Morning Report: March 15th

There’s plenty of coverage of the Miliband/Balls press conference in today’s papers – although as you all surely know, the best (and quickest) way to find out what’s happening to read about it here. Writing in the Telegraph Mary Riddell has an unusually glum take on events, warning that Labour could suffer a “lingering death”. Some of her concerns are fair, but Labour is averaging a 10% poll lead at the moment, so I’m not sure such negativity is fair (yet). Over at the Indie Steve Richards has written a slightly more cheerful version of events, with an interesting open goal/hard to score metaphor. Sadly he didn’t mix in a spot of “feet of clay”. Meanwhile the Times (£) is surprisingly the most upbeat. The metaphors haven’t got any better though, although at least this one is a pun. Like LabourList, the Times believes that the two Eds are a decent double act.

The Lib Dem press office must be working double-time this week, as for the second day in a row they’ve got a story in the papers suggesting that they’re moderating the Tories. Today it’s the ECHR that the Lib Dems have “saved”. We’ll believe it when we see it of course – lets hope its more backbone than bluster.

The BMA are set to bash Andrew Lansley’s NHS plans today at a specially convened conference, reports the Mail. Doctors could even declare at the meeting that they have no confidence in the health secretary, which could give Cameron the excuse he needs for another u-turn.

And one event in parliament worth watching out for today is Chris Huhne’s appearance at the energy select committee at 2.30 this afternoon. It’s hard to believe that this one time opponent of nuclear power (who recently converted to a nuclear power proponent) won’t be probed on the safety or otherwise of such power sources.