Lord Ashcroft: “There are more rainy days than sunny days.” My New Year focus groups.
People did not feel committed to their current party. The next election was, they hoped, a long way away, by which time much could have changed.
Introducing the Moggcast
From this week, ConservativeHome will run fortnightly a Podcast featuring one or other of the editors in conversation with Jacob-Rees Mogg.
Remainers are ready to lord it over us
Fairly or unfairly, the pro-EU cause is already associated with elites. The arrival of the Withdrawal Bill in the Upper House will do nothing to diminish that impression.
George Maggs: How to reform the NHS. It needs independence. Hypothecated funds. And a constitution.
People will not accept any arrangement that isn’t funded through the tax system and free at the point of use. So we have to find a way of making the current model work.
De Bois offers a witty account of how not to hold Enfield North
His memoir describes the travails of a non-Cameroon during the Coalition and under Conservative majority government.
John Glen: Our ban on credit and debit card surcharging comes in today
The crucial point is that consumers will be fully informed of how much something will cost before they get to the very end of the checkout process.
Sir Nigel Farage, prince of self-indulgence, would like your attention
The man who rose to prominence through a ruthless pursuit of what worked has now descended into just saying whatever makes him feel important.
Iain Dale: This reshuffle could have promoted and prioritised housing. But all we got was a name change.
Plus: The mystery of the missing Kwasi Kwarteng. The presence of the ebullient Brandon Lewis. The absence and recovery of Nick de Bois. Plus: Capita’s failures.
Peter Franklin: Ruling political tribes 2) The Conservatives. Gove is now in a position to emerge as kingmaker – or, just maybe, as King.
But unless his fully-developed vision of the future can capture heart-and-minds, I’d expect control of the party to stay with the mainstream.
Higher and technical education. No young person left beHinds, er, behind.
Yes, we need a resource shift to technical education. But the loss of the Tory majority last June will make it very slow going.
Garvan Walshe: The protests in Iran show the regime is running out of time
A combination of repression and culture war sustained the current system in recent years. But the effectiveness of that approach is wearing off.
Peter Franklin: Ruling political tribes 1) Labour. How the Left came in from the wilderness and drove the Blairites out.
Since I last surveyed the political landscape in 2013 and 2014, some ruling tribes have been cast down, and some formerly lost tribes have risen to rule.
The worst-handled reshuffle in recent history – perhaps ever
Mind you, the substance of it was a lot better than the style (though that wasn’t hard). The lesson May will surely draw is not to have another big upheaval.
Profile: Damian Hinds – liberal Catholic, social mobility wonk, and new Education Secretary
it is quite conceivable that the Left of the party, casting around for a leadership contest standard bearer, will decide that he fits the bill.
Priti Patel: Priorities for the new Party Chairman. He should prepare the way for Tory members to elect his successor.
There is no other Party for people who believe in our country, welcome freedom, value meritocracy, and want to live in a society where hard work is rewarded.