An alliance for a new politics? - 8 in the morning, April 21st

Indy

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

* In an interview with the Independent, Gordon Brown has called for a “progressive alliance” of Labour and Lib Dem supporters to keep the Tories out of power.

* Peter Mandelson has said “I think Nick Clegg has appealed to a lot of people who feel Labour has had a good innings but who have looked at David Cameron’s Tories and baulked.”

* But Nick Clegg has responded with a personal attack on Brown, saying his overtures are “desperate”.

* Cabinet sources are concerned that Labour’s campaign is tired, and that the party looks like “staid incumbents.”

* The increasingly presidential style of the election campaign is marginalising senior women, MPs say.

* Alistair Darling has welcomed a new IMF report that proposes tough measures to tax banks’ pay and profits.

* On the campaign trail, David Cameron has had a run-in with the Daily Mirror’s chicken.

* British airspace has opened after the ash cloud, as Downing Street says thousands of UK citizens stranded abroad will soon be able to return home.

Alex Smith

Alex is the founder and CEO of The Cares Family. He was editor and first director of LabourList in 2009-2010, during which time he established the site as the number one Labour blog, and later an aide to Ed Miliband.

View all articles by Alex Smith

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