JUST as Tory leader William Hague pulls another surprise initiative out of his populist hat -- this time a £60million package of pledges to restore war widows' pensions to those who remarry, end mixed-sex hospital wards and extend breast cancer screening for older women -- Labour campaign chiefs are alarmed to find William on the comeback trail.

For Tony Blair's advisers report that Tory policies on crime, asylum-seekers and pensions really are collecting plus-points from the voters. Stand by for Labour's summer salvo -- in the form of a shower of money for "good news" projects.

At last we see British politics waking up from the country's long honeymoon with Tony -- and promising a real scrap as the next election gets nearer.