Today's newspapers provide an interesting studies of two ways to take on Labour.

In the blue corner - back from its short-lived incarnation as the blue-green corner - stands David Cameron, and, not for the first time in recent weeks, the commentators are unimpressed. In the Telegraph, former Tory MP George Walden suggests that today's Conservatives regard opposition as "a bit of a wheeze", which is much more fun than all the dreary work that would follow an election victory ('The Conservatives don't want power, it seems'). Ironically, Walden is guest-writing for the Telegraph because "Boris Johnson is away". It's hard to imagine the MP for Henley penning a piece like this.

Walden's argument that Cameron lacks the seriousness to govern is backed up by another Tory, Michael Brown, in his Independent column ('I am a Tory, but I must admit I find myself seduced by the cut of Gordon Brown's jib'). At times Brown is almost fulsome in his praise for his namesake:

Middle aged, dark suited, (occasionally crumpled) crisp white shirt, always wearing a tie - Brown appears every inch a politician from the Tory era of the 1950s. By cancelling his holiday and striding around deepest "true blue" Tory Surrey with farmers on Monday, he subconsciously reached the very parts of the Tory Party Mr Cameron seems determined to reject or insult...

And then come the critique of the Tory leader:

So first, Mr Cameron, ditch the Lycra shorts and the cycling nonsense. Put the tie and jacket back on. Since image is supposed to be your thing it shouldn't be too difficult to start at least looking like a Prime Minister.

Ouch!

In the tartan corner, Alex Salmond shows another way of taking on the Labour government. Mr Salmond has advantages over Mr Cameron, of course, not least the pulpit of the first ministership, from which he can harangue Labour one minute for selling out Scotland and assume his most statesmanlike pose the next. Yesterday, Mr Salmond's target was the broadcast media, which he accused of neglecting Scottish society and demanded more powers (from Westminster) to regulate in Scotland's interest; Alan Cochrane of the Telegraph gives an entertaining account of what he seems to have regarded as a consummate performance ('Men With No Ties are putty in Salmond's hands'). What surely impresses most is the way that Salmond combines ease of manner with seriousness of purpose in a way that either Mr Brown or Mr Cameron would give anything for.

Also in today's news

The Times reports that tackling a "culture of low aspiration" among black boys and teenagers could boost the British economy by £24 billion over the next forty years ('Helping black youths to achieve may bring £24bn boost').

First of all, lets just be clear, CentreForum hasn't proposed the age limit on buying alcohol be raised by 3 years.  Nor, when you read the fine print of the story in The Independent ("Raise drinking age to 21, says think tank") does IPPR necessarily.  However, the idea has been put forward in their latest journal as a way to tackle the health and social problems associated with under-age drinking.

The idea was roundly dismissed in our office as I suspect it will be by most other readers.  But the author, Jasper Gerrard, is not unknown to liberal circles.  Indeed, he regularly bashes Labour's authoritarianism over issues such as the DNA database.

So why is an otherwise sound man putting forward this barmy idea?

The Independent reports him as saying:

"By raising the age threshold it is at least possible that those in their early and mid teens will not see drink as something they will soon be allowed to do so therefore they might as well start doing it surreptitiously now. Instead they might come to see it as it should be: forbidden."

Quite why they will see it like that, when their peers can glug away at much younger ages, is unclear.  IPPR make you pay to read their publications.  Maybe someone with an IPPR account can read the article here and let the rest of us know what can be possessing him.

In today's election news

The Independent Leader on the French elections - "A listless nation, an uncertain electorate"

Its report, "France searches for its saviour" has the cleverly crafted:

"The hungry M. Sarkozy scares people, even on the right. The dilettante Mme Royal disappoints people, even on the left. The likeable M. Bayrou fails to galvanise people, even in the centre." The Independent

The Guardian goes to Wales with "After eight years in power, Labour fears a rainbow alliance of Tory blue and Plaid" a piece that could have been written from Labour's press office - with its central theme of 'if you don't vote Labour, you'll let the Tories in" - for example:

"Labour is worried that so much of the election spotlight has been on Scotland, where the Scottish National party may do well, that few people realise the Tories have a decent chance of becoming the second-biggest party in Wales - and finding a way back into national government. " The Guardian

The Guardian also covers the latest environmental thinking from the Lib Dems  - "Lib Dems plan carbon saving kits for homes"

Finally The Guardian also has Peter Preston on the SNP "Have your referendum".  It's rather OTT especially at the start, but it improves after the first paragraph!