By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter With the exception of "the grand bargain" and the idea of a Bruges-sized EU speech today's 'Rebooting series' has been focused on the mechanics of governing, especially personnel matters. Let me end, however, by returning to the big picture from which every thing else flows. The biggest barrier between the […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter The daily newslinks are the bread and potatoes of ConHome. Every morning that I'm on duty I start looking at the papers from about 5.30am. One of the big things that has been noticeable in recent weeks is a further deterioration in how the Big Four centre right newspapers* are […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter The Conservative Party should be relaunched as the Conservative Alliance. Conservative HQ should see itself more like the Republican National Committee in the US, as the central facilitator of other groups rather than the thing itself. The Conservative Alliance would include networks of small business groups, campaigning local websites, and […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter This is the most rebellious parliament on record for such a young government. This is far from being all the fault of Team Cameron. Last week I described the rise of the "supercharged backbencher" and listed the many factors that explained why we are seeing a much more independent parliamentary […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter Would it be sensible if once a month or once a quarter the bigger beasts in the Conservative Party met together to discuss the progress of the Coalition, new policy ideas and entertained interesting and innovative guest speakers? Membership could include the Prime Minister, Chancellor, Party Chairman, Chairman and representatives […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter Traditionally the Chairman has been one of the most important jobs in the Conservative Party. The Chairman connects the party in the country to the parliamentary party and leadership. The Chairman informs the leader of the party's mood. The Chairman appears on the likes of the Today programme and Newsnight […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter In the previous blogpost I looked at the need for a more balanced Tory frontbench. The Prime Minister also needs a more balanced team at Number 10 Downing Street. Within his inner circle we have Ed Llewellyn, a chief of staff who is very committed to the European project. There's […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter This is what I write in this morning's Times (£): "David Cameron has never tried party management, preferring party control. He has acted as a presidential Il Duce rather than as a prime ministerial first among equals. He has marginalised alternative voices — stuffing the front bench, his No 10 […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter Until recently the team around the Prime Minister doubted the strength and urgency of sceptical feeling inside the Conservative Party. This wasn’t just to do with the Liberal Democrats. In opposition the Implementation Unit under Francis Maude was specifically forbidden from examining EU reform. Hague regarded Europe as an unexploded […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter Like John Major’s government this government is doing very good things. Michael Gove’s school reforms could be as significant as Michael Howard’s prison reforms. Iain Duncan Smith’s welfare reforms are set to be more far-reaching than Peter Lilley’s social security reforms. Eric Pickles’ localism bill will be as big as […]