Breaking the class code
Updated on 21 October 2008
The morning meeting asks: is the row over claims that George Osborne touted for a donation from Oleg Deripaska simply a class spat?
Russia's richest man entertained George Osborne - leading to discussion of a £50,000 donation to the Conservative Party - according to a letter from Nathaniel Rothschild in The Times today.
The letter has sparked claims and counter-claims; and we are hoping to speak to Osborne soon.
"This is a bit of a British farce really - it's really a class system spat.
"They will have looked down their noses at Osborne for leaking stuff about Mandelson in one of these meetings before, so this is payback!"
"As Rothschild sees it Osborne has broken the class code; what goes on tour stays on tour."
We have an exclusive piece about concerns over legal aid and family court hearings.
We have found that more and more people are having to represent themselves in court because they can't get legal aid.
"One courthouse has told us that the number of people representing themselves has increased by seven times."
We have a sitting judge voicing his concerns over the trend, which is almost unheard of.
"But who is actually losing out here? Is this just the legal profession moaning because they are losing out on fees? To be honest, why should taxpayers' money go towards paying to sort out someone else's messy marriage?"
"It is a valid point but the research shows that this is actually increasing costs because lawyers can help them get an agreement before it gets to court."
We also have a package on the Acorn voter registration drive in the United States.
"This is a campaign which is independant from Obama but is still in favour of the Democrats. They have got thousands of people to register to vote but there are examples of people being registered several times, and various other things.
"This is not a huge problem because people still need ID to vote, but it is a mistake that the Republicans are jumping on.
"But there are some issues with what the Republicans have been up to in this regard so we'll be looking at that too."
In the wider US election picture, famous American right-winger Ken Adelman has seemingly come out in support of Obama today; while even Fox News seems to be hedging its bets now.
"Rupert Murdoch is a clever man - he is not known for backing a loser. That's why McCain is slowly being ditched..."
