It is a very large olive branch indeed for the Right of the Party – which he needs to keep onside for his EU renegotiation plans.
Today’s ECR decision is a stark reminder of the gap that separates the Christian Democrat and Conservative visions of Europe.
The failure of Yvette Cooper and Tristram Hunt in the Commons yesterday was a symptom of a bigger Opposition problem.
She saw them off. The Prime Minister must do the same today – but that means getting his personnel and policy into better shape.
As a former Home Office SpAD himself, the Prime Minister is preoccupied by their loyalty to the Government as a whole.
A lesson of Newark is just how deep-set that last one is among voters.
The brouhaha that disrupted Queen’s Speech Day had more to do with personality than policy – as so often is the case.
He brings to this book what he brings to politics: an unwavering sense of perception and authority.
Can there be any other explanation for the Home Secretary’s sweeping advance than her recent speech to the Police Federation?
The more many party members see of Nigel Farage’s party, the less they like it – let alone want a deal with it.
He knows how the European institutions work. Downing Street and Tory MPs know him. His Euro-sceptic views are deeply-felt and real. Nobody does it better.
Affordability Commission…More garden cities…Get under-25s off JSA…Provide incentives to save for poorer people…an English Parliament & Executive…
Lowest swing to Labour? Morecambe & Lunesdale? Highest UKIP total? Walsall North. Best LibDem performance? Hampstead and Highgate (still).
It’s also a reminder of why there is no alternative to an orderly, gradual break-up of the Coalition during the run-up to next May