Birmingham Post

I Don't Have Miracle Cure, Cameron Warns Britain

David Cameron yesterday proclaimed himself as "a man with a plan" as he vowed to end the "spendaholic culture"of Gordon Brown's administration. Closing the Conservative conference in Birmingham with a detailed and, at times, angry speech, he claimed it had led to massive debts and contributed to the "financial crisis and economic downturn" facing the country.

Hbos Shares Jump to Fill Gap in Takeover Deal

Shares in Halifax Bank of Scotland closed 21 per cent higher last night amid hopes a rescue takeover by Lloyds TSB will go ahead as planned. HBOS slumped 14 per cent yesterday after fears the takeover deal could have to be repriced to satisfy Lloyds' investors.

True Grit As Cameron Stakes Claimto Be Prime Minister ; Tories

It was sombre, it was sobering, it was mercifully free from jingoism - in fact it was the only acceptable speech that David Cameron could deliver given the grave economic crisis. Unlike last year's party conference speech, during which Mr Cameron, apparently without a prompter, wandered all over the platform, yesterday's performance was relatively still-life using that familiar old stand-by, the lectern, which some feared was disappearing from public life.

Soft Approach has Made Partymore Peruser Friendly ; Tories

The Conservative Party conference finished yesterday. Public Affairs Editor Paul Dale reflects on the Tory extravaganza in Birmingham It's been 12 years since I last attended a Tory conference, but the memories remain vivid.

Samantha Drops in On the Action ; Tories

Samantha Cameron dropped in on a "social action" project in Birmingham yesterday ahead of her husband's speech to the Conservative Party conference. The Tory leader's wife was shown around the Welsh House Farm estate, in Quinton, where Conservative activists have been helping with improvements this week.

Rail Link No Substitute for Runway at Delay Hit Heathrow ; Tories

A Tory plan for a high-speed rail link rather than a third runway at Heathrow airport "beggars belief", British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh said yesterday. Conservative opposition to expansion at the airport would damage the national economy and condemn air travellers to decades of delays, Mr Walsh added.

Pickles' Bulimia Joke 'Irresponsible' ; Tories

A Tory frontbencher was forced to apologise yesterday after expressing pride that he might have contributed to John Prescott's bulimia. Shadow local government secretary Eric Pickles admitted he had been "silly" to mock the former Deputy Prime Minister's condition at a party fringe event on Tuesday night.

Party Impressed by Icc and Brum ; Tories

This has been a good week for the Conservatives - and for Birmingham. Tory activists have been impressed with the International Convention Centre, which is a far more pleasant place to wander around than the venues they are used to.

Early-Rising Leader Gets in Training to Run the Country ; Tories

David Cameron limbered up for his crucial keynote speech to the Conservative conference by hitting the streets of Birmingham for an early-morning jog. As he completed the final lap of the conference season, Mr Cameron used his speech to argue that he is fit for office.

'Pointless' Awm Could Be Quango-Ing, Going, Gone ; Tories

The Tories yesterday promised to scrap a huge list of quangos, including the Government's new planning body. Shadow Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles said the Infrastructure Planning Commission, which will take major decisions on projects such as airports and power stations, would be abolished.

Lap Dancing Club Profits Rocket ; Tories

The boss of a Birmingham lap dancing club claims profits have soared during the Conservative Party Conference. Allan Sartori, who owns The Rocket Club on Broad Street, said he had seen a 30 per cent boost in business as a result of "Tory toffs" looking for a place to relax after a hard day talking politics.

Tories Will Be Prepared to Govern ; Tories

A senior Tory frontbencher yesterday denied that his party was "arrogant" to make detailed plans for Government. Shadow cabinet office minister Francis Maude said the Conservatives were not "presumptuous" to prepare policies and proposals ahead of the general election.

Hague Says Afghan Victory Would Be Tory Top Priority ; Tories

ATory government would put pressure on the United States to step up efforts to achieve a "strategic victory" in Afghanistan, shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague said yesterday. Mr Hague said progress in Afghanistan would be the most urgent foreign policy priority for an incoming Conservative administration.

Mep Says 2009 European Vote Will Give Verdict On Brown ; Tories

Next year's European elections will be a referendum on Gordon Brown, according to a West Midlands MEP. Philip Bushill-Matthews MEP, leader of the Conservative group in the European Parliament, criticised Gordon Brown for failing to hold a referendum on the controversial Lisbon Treaty, which the Government's critics say is essentially the European Constitution in a new guise.

Conservatives Claim Confusion Over Our Terrorism Laws Leaves Them Open to Abuse ; Tories

The Conservatives yesterday painted themselves as the only party to "crack down" on terrorism and stop legislation being "misused" against ordinary people. Shadow Security Minister Baroness Pauline Neville-Jones said that under Labour, Britain had "looked the other way".

Bryson Finds Tidy Friends Among Party Faithful ; Tories

Bill Bryson issued a heartfelt plea at the Tory conference yesterday for more to be done to tackle the menace of litter. The best-selling author and president of the Council to Protect Rural England said it was time to "fight back" against the tide of rubbish littering the nation's streets and countryside.

'Do Not Abandon Green Principles Just Because of Crunch' ; Tories

Britain must "hold fast" to its green agenda despite the economic crisis, shadow Environment Secretary Peter Ainsworth insisted. Mr Ainsworth warned that if the global environment went bust "there will be no boom ever again". He told party supporters that "going green" would make the country safer and better off.

Agenda: A Time to Take Stock of Money and Happiness

Law firms, like many other arms of industry, are feeling the effects of the credit crunch: quietly, legal sector companies are making staff redundant. Interestingly, law firms specialising in divorce are reporting something of a business boom - mine included. Usually, August is a dead month, but this year we took on 35 new clients and had ten times our normal monthly rate of inquiries.

Agenda: Evaporating Shares in a Delusion

I 've never seen myself as a shareholder. When the Iron Lady was privatising the public utilities back in the 1980s - what Harold Macmillan described as "selling the family silver" - I stood superciliously aloof, refusing to listen to anything Sid was telling me. I always thought that Mrs Thatcher's vision of a share-owning democracy was a piece of self-delusion, since most of those who grabbed the newly released shares from British Gas and BT flogged them as soon as they had doubled in value...

Culture: Nothing Gained in Rehashing Story of Bride and Prejudice ; Cinema Mike Davies Reviews the Week's Latest Cinema Releases

BRIDESHEAD REVISITED Cert 12A 133 mins ***