Chris Gilson takes a look at the week in political blogging.

Weekend

Now that the new coalition government has settled down, interest turned to the coming Labour leadership race. Sunder Katwala at Next Left had short profiles of the two Millibands, who may be soon facing off against one another in the leadership contest; while David Herdson at politicalbetting.com thought that Harriet Harman might be the one to watch. Will Straw at Left Foot Forward intends to sit on the face in this debate.

Tim Montegomerie at ConservativeHome felt that Cameron’s aim now is to ‘prove’ that the Tories are not ‘two-headed-monsters’, to Scotland, ethnic minorities and to constituencies with large numbers dependent on state income. Iain Dale casts his eyes to history and reckons Thatcher would have done exactly what Cameron did if she had been confronted by the same situation in 1987, but Jeff at SNP Tactical Voting asks – who now represents Scotland?

Tim Montegomerie at ConservativeHome says ‘three cheers for the Liberal Democrats’, reporting their 69 per cent approval vote for the collation, while Alastair Campbell commented on Charles Kennedy’s abstention from the Lib Dem vote to approve the coalition agreement.

Monday

In the Labour leader race, Sunny H at Liberal Conspiracy supports Ed Milliband  – and says he must “get ruthless”. Hopi Sen looked at how Labour should be reacting in opposition now.

Peter Hoskin at Coffee House commented on George Osborne’s launch of the Office for Budget Responsibility today. Samira Shackle at The Staggers had an early in-depth look at Osborne’s press conference, while Guido has the text of an interesting note left by liam Byrne for David Laws. Paul Waugh at The Evening Standard blogged on the Labour Minister’s ‘fixed’ Treasury forecasts, and Jeff at SNP Tactical Voting is scathing of Labour’s attitude to spending towards the end of their term.

Adam Lent at Liberal Conspiracy discussed what he liked about the new coalition agreement, and what he didn’t like.

Shamik Das at Left Foot Forward says that Labour membership has shot up by 13,000 since polling day; mostly made up from Lib Dems dissatisfied with the coalition deal, later, on the same blog, Ed Jacobs looked at what David Cameron faces on his first visit to Northern Ireland

Iain Dale looked at Ming Campbell’s potential bid for the Speaker’s Chair.

Tuesday

In a more local focus, Dave Hill took a look at the ‘hung boroughs’ of London, and John Bernstein at The Staggers muses on a Boris Johnson/Alan Johnson 2010 London Mayoral race.

Jonathan Isaby at ConservativeHome says that MPs should wholeheartedly endorse Bercow as speaker today. Guido took a look at Ming Campbell’s possible bid.

Tim Montegomerie at ConservativeHome says the new government should look at reducing the number of SPADS, while Simon Clark at Taking Liberties blogged on the ‘Great Repeal Bill’ expected for the Queen’s Speech. Mary Riddell at The Telegraph discussed the new government’s plans to add over 100 new peers to the House of Lords in order to ensure the passage of their legislation. Daniel Hannan, writing at The Telegraph, said that AV was the worst possible voting system of them all.

Sunny H at Liberals Conspiracy is supporting Ed Balls for the Labour leadership, while Iain Dale is rather critical of the Labour leadership race, and Sunder Katwala at Next Left looked at the new Labour ‘Values’ campaign, a mass participation progressive movement.

Will Straw at Left Foot Forward said that over a 1/3 of voters made their voting decisions in the final week.

Wednesday

Peter Wrigley at Keynesian Liberal warned Nick Clegg to not get too cosy with the Conservatives, and Jonathan Isaby at ConservativeHome went through what Nick Clegg will say in a speech today – a large roll-back of state control over individuals, Peter Hoskin at Coffee House has more comment. Later, Nick Robinson calls Clegg’s speech ambitious. Anthony Barnett blogging at The Staggers has some coalition reflections after a week, and Andy White, of the Electoral Refom Society and guest blogging at Left Foot Forward, talked on the new politics of coalitions, and the possibilities of electoral reform.

Alex Barker at the FT blogged on the life of special advisers after the election, and what a come-down it is to no longer be one.

Jim Pickard blogging at the FT says that Ed Ball’s close links with Gordon Brown’s administration may well damage his chances in the Labour leadership contest.

Paul Goodman at ConservativeHome is lobbying for the replacement of the Human Rights Act, while Yo Zushi at The Staggers is concerned at Tory plans on what happens to people’s rights if they are accused of terrorism. Gary Gibbon at Snowblog looked at Cameron’s plans for reform of the 1922 Committee.

Thursday

Nick Robinson has some early comments on the Coalition agreement, the full version of which is published today, Jim Pickard at the FT has highlights. Jeff at SNP Tactical Voting is rather cynical about the new government’s ‘Freedom Bill’, and Phillip Stephens at the FT talked about possible coalition defence spending retrenchment.

Tim Montegomerie at ConservativeHome discussed George Osborne’s policy ambitions for the new government. Iain Dale is not happy that the majority of the Tory 1922 Committee have voted for change; Hopi Sen says that Cameron is right to want to change it, but is going about it in the wrong way.

Guido looks at Diane Abbott’s entry into the Labour leadership fray and Alice Miles at The Staggers says that her candidacy is very important for female representation, while Sunny H at Liberal Conspiracy called Andy Burnham’s leadership campaign launch ‘lame’.

Friday

Guido has found a good way of controlling the parliamentary expenses bureaucracy, and Mike Smithson at politicalbetting.com looks at what he thinks is the new, greater role of the civil service in the new coalition government.

Hopi Sen warns Labour that the Coalition agreement ‘might prove popular’, given its position, largely in the centre ground, but Marcus Roberts at Left Foot Forward is critical of the coalition’s ‘vague’ defence plans.

Mark Seddon at Tribune discusses how to rescue the Labour party, while Mark Pack says that there are now more winnable seats for the Lib Dems.