By Matthew BarrettFollow Matthew on Twitter. David Ruffley MP, a senior Conservative member of the Treasury Select Committee, and a former special advisor to Ken Clarke during his time as Chancellor, has called on the government to introduce short-term growth measures to stimulate the economy. The Conservative Chairman of the Treasury Select Committee, Andrew Tyrie, also […]
By Paul GoodmanFollow Paul on Twitter. A key question for modern political leaderships is: what role do you want party members to play? How important to you is regular contact with them? Do you want them to have a role in policy-making? Above all, perhaps: is your conversation with them one way only or two-way: […]
By Paul GoodmanFollow Paul on Twitter The Daily Mail and The Times lead with George Osborne's declaration today that the Government will make more than £800million available to help local authorities avoid council tax rises. The Mail says: The freeze will save the average family £72 next year, on top of another £72 saved from […]
By Harry PhibbsFollow Harry on Twitter. Baroness Warsi had one of the first speeches to deliver to the Party Conference in Manchester and also one of the most difficult. There has been plenty of criticism that she been too low profile, too deferential towards the coalition to champion the Conservative Party's interest. On the other […]
I know well that the phrase "Liverpudlian Conservative" has practically been an oxymoron in recent decades so please indulge me for a moment as I try to explain how that is changing… Like in other cities the Conservative Associations in the city amalgamated last year, coming under the impartial chairmanship of Mike Howarth. Liverpudlian Nadine […]
A few observations on the week that was. Thanks Gordon – you brought the Conservatives together If one photo summarises the week it is this image. It was taken by a ConservativeHome reader who was one of the very few real activists to attend a fringe meeting on grammar schools. In different circumstances grassroot members […]
(10) In tenth position in my top ten of the week is Caroline Spelman. I’ve been going to Party Conference since 1989 and I’ve never known a Party Chairman to have been more anonymous. Perhaps Mrs Spelman’s behind-the-scenes efforts should be credited for the overall success of the Conference but the leadership wisely had to […]
This week Blackpool saw the Party-organised renovation of some wasteland on the Grange Park Estate into a community garden. David Cameron (pictured in the domed greenhouse with PPC Ron Bell and landscape designer Jeff Hewitt on big speech day) took time to visit the project, as did Francis Maude (who got sprayed with water by […]
David Cameron’s speech was the main story. A very fair and factual five minutes was dedicated to clips of the speech. There was then a two/ three minute report on whether electoral offices were ready for an election. BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson then gave a sixty second summary to camera. He told BBC1 viewers […]
Guido Fawkes: "Well the audience, as ever, loved Dave. Guido was watching the press pack and some of Cameron’s apparatchiks. The press seemed if not bedazzled, not unimpressed. Team Cameron seemed happy, tension that was in their faces at the start of the speech dissolved into satisfied smiles by the end." Iain Dale: "I leave […]
5.30pm: Download a PDF of the full David Cameron text Not verbatim… 3.24pm final words: CALL THAT ELECTION.WE WILL FIGHT.BRITAIN WILL WIN. 3.23pm: Massive cheers at call for Gordon Brown to call a General Election. 3.21pm: The great service that people can give this country is to go out and fight for change. 3.19pm: […]
(1) One by-product of Gordon Brown’s constant politicking is the galvanising effect he has had on the Conservative Party. Faced with the imminent threat of a General Election the party has come together. We’ve also unveiled a whole series of popular policies. Reports of the Conservative Party’s death are exaggerated. (2) David Davis will be […]
(1) The mood here is much improved. Yesterday’s tax cut pledges from George Osborne have given Conservatives something very real to fight for on the doorsteps. Fraser Nelson sort of agrees but concludes: "The Tories are doomed, but very upbeat about it." An autumn election is going to be very tough but at least the […]
There are lots of good policy announcements being made here in Blackpool. The rebalancing that ConservativeHome has long sought is happening. There’s an almost universal hunger for unity. I’m impressed with the quality of the candidates that will be our standard-bearers in target seats. But The Sun is rightly waiting for David Cameron’s speech – […]
(1) The Conference did not start well. There were significant sound problems but the video wall is terrific. Pictured above is NY Mayor Michael Bloomberg when he addressed the Winter Gardens this afternoon. The Spectator’s James Forsyth interpreted the Bloomberg invite as potentially offensive to our Republican allies across the pond. I disagree. It’s good […]