Morning report – April 29th

Now of course there’s obviously something of a big wedding today, so Westminster political news is a little subdued. But it’s always interesting to keep an eye on what else is going on when the whole world is focusing on the Abbey, the dress and the carriage.

The economy is still the biggest political story in town, and after arguments over growth since September, growth vs the US and Danny Alexander’s kicking on Channel 4, Martin Wolf sticks the boot in this morning, saying that Britishfiscal policy is “a huge gamble“. Expect Ed Balls to try and hang that quote around Osborne’s neck in the weeks ahead.

Also in the FT today there’s an interview with Ed Miliband. It’s an interesting read in itself, but he also uses the opportunity to set the record straight on his “nose surgery”. Seemingly it’s not cosmetic, it’s for a respiratory condition. It seems that someone may have taken one detail anc contructed their own story. How very unlike the press…

The former Labour MP at the centre of “calm down dear-gate” Howard Stoate, has said that Cameron is using the NHS as a “political football” and that his views were taken “out of context”. That certainly wouldn’t be the first time Cameron has quoted out of context at PMQs. Just ask John Healey.

The indepent exams regulator Ofqual has signalled its opposition to early change in the qualification system(£), which will slow the pace of reforms that Michael Gove is trying to introduce.

And Sky News reports that James Purnell is returning to frontline politics. It’s not clear what that would mean though. Presumably he won’t be returning to the house, so perhaps it means upping his profile at ippr, where he’s chair. Either way, it seems that “Blue Labour” is to his liking. Watch this space.