Conservatives want thousands in private schools (Dagsavisen)

The Conservative Party wants thousands of pupils to go to private schools. These would receive the same government funding as state schools, and would therefore be unable to demand tuition fees. "The number of private schools in Norway is unnaturally low. Private schools should receive full government funding and be treated in exactly the same way as state schools. There is no sensible reason why a great many more pupils should be able to choose private schools in Sweden, Denmark and other comparable countries than in Norway," says Inge Lønning, Conservative Party deputy leader and education spokesman.

Tax cuts for the rich preferable (Nationen)

If those on the lowest incomes receive tax concessions, the Norwegian economy will be heated up to boiling point. Tax cuts for the better off would be preferable, according to Geir Lunde, an economist with ECON Analyse. Mr Lunde’s view is the exact opposite of the Centre Party’s Per Olav Lundteigen, whose recent proposal to give tax breaks to those on low incomes also gets the thumbs down from the other centre alliance parties, the Christian Democrats and the Liberals. Einar Steensnæs (Christian Democrat) and Lars Sponheim (Liberal) fear higher interest rates and price inflation if Mr Lundteigen’s proposal is adopted.

Labour push Christian Democrats into Conservative fold (Dagsavisen)

The Labour Party will have itself to blame if the Christian Democrats form a coalition with the Conservatives, according to Odd Anders With, deputy chairman of the Christian Democratic Party. "Some Labour ministers have smoothed the Christian Democrats’ path to the Conservatives more than they realize. While Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg repeatedly makes overtures to the Christian Democratic Party, his ministers have been highly provocative in important areas. This tactic is not a good investment if Labour wishes to establish a future coalition with us," said Mr With.

Jagland’s open letters to be a daily event (Aftenposten)

Labour Party chairman Thorbjørn Jagland’s campaign of open letters this summer has provoked a storm of reactions. He has now decided to pile on the pressure and has announced he will be publishing daily bulletins on the Labour Party’s website. Mr Jagland believes the Labour Party needs to mount an information counter-offensive because, "the notion that you can cut taxes in this country by NOK 78 billion without it having any consequences at all has come to be seen as an established truth."

Campaign advice from Labour veterans (Dagsavisen)

Labour veterans Odvar Nordli and Reiulf Steen have some hints on how Jens Stoltenberg can win the election. They include not taking a holiday, showing a willingness to cooperate and appealing to people’s emotions. "There are only two months left to the election and the Labour Party is facing one of its biggest challenges since the war," said Mr Nordli. "I have so much faith in people that I believe Labour must work on the principle that the voters are concerned with the important, existential questions," said Mr Steen.

Armed Forces tighten regulations on booze and drugs (Aftenposten)

Being on leave and in civvies will no longer be an excuse. In the future military personnel will not be allowed to appear drunk in public at any time. A new directive from the military high command has tightened the ban on the use of alcohol and drugs for military personnel both on duty and out of uniform. Officers’ messes will now have to apply for a license to serve alcohol, and will be subject to the same restrictions as civilian bars and restaurants. The consequences for personnel who break the rules could be serious, including difficulties in obtaining security clearances and damaged career prospects.

Worth Noting

• It is highly unlikely that the Conservatives will get the chance to implement their proposed cuts in sick pay benefits and development assistance. No other party backs a cut in sick pay benefits, and the only support they would get for a cut in development assistance allocations would be from the Progress Party. It would not be enough to put the Conservatives’ promises into practice. (Aftenposten)

• "Thorbjørn Jagland’s letters are unparalleled in the history of Norwegian political debate. He appears to be both embittered and thin-skinned," said linguistics professor Finn-Erik Vinje. (NTB)
• Statoil will sell gas to the UK for a minimum of NOK 20 billion over the next 15 years. However, the company’s management is refusing at the present time to announce which fields will supply the gas. (Dagsavisen)
• The Oslo Stock Exchange’s IT index has fallen 60 per cent less than the index for European IT companies. Even though the general performance of IT stocks has been negative, there are companies which are doing well. (Aftenposten)
• It will become clear today how many of Storebrand’s shareholders have chosen to accept Sampo’s bid for the Norwegian insurance company. Tomorrow the Finnish financial services company, Sampo, will decide whether to extend the deadline for acceptance of its offer. (Dagens Næringsliv)
• Denmark’s Queen Margrethe and the Swedish royal couple head the list over those who have accepted invitations to the Norwegian royal wedding, which will take place 25 August. King Albert II and Queen Paola of Belgium, along with Prince Phillippe and Princess Mathilde will be coming, as will the Netherlands’ Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and his fiancée Maxima Zorreguieta. Iceland and Finland will be represented by their presidents. The UK and Spain have so far not indicated who will be attending on their behalf. (NTB)

Today’s comment from Vårt Land

The voters are not impressed by politicians’ campaign stunts, according to veteran election expert Henry Valen. Dagsavisen’s investigative reporters have uncovered wolverine hunting in Troms county organized by the Centre Party, and the pulling down of fences in the southern counties under the Socialist Left Party’s banner. But these incidents, according to the newspaper, are just about grabbing attention for the parties’ policies. The same can be said of Labour leader Thorbjørn Jagland’s daily letters from his summer holiday location in the south of Norway. Mr Jagland has used strong language in his descriptions of the Conservatives’ policies, and has therefore got more attention than he would otherwise have received for his message. But is it not about time the Conservatives responded to the contents of Mr Jagland’s criticism, not just its form?