Morning Report: March 7th

This morning we’re launching our new “Morning Report” feature, which will replace “8 in the morning”. As well as bringing you the pick of the morning’s papers and blogs, we’ll also look ahead to what the big issues are likely to be today for Labour.

Ahead of a major policy speech at the Fabian Society tonight, shadow justice minister Sadiq Khan has written for the Guardian – arguing that Labour’s work on crime will be undone by Tory cuts. In tonight’s speech – previewed by Next Left – it’s believed that Khan will say that Labour sent too many people to prison. Expect Jack Straw to fire back on that.

In a column for the FT that is likely to set blood boiling and pulses racing, Peter Mandelson has said that Britain was right to do business with Libya – arguing that “stigmatisating of every business leader, academic, politician and public servant who has had anything to do with Libya in the last seven years has been taken to ridiculous lengths in some quarters.” Mandelson is certainly never one for an easy sell.

Yesterday we told you that a desperate Tory attack on Ed Balls and Yvette Cooper over travel arrangements for their children had backfired. Today the onslaught continues in the Tory press, with attacks on the couple from the Express.

And finally – John Prescott will be reading the shipping forecast for Comic Relief. He’s a former seaman, so he should know what he’s talking about – but we’ll be staying on dry land on March 19th just to be safe…