The link about transport in the Sunday Times is a good one - Cameron looks set to pledge a return for trams in cities (good).

Thanks Matt. I did actually spot that article last night but didn't think it was very substantial... Howard Flight, succeeded as MP for Arundel and South Downs by Nick Herbert, has been added to a list of approved candidates by Tory bosses following a meeting with party leader David Cameron. Next week his name is expected to be included on an A-list of candidates preferred by the top brass. The former sounds like the normal candidates list, the latter is speculation.

How about this one? SHANE Ref 1231 1½ - 2 year old. Cream German Shepherd. Friendly dog. Not good with cats. Not to be homed with children under 12. Needs some house training. Oops, I'm straying from this thread as much as this dog has from its previous owner!

Dear Jonathan, your solution is simple.

Chad, your profile has been duly amended.

I need to confirm this is true, but I have heard a few times that Liberal Democrat Youth & Students have four full-time staff. If so, it puts our one overworked staffer (Sarah Southern)to shame. There is so much potential that could be tapped into with more central money.

The Liberal party aka The Steve Radford party I worked briefly for the Conservative campaign in their strongest constituency, West Derby. Some Liverpool Conservatives have a lot of time for them, what with their EU views, although their policies are very eclectic.

I had a feeling you might comment Jock! Re: young Conservatives in Oxford, the two uni's do need to get their act together and as Area Chairman of CF I'm going to do my best to give you some competition, don't worry about that. p.s. This is usually a non-Conservative free zone, it's interesting to hear things from your side. Any more heretical comments though and I'll be knocking on your door ;)

Indeed Wat, campaigners of all parties often find the best tactic against LibDems is to publicise their policies! I'll forgive Voice for his intelligent contribution as coming from the South West he probably has to experience all this more than most. Oh, and we mustn't forget to mention the famous bar charts! "Winning here" ...

I'm sure Nick will get back to you, but in answer to your questions Serf - there was evidence of a decent shift in student support back in January. As for internet usage: there isn't anything too innovative going on just yet in terms of co-ordination, although in terms of communication the Conservative Future website (linked above) has one or two fresh articles written by anonymous members every day.

Classic example of that Annabel, was when they had a petition on one side of a town to close the local mosque, and one on the other side to keep it open!

With respect, I would feel safer in a world of Pastor Martin Niemollers than Selsdon Mans. Only acting in self-defence of ones own nation doesn't help anyone outside of the top few military nations.

Perhaps ToryRadio should have a charitable fund which empowers Conservative technophobes to access its delights...

Article 5 of the NATO treaty states that, if one of the members is attacked, each member will take "such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force“ to restore security. There is an unwritten understanding that members will take action, although A5 was first invoked after 9/11.

Thanks for keeping it civil guys. On another note, v.interesting book review comparing Cameron's style with JFK's.

Charles Clarke mentioned today that he thought the Labour leadership election would be "something like summer 2008." He said he thought Mr Blair's successor should be given about 18 months to prepare.

Check out today's Platform section for discussion on the centre ground, Phil.

The original story about Humphrey getting chucked out: "Last week, officials announced that Humphrey, a stray who wandered into Number 10 in 1989, was being pensioned off to a new home near London."...... "The Blairs will get a new pet after it was announced a replacement Downing Street cat is to be acquired."

Tories won't reveal loaners

Our Four Key Proposals: There are four components to the reforms proposed: 1. There should be a cap on party political donations from any individual or organisation, set initially at £50,000 a year. In the longer term, after a transitional period, we believe that all corporate institutions and trade union donations should be brought to an end. We must ensure there is no suspicion that money can buy honours or influence over policy. These proposals would encourage parties to widen their funding base, and they offer Tony Blair and Gordon Brown the opportunity once and for all to end the Labour Party's reliance on trade union funding - and with it the suspicion that the unions act as a brake on vital public service improvement plans. 2. These proposals would ban all forms of loans to parties, except from financial institutions on fully commercial terms. The Electoral Commission must oversee these to ensure that they cannot become disguised donations. 3. We want to cut the cost of politics. The paper proposes lowering the limit on general election campaign spending from £20 million to £15 million. It suggests further proposals to cut the cost of politics, including a reduction in the number of special advisers, the abolition of Regional Assemblies, and consideration to a reduction in the number of MPs. The cost of politics under Labour has gone up by hundreds of thousands of pounds. The savings proposed in the paper can offset the additional cost of state funding. 4. We believe that cutting the cost of politics would make it fair to ask taxpayers to contribute more to the costs of political parties getting their message across to the electorate independently and directly. Any extension of state funding should be based on votes cast and increasing grass-roots participation. In this way, additional state funding will avoid rewarding failure at the polls or encouraging apathy in membership recruitment.

Even CNN has reported it.

The sleaze balance has truly shifted! Breaking news: Alan B'stard defects to Labour :D

Conservative defection to Labour! :D

I wasn't old enough to be following current affairs under Thatcher... did Humphrey just wander in randomly?

Some might draw comparisons between the two... (not that IDS did anything scandalous)