By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter There are good reasons why some Conservatives see Theresa May as Britain's Angela Merkel I'm not going to comment on the hype about "TM4PM" – as Twitter knows it. I've already made it clear my view that Cameron is not going to be replaced as Tory leader and shouldn't […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter THE PERSISTENCE OF THE LIBERAL DEMOCRAT VOTE IN EASTLEIGH WILL WORRY TORY STRATEGISTS BUT MORE WORRYING IS THE THREAT FROM NIGEL FARAGE'S POPULIST, ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT UKIP. THE PRIME MINISTER CAN NO LONGER TAKE THE UNITY OF THE TORY VOTE FOR GRANTED. We have the usual simplistic debate taking place on […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter In my Times column (£) I offer eight pieces of New Year advice to David Cameron: Offer an In/Out referendum in your January speech on the EU. Nothing else will quite restore goodwill amongst traditional supporters in the country and press. In today's Sun, Trevor Kavanagh agrees. Communicate regret […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter We’ve already had new year messages from Nick Clegg and from Ed Miliband. Today it’s David Cameron’s turn. It couldn’t be more different from early Cameron when in a different economic climate he was quoting Gandhi and was encouraging all of us to “be the change we want to […]
By Paul GoodmanFollow Paul on Twitter. Not so long ago, people were both more free and more orderly. For example, there were no race relations laws: you could say what you liked about ethnic minorities (as they usually weren't called then). The English always drank: "He gives your Hollander a vomit ere the next pottle […]
By Paul GoodmanFollow Paul on Twitter Tim Montgomerie yesterday offered congratulations to George Osborne, and commiserations to Policy Exchange, on respectively gaining and losing Neil O'Brien. Seconded. As Tim wrote, "Team Cameron is succeeding in recruiting the calibre of people that it needs to maximise its effectiveness".
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter Throughout this week we'll be previewing next week's Autumn Statement. Pete Hoskin will wonder if George Osborne should abandon his fiscal targets. Paul Goodman will return to the need for a long-term examination of what the British state should spend. Tom Frostick will urge the Chancellor to target wealth […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter Matthew d'Ancona interprets the speech as Cameron's challenge to the nation, to choose revival or decline: "The purpose of this speech was to remind party and public alike that the Tories represent the whole nation — just as that nation faces a moment of historic decision in the great […]
By Benjamin DisraeliYou cannot follow Lord Beaconsfield on Twitter, since he hasn't a clue what it is. I cannot deny that my grasp of public affairs is not as sure as it might be since, for reasons that readers of this publication will understand, I am presently incapable of taking my seat in the House […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter i've been working the phones tonight to try and establish genuine Tory reaction to Ed Miliband's speech. There was first surprise, even anxious amazement. As the evening has worn on there's less worry. The reaction can be summarised under two headings: (1) He's now safe as Labour leader and […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter After Andrew Mitchell overshadowed the Lib Dem conference rumours that Conservative strategists were going to ask William Hague to head butt a nurse in order to upstage Ed Miliband's big speech have proven to be unfounded! The best I can offer is the slogan for next week's Tory Conference… […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter Last Wednesday I announced that I was moving to The Times. For its eight year life ConHome has been championing what we've called the And theory of Conservatism. For example… "(a) A commitment to actively support healthy, traditional marriages and fair pension and inheritance arrangements for gay adults… (b) […]