Michael Howard popped up yesterday at the Hansard Society's Atlanticist get-together to talk about whether Britain had anything to learn from the US political system. His verdict, briefly, was that we didn't, and that the UK's politics bears more resemblance to Australia's these days. (Indeed. Remember Lynton Crosby?) But Mr Howard also confirmed what was widely rumoured: that he and George Bush fell out spectacularly when the former Tory leader accused Tony Blair of lying over the legality of the Iraq war.
"There was certainly a cooling of relations between me and President Bush," said Mr Howard, who indicated that he did not welcome the president's views on how he should do his job. "I will draw your attention to the fact that, unless there is a snap election in the country, President Bush will no longer be in power by the time David Cameron becomes prime minister." Mr Howard paused for several seconds and grinned. Message received and understood.
The day wound up with a debate on the role of the media in the presidential and general elections. Sky's Adam Boulton and Newsnight's Martha Kearney defended their TV coverage staunchly, pointing out that Labour did all it could to prevent national media covering many events. Boulton was particularly scathing about the Prescott Express coach tour of the country, observing that the deputy PM didn't want to talk to the national reporters and insulted regional ones - a reference to Mr Prescott's instruction to a South Wales Argus journalist to "bugger off".
The internet was barely touched upon, with Boulton predicting that it would be many years before it influenced a general election. However, Dan Blaz of the Washington Post recalled Hillary Clinton's decision to use an email to her supporters rather than a press conference or article to set out her views on the war.
"Politicians are going to be very smart about getting on the internet," he said. "We've got to be very sharp to keep up with them."
