a lot of you enjoyed it. A few days later I was contacted by Sir Andrew Green, head of Migration Watch and asked if it was true that Sally had compared his organisation to Mosley and Hitler in a discussion about a research paper they had published. I told him I had no recollection of that, but if she had, I would have undoubtedly picked her up on it. I thought nothing more of it until I read on various sites yesterday that Sir Andrew had issued libel proceedings against Sally Bercow. He had instricted lawyers who wrote to Sally Bercow asking for an apology and costs. She's told him where to stick his letter and it seems as though it is now going to go to court. What a complete and utter waste of time. Here is what Sally Bercow actually said...

"This right wing think tank Migration Watch has conducted a study which has
revealed that youth unemployment is down to migration which is obviously grossly
simplistic. The main reason for youth unemployment is the recession which was
caused by the bankers and the bankers are more responsible than the migrants,
and it’s fairly dangerous propaganda this kind of story. It is exactly what
Mosley said in the 30s and Hitler argued in Germany."

So, no mention of Sir Andrew, and one mention of Migration Watch. Now I am not a lawyer, but I think I could easily rip holes in the argument that she had linked Migration Watch directly to Mosley and Hitler. No sensible person would, and I don't think she did. Had I thought she had done so I'd like to think I'd have had the nouse to take her on directly. In the event, I think I said something like "Migration Watch is a very respected pressure group across the political spectrum", something I believe to be true.

I think Andrew Green and Migration Watch do a brilliant job and they have played a major role in enabling politicians to discuss immigration as a mainstream issue. But on this I fear they have gone completely over the top.

To bring a libel action on this brings our libel law into disrepute and illustrates why the law needs to be reformed. Sally Bercow will no doubt now become yet another libel law cause celebre. I may not agree with her on much at all, but I would certainly defend her right to say what she says. It's a debating point, not a libel, and Migration Watch should be big enough to acknowledge that and take her on in debate, not the courts.

Come on Americans - Show Some Cojones!

I feel very sorry for all those businesses who will be spending the next few days worrying about whether they will have any American tourists as customers after the US State Department issued a travel advisory today, warning Americans to steer clear of places which attract crowds if they are on a visit to Europe. There is no specific terror warning, but the effect will be clear. Americans will cancel trips to Europe for fear of what might happen. We've seen it before. You might think they would be made of sterner stuff, and indeed, many are. Those who live in big cities may not be put off, but Mr & Mrs Average from Main Street, Iowa. probably will be.

The fact is that Mr & Mrs Average stand more chance of being killed in a road accident on Main Street, Iowa than they do in any future terrorist outrage in Britain, France, or Germany. All this travel advisory should mean is that we should all maintain extra vigilance.

I don't see Brits being deterred from travelling to France or Germany. And nor should they be. A few weeks ago, Patrick Mercer reckoned that there was a clear terror threat to this year's Tory Party Conference. I doubt whether a single Conservative Party representative decided to stay away. We're made of sterner stuff.

So come on Mr & Mrs Average American. Show some bottle. Don't give in to the terrorists, because every one of you who cancels your trip is doing a little bit of Osama bin Laden's work for him.

Fringe TODAY!: Should There Be An Electoral Pact With the LibDems?

You are cordially invited to attend a Total Politics Fringe Meeting at the Conservative Party Conference

SHOULD THE TORIES ENTER A LONG TERM ELECTORAL PACT WITH THE LIBDEMS?

And should the coalition be extended beyond 2015?

Speakers: Nicholas Boles,

author of 'Which Way Is Up? The Future for Coalition Britain & How to Get There

Fraser Nelson,

Editor of The Spectator

Iain Martin

Wall Street Journal

Chaired by Iain Dale

Today, 5.45pm

Jurys Inn, 245 Broad Street, Birmingham

How to Gauge the Conference Atmosphere

I can guarantee that the question I will be asked most this week at the conference on the broadcast media is "what do you think the atmosphere is like?" It's a question which invites the response, "well it's better than 1985 but not quite so good at 1953". In other words it's a facile question and any journalist asking it should spend a day in the Lazy School of Journalism detention area.

If journalists really want to gauge the atmosphere from the conference, let me make a simple suggestion. Instead of spending all your time talking to other journalists, why not spend an hour wandering round talking to party members attending the conference? It might shatter a few preconceptions. Or not, as the case may be!

Top 100 People on the Right: 100-76

Today the Telegraph starts publishing the list of the Top 100 People on the Right, which Brian Brivati and I compiled with the help of an expert panel.

Numbers 100 down t 76 are published HERE.

Among otheres featured in the list today are Annabel Goldie, Rory Stewart, Mark Littlewood, Michael Portillo, Racehl Wolf and Matthew Sinclair.

How to Make an Old Man Feel ... Well, Old

Has anyone said something that’s ever made you feel really old? I mean, reeeeallly old. It happened to me on Thursday. My new assistant, Grant, suggested I should get tickets for an event at next week’s Tory Party conference. “Book, em, Danno!” I said. He looked blankly at me. “You know, “ I said. “Hawaii -5-0”. He continued to look as if I was talking a language only heard on the planet Zarg. And then it dawned on me. Not only had he never heard the catchphrase “Book em, Danno”, he had never heard of Hawaii-5-0. Not surprising really. The series finished in 1980, twelve years before Grant was born. I then went round the rest of the office and only one person had ever heard of it. I tell you, I felt ancient.

Geraldine Dreadful MP Writes ... to Her Constituency Labour Party

Dear Comrades,

As you'll know, at the end of last month, the Labour Party took an historic right-turn to the left with the selection of Ken Livingstone to be its candidate for Mayor of London. The opportunity to offer a distinctly new, unprecedented, novel and vibrant direction for London is immense, and shows the kind of new thinking in the Labour Party of which I am so immensely proud.

The naysayers will point out that Mr Livingstone has already been rejected once by the electorate, and that he has already done the job and therefore offers nothing new. But those naysayers are mostly fascists, racists and anti-semites, much like the people supporting the hated Blairite Oona King (can someone in the comms office check this and make sure Ken hasn't called another journalist a Stalagsoberkommandant?).

In addition, as well as the delightful news about the inspirational Ken, of course, we have a new leader. Ed Milibrother is the next Prime Minister, securing an enormous 1% victory over his plotting Blairite brother David Milibrother, who has now sloped off, like the running dog he is, to South Shields.

Some of the other candidates were very good; Diane Abbott ticks so many of our diversity boxes (TV career, makeover, sent her kid to private school), she should really have done better than she did, and it was a pity that the one working class candidate, Andy Burnham, polled so poorly. Perhaps it was just as well; as a party we're all about aspiration, and Ed Milibrother represents just the sort of down-to-earth proto-middle class pre-shaver all teenage boys desire to be. Ed is a dream come true: it's like having Adrian Mole as party leader.

So, you can see, the future for the Labour Party is immensely bright.
We have followed the time honoured tradition of a quick repair to the left in the wake of electoral defeat, which has always worked out well for us in the past.

Yours in comradely solidarity,

Geraldine Dreadful MP

Hattip: With grateful thanks to Ben Archibald of Nabidana.com

The Daley Dozen: Friday

1. Mark Wallace broke the story on the climate change fascists.
2. Walaa Idris thinks the Universal Credit is a winner.
3. Better Nation investigates the state of the Scottish blogosphere.
4. Mark Pack takes a look at Ed Miliband's donation figure.
5. Saw Bowman calls for an Irish Apocalypse.
6. John Redwood thinks the Coalition needs to change its message.
7. Tim Worstall praises Gordon Brown.
8. Man in the Shed wants to scrap our aircraft carriers.
9. Michael Edwards reckons men should do more washing up.
10. Hopi Sen reports that Jack Straw supports the Coalition's Prison Policy.
11. Direct Democracy thinks the Electoral Reform Society are playing tricks.
12. And finally, thanks to Dylan Jones-Evans, a shameful plug for my native Wales...

On My LBC Show Tonight From 7pm...

On my LBC show tonight from 7...

7.10pm Hurrah! The M4 Bus Lane is being abolished. Does this signal a new attitude to the motorist? Guest: Philip Hammond, Transport Secretary.

8pm What should employers be allowed to ask in job interviews? Apparently they're now not allowed to ask if a job candidate is in a good state of health.

9pm The LBC Gadget Hour top lawyer LBC Gadget Guru Darren. Phone in your questions on any aspect gadgetry.

You can listen to LBC on 97.3 FM in Greater London, DAB Radio in the Midlands, parts of the North, Glasgow & Edinburgh, Sky Channel 0124, Virgin Media Channel 973 or stream live at lbc.co.uk

To take part in the programme call 0845 60 60 973, text 84850, Email iain AT lbc DOT co DOT uk or tweet @lbc973

If you miss the programme and want to download it as a podcast (minus the ads!) click HERE. There is a £2 monthly charge but you have access to the entire LBC archive and schedule.

Why Climate Change Denying Schoolkids Should Be Executed

I was assuming this was a spoof, but it appears not. It's part of a video campaign by the climate change pressure group 10:10. Essentially it says that any child who doesn't take action to cut their own carbon emissions by 10% should be executed. Nice, eh? This group is a perfect example of climate change fascists. They should be ashamed of themselves.

Hattip: Christian May

Nick Clegg: The Biography

I'm excited to announce that BiteBack will be publishing the first biography of the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, in the summer of 2011. So far the book only has a working title, “Nick Clegg: The Biography”, it will chart Nick Clegg’s early years right up until the AV referendum and find out exactly who is the man behind the politician.

Chris Bowers will be the author of the biography. Bowers, 49, is a journalist and commentator, and author of the recent best-selling biography of the tennis ace Roger Federer. He also works as a communications consultant for the European Federation for Transport & Environment and is a Lib Dem district councillor in East Sussex, working loosely with Clegg on revising the Lib Dems’ environment policy in the run-up to the last Lib Dem leadership election.

Bowers is an experienced biographer and will provide a comprehensive account of Nick Clegg’s life. Bowers will start with Clegg’s time at Westminster School, tracing his rise through the Lib Dem ranks until his eventual appointment as Deputy Prime Minister, and will culminate in the result of AV referendum.

The Huge Success of the Times Paywall

This is a tweet from @mattrcb

Difference between free media & paywall media: Iain Dale links to me: 2,651
hits. The Times links to me: 8 hits

Interesting.

AV Would Mean LibDems Would Always Decide Who Governs

No wonder the LibDems are pushing for AV. A new academic study shows that if the last election had been caarried out under AV the LibDems could have also chosen to ally themselves with Labour. Indeed, I would venture to suggest that this would be the result at virtually every election. The electorate wouldn't matter. It would be the LibDems who always chose who becomes their coalition partners.

In the forthcoming January 2011 issue of Parliamentary Affairs, leading academics demonstrate that, had the 2010 general election been conducted under the Alternative Vote (AV) electoral system, the Liberal Democrats would have been able to form a coalition with Labour.

The article, Simulating the Effects of the Alternative Vote in the 2010 UK General Election, by David Sanders, Harold D Clarke, Marianne C Stewart and Paul Whiteley, uses survey data from the 2010 British Election Study to simulate what the effects on the seat distribution on the House of Commons would have been if AV had operated in May 2010. The results suggest an outcome for the three main parties of Conservatives 284, Labour 248 and Liberal Democrats 89. They say: "This outcome would have radically changed the arithmetic of post-election coalition building, with the Liberal Democrats being able to form a majority coalition with either Labour or the Conservatives. While the Liberal Democrats’ share of seats under AV would not have been as large as under pure proportional representation, it would have been sufficient for them to form a coalition with either of the major parties."

So be prepared for semi-permanent coalitions, with the LibDems deciding who should govern.

Is the US Litigation Culture About to Arrive Here?

When I met DAS last week to discuss their sponsorship of my blogreaders' party at the party conference on Tuesday, they told me about a subject which hadn't crossed my radar screen before. This is the fact that the Ministry of Justice seems determined to introduce US style contingent fee arrangements into litigation in England & Wales. In a dim and distant past I used to be an insurance reporter for Lloyd's List and I remember writing about legal expenses insurance, which in those days was in its infancy.

There is a fundamental principle in England & Wales that whichever side loses litigation, has to make a substantial contribution to the winner’s costs. This Adverse Costs principle ensures early settlement of claims which have clear merit and gives a commercial incentive to both sides to act reasonably, deterring claimants from bringing and defendants from defending actions they are likely to lose.

The highly controversial Jackson Review appears to seek to introduce a US contingent fee litigation culture where individuals can bring claims with no financial risk to themselves, resulting in an escalation of claims, many of them vexatious or without merit. And now to general amazement, the MoJ seems determined to press through this fundamental change.

In the complete (and understandable) absence of Legal Aid, the current reality for claimants seeking compensation for injuries or wrongs is that it is a tough struggle. Claimants have to accept liability, win or lose, to pay lawyers at least part of their fees or outgoings and to make provision for the possibility of losing and having to pay the other side’s costs. The insurance market has produced a number of insurance products designed to address these risks, all of which the Jackson Review, seeks to sweep away, in favour of contingent fees. God help us!

Access to justice and the rule of law are the hallmarks of a civilised society. Private funding of litigation is outside the financial capabilities of most individuals. Any system of justice must make legal representation affordable and mitigate the risk of the individual to their own and their opponent’s costs. Surely this can be done without importing to this country the funding basis of the excesses of US litigation culture. If Lord Young’s report to David Cameron, due to be published next week, concludes that there is a compensation culture in this country which needs addressing, implementing these reforms will backfire with catastrophic results for the public purse – not least the National Health Service Litigation Authority.

I know there are many lawyers and insurance industry bods who read this blog. What do you reckon to this. Are these fears well grounded?

My Conservative Conference Schedule

If you sign up to the party on Fringe List HERE you'll get a free SMS reminder.

I've cut back on my conference activities this year, as on Monday and Tuesday evenings I have to present my LBC show live from Birmingham, so that puts me out of action between 5 and 10pm each night. Anyway, if you're going to the conference, I do hope you'll come to my blogreaders party on Tuesday night from 10.30pm until 12.30am.

SUNDAY

10.30 Sky News with Adam Boulton & Tim Montgomerie
12.30 Host an In Conversation lunch with Cheryl Gillan & Nick Bourne for Welsh Conservatives, Level 5, Symphony Hall
17.45 Chair a Total Politics Fringe Debate with Nick Boles MP & Fraser Nelson, Jurys Inn Hotel. Should the Tories enter a long term electoral pact with the LibDems? Click HERE to get a free text reminder
19.00 Attend Pride Dinner with Nick Herbert, The Angel, 125-131 Hurst Street
21.15 Host Pride Club event with Adam Rickett & Mica Paris, Nightingales Club, 18 Kent St, Birmingham (Tickets HERE)

MONDAY

12.30 Chair British Chambers of Commerce fringe, GVA Grimley, 3 Brindleyplace with David Gauke, Stephen Timms & David Frost. Spending cuts and policy changes: will the Government’s programme secure economic recovery? Click HERE for a free text reminder.

TUESDAY

12.30 Speak at Hansard Society/Institute of Government fringe. Jack of all trades: how can MPs fulfil all their roles? with Nick Boles MP, Stephen Dorrell MP, Mary Macleod MP, Sir George Young MP, chaired by Lord Adonis. Click HERE for a free text reminder.

14.30 Chair fringe for Conservatives for International Travel. A 20 year vision: what should Britain's transport infrastructure be like by 2030? Soloman Cutler (next to the Hyatt in Broad Street)

22.30-00.30 Host Iain Dale blogreaders party. City Inn Hotel, with guest comedians Steve Nallon and Christian Schulte-Loh. Click HERE for a free text reminder.