I called recently for the Cabinet to tell Johnson that the game is up, and Dowden’s resignation is the closest that any of them have got.
The Party Chairman responsible for fund-raising is playing for higher stakes than he may appreciate.
His capacity to win some of his severest critics round, and persuade them of his “greatness of soul”, helps explain his success.
This Johnson ally, who runs the party on the PM’s behalf, has two modes, charming and angry, and is a more serious figure than he looks.
With Lynton Crosby, Andrew Feldman, Ben Houchen and Amber Rudd – on June 18, livestreamed on this site.
Well, it’s been quite a week, hasn’t it?
It is possible that the Party may end this new year in a weaker position than before the 2015 election if CCHQ doesn’t act quickly.
Lord Woolton (pictured right) was the greatest-ever, rebuilding the Conservatives after the war. But here are my favourite five.
Either we widen the membership of political parties and change the way they are funded, or the next stop will be a UK-style Donald Trump.
The former pit worker is the man to make the Conservatives a true One Nation party.
If we are to be a truly national Party, we must have in place a structure which enables us to hear, absorb and reflect the views of the entire United Kingdom.
To continue to succeed, we must restore not only mass membership but mass activism.
Yet even if their concerns don’t ultimately lead to them backing someone else, these shouldn’t simply be dismissed as having no consequences.