Morning Report – May 31st

Recess has firmly taken hold, Ed Miliband is on his honeymoon and Westminster is so quiet you could hear a penny drop this morning. It’s so quiet, that arguable the biggest Labour story in today’s papers comes from the Hay literary festival, where David Miliband was speaking yesterday. As is often the case, you can get wildly differing versions of the same report depending on which paper you wish to consult. The Daily Mail chooses to go for “David Miliband aims a swipe at Ed just days after his brother’s wedding“, in a report peppered with personal details and innuendo, but little to suggest the explosive nature of the title. It is especially surprising to see the Mail putting such a spin on Miliband’s talk, when The Times(£) describes the same event as “No hard feelings over Labour leadership election, says David Miliband”. Who’s telling porkies then?

Elsewhere today, there’s a report in The Times (£) that suggests most members of the House of Lords are against Lords reform. Is that a surprise? Do Turkey’s vote for Christmas? Do Lords vote to be aboilished and lose the right to claim allowances? Tim Montgomerie over at ConservativeHome argues that this survey confirms “widespread opposition to Coalition plans to introduce democracy to Britain’s Upper House”. That’s not quite right. What this confirms is widespread opposition amongst those with an investment in the status quo.

Chris Huhne’s speeding case investigation is nearing its resolution. The case has rumbled on for weeks now, which is remarkable. However many days in which you’re meant to kill a story, Huhne has surely exceeded the limit. This quiet political week could be all about the environment secretary – one way or another.

And are the Lib Dems hypocrites? Surely not – but that’s the suggestion in The Sun today, after it was revealed that the Lib Dems are still advertising unpaid internships at their Cowley Street HQ. Naughty naughty…