In a speech later on today David Cameron will invoke the spirit of Margaret Thatcher’s government to continue his attack on striking unions, and increase the pressure on Gordon Brown.

Following the collapse of last ditch talks between Unite and BA, along with the announcement that the RMT will hold the first national railway strike in 16 years, the Conservative leader will accuse Brown of being “feeble” and too willing to give into vested interests.

Speaking in London he will say:

“Margaret Thatcher’s government was defined by taking the side of the people against the powerful, the vested interest – those whose survival depended on keeping things as they were. Take her union reforms.

“This threatens the future of one of Britain’s greatest companies along with thousands of jobs. But will the Prime Minister come out in support of those people who would cross the picket line? No – because the Unite union is bankrolling the Labour party.”

Cameron has already signaled his willingness to take on increasingly militant trade unions, scrapping the automatic union funding of the Labour party.

Those responsible for reviewing party policy in relation to trade unions are looking at making it harder for unions to call strikes.

Many inside the Conservative Research Department are watching closely Boris Johnson’s City Hall and his idea of introducing a minimum threshold for strikes. Under such a scheme unions would have to secure a majority of those eligible to vote, instead of a majority of those who do vote.

Now it would appear that she doesn’t quite like all the attention this completely unacceptable attack has given her and has protected her Twitter updates:

She is still refusing to defend what she said last night and has so far failed to respond to my requests, both via Twitter and email, for a comment.

Former SAS hero turned author Andy McNab as strongly endorsed David Cameron and the Conservatives, and accused Gordon Brown of ‘betraying’ the Armed Forces.

Speaking to The Sun the special forces commander, who led the failed Bravo Two Zero raid deep into Iraq during Operation Desert Storm said:

“I’m impressed. The Tories are the future,’ he said, adding “Cameron’s got the SAS vote – that’s for sure.”

“It’s time for a change.

“After the way Gordon Brown betrayed the Forces, there’s not a single person I’ve spoken to from my old regiment who’s voting any other way than Conservative.

“Cameron’s got the SAS vote – that’s for sure.”

“For Gordon Brown to go to the Iraq inquiry and tell porkies was outrageous.

“How little he has given the MoD to help them fight five wars in 13 years is very clearly on record.

“It is a betrayal of everything honourable they stand for.”

He also criticised Brown for using visits to Afghanistan as a photo opportunity and described them as “a cynical PR attempt to bury bad headlines,” saying:

“”To then go straight out to Helmand province in Afghanistan – as he did – and pose for photos with the troops to look like the Forces’ friend was unforgivable. That was the last straw for me.

“It was a cynical PR attempt to bury bad headlines. Anyone who uses our soldiers on the front line like that deserves nobody’s respect.

Commenting on his meeting with the Conservative leader yesterday Mr McNab said:

“Without doubt, the Tories are the future. I’m impressed by Cameron and the straight answers he gave to my questions.

“I believe he does get the Forces and what they need. And I think he has the will to see Afghanistan through.

“Now is not the time to go wobbly about the war.”

Totally pathetic!!!

But who is Leah Borromeo I hear you ask? Well she’s not just a random Labour Twitterer as many may think.

No she is in fact a journalist that has “a nose for the noise behind the headlines” who’s served as Foreign Editor at Sky News, and also contributed to The Guardian, the BBC and APTN. She also works for various international online outlets, magazines, television and radio stations.

For anyone, in particular a journalist, to come out with such a vile slur it completely unacceptable. Serious questions need to be asked of every broadcaster and publication that continues to publish her work.

Borromeo has so far refused to reply to my request for a comment.

A new ICM poll for tomorrow’s Sunday Telegraph show that David Cameron is trusted more than Gordon Brown on three key policies.

According to the pollsters when it comes to the economy, education and the NHS Cameron beats the PM by three per cent, seven per cent and two per cent respectively.

But the survey also showed support for the Conservatives slipping slightly when compared to last Sunday’s News of the World polll, with Tories on 38 per cent (-2) Labour on 31 per cent (no change) and the Lib Dems bringing up the rear with 21% (+3).

This is the narrowest Tory lead in an ICM poll for two years and would leave the Conservaitves 34 seats short of a Commons majority.

Scarily ICM also found that 34 per cent of those polled think the country’s interests would “best be served” if the election resulted in a hung parliament. Thankfully though, 56 per cent of people want the election to result in one party to win a clear majority.

Read more on the Telegraph website.

In a speech to the Conservative Councillors’ Association today David Cameron will outline his plans for local government.

The Conservatives will give more power, discretion and autonomy to local councils, but greater power must be backed up with greater accountability to local taxpayers. Under Conservative plans councils will be require to publish online:

• The full remuneration package of all senior staff, earning above £58,500, including name and post.
• All items of expenditure above £500, and publish contracts and tender documents in full.
• Information on councillors’ expenses in open and standardised format so the public can compare councillor expenses across the country.

Bellow are some key extracts from David Cameron’s speech:

Transparency

The first thing we need from local government is more spending transparency.

It is that the very act of being transparent will make all of us confront tough questions about how we can spend more wisely.

Working together to deliver savings

There’s another way we can deliver more for less – and that is by working together and sharing resources.

And all across the country, we’re seeing the same principle put into practice as local authorities experiment with new partnerships and new ways of delivering returns to scale.

More power

In exchange for all this, I’m going to give you something you’ve wanted for years…

It will unleash a new era of local power.

Accompanying the CCHQ press release which gave David Cameron’s reaction to the finalisation of negotiations for the Prime Ministerial Debates was this little list:

19 May 2007

David Cameron first backed a TV debate between the party leaders:

‘I hope in the next few days Gordon Brown will make clear that once he’s actually the Labour leader and Prime Minister he’ll take part in proper TV debates that could really help bring politics to life.’ (BBC News Online, 19 May 2007)

6 September 2007

David Cameron called for a televised debate:

‘Any time, anywhere. I will even pay for the taxi to take him to the studio. In fact, I’ll even drive the cab!’ (David Cameron, The Sun, 6 September 2007)

27 February 2008

David Cameron used Prime Minister’s Questions to call once again for televised debates:

‘I want to put to the Prime Minister one other point that could help to restore some invigoration in our politics. It is this: there is no doubt that one of the reasons why the American elections have caught people’s imagination is that night after night the contenders debate in live television debates. Does the Prime Minister agree with me that the time for such live television debates at general election times has now come? Will he agree to hold television debates with the leaders of the main political parties so that people can see us discuss the issues, the policies and the challenges for the future of this country?’ (David Cameron, Hansard, 27 February 2008, column 1084)

26 April 2009

David Cameron repeated the call for televised debates in an interview with The Sunday Times:

‘Let’s have one. Let’s have several…Any time, any place, anywhere.’ (The Sunday Times, 26 April 2009)

19 July 2009

David Cameron reiterated his support for the debates:

“On the issue of a TV debate, I am in favour of it and the interesting thing is I’ve been in favour of it whether I’m ahead in the polls, behind in the polls, whether it’s just after being made leader of the Conservative Party or whether it’s right now. I think our democracy would benefit from elections where the party leaders debated against each other and I really hope that this time, because I’m in favour of it and want to have it and frankly, will sign up to any reasonable set of rules about how many debates and where and who with and all the rest of it, I really want this to happen, it would be good for our democracy, good for elections, good to help get people fired up and enthused in politics, and also we should test out these ideas through the modern media which for many people is television. So I hope that we can do it this time, but the Prime Minister seems to think that half an hour in the House of Commons every now and again is enough. It just isn’t.” (Adam Boulton Show, Sky News, 19 July 2009)

29 July 2009

David Cameron wrote to Gordon Brown asking him to clarify his position on holding a televised leaders’ debate:

‘Five months ago, when I challenged you at Prime Minister’s Questions to a televised studio debate, you refused. This morning, Lord Mandelson said you were open to the idea. But within an hour, a Downing Street spokesperson back-tracked, saying this was not the case.

‘The Government seems to have a number of positions on this. I’ve only ever had one: a prime time televised debate is just what our political system needs.’ (Conservative Party Press Release, 29 July 2009)

4 October 2009

ANDREW MARR: Well okay. Gordon Brown has said apparently that he is prepared to go head to head in television debates, but they’d like those debates to start now. In effect the great conversation, the great national argument is happening now and he’d like to get on with it. Will you pick up that challenge?

DAVID CAMERON: Yes, I’d be delighted. I mean I’m in favour … I asked Gordon Brown first I think back in, I think it was May 2007, over two years ago, challenged him to TV debates. I think they’re a good idea. I think they will help enliven interest in our politics. So, yes, I’d be delighted to take part in television debates. Obviously we’ve got to get some of the rules straight and also we’ve got to have them during the election. And I do …

ANDREW MARR: But now now, not now?

DAVID CAMERON: Oh both, I’m happy. (Andrew Marr Show, BBC)

10 January 2010

ANDREW MARR: Let’s come onto the next few months of election campaigning. How important are these debates going to be to you?

DAVID CAMERON: I think they’ll be very important. I mean I’m delighted they’re happening because I mean there is a danger right now that if all this election is about is the sort of production of competitive dossiers, we’re going to bore the public to tears, and we’ve got to get across …

ANDREW MARR: Can the debates be interesting?

DAVID CAMERON: I hope so. And the main thing I’d say is the politicians have got to recognise this is not our campaign, this is not our election. This is the public’s election, this is your election, and we have got to open it up. And we’re going to try all sorts of ways, including using lots of innovative stuff on the Internet, of getting people involved and making sure it’s their priorities. (Andrew Marr Show, BBC)

“We’re going to start with the most family-friendly manifesto that any party has produced in British political history. We’re going to set out how we’re going to recognise marriage in the tax system, how we’re going to support couples in the benefits system, how we’re going to give the right to flexibility to everyone with children up to the age of 18, how we’re going to have a new army of health visitors to help mum and dad when the new child arrives, how we’re going to do all these things to help all our families in all of our country.”

Last night I published the headline figures form the YouGov/Sun tracker poll as soon as they were made public at 10:00pm, but within the detail, published on The Sun website this morning, there is encouraging news for the Conservatives on the family.

According to the poll:

• 32% of voters say they most trust the Conservatives to stand up for “the right kind of family values”. Only 19% of those polled said Labour did.
• 37% said they see the Tory leader as “a good family man”. Gordon Brown only managed to get 27%
• 43% of people surveyed said they back Tory policy on marriage breaks, as likely to make a difference to society. 40% do not.
• 72% of voters believe that the family has broken down in recent years with 43% of respondents blaming the government’s benefits system.

A full list of Conservative family policies can be read HERE.

If confirmed you heard it hear first, if not just move along – nothing to see.

Updated 10:00pm – YouGov have just published their daily tracker poll for the Sun which gives the Tories a seven point lead:

Con 39 (up 2)
Lab 32 (down 3)
LD 17 (nc)

This would result in a Hung Parliament, with the Conservatives winning 304 seats, 22 seats short of an overall majority, Labour would have 280 seats and the Lib Dems 36 seats.