Selfless gerrymandering is not political reform

I'm sure the tabloids will applaud David Cameron for his plans to cut ministerial salaries and raise the price of a pint in the Commons. But anyone who seriously cares about our democracy must worry about his selfless plans to entrench a Tory government by cutting the number of MPs from 645 to 585 and neutering the independent body charged with policing political shenanigans.

If he were seriously concerned about making politics more relevant, he would embrace electoral reform. But then, as with his tabloid-friendly humiliation of one of the more human characters on his front bench, this isn't about serious reform. It is just about making Cameron look good for a day's headlines. But he will soon find that a good day's headlines today can be a big headache tomorrow, especially if he does make it to No 10.

A week that added to the doubts about Cameron

This week has given us the merest glimpse of what lies behind the facade of Cameron's Conservatives. Fortunately for Cameron, lots of people are on holiday. But those floating voters with doubts about his changes have had three things to add to their doubts.

• First off, George Osborne made clear how much he wanted to see real cuts in public services, despite his fanciful pretence that measures like adding 220,000 surplus school places would save money.
• Then, Alan Duncan, with characteristic honesty, was caught admitting what most of his Tory colleagues really think about Cameron's response to the expenses saga

• And finally, Daniel Hannan joined the loonies on Fox again - chewing the fat with those who see him as a Prime Minister-in waiting - to trash the NHS and Obama just as Cameron was unpacking his swimming trunks.
  
  
  
  Meanwhile Peter Mandelson didn't put a foot wrong as he deputised for the holidaying PM. At least, Cameron can rejoice in the reselection of Anne Main as the party's standard-bearer in St Albans, can't he?
  

As Tories lose voters' trust on the economy, Alan Duncan loses the plot

Gordon Brown and Alastair Darling have regained public trust on the economy, at the expense of David Cameron and George Osborne.

The news seems to have caused particular distress to the Shadow Business Secretary, Alan Duncan, whose paranoia apparently knows no bounds.

He declares on Andrew Neil's Straight Talk programme this weekend that the government's decision to borrow more rather than raise taxes or cut spending in the economic crisis is a sign of a 'scorched earth policy' designed to upset an incoming Tory government.

Really? Isn't it likely that it has more to do with wanting to win a fourth term than causing hypothetical trouble for Mr Duncan and his fellow wannabee ministers?