But the Conservatives need fundamental change.
As it happens, I live only a few hundred yards from his house.
The fundamental difference between us is that Labour seek to help people in poverty; the Conservatives seek to help people out of poverty.
To attain success in the forthcoming European renegotiation we shall need allies, and to fall out with them on a second-order question would be perverse.
Disenchantment hasn’t risen – rather, Nigel Farage has simply gathered it in one party.
From the moment of his defection, UKIP’s MP has found his new party putting him in awkward positions.
Conservatives should build alliances by extending freedoms for all and encouraging greater respect for the choices people make.
Also: Miliband plays with Farage and plays with fire. The unGreen BBC. Jonathan Jones is a twat. Two new Biteback books. Plus: Guido’s Iranian payments to friends of Israel.
Neither man saw anything to be gained from expressing a more generous patriotism. Nick Clegg looked desperate, but Michael Gove seemed perky.
The text of my speech from yesterday evening’s debate on the future of the centre-right with Matthew Parris.
Gove, May, IDS, Grayling, Maude. Unlike the minnows of Labour and UKIP, these are serious people delivering serious change for serious times.
I think the future could be bright – but we need to go to them, since they won’t come to us.
Oh dear.
On that basis, nine of the eleven seats that I polled would fall to Miliband’s party at the next election. Though, as always, this is a snapshot, not a prediction.
Clive Stafford Smith, the human rights lawyer and winner of last year’s Contrarian Prize, is a model of principle and vision. We invite nominations for his successor.