Ed’s inbox – June 23rd

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

If Ed Miliband could only read five blogposts each day, he’d read these ones…

Absolutely Fabulous – The Tide Will Turn
By Katie McCrory

I have a friend. She is fabulous. She will remain anonymous purely because hers are not my decisions to make, but her story is something I can’t help but share with people; the kind of story I’ll crowbar into a conversation with anyone who will listen because it is a sobering reminder of the strangled position of women in work in the UK.

My friend – Emily, we’ll call her Emily – works in the financial sector. This means she is acutely aware of economic trends in developed and emerging markets, is resolute in explaining the devastating impact of the recent banking crisis on people like you and me, and has a capacity for analysis which makes my knees knock with awe. Bearing in mind I thought Fannie Mae was a character in Little House on the Prairie, it’s a wonder she gives me the time of day. – Read more.

Baroness: House of Lords isn’t undemocratic – Liberal Conspiracy
By Sunny Hundal

A bizarre row has broken out between Labour and the Libdems on reforming the House of Lords.

Yesterday the Indy reported:

“The Coalition Government wants the 828-member House replaced by 240 elected members, 60 appointed crossbenchers, 12 bishops and a small number of appointed ministers. But Labour favours a 100 per cent elected second chamber.”

So Labour is opposing the government’s piecemeal approach, which Clegg has attacked as “opportunism”. Hmmmm. – Read more.

Council tarmaced MP’s road for free despite terrible record on potholes – Political Scrapbook
By Political Scrapbook

The council which tarmaced a Conservative MP’s private road for free has one of the worst records in the country on pothole repair, it has emerged. Tory-run East Riding Council is ranked 196 out of 213 local authorities by road campaigners. But despite claims that “substantial” repairs to the authority’s 2,170-mile highway network are a “top priority”, council contractors resurfaced a 50-metre stretch of road leading to the door of Graham Stuart MP. – Read more.

The hidden cost of NHS reform – The Staggers
By John Whitting QC

These commercially-driven changes to our health system will be the worst of all worlds.

Last year the NHS paid out nearly £800 million in damages and costs for clinical negligence claims. Although part of an upward trend, it was not an exceptional year. In fact, some £15 billion is held in reserve against current potential liabilities: that is, existing claims or those which are anticipated but where no payment has yet been made. Even in a world inured by the financial crash to the mention of astronomical figures, these are significant sums of money. – Read more.

Looking forward to 2018 and the Boris versus George fight for the Tory leadership – ConservativeHome
By Tim Montgomerie

It is, of course, absurdly early to speculate but we’re allowed a bit of fun ever so often, aren’t we? In yesterday’s Telegraph Benedict Brogan looked into the distance and to the battle to succeed David Cameron. If all goes well we’re looking at 2017/2018 when Cameron stands down as Tory leader after seven or eight years at Number 10. The expectation is that the two leading contenders for the Tory crown will be George Osborne and Boris Johnson. Let’s take a quick look at their strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities… – Read more.