Why Cameron Is Centering on Public Disquiet About Politicians

There's a must-read post on Guido this morning on the reasons for David Cameron's selection of topics for PMQs yesterday. He concludes: "Cameron is going to try to run as the change candidate who stands against the shadowy, sleazy old ways of Westminster".

Extra Money Does Not Necessarily Buy a Better NHS

Whoever negotiated the GP Contract on behalf of the Department of Health should never be allowed near a negotiation again, but knowing this government, the self same person was probably also responsible for negotiating the famous 'red lines' in Lisbon.

I begrudge no one a fair return for their work, but a 60 per cent rise in pay for seeing 40 per cent fewer patients is not something that is defensible. This applies to GP partners, some of whom now earn £250k per annum. Salaried GPs are on £74k, while the average for partner GPs is £113,000.

The problem is not that people begrudge GPs a high level of pay, it is that they see the service they are getting deteriorate, with surgeries closing more often in the evenings and weekends. The government says it is addressing this but it is a problem of their own making.

I was astonished to read in today's Times that Andrew Lansley is promising to outdo Labour in spending on the NHS. He says that spending will rise from 9 per cent of GDP to 11 per cent. Assuming an annual average growth rate in the economy of two per cent, that extra sum is quite staggering. Health Service inflation has always been higher than in the rest of the economy, but even so, for an opposition spokesman to commit to such an increase is, shall we say, 'surprising' to put it mildly.

Such a commitment cannot possibly have been made without the agreement of Philip Hammond and George Osborne. Putting aside my strong view that the Tories should be slashing the overall level of public spending, this really does underline to NHS professionals that the Conservatives are determined to put the NHS at the forefront of their election appeal. I just wish it didn't have to be the case that to do that they have to dangle billions of extra money in front of people. It shouldn't always just be about money and a spending war with Labour. Competence, radical reform and efficiency are far more important.

Tories Launch Massive 'Friendship' Campaign

The Conservatives are launching a huge advertising campaign tonight aimed at not only increasing membership, but attracting so-called "Friends of the Conservatives". And no, it's not a Dorothy-like euphemism. At least, I don't think it is! The campaign's slogan is a slightly suvggestive YOU CAN GET IT IF YOU REALLY WANT IT. Frankie Howerd would be proud. Seriously, it's based on the song by Jimmy Cliff, which has been incorporated into a new video which has been launched on Facebook tonight by the Party. It's a great page with lots of widgets and downloads.


It has long been a mystery to me why British political parties have been so lax in emulating their American counterparts in using the internet to register supporters and raise money. If donation limits really are going to be imposed it's the only way political parties will be able to survive. Barack Obama's campaign has raised tens of millions of dollars with an average donation of £55.

The great thing about the Tory campaign is that it is hugely positive in outlook - strong on aspiration, with a tone which will hopefully attract the support of those in the 25-55 age group.


I'd love to show you the video here, but there's no embed code on it. Doh!

ConservativeHome's thoughts are HERE.

The Daley Dozen: Wednesday

1. Jon Craig is not a fan of the 'toothless' Sir Christopher Kelly.
2. Cranmer asks what would happen if the BNP endorsed David Cameron.
3. Ben Brogan says the Commons authorities should have left the protesters on the roof and left them to see how they like it! He also now promises to campaign for a third runway!
4. Bob Piper wishes to continue to enjoy the freedom of touching his genitals in public.
5. Cassilis laments the 'classist' approach of both sides of the political divide.
6. Devil's Kitchen enters battle with Labour MP Keith Hill.
7. Donal Blaney has some suggestions about what to do with the protesters at the Commons. Releasing them is not one of them.
8. Vicky Ford relates her experience of the I WANT A REFERENDUM protest.
9. John Redwood calls the LibDems 'silly stunts'. At least, I think that's what he said.
10. Kerron Cross on why David C Davies was Top Cat today.
11. How the earth moved for Mrs Tory Radio.
12. Stephen Pollard on the Archibshop of La-La Land, who's "at it again".

Hillary Fails to Land a Blow

I've just watched the whole Clinton-Obama debate screened last night from Ohio. Most pundits called it a score draw. I don't. I call it a win for Obama. Hillary Clinton needed a big win and she failed to get it - hence it is a victory for Obama. I actually thought she copped by far the toughest questioning, but her pleading for sympathy seemed inappropriate and phoney. The only area she came across as more knowledgeable was foreign policy, but few Americans vote on that issue alone. Obama failed to rise to her bait on a number of occasions and came across as sincere, polite and informed. Hillary was shrill, defensive and a little nasty.

Clinton is still ahead in the Ohio polls, but only by four or five points. Obama leads in Texas, but very narrowly. If Obama wins both states next Tuesday we'll see how magnanimous Hillary can be in defeat, or whether she intends to prolong her agony all the way to the convention in Denver.

Westminster Will Miss Peter Murphy

Just a word about a veteran journalist who retired from his job today. Peter Murphy has been the voice of IRN at Westminster for more years than he probably cares to remember. I doubt whether there's a single person who reads this blog who hasn't heard one of his reports on an independent radio station. He's a journalist of the old school - one who believes in reporting what happened, rather than editorialising about what may or may not have been meant by it. Westminster will miss him and wish him a happy retirement.

Peter will be on Sky News PMQs at 8.30pm with The Observer's Gaby Hinsliff. Any my colleague Shane Greer will be reviewing the papers on Sky tonight at 11.30pm.

William F Buckley Jr: 1925-2008

One of the world's most important Conservative thinkers, and founder of NATIONAL REVIEW magazine died today. William F Buckley Jnr passed away during the night according to the National Review Corner blog. They are carrying some very moving tributes. Here are a couple...

His accomplishments were almost incalculable. As George Will once said, "before there was Ronald Reagan there was Barry Goldwater, before there was Goldwater there was National Review, and before there was National Review there was William F. Buckley." As conservatives — and as Americans — we are all standing on his shoulders.

He's probably the most gracious man I've known. He is of course a legend on the Right, and legends can be intimidating. The first time we met, my agenda was simply to avoid saying anything dumb in his presence. Yet he instantly sought to put me at ease. He asked what I was writing about and seemed genuinely curious to know. He listened to me, rather than the other way around. To my surprise, I was comfortable around him—because he had a special ability for making folks like me feel that way.

You can send your own tributes to rememberingbill@nationalreview.com

Let me Introduce You to President Barack Santos

Where truth and fiction meet... This video looks at the similarities between fictional West Wing presidential candidate Matt Santos, and Barack Obama. Or is it the other way round?

Dale in "Brown Wins PMQs Shocker"

I have to be honest and say that this week's PMQs was not David Cameron's finest hour. If I was scoring it for Sky News I would give Brown 4, Cameron 3 and Clegg 4. I can't really understand the logic of Cameron asking about internal House of Commons issues when there are far more important things to talk about. He did raise the question of an the EU Treaty referendum in his fourth question, but it came across almost as an aside. His final point about a TV debate with the PM was well made and made the PM look uncomfortable. Gordon Brown looked at ease throughout the earlier line of questioning and although he did his usual thing of turning the question back on Cameron on two occasions he came across as rather more fluent than usual. He also made quite a funny barb at LibDem Nick Clegg leader saying: It's nice to see the Rt Hon Gentleman back. Perhaps he will stay long enough to hear the answers". Clegg's response was good - especially as it appeared to annoy the Speaker - and his subject of questioning (mental health) was one which gets too little coverage.

UPDATE 6.22pm: The response in the comments have been interesting, and reflects what Iain Martin has said on Three Line Whip...
Did it work for the Tories? A Westminster insider would answer no. I suspect, however, that if it was shown to a focus group of civilians they would understand it much more easily.
That has caused me to pause for thought. I still think it wasn't one of David Cameron's better days but maybe my judgement on his choice of subject is indeed influenced by the thought that a "Westminster village" subject wouldn't resonate 'out there'. So far, it would seem, I was wrong.

A Tale of Two Protests

As I type this, Sky News have decided to pause their coverage of the protests on the roof of the Houses of Parliament. They have had an avalanche of emails from viewers who say that the media are playing into the protesters' hands. BBC News 24 has also stopped. A couple of months ago listeners persuaded Radio 5 Live to halt a phone in hour on a subject which for the moment I can't remember. Even a few years ago, this would not have been possible. I sometimes tire of presenters constantly imploring viewers or listeners to "send us your views", but on these occasions, people can exhibit real power and cause programme editors to really think about the extent of the coverage they give to incidents like this.

Of course, today will be a day of contrasts. The I WANT A REFERENDUM campaign has a mass lobby of Parliament. Will this get the same amount of media coverage if the protesters obey the law? I doubt it very much.

The Pre-Planned LibDem Stunt That Went Wrong

The charade of Ed Davey getting angry was not as spontaneous as LibDems are suggesting. Indeed, it's quite hilarious that despite hours of preplanning, their "spontaneous protest" went off with all the fizz of a wet firework.

I am told that the LibDems had planned for not only Ed Davey to provoke the Deputy Speaker into ejecting him, but Julia Goldsworthy and Norman Baker were all set for martyrdom too. Sadly, though, they couldn't get frenzied enough and merely joined a few of their colleagues in stomping out in a "well that'll show 'em" fit of pique. Several other LibDem MPs stayed rooted to their seats as they failed to react to a whips pager message ordering them to spontaneously scarper.

In the end they all managed to make total prats of themselves. It comes to something when despite hours of planning, the brewery piss-up was still totally disorganised. Whelk stall, anyone?

Caption Competition: What is Nick Clegg Thinking?

LibDem Foreign Affairs Spokesman Ed Davey was ordered out of the Commons Chamber after the Deputy Speaker ruled that a LibDem Amendment to the Lisbon Treaty Ratification Bill would not be called. It sought a referendum on EU membership. Davey reacted with anger and after he repeatedly argued with the Deputy Speaker's ruling he was ordered out of the chamber. Several LibDem MPs upped sticks and followed him. Truly a pathetic sight. I could never understand why Nick Clegg didn't junk this ridiculous policy when he had the chance to, and instead commit his party to sticking by its manifesto pledge of a referendum on the EU Treaty itself. Anyway, see if you can come up with a suitable caption for what Nick Clegg is thinking in the above photo. Photo credit: BBC.

Poll Results: What You Think of Michael Martin

A couple of days ago I asked you to take part in an online poll on the Speakership of the House of Commons. Here are the results...

How do you rate the performance of Michael Martin as Speaker?

Excellent 2%
Good 4%
Adequate 11%
Poor 33%
Dreadful 49%

Do you think it is now time for Michael Martin to step down as Speaker?

Yes 91%
No 9%

Who would you like to see elected as the new Speaker of the House of Commons, should a vacancy arise?

Sir Alan Haselhurst 22.6%
Sir George Young 18.8%
Sir Menzies Campbell 12%
Frank Field 11.3%
Vince Cable 9.5%
Kenneth Clarke 9%
Alan Beith 4.1%
Michael Ancram 3.5%
Sir Patrick Cormack 3.4%
John Bercow 2.5%
Sylvia Heal 2.2%
Sir Michael Lord 1.1%

Who do you rate as the best Speaker of the last 30 years?

Betty Boothroyd 49%
Bernard Weatherill 32%
George Thomas 18%
Michael Martin 1%

1,122 people took part in this poll. Note that 46% of the respondents were not Conservative voters.

Wanted: Foreign Correspondents for TOTAL POLITICS

TOTAL POLITICS, the magazine I am launching in June is looking for correspondents in Brussels, Australia, Berlin, Paris, Rome, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. We'd be looking for occasional freelance features on elections and political campaigning developments in each country or region, with the possibility of interviews and commissioned profiles. We already have a correspondent in Washington, and hopefully Moscow and New Zealand. If you are interested, or know someone who is, please send me an email.

To sign up for Email alerts or to ask a question about TOTAL POLITICS, click HERE.

Brown 'Reheats' Neighbourhood Police Announcement

The government spin machine went into overdrive yesterday with the announcement of a "new" neighbourhood policing plan. All the TV and newspaper outlets lapped it up. Only it wasn't new at all. It is part of a government programme which has been rolled out since 2005, when it was first announced. These new neighbourhhod police teams are already inexistence (eg HERE). Why does the media always going along with these 'reheated' announcements?

Portillo Documentary Was a Hit

The Portillo documentary on BBC 4 last night was a gripping 90 minutes of political TV. As regulars know, I'm no great fan of Mr P, but this programme was superb. I think he may have found his niche. Like several of his other TV documentaries he imposed himself on the narrative, and again, it worked. He sought to explain the Thatcherite legacy on the Conservative Party and did it very well. His main theory was that the Party had still to recover from the way Margaret Thatcher was overthrown and that David Cameron is the first leader to look as if he can administer the necessary medicine. His star witnesses all seemed to agree with at least the first part of thatr sentence.

The star of the whole programme was Michael Howard. His cameo appearances showed a self knowledge and analysis of his own limitations which was gripping to watch. He knew the party had to change but knew that his own personality would not let him introduce some of the measures needed to do it.

There were one or two factual howlers - David Mellor was never in Margaret Thatcher's cabinet, for instance - but overall the programme demonstrated how this genre of documentary can work. I'm not sure what appeal it will have had outside the political classes, but they deserve to be catered for too.

As a footnote, it was also interesting that Portillo admitted that his candid interview with William Hague was the first time the two men had spoken since 2001.

You can watch the programme HERE (until 3 March)

Are the Tories Becoming a National Party Again?

The ComRes poll in today's Independent is of interest for two reasons. It gives the Conservatives an 11 point lead (41-30), the largest ever in a ComRes poll. But more importantly it shows the Tories ahead in every region of England for the first time. Even the North East seems now to be warming to the Cameron message. This may be incredibly significant if it proves to be a longer term trend rather than a one off flash in the pan. However, Scotland still seems impervious to David Cameron's charms.

Brown Blows Death Penalty Dog Whistle

A typical bit of Gordon Brown sleight of hand in The Sun today on the Death Penalty debate. Apparently "he was moved to speak out after more than 100,000 Sun readers backed the return of capital punishment. Translation: Sun journalist rings Number Ten Press Office desperate for quote on orders of editor.

Here's what Gordon Brown's (Press Officer) said: "Over the last 40 years, Parliament has decided that it is not the best way forward. But that is not to underestimate the feelings that people have - and particularly loved ones, when the worst crimes have been inflicted."

That would be why his government is letting murder suspects out on bail then....

Translated, that quote says: "I can't actually tell Sun readers I'm really against the death penalty because a) it doesn't fit with their story and b) they'd want to lynch me." It's such a clever formulation of words you just know they didn't spontaneously emerge from the lips of the Prime Minister. Well done to the press officer who no doubt spent half an hour carefully honing them. Well done indeed

Nanny Knows Best

A reader emails...

Iain

Is it me? My 10 year old daughter goes to xxxx Primary School in xxxxx, West Sussex, and has taken a balanced lunch box to school since she was 4 years old - she tends to have a chicken sandwich, yoghurt, baked (low fat) crisps, apple or banana and a chocolate bar (usually a Penguin). I now read on the school newsletter, "I am writing to remind you that we do NOT permit sweets or chocolate bars in your children's lunch boxes."

My daughter is a fit child who is absolutely the correct weight for her height. What the hell gives the school the right to demand what goes in our child's lunch box?

Of course, they ripped the kitchens out of this school years ago.

If I were that parent I'd be furious. If the school cannot provide lunch for its pupils it certainly has no place to dictate what parents give their children to eat in the packed lunches. The culture of the Nanny State in our schools is very much alive and kicking.

The Daley Dozen: Monday

1. Don't mess with Jon Craig. I'm telling you!
2. Luke Akehurst answers 20 questions from Paul Burgin.
3. Norfolk Blogger has (another) go at Nick Clegg over the EU referendum.
4. Ellee Seymour on the flaws of another government PR initiative.
5. Paul Canning accuses Jacqui Smith of complicity to murder.
6. Donal Blaney on Hillary's nasty side. I'm sure Harriet Harman would approve.
7. Ben Brogan reckons Sarkozy is turning into Le Prezza.
8. Vicky Ford enjoys a day out in, er, Luton.
9. Burning our Money on why state teachers send their own kids private.
10. Cassilis on why Hillary needs to discover humility. Fast.
11. Nadine Dorries likes someone who delivers on a promise.
12. Shane Greer welcomes a right wing BBC programme.