Morning Report – June 28th

He knows how to push those buttons doesn’t he? Peter Mandelson has a contentious column in the Financial Times today in which he argues that Euope must move towards ever closer political and fiscal union. In light of what is happening in Greece, Portugal and Ireland, that might be something of a tough sell, but Mandelson never did take the easy route, or the most popular one.

David Cameron is set to urge a “rethink” today on public sector strikes. However if the reports are to be believed this may be one issue on which the PM doesn’t u-turn. That tends to make talk of a “rethink” rather inaccurate – the PM seems to be issuing an ultimatum. It won’t work, he knows that, and that’s presumably why he’s doing it.

After rumours that the shadow cabinet were annoyed that Ed Balls hadn’t discussed his VAT cut plans with them, it seems that the party will now be proposing the emergency VAT cut in what looks set to be a very later sitting in parliament.

And there’s a touching article in The Times(£) from Aung San Suu Kyi today, where she notes that the Burmese envy the swift changes brought about by the Arab spring, in contrast to the years of struggle faced by her nation. It certainly puts domestic political disagreements into perspective.