Beware men bearing gifts

Well, what a torrid time for the Government. I'm not one who is keen to overstate whether yesterday's events are uniquely significant; it's easy to let individual events assume greater importance than they'll ever actually have whilst they're being experienced. Nonetheless it does signal an increasingly desperate turn in the fortunes of New Labour.

It is vital, therefore, that the Conservatives show they have the will for the battle over this period in order to benefit from the increased scepticism which will surely follow. I am sceptical over the recent opinion polls registering the apparently non-existent LibDems at such high levels. I rather suspect those polled who gave this result may have more elastic support than appears at first apparent. What is undoubtable is that the Tories now need to show quite clearly what principles will guide them over a broader range of issues in order to prosper.

Beyond that it is important that they demonstrate something of the killer instinct. Especially when, in Charles Clarke's case, it is surely kinder to put the wounded beast out of its misery. To this end Militant Moderate has an excellent article about the need for David Davis to prove his mettle. Whether he's up to that task remains to be seen.

Finally, is Ming Campbell really from this planet? A truly nasty article in today's Independent suggests it's game on for calling him a silly old bufter with shaking hands who couldn't fight his way out of a paper bag let alone ask a coherent question in PMQs. Or even one which was accurate.