The speech of McCain's life?

Last Modified: 05 Sep 2008
By: Newsroom blogger

In the morning meeting.

We're continuing to keep a close eye on the workings of the government - both in relation to its leader, and in relation to energy policy.

Political correspondent Cathy Newman is canvassing union leaders ahead of next month's TUC conference - do they support Gordon Brown?

A motion calling for a windfall tax was tabled at the conference, but we don't know what will happen after the prime minister seemed to rule the measure out in a speech last night.

'It's bad leadership allowing policies to be discussed before you have formulated them.'

And as we reported last night, the government's one-off voucher payment for those hit hardest by energy price hikes is now also off the agenda.

In fact, no one really seems sure what the government will - or can - do in the face of repeated above-inflation fuel bill prices.

"The problem seems to be excessive briefing about what they are going to do. I know some of it came out of an overheard conversation on a train but it's like the election last year."

"It's bad leadership allowing policies to be discussed before you have formulated them."

Our US team - including Jon Snow - is still in position in Minneapolis, where presidential candidate John McCain wrapped up the Republican National Convention with a keynote speech last night.

The Vietnam veteran's patriotism loomed large, as did his desire for change - the key message of rival Barack Obama. McCain made just one mention of president George Bush, talking instead of the need to change the way government is done.

"The BBC at 7am was saying he gave the speech of his life. Really?"

"Later they were describing it as lacklustre."

"I want to hear four and a half minutes of McCain speaking. We have had a shedload ot Obama. When did you last hear a McCain speech?"

"They're boring!"

"Well if they are boring, people need to see that. I think there's enough interest in the story that people want to see him anyway."