One year on, the Obama backlash? – 8 in the morning, January 20th

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

* WITH KRAFT TAKING OVER CADBURY, Peter Mandelson says “it’s not my place to say which mergers and takeovers should or should not take place. I’m not pretending that I can block something or stop something when I don’t have the powers to do so.”

* THE ONS IS REPORTING A RECORD SURGE IN INFLATION IN DECEMBER…

* THE NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED IS SET TO HIT 2.5 MILLION THIS MONTH.

* AND MERVYN KING SAYS IT’S TIME TO START MAKING CUTS.

* BRITAIN’S IDEOLOGICAL DIVIDE IS REAL and the election stakes are high, writes Jonathan Freedland.

* BRITAIN REMAINS UNEASY ABOUT DAVID CAMERON, says Kevin Maguire.

* THERE’S A “GORDON BROWN SHAPED HOLE” in the Chilcot Inquiry’s evidence, says Lib Dem Ed Davey.

* NICK CLEGG WILL TODAY ANNOUNCE THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS’ POLICY ON YOUTH TRAINING VIA TWITTER, FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE.

EXTRA: ONE YEAR ON…

* DEMOCRATS LOSE ONE OF THEIR SAFEST SENATE SEATS.

* REPUBLICANS TAKE KENNEDY’S SEAT 52%-47%.

* THE HUFFINGTON POST CALLS THE DEFEAT A WAKE UP CALL FOR DEMOCRATS.

* PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS MADE A PROMISING START.

* OBAMA: Pass notes?