Shadow Cabinet

There Has Been No Tory Shift On Europe Since The Seventies

David Lindsay (Free subscription) | 06/11/2009

It simply has not happened. Ken Clarke, repeatedly promoted by Margaret Thatcher of the Single European Act, is in the Shadow Cabinet, having first been a Minister before George Osborne was born. Michael Heseltine is the power behind David Cameron. But Dan Hannan, usually held up as the Great White Hope, is not a member of either House of Parliament, and really cannot expect (or wish) to receive the...

Cameron could sack Osborne according to the Evening Standard…

Alter Ego (Free subscription) | 06/11/2009

One of the key things that we Liberal Democrats have been hanging on to is that Vince Cable is the most competent, and knowledgeable, of the Shadow Chancellors. I had always assumed that the ties of The Bullingdon Club had prevented David Cameron considering getting rid of his friend George Osborne. But, according to today’s Evening Standard [...]

Faith of the successors

Working Class Tory (Free subscription) | 06/11/2009

Another interesting thing to emerge from the David Cameron interview I pointed out earlier is his religion: "I've a sort of fairly classic Church of England faith, a faith that grows hotter and colder by moments but...I suppose I sort of started life believing that one's individual faith was important, but actually the institutions of the church were less important. "I do think that organised...

I would sack George Osborne if I had to, says David Cameron

The Guardian (Free subscription) | 06/11/2009

Tory leader says close friendship with shadow chancellor would not prevent him from removing him from post David Cameron today said he would sack George Osborne if he believed he was not up to the job of shadow chancellor. In an interview with the Evening Standard , the Conservative leader said moving people in and out of the shadow cabinet was "very difficult, but it absolutely has to be done"....

• Tory leader David Cameron speaks of 'faith in God' - The Independent

David Cameron in the Standard: Osborne and the EU

Tory Outcast (Free subscription) | 06/11/2009

An interesting interview with Cameron in the Evening Standard today. You can read the whole thing here but if you are, like me, getting fed up of reading interviewers describing him as "surprisingly candid", "at ease with himself" or "refreshingly normal and open" then here are a few points of intrigue: "I've always thought that the fear of getting things wrong inspires...

Re-shuffles in the next Parliament

Working Class Tory (Free subscription) | 06/11/2009

There's a very good interview with David Cameron in the Evening Standard today. One point to pick up on is this: if it was right to sack George Osborne or another very close colleague would he do it? "Absolutely. I've done so before with other colleagues and I will do so again. "One of the most difficult parts of the job is colleague-management. And moving people in and out of the shadow...

Tories want more government support for arms exports

Ruscombe Green (Free subscription) | 06/11/2009

The Conservative Party's Shadow Defence Secretary, Liam Fox, made a speech in September where he promised that a Conservative government would increase government support for arms exports. They are barmy - already the Government gives very generous and completely unwarranted support to arms exports. Apart from the moral arguments against the arms trade, government subsidies are a huge waste of

David Cameron's six-point EU plan will waste time and win few concessions | Michael White

The Guardian (Free subscription) | 05/11/2009

The Tory leader's defective analysis of Europe consists of scapegoating the union for UK problems that have their roots at home Every cloud has its proverbial silver lining. A skillfully handled retreat from the barricades – in this case of Lisbon – is one of the hardest manoeuvres in politics, as it is in war. It requires discipline and loyalty in the ranks of Eurosceptic colleagues who...

The Boy at large

EU Referendum (Free subscription) | 04/11/2009

David Cameron will promise an incoming Conservative administration would set up a new constitutional court to protect British sovereignty from encroachment from Europe. This is according to The Times , which is retailing details of the Boy's briefing to Tory MPs this morning. He told them that an incoming Conservative administration would immediately seek to pass a Sovereignty Act which would set up...

David Davis puts the Cat among the Pigeons

Mary Honeyball MEP (Free subscription) | 04/11/2009

It’s gratifying to be proved right, though rather less gratifying when it’s on such a fundamental subject as Britain in the EU. Since I posted yesterday, David Cameron has been put in a very invidious position by the ex-Tory Shadow Home Secretary David Davis. Davis has, in effect, issued a direct challenge to Cameron’s authority on [...]

Cameron denies party turmoil over EU treaty

Top Stories: BreakingNews.ie (Free subscription) | 04/11/2009

David Cameron denied today that his party was in turmoil on Europe, as he came under pressure over his decision to abandon plans for a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

Davis challenges Cameron with call for EU referendum

The Guardian (Free subscription) | 04/11/2009

Tory leader's former rival calls for wider plebiscite as Cameron prepares to set out new policy on Europe after dropping pledge on Lisbon treaty David Cameron today faced a challenge to his authority when the former shadow home secretary David Davis urged him commit himself to holding a referendum on Britain's relationship with the EU within three months of taking office. Davis set out his proposals...

Why the core Eurosceptics don't trust Hague

Next Left (Free subscription) | 04/11/2009

Just as the former Home Secretary David Davis argues that the Tory party should make a referendum on Europe its first act if elected , there is an interesting poll on ConservativeHome , showing that David Davis - followed by John Redwood or Michael Howard - would be most trusted by the Tory grassroots to lead a renegotiation of Britian's position in Europe. Why? Surely it is because Davis is widely...

David Davis urges Cameron to hold referendum on Europe within three months of coming to power

ConservativeHome's ToryDiary (Free subscription) | 04/11/2009

Up until now no big beast within the Conservative Party had stood up to demand some sort of new referendum pledge from David Cameron. That changes this morning with David Davis calling on the Tory leadership to hold a 'mandate referendum' even though the former Shadow Home Secretary agrees with Mr Cameron that there's no point in having a vote on the now ratified Lisbon Treaty. Mr Davis - the man most...

Cameron author of Tory Woe over EU Argues Shrewd Oborne Analysis

Skipper (Free subscription) | 02/11/2009

Excellent analysis in an article by Peter Oborne yesterday on Cameron and Europe. He locates the core of the problem with the Tory rank and file. For some reason they perceive Europe as the heart of darkness: a potential supranational dictatorship unlimited by democratic constraints. As they see it, this malign juggernaut- quite possibly the vehicle for revived German plans to dominiate Europe(Oh yes,...