Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Back on the Media
Just done a couple of TV interviews on the ITV News Channel and Sky News on what's happening in the Conservative Party and also whether MPs should have outside interests. I made the point that we said we would have a Timetable for Action in government, yet Michael Howard has failed to set out a Timetable for a leadership election. Just when we should be at Labour's throats we have all sorts of people setting out their stalls for a leadership contest. Some of their ideas are quite interesting and John Bercow's article in the Indy this morning will certainly have set a few pulses racing. If he plays it right, John could play a leading role over the next few years. I've known him for close on two decades and it's fair to say that he has changed quite a lot over the last couple of years. He's a great speaker and has an interesting mind but he needs to direct it properly now to the good of the Party generally. It's interesting that although he is seen as a 'moderniser', he seems very antagonistic towards the so-called Notting Hill set. In a sense we're all modernisers now. David Davis's campaign slogan in 2001 was Modern Conservatives. Ahead of his time, perhaps?
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9 comments:
"Modernizer", as used in the context of the Tories at the moment, seems to mean "Someone who wants to do things their way".
Fair comment, or not?
I think it probably is fair comment. To me, the word should mean someone who wants to change the Party to reflect Britain as it is today, not to hark back to some golden age that never was. This means adapting our policies and having the breadth of vision to attract a much wider range of people into the Party. We need to have a dog whistle that is heard by more people than just our core supporters.
Any thoughts on the reshuffle? For what it is worth I do not understand why Howard is having a big reshuffle when he is about to leave. He seems to be making a mess of leaving and is playing silly beggars to try to influence the result of the leadership contest. He should just go quietly like Major and Hague.
I'm just digesting it. Will post something later. I have gulped at one or two appointments I must admit. But there are some clever ones there too. More later.
Very interesting Shadow Cabinet make up. Francis Maude back in as party chairman could lead to some interesting reforms. Cant wait to see Osbourbe at the dispatch box, and then David retaining the Shadow Home Secretary's position which should lead to some great battles between him and Clarke. Top marks for boldness for appointing Osbourne as Shadow Chancellor. Any comments from Labour "friends" which you have spoken to?
Its all rather sad to watch, the Conservative Party I mean, at its introspective best, scurrying to and fro, trying to give gravitas to yesterdays ideas and some of yesterdays men and a few women. When will they learn the political ground has shifted, and they are shadows, spectres of Lord Ashcroft's money?
Iain - out of the many personalities you brought to Norfolk David Cameron was the business. For me David Davies was a dead loss and I have to say, arrogant (prap's that's what's needed to take Blair on)- no, I think we should all encourage DAVID CAMERON
Iain - Do you know who's going to shadow Yvette Cooper?
Chris, I don't agree with you on DD. Cameron is a major player but not ready for the leadership IMHO. Yvette Cooper's shadow will be confirmed tomorrow.
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