Two opinion polls have shown a modest bounce for the Conservatives from our Party conference. Yesterday’s ICM survey and today’s YouGov poll for The Telegraph. A headline lead of 14% would produce a Conservative majority of over 100. We still would prefer to wait a fortnight to see the underlying state of public opinion. By […]
Private Eye’s Rotten Boroughs column details failed projects of the Derwent New Deal for Communities, in Derby. The NDC there spent £366,000 buying and refurbishing a pub called the Blue Boy. The pub made huge losses and the scheme has now been abandoned. I would be interested to hear about NDC projects in your areas. […]
Syed Kamall is one of the Conservative MEPs for London. Recognising his government’s desperate situation, Gordon Brown has decided he needs someone in his Government with the similar political skills to Labour’s last election winner Tony Blair. But Peter Mandelson is a totally different character to Blair – and more flawed. Mr Brown’s decision to […]
In the sixth of eight reflections on Tory Conference week Tim Montgomerie notes the rise and rise of Boris Johnson. The previous entry in this series examined the fact that Conference has "gone corporate". The week began with the publication of ConHome’s survey of Tory members. The poll found that Boris Johnson enjoyed higher satisfaction […]
ICM/ Guardian: Conservatives 42% (+1%), Labour 30% (-2%), LibDems 17% (-1%). More soon. 6pm:
Cllr Merrick Cockell, leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council and Chairman of London Councils, on the own goal by Labour and Lib Dem Councils insisting on Council Tax hikes – despite George Osbourne’s very generous offer. I have been closely involved in development of this policy as CCA chairman. I was amazed to see the […]
This statement from the Shadow Foreign Secretary has just been issued by CCHQ: “Today’s reshuffle demonstrates a stunning failure of judgement by Gordon Brown. In bringing back Peter Mandelson – the man who created Labour spin – he has broken his promise to govern in an honest and open way. You can only conclude that […]
Here are the results from the Council byelections held yesterday. For what its worth an analysis of the swing in comparable results would indicate a Tory lead nationally of 14%. Congratulations to those elected. Please use comments to let us know your thoughts – particularly if involved in any of these campaigns. Braintree District – […]
David Cameron may have wanted to avoid a reshuffle but Gordon Brown’s decision to create a new Department of Energy and Climate Change (see CentreRight thread) will force the Conservative leader to reshuffle his pack. Ed Miliband’s new Department takes energy and the environment from two other portfolios. Will David Cameron put current Environment and […]
7.15pm Peter Cuthbertson on CentreRight: Why the left ignores all data on the fatherless family 6.15pm WATCH: ‘It’s all hands on deck’ says Peter Mandelson on his return to Cabinet 6pm ToryDiary: Boris is really beginning to deliver 4.45pm Mark Field MP on CentreRight: Let’s avoid a second Cold War with Russia 4pm ToryDiary: Modest […]
This is the fifth of eight reflections on the Tory conference written by Tim Montgomerie, Editor of ConservativeHome. The previous ‘Birmingham takeway’ identified ‘three vote moving policies‘. Nadine Dorries MP got it right earlier this week: "Birmingham is full of twenty something earnest young men in black suits with iphones growing out of their ears. […]
Gavin Lockhart is Head of the Crime and Justice Unit at Policy Exchange. The think-tank has covered police reform in a range of its reports including Manifesto for the Met, Footing the Bill and Fitting the Bill. Policy Exchange published Million Vote Mandate in conjunction with Localis earlier this year. Despite a fall in some […]
One of the most impressive Conservative gains in the local elections last May was in Southampton, where the Conservatives were swept to power on a radical programme. Here the Council leader Cllr Alec Samuels outlines what is happening there. We are pledged never to impose a council tax above inflation, and preferably lower. We do […]
Remember last year’s..? PS I was a bit ambitious to promise eight conclusion posts today (I’ll do the other four tomorrow!).
Pyers Symon graduated in biochemistry from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth but now works in IT as a Unix systems specialist. He is married with three teenage children. One of the saddest aspects of the recent debate on CentreRight.com over Creationism, is the lack of understanding of the scientific method – and the philosophy behind […]