Quote of the Day

Alistair Darling reminds me of one of those kidnapped Colombian judges in sweat-drenched polyester shirts, who are forced to record messages of support for their captors, but try desperately to signal to the camera that they are doing so under duress. With every blink, every hesitant reply, every furrowing of his brow, even his hint in yesterday's Daily Telegraph that the hugely expensive ID card scheme may be scrapped, the wretched Chancellor seems to be saying: I know, I know, I want to bring down the public debt, too. But my captor, Gordo el Furioso – he will not let me!

-Matthew d'Ancona

His whole column is as ever

well worth a read

, not sure about the headline though. As is Patrick Hennessy's scoop

also in the Telegraph

. Labour have some bloody cheek if they want to whack the Tories for putting up VAT - something Darling is calling for - especially given the fact they will be pounding everyone who earns over 20k with yet another rise in National Insurance - a tax on the jobs and incomes of middle Britain, to paraphrase.