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| The best speech of this week didn't come from David Cameron, or George Osborne, or even Boris Johnson. It came from a 12-year-old girl. Xantaine Campbell was the last of four young speakers addressing the Conservative party conference just before the prime minister got up and did his thing. She was supremely confident. She put some of the performances we'd seen in this conference season from nervous activists to shame. It was certainly a lot better than the Tory leader's effort. He substituted intensity of delivery for substance; there was little here and in the hall it felt like there were absolutely no new policies whatsoever. It was only after strenuous and belated briefing to journalists that the 'earn or learn' newsline began to emerge. Even that was not enough to draw attention towards the biggest story of the week, which had nothing whatsoever to do with the Conservative party. In a week supposed to be dominated by the Tories, the spotlight unexpectedly turned to another bastion of the right in British political life: the Daily Mail. Its rather weak attack on Ed Miliband's father Ralph was more than a bit over-egged, allowing the Labour leader to kick up a massive fuss. The story was already a triumph for the opposition before a Mail on Sunday reporter's attendance at the funeral of Ed Miliband's uncle took us to a whole new place. Outrage from the left has been through the charts. Hatred of the Mail and everything it stands for was epitomised by Mehdi Hasan's Question Time rant, but politics.co.uk's parliamentary press gallery room-mate Quentin Letts put up a decent defence on the same programme. Underlying these two stories - a relatively sluggish Tory conference enlivened only by the chance to crush some more welfare claimants, and an unusually large right-wing-press versus left-wing-politician spat - is a sense of politics returning to an older way of operating. The gap between Labour and the Tories is growing. It's not just down to the logic of Ed Miliband's energy price freeze logic, either. Talk to activists in Brighton and you'll realise the old dividing lines of the 1970s don't hold as much significance to today's generation. No, this is about something more fundamental. It's a struggle between the established interests of those in positions of power and influence, like the City and the press, and those prepared to challenge them. I argued earlier today that those who aren't happy with the grip the establishment has over this country doesn't mean they automatically hate Britain. If anything, it's the tension between the establishment and those challenging it which makes the UK the country it is. These are the big themes which will overlay the economic debate that will dominate the 2015 general election campaign. This party conference wasn't really about specific policies at all, but the ideas behind the different approaches of those in power and those seeking it. So it will come as something of a shock when parliament returns next week and we will be obliged to look at specific issues in detail. The Commons has its own brand of politicking, however - one which has kicked off a little early with a big development at the end of this week. Party conferences? We've forgotten about them already... SundayMention of Nigel Farage deleted from Tory conference pamphlet A debate between Nigel Farage and Bill Cash has been deliberately deleted from the Tory conference fringe listings guidebook, organisers said today. Mental health group criticises Cameron for 'nuts' comment David Cameron has been criticised by mental health campaigners after he branded Ed Miliband "nuts" for wanting to cancel a drop in corporation tax. Labour surges ahead in the polls as Tory conference opens Labour enjoyed a significant post-conference bounce today, putting them 11 points ahead of the Tories as the governing party met in Manchester for its annual conference. MondayFarage rebuffed: Hague wants 'pact with the voters' as Ukip threat looms William Hague has appealed to wavering Conservative voters attracted to Nigel Farage's Ukip to stick with the Tories - because they are the "only" party capable of delivering an in-out referendum. Sketch: After years of misery, Osborne overdoes the gloating George Osborne's parents watched their little boy be all "serious" at the Conservative party conference - but he couldn't help showing off to them all the same. Comment: Help to Buy will betray a generation The government's controversial extension of Help to Buy has arrived three months early - and it's short-term politics at its ugliest. TuesdayBoris speech verdict: The mayor gets serious Boris has begun his awkward transition from a seriously jokey politician to a serious politician who also makes jokes. It's not quite as appealing - but is still funnier than anything else on offer. 'Menaced' Mail won't say sorry for Miliband father slur Ed Miliband has been accused of being "tetchy and menacing" as his row with the Daily Mail over his father continues. Exclusive: Tories to offer firms 'affordable' action on climate change Conservatives are set to promise companies at the next general election their energy bills will not go up as a result of efforts to tackle climate change. WednesdaySketch: Intense, but nothing new from David Cameron The prime minister is in fighting mode. And it's all getting a little bit scary. David Cameron's conference speech as-it-happened All the news, comment and analysis as David Cameron addressed his party conference in Manchester. Daily Mail admits Miliband gravestone pun a mistake The Daily Mail has admitted it was an error of judgement to publish a picture making light of Ed Miliband's dad's death. ThursdayCampaigners take UK to court over Prism The UK government is facing a legal challenge over its use of the US' Prism programme in the European court of human rights. Ed outraged after Mail on Sunday infiltrates Miliband family memorial Ed Miliband has won a grovelling apology from the Mail on Sunday's editor Geordie Greig, after a letter to the newspaper's owner Lord Rothermere saying its behaviour "crosses a line of common decency". Five lessons from the 2013 conference season... Events in Glasgow, Brighton and Manchester have fast-forwarded the UK's political story towards 2015. FridayFrom 'sanctimonious little dwarf' to 'yes, boss' Burns quits coalition to run for deputy Speaker The minister who once called John Bercow a "sanctimonious little dwarf" is quitting the government to run for deputy Speaker, it has emerged. Comment: There's nothing more British than hating the establishment Ralph Miliband's determination to bring down the establishment does not mean he hated Britain. There is nothing more British than taking on those in power. The Daily Mail hits back: People should apologise to us The Daily Mail lashed out at accusations that its article on Ralph Miliband revealed an underlying anti-Semitism today, with a demand for its critics to apologise. | CIOB video: It's all about people NASUWT comments on GCSE resultsCommenting on the GCSE results, Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union, said: NUT Wales comment on GCSE ResultsCommenting on this year’s GCSE results, NUT Secretary, David Evans, said: NUT comment on GCSE resultsCommenting on today’s GCSE results for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union, said: NASUWT comments ahead of publication of GCSE resultsThe fact that GCSEs are challenging and demanding qualifications is buried in an avalanche of politically motivated, false claims of grade inflation, dumbing-down and easy options, say the NASUWT. CIOT: Institute warns of ‘dangerous precedent’ over tax code for banksGovernment proposals for a strengthened Code of Practice on Taxation for Banks1 will set a “dangerous precedent” by giving HMRC power to determine and publicly announce non-compliance with the Code without any right of appeal, the Chartered Institute of Taxation has warned. |
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