ConservativeHome's Interviews

Pauline Neville-Jones answers your questions

Pauline Neville-Jones answers all of the questions asked of her here.

Michael Mcgough: Are you in favour of the new constitutional/amending/reform treaty?

Let’s be clear about the Reform Treaty.  It is the Constitution in all but name and almost every European leader has said that 90% of the content is the same.  The Conservative Party promised a referendum on it because of the powers it would transfer to the EU.  Promises should be kept.

As for my own feelings about the Treaty, I am not a eurosceptic. But I am not happy with this document. I do not believe, for instance, that it is in the best interests of the United Kingdom that our ability to represent ourselves in the world, to conduct business directly and to cast votes- and vetoes- in the UN Security Council on fundamental issues of war and peace, should be displaced by a proxy.  These are not rights and duties we should be giving away.

James Burdett: Whilst embroiled in the Cold War and then ecstatic at its conclusion, almost everyone missed the growth of Al-Qaeda based terrorism. Where should we be looking to avoid the danger of repeating the mistake, that with the massive focus on the current Al-Qaeda and associated threats we miss the emerging security threats?

I agree that the threat of terrorism is the most serious threat to the UK now.  But there are other important threats we can clearly identify. Proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, especially nuclear is one, exemplified by Iran’s refusal to come clean about her nuclear programme or to honour her commitments under the NPT to allow inspection.

Down the road, one can see the risk of renewed interstate warfare of a more “conventional” kind. Issues disputes over borders or resources could spark war as pressure on natural commodities – such as water - grow.  Climate change, if extreme, leading to loss of landmass and big migrations of people could generate tension and even fighting.  In a globalised economy, even if the location of the conflict is far away, British interests are likely to be involved and our security could be threatened. We need active policies to protect our interests and reduce the likelihood of war.

Any questions for Pauline Neville-Jones?

For over thirty years Pauline Neville-Jones was a career diplomat serving in Rhodesia, Singapore, Washington, Bonn and the European Commission.

In 1991 she was appointed Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Defence and Overseas Secretariat in the Cabinet Office. After a brief stint as Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee she became Political Director in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from 1994 until her retirement, where she led the British delegation to the Dayton negotiations on the Bosnia peace settlement.

Since then she has held senior positions in NatWest, the BBC and Qinetiq before being  appointed by David Cameron to head the Conservative Party's National and International Security Policy Group. Read its findings here. This summer Pauline was also appointed Shadow Security Minister and National Security Adviser to the Leader of the Opposition.

Boris Johnson answers your questions

ConservativeHome selected some of the questions you recently asked and Boris Johnson answers them below.

Liz Stevenson: Can you bring back the Routemaster? If not, what will you replace 'bendy buses' with? The money has been spent on them now and I think most 'Londoners' have moved on. Don't you think that the most pressing transport issue is over crowding on the tubes? Do you have a policy on addressing this?

We need (A) to get Crossrail built as soon as possible, since it will ferry 72,000 people East-west every day. We need (B) to move on from the Metronet fiasco and get the Tube upgraded, jettisoning all ideological posturing about the financing arrangements. We need (C) to prise the thumbs of the RMT from the neck of London's transport system, and I see no reason why we should be able to make a mobile phone the size of a credit card and not be able (D) to introduce air conditioning in the Tube. It is also vital (E) to improve the overground rail links, for instance by connecting the North London line with the South West of the city.

I do indeed intend to phase out the bendy buses and replace them with a new version of the Routemaster, a beautiful and iconic machine which would gladden the hearts of Londoners and be so popular as (F) to help further to alleviate pressure on the Tube.

We also need to make it easier for people to switch between modes of transport, so that they can take bikes on trains… but there will be much more on this and other matters if I am lucky enough to get the nomination.

Any questions for Boris Johnson?

Boris Johnson... MP for Henley... Telegraph columnist... former Spectator Editor... Have I Got News For You? presenter... cyclist... and now the Tory who wants to be Mayor of London.

Please leave the questions you'd like Boris Johnson to answer in the thread below.  We'll then choose a large number of those questions and submit them to him for answers by early next week.

The other candidates have already answered questions: Andrew Boff, Victoria Borwick and Warwick Lightfoot.

Matthew D'Ancona answers your questions

The Editor of the Spectator answers the questions you asked him.

Matthew’s Dad: Having read Campbell's diary, it occurs to me again that Cameron's Tories- who's tactical thrust I massively support- still lack the essential fire in their bellies and thirst for power that Campbell so vividly describes in the upper echelons of New Labour from 1994 onwards. "Heir to Blair" comments and giving the War Criminal a standing ovation in the Commons were huge tactical mistakes. Would you agree?

I think Cameron has returned from the summer holidays with – at last – a clear sense of mission, having recognised that it is not enough to be liked. He exudes an urgency which was lacking before the recess. Long may it continue.   

Graeme Archer: Are you writing another novel?

Yes, but much too slowly!

- Why don't you sack Taki? (just joking).

Taki is a superstar and I love him dearly. 

- If Lloyd Evans leaves, may I apply to become the Hackney-based theatre critic?

Well, you can certainly apply, but I hope Lloyd doesn’t leave!

Andrew Boff answers your questions

Mayoral hopeful Andrew Boff answers the questions you posed on Wednesday.

Les: "As a person with an impressive track record in local government, I wonder how you feel about the Conservative party's various attempts to push seemingly unqualified 'celebrities' into the role.  To me, this says that winning the Mayoral election is more important to the party than any competence that the candidate might bring to the actual job."

Celebrity is temporary, passion and principles are forever. There is nothing wrong with celebrities standing for public office and we should welcome newcomers to the party but they must have clear ideas about what it is they want to do. The public are not stupid; they know the difference between 'Big Brother' and an election for a serious political post.

malcolm: "What would be your top priority be Andrew?  And what do you see as Livingstone's biggest blunder?"

Democratic renewal. The Tory party is about liberation or it is nothing. The steps I have announced about voters initiatives, where the people can take direct control over the direction of policy, and providing support for locally expressed wishes for smaller local authorities puts power back in the hands of the people. The political class hate the idea. I think non-conservatives, when expressing their second preferences and wanting to see a door open for their opinions to be expressed, will rather like it.

Livingstone's most telling blunder (perhaps not his biggest though) was the western expansion of the Congestion charge zone. Not so much because of the effect that this had on transport but the contempt he displayed by making it plain that he wasn't going to listen to residents. A Boff Mayoralty will be one that gives people the power to have real influence over such schemes.