THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS COULD HAVE DONE BETTER

LORD DAVID STEEL, The Independent

For the Liberal Democrats, cheer at the record 61 seats (and I write as one who sat for a while in a Commons party of just six) must be tempered by recognition that the net gains were largely at Labour's expense and we did not do as well as hoped against the Conservatives. In my view it was a mistake to allow the rather silly media phrase of "decapitation strategy" to take hold since it jarred with the tone of Charles Kennedy's excellent approach, as did sending him into Mr Howard's own seat. The demise of the Cocky Collins in Westmorland was especially pleasing.

Immigration, immigration, immigration

Tory voters are more interested in health and education, than immigration.

Jane Green, Nuffield College, Oxford
23 April 2005

> Britain is going in the wrong direction. We need to change course.

Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith
12 April 2005

> LABOUR MUST GO because its claims to modernity are spurious

Nick Wood, Media Intelligence Partners
06 April 2005

Increase Home Ownership And Increase Pull-Through From Temporary To Social Housing

Scott Kelly, Conservative Party Policy Unit

Scrap Tuition Fees And Find Private Sources Of University Funding

Nick Wood, former head of media for the Conservative Party

Reduced Means Testing For Today's Pensioners And Mandatory Saving For Tomorrow's

Graham Clark, Epsom & Ewell constituency

> Laura Bush: I'm a Desperate Housewife

> Blair has got a fake tan. Want a bet?

> Who SHOULD you vote for?

COMMENT: After a decade-long retreat the Tories are beginning to advance

Matthew Parris, The Times | 07 May

COMMENT: We must consign Thatcherism to history

Damian Green MP | 07 May

LEADING ARTICLE: A new generation of Tory MPs must point the way to Tories becoming a majority party

D Tel | 07 May

COMMENT: Four million fewer people voted Labour in 2005, than in 1997

Charles Moore | D Tel | 07 May

LEADING ARTICLE: The people punish Tony Blair

Daily Mail | 07 May

NEWS: Reshuffle sees David Blunkett given welfare reform job

BBC Online | 06 May

NEWS: David Trimble loses seat as Northern Ireland politics polarises

Sky News | 06 May

COMMENT: Lower tax rates AND higher tax receipts

Larry Kudlow | National Review | 06 May

NEWS: Michael Howard to step down as leader once leadership election rules have been reviewed

Sky News | 06 May

COMMENT: None of the political parties can treat the result as a triumph

Philip Webster | Times | 06 May

NEWS: Michael Howard claims significant steps towards recovery

D Tel | 06 May

COMMENT: When will Gordon Brown take over?

The Economist | 06 May

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