PoliticsHome has captured David Cameron’s description of Russia as a "dangerous bully". "We should be working with our European partners and making clear that what Russia has been doing and is doing is completely unacceptable. What Russia has done is use massive and disproportionate force. It is acting as a dangerous bully. I think there’s […]
Late on Saturday we noted William Hague’s response to the crisis in Georgia. It was, to say the least, cautious. Mr Hague’s intervention contrasts with much more robust statements from other world leaders. The presidents of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia issued a joint statement condemning ‘the naked aggression’ of Russia. John McCain endorsed that […]
"There is a very serious danger that these clashes could develop into a wider conflict between Russia and Georgia. It is vital for both countries to commit themselves to talks and cease fighting immediately."
With the prospect of a formal UUP-Conservative alliance the already strong chances of Lord Trimble, who joined the Conservative Party in April after having taken the Conservative whip in the Lords, getting a senior role in a Conservative Shadow Cabinet/Cabinet have been strengthened further. As an internationally recognised politician and Nobel Peace Prize winner with […]
William Hague spoke to members of the respected International Institute of Strategic Studies this afternoon on the subject of "preventing a new age of nuclear insecurity": "The certainties of the Cold War, when nuclear weapons were concentrated in the hands of a few and mutually-assured destruction prevailed, have been replaced by a far more unpredictable […]
On his blog yesterday Nick Robinson wondered if this website would cheer a forthcoming promise by Nick Clegg to cut the overall burden of taxation. It’s true that we’re supply-siders on tax. We side with the TaxPayers’ Alliance in our fear that it would be disastrous for UK plc if we raise taxes during a […]
Zimbabwe has hailed yesterday’s failure by the United Nations to agree the very limited sanctions against that had been sought by Britain and America. China and Russia used their Security Council vetoes to stop the arms embargo and travel ban that had seemed the minimum necessary response to the crimes of Mugabe. The UK Ambassador […]
PoliticsHome has got a copy of the frontpage of tomorrow’s Independent on Sunday (click to enlarge). It accuses Dominic Grieve and five other Tory MPs of making a profit from firms dealing with Mugabe’s regime. Cameron said in PMQs last week that: "Businesses and individuals that have dealings in Zimbabwe must examine their responsibilities and […]
At yesterday’s Annual Business Lunch of Conservative Friends of Israel, Daniel Finkelstein (The Times’ new Chief Leader Writer) interviewed two of the Conservative Party’s top three figures; Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague and Shadow Chancellor George Osborne. You can watch the Q&A in the videos below but here are some of the key points to […]
Conservative MP Stephen Crabb, Chairman of the Conservative Party’s Human Rights Commission, has criticised the Home Secretary for arguing that Iran is safe for "discreet" homosexuals: "Most fair-minded people will be appalled at the Home Secretary’s statement. The Iranian regime has a dreadful track-record when it comes to the treatment of homosexuals and other minority […]
Following the decision of the MDC to withdraw from Zimbabwe’s elections, William Hague has called for the international community to do five things: Withhold recognition of the Harare Government Widen EU sanctions on members of the regime, and enforcing them properly Debate Zimbabwe at the UN Security Council and calling for a UN Commission of […]
It’s very unusual for George W Bush to meet opposition leaders but America’s President did meet David Cameron for thirty minutes earlier today, during his London visit. That’s a good sign of (a) the White House’s awareness of the Conservative Party’s ascendancy and (b) Much improved Tory-GOP relations. William Hague, George Osborne and Pauline Neville-Jones […]
David Cameron will be making a big speech on foreign policy next week, on the fifth anniversary of 9/11. In today’s Telegraph Rachel Sylvester says that "he has done more work on this speech than any other he has made." Ms Sylvester’s important piece – which I have been able to verify – will apparently […]
The Guardian group of newspapers is becoming a favourite launchpad for Project Cameron’s policy makeovers. Margaret Thatcher’s apartheid policy was repudiated in last weekend’s Observer. The new hug-a-teacher approach to education was trailed exclusively in yesterday’s Guardian and today’s Guardian has an article from the Tory leader about Britain’s relationship with India. In the article, […]
The Financial Times and Times are reporting that one of the favourites to succeed George W Bush as US President has agreed "in principle" to address the Conservative Party Conference in October. Senator John McCain’s agreement gives David Cameron a big boost on the international stage and is, the FT reports, the result of sustained […]