“Fox hunting to return under Dave”

~ The best and most relevant stuff in today’s papers and on the web ~

COMMENT OF THE DAY: Each Friday the week’s best comment will receive a bottle of House of Commons champagne.

Arjun Mittra: ‘Why do people defend bigoted comments with technicalities? People defended Prince Harry because he was ‘young’ and Prince Charles becaue he was ‘of a certain generation’ and Carol Thatcher because it was ‘a private conversation’. A racist comment is a racist comment. People do use words they do not think are racist, but are offensive. Where that is the case, the offender should apologise and explain that they did not realise the phrase was innappropriate. What is annoying is that Thatcher did not even accept she had made a mistake.’

ON LABOURLIST TODAY

Mark Hanson posts about the advent of online politics.

Peter Kenyon calls for the Labour Party to debate on its relationship with the private sector.

Stephen Newton has more information about Iain Dale’s odd views.Why – and how – Labour MPs are becoming Tweets.

Plus more articles will be going up throughout the day, including Tom Miller on why we don’t need Trident anymore.

*** Make sure you comment on the posts that interest you and if you want to post let us know. ***

CHARLES CLARKE

Fascinating interview by Charles Clarke in the New Statesman which features in most of today’s newspapers. LabourList is strongly of the view that he is a big beast that should be welcomed back to the Westminster jungle with a senior cabinet job.

FOX OFF

Courts make it harder to stop foxhunting. Cameron and his toff pals will be pleased…Remember Dave said: ‘Personally I support the freedom to hunt. I represent a rural constituency and my personal view is this is somewhere the criminal law shouldn’t go”, in Farmers Weekly and “I put my cards on the table. I ride; I have been hunting; and I shoot.“

MORE ON TORY TOFFS

It was the Tories’ black and white ball last night. We wonder if Lord Strathclyde had as much fun as he did on the night of his Tory party conference party? Plus, following the news that Dave’s sister-in-law is in line to edit the Toff bible Tatler, George Osborne’s wife has a juicy tale from her family’s toff history (actually it’s rather fascinating). It’s all in a forthcoming book, but you can see a review here.

Meanwhile, they attack the museums Labour made free.

LIB LABBERY

After Sundar Katwala’s provocative piece in last week’s New Statesman, Luke Akehurst has hit back in typical style.

Plus, in a highly significant move, Nick Clegg drops PR as the deal breaker for any coalition and demands increased money for poorer primary school kids instead.

Political Betting has an interesting analysis of the psephology.

WILDCATS

Best piece on the aftermath is by Sam Coates, Mary Riddell and Seamus Milne are also interesting.

FINALLIST

Tom Watson is trying his best to open up the government online.

Peter Mandelson warns RBS to be ‘sensitive’ over bonuses.

Torture furore set to grow as Hague calls for statement.

David Miliband on nuclear disarmament – but David, do we really need Trident, then?

Want to know what’s in store if the Tories ever get in? Slashed investment and public spending and tax giveaways for the rich, reveals Iain Martin.

A British job for a particular worker: Did this guy really expect Gordon to personally get him a job?

Wow, a few weeks in office has taken its toll: Obama as you’ve never seen him before.

The Robert Peston show.

Stephen Newton picks up on our recent exchange with Trevor Kavanagh over immigrants and housing.

‘Part-time Tories’ have to back down on 2nd jobs for the police. Wonder why?

Lobbying Transparency call for Tories to give back slot machine winnings.

If you haven’t already seen it, check out our Part Times Tories video.

Football fan? Watch what ITV missed here.

HERO of the day: Kelvin McKenzie: mad on most things but dead right about respect for frontline workers.

ZERO of the day: Iain Dale, again, we’re afraid, who despite much condemnation has refused to apologise for backing Carol Thatcher over her use of the word ‘Golliwog’. Come on Iain, do the right thing and clear your name.

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