Ali Miraj: Dave, where has the sunshine gone?

Ali Miraj, who has written controversially in the past, has been quoted on BBC Online accusing David Cameron of being obsessed with PR.  His intervention - in which he attacks those who want Cameron ousted - brought a swift response from a source close to the Conservative leader.  The source told ConservativeHome that Ali had asked for a peerage at a meeting with Cameron earlier today.  Miraj responded by saying that he would not discuss his private discussions with Cameron, accused CCHQ of "lowering the tone" of debate and of not taking his criticisms seriously - criticisms which he outlines here.

I write this piece with a heavy heart as someone who has become deeply disillusioned by the way the Conservative Party is being run having made these points in private for months but to no avail:

“Let sunshine win the day”, hailed David Cameron to the Party faithful at its Conference last October.  But far from rays of light beaming down, dark clouds are gathering over Mr Cameron’s leadership.

It was less than two years ago when I introduced him at the launch of his campaign to lead the party.  I saw him as a fresh face, a politician that, despite his privileged background, could connect with the British people and restore the fortunes of the Conservative party.  I have been disappointed.

A week is a long time in politics, and the past couple of weeks have been particularly painful with the Tories securing a humiliating third place in two Parliamentary by-elections.  That has been compounded this week by a poll putting the Conservative Party on 32%, its lowest level since Michael Howard was leader and six points behind Labour. To add to his woes 21% of voters say their opinion of him has dropped since Mr Brown took over.  But the rot began before that.

For me the key factor that has led to the current malaise is not a lack of “traditional” policies, as those on the right of the Party busily sharpening their knives would argue. It is a complete lack of judgement on the part of Mr Cameron himself.  The adage, “One is known by the company one keeps”, can be coupled with “a leader can be judged by those he appoints”.

The decision to impose a hand-picked poster boy on local members in the Ealing Southall by-election who had only been a member of the Conservative Party for a matter of days, was always bound to be viewed with disdain at best and lead to trouble at worst.  One cannot blame the opportunistic Mr Lit for wanting to jump on the “Dave bandwagon”. 

But Mr Cameron should have had more sense.  First, the Tories have still not realised that it takes more than picking an Asian candidate to reverse a scandalous neglect of engaging with people from ethnic minorities since the days of Enoch Powell.  Second, was the complete failure to conduct adequate checks on an unknown quantity. 

I do not know if Mr Lit was asked the question that all candidates are typically put, “Is there anything in your background that could potentially embarrass the Party”. This may have spared the embarrassment four days before polling day that he had donated money to the Labour party pictured next to a smiling Tony Blair. 

This is not the first case of Cameron’s obsession with PR.  The decision to approach Greg Dyke, a lifelong left-winger, to be the Conservative candidate for London Mayor was equally ridiculous.

The recent decision to appoint Sayeeda Warsi to the Shadow Cabinet as Minister for Community Cohesion was also short-sighted.  Ms Warsi, a young woman with a good heart, who has displayed potential and may well have made it to Cabinet in due course, has been catapulted into front line politics having only been active in the party for three years. 

This has been met by a barrage of harsh criticism targeted towards her ranging from her condemnation of the Government’s decision to abolish section 28 regarding the promotion of homosexuality in schools, to her call for the government to engage with extremist Muslim groups. 

Much of this stems from inexperience.  There is no substitute for hard work, commitment and tenure.  No doubt Mr Cameron was driven by his desire to appoint the first “Muslim woman” to trump Gordon Brown’s appointment of the first Muslim minister, Shahid Malik, only days before.  The problem is that this smacks of blatant gimmickry which the electorate sees through.

Whilst no one would question the importance of tackling poverty in the developing world, the decision to go to Rwanda to visit a social action project, when parts of Mr Cameron’s own constituency were suffering their worst floods for 150 years, was yet another piece of ammunition to his opponents and a cause for dismay to his supporters such as myself.   

Those in the party who have begun their campaign to oust Cameron and appoint their sixth leader in ten years are simply not serious about regaining power.  One does not wield the knife at the first sign of difficulty.  I hope that Mr Cameron heeds the warning signs.  If sense prevails a rainbow may yet emerge in the aftermath of the storm.

Ali Miraj has been a Councillor and stood as a Conservative Parliamentary Candidate at the last two general elections.  He is a Board Member of two of the Party’s Policy Groups.

Comments

[Andrew Lilico]

Raj@00:27

If Ali Miraj were just anybody, and even then if what he said were boring or irrelevant, then perhaps you would be correct. But he isn't just anybody, he has expressed his points well, and they reflect a widely-felt view - albeit not one I share.

Blame the author, not the ink.

[Ben Rogers]

I've never met him, but when I have heard him speak I have generally found him underwhelming.

[Treacle]

Ben

If you want a political career you need to get a grip. A minimum of 50% of the people you meet will disagree with your views and many of them will loath and despise you because you threaten their aims and beliefs. A large number will personally hate you just because you are a Tory. It may hurt for a bit but it is a benchmark of how effective you are.

The left despised Margaret Thatcher from the moment she took over - because they recognised, rightly, that she was the biggest threat to Socialism for 50 years. But we won three elections in the face of the raging, screaming left and only tottered from power when we became more concerned about what our opponents thought of us than what our supporters thought.

Politics is about presenting a set of beliefs and pushing them through in the face of hostility. If you want to be loved and regrded as a nice guy by left-wing zealots then you are in the wrong job.

Get your bovver boots on and give them some stick, you will feel a lot better!

[Common Sense]

Hilarious interventions towards the end of this thread from assorted glove puppets (check the identical IPs, Editor). I can't make my mind up if it's Ali Miraj himself or Cameron-hating ultra rightists happy to use someone they have contempt for as a stick to beat DC with.

When Ali Miraj had his undignified tantrum after Witham I gave him the benefit of the doubt but this latest hissy fit dressed up as a principled critique has put him completely beyond the pale. He is clearly a demented careerist who simply can't understand why he's not being fast-tracked to stardom.

It's interesting that both occasions that he's gone tonto have been when Asian women (Priti Patel in Witham, Sayeeda Warsi in the House of Lords) have been chosen over him.

What a brat. What a loser. Try your luck with Labour, Ali. They'll use you as an anti-Cameron propaganda tool and then drop you straight back into well-deserved obscurity.

[Ben Rogers]

My dear Treacle,

I never said anything about wanting to be loved and regarded as a 'nice guy' ... of course politics is about a battle for ideas. But it is also about winning hearts and minds, and winning ears too. People in Durham didn't vote for me, because they have never voted Tory. But for the first time in a long time, they listened to me, because they could see that I wasn't a selfish rich nutcase, but was normal, compassionate, and engaged in activities they either could relate to or were interested in/inspired by. Yes, we have to be tough in politics - but we don't have to be unpleasant to be tough.

[Treacle]

Ben

Then I think we agree

(But I still let their tyres down after the count)

[CDM]

What a small man. Must we really dignify him with bandwidth?

[Raj]

Andrew

"But he isn't just anybody"

"Anybody" wouldn't get to say their bit here. The fact he is "somebody" does not give the website immunity from posting comments from someone who is essentially throwing a bit of a strop.

His comments aren't well-expressed, because he's reciting crap about the polls (Howard didn't have to deal with a new PM's bounce) and some rather nasty comments about Sayeeda Warsi. Doubtless if he'd been propelled to the Shadow Cabinet or the House of Lords he wouldn't have complained one jot. But as he hasn't got any sweeties he's throwing a big crying fit.

Now if even I, a non Tory-member, can see that he was being a bit of a cry-baby, why couldn't the editors? Either they're not doing their job properly or they're encouraging this nonsense.

[Ben Rogers]

See my Platform response just gone up - link at the top of this page

[Former friend of Ali Miraj]

Ali, as a now former friend of yours, I must echo the comments of the vast majority of others posting on this thread tonight, and in the wider party. You've gone way too far with this latest outburst, and like Icarus you clearly got too close to the Sun today.

The last sinew of respect I had for you disappeared when I saw that a senior Cameron aide (that be you) had criticised him on the BBC News website. Do you have any idea how stupid that makes you look, and what a damaging impression it allows the unfriendly media to portray of us as a Party?

I hope that you will do the honourable thing tomorrow morning and resign from the two policy commissions you sit on, as you clearly have no political career in the Conservative Party.

You were a talented, charismatic, unique individual who could have achieved so much - although this admittedly hid a lazy and non-committal streak which is why you failed to break through in Watford in 2005 - but today you finally blew it.

Perhaps the next time you stand in your 2001 seat of Aberavon it will be when the Labour Party impose you as their candidate... We'll be putting up someone who may have reservations from time to time about some things that the leadership may or may not be doing, but knows when to back their leader.

Arise Baron Miraj of the-world-revolves-around-Ali!

[Dominic Llewellyn]

I hope that today isn't just the Domesday for Miraj (which it will inevitably be) but also the end of the doomers' crusade which has been running through our party. In DC we have a future PM. Irony was that Miraj sat on two policy groups which will help Cameron show more substance. Tory members have at times been less loyal to their leaders than Brown was to Blair. Not only should we remember that we did not join the Tory "Less State Control" Pressure Group we also are not members of the Anarchist Party.

[Tory T]

Asking for a peerage. Demanding a "right" to fight a safe seat after just one attempt. Calling Witham racist (PPC: Priti Patel). Denigrating the BME candidate with every bit as much candidate experience as himself who never asked for safe seats only. And then most pathetically of all trying to couch it in terms of being helpful.

The posted replies to this thread are some of the best things I have read on ConHome in months.

How could you beg for a peerage in a meeting, get refused and then hours later attack the man you were supllicating just before?

I'm sure Quentin Davies is looking for a researcher, Mr. Miraj.

[Oberon Houston]

Hardly a balanced article and it seeths with resentment. Possibly this was deliberate in an effort to prompt debate? Hope so.

The central argument is that Cameron is obsessed with PR. Tony Blair, Peter Mandleson, Campbell et al were all obsessed with PR. Brown is, if anything, even more dangerously obsessed - using all types of stunts and illusion to increase impact (my last contribution to this Platform was about exactly this). Cameron has a good strategy, not an obsession with PR. He knows people had stoped listening to the party, therefore he has been involved in an intensive campaign to alter the public perceptions of the conservative party from a party obsessed with tax, the rich and victorian discipline into a modern party that shares the concerns of the growing 'new middle class', NHS, Schools, the environment, interest rates and local services. He has been hugely sucessful in this and now needs to move onto policy now people are listening. The timing has been critical, and the decision has been made to wait for the Brown Bounce to deflate before doing this.

This last week has at least brought the dissafected and resentful to the surface. I suspect there are a few more cunning who are waiting in the wings, forget them. By uniting behing the leader we can beat Brown. Buy we need policy soon...... as I speak Cameron leads the headlines on Today on School discipline. Good. More. Soon.

[Og]

There is a danger that, when you start appointing people to the Lords for no other reason than to add to the number of ethnic minority peers, you appoint people who really don't deserve ennoblement. Lords Ali and Taylor and Baroness Warsi spring to mind.

So, when a disaffected nonentity like Miraj can't get anywhere within a political party, he honestly believes that an opportunity exists for him to be given a peerage in order a) to keep him sweet, and b) to up the numbers of Tory peers of an Indian ethnic origin. Worse still, he has the neck to think he can demand the honour!

Miraj, you don't deny you asked for a Big P; you are vain enough to be reading this thread - come on, tell us why you deserve to be Lord Mirage.

[Cllr Tony Sharp]

Just to echo some of the comments here, I wonder why Ali Miraj toured the studios and gave us this platform piece yet all the while failed to say "By the way, before this I asked Dave to make me a Lord and he said no".

Now we have the context in which these comments were made people will draw their own conclusions about whether Miraj is being vindictive. Surely if someone is about to launch a tirade against their boss they do not go in asking for a big award beforehand.

[Watford Conservative]

It doesn't seem to have occurred to anyone here that perhaps CCO was *lying* when it said that Miraj had asked for a peerage? As someone who campaigned with Ali during the last election, I can tell you that he was an incredibly hard-working candidate - in fact he pretty much bust-a-gut campaigning for the party to the expense of much of his personal life - and a good guy to boot.

So, may I suggest two things based on my personal experience (something that few if any of the people here have) of the man himself? :

1) It is entirely legitimate that a loyal member of the party should give constructive criticism of the current leadership, and to suggest that ConservativeHome should not publish dissenting views but should merely be a cheap vehicle for Tory propaganda, is as moronic as it is horrifying.

2) Is it very likely that Miraj could have asked for a peerage, then within (as we are led to believe by CCO) just a few hours of rejection have not just written an op-ed piece, but have had it accepted for publication on ConservativeHome? Anyone know what 'Post hoc ergo propter hoc' means? Surely it doesn't take more than just a little bit of sense to see that this piece might have been planned rather more previous to this supposed 'peerage' incident?

No, I'm sorry, but it seems far more likely to me that this nonsense about asking to be made a Lord is an attempt to smear Miraj, as a result of his criticism of the leadership. A move from CCO that is ridiculously heavy-handed, dishonest and actually, also rather scary.

That so many people here are simply believing what they read in the papers and judging a man who they know nothing of is a stinging indictment of their own levels of credulousness and intelligence. I really encourage them to either constructively criticise the article that Ali wrote, or keep their ignorant and personally abusive opinions to themselves.

All the best,

A Watford Conservative

[ACT]

Dear o dear, the honest voice of a hurt Cameroon, and the sheer nastiness it brings out in his former mates. It's instructive watching the sheer bitterness with which they turn on one another.

[TimB]

So Ali Miraj has been all over the news criticising Cameron for being too concerned with PR, yet in this article he says he supported Cameron because he was a 'fresh face' and attacks the trip to Rwanda on the grounds that it gave 'ammunition to his opponents.' Clearly a man who cares about issues of substance.

[Jones]

Poor form CH for allowing this man a platform for this bitter rant.

Miraj, if you ever represent this party at any level i shall see it fit to campaign against you. You horrible man.

[Simon Hoare]

Mr Miraj has clearly lost the plot! His polemic (sorry pub-bore rant at closing time) is as wrong as it is misguided. We need to change as a Party, we are changing as a Party and we must speed up the process. We're trying to turn around a super-tanker here: it takes time. Why has PR become a term of scorn? If relating to the public is not the essence of politics I don't know what is? David Cameron and the team are setting our policies based on our principles (small state, freedom under the law, responsibility, civic renewal, sound money) but with policies to suit the here and now. We must talk about what we believe in and support rather than what we are against or how we want today to look like the world circa 1953.

As a consitutuent of David Cameron's and as a Cabinet member of his District Council and as a ward Chairman and member of the Executive Cttee can I correct Mr Miraj's comments about Rwanda and the flooded constituency? Parts of West Oxon had it bad. David was out with the Leader of the Council, our Association Chairman and me on Sunday morning visiting the worst hit areas, talking to business men, police, residents, fire service etc. Rwanda was not a family jolly in the sun - it was visting a country ravaged by genocide and where the largest international funder is the UK. Throughout his trip he was in contact with our Council Leader. Immediately after the 1922 Committee he was back in the Constituency for a briefing by fellow Council Cabinet members and senior Officers who had implemented the rescue plans etc. This lasted for 4 hours. The following morning he's out and about again visiting those affected by the weather. A Central News Vox Pop tried to stir discontent as did the Mail - it didn't work with his consituents. David is a first class constituency member - we are as lucky to HAVE him as any consitutency is lucky NOT TO HAVE the self-serving, self-aggrandising but ultimately politically suicidal Mr Miraj. Miraj for the Lords? The only argument I've heard to support abolition!

[Ian]

Oh dear Ali does seem to have upset the Benedicts/Sebastians and other upper class loser who post on this site.

Of course no one has addressed the very valid points Ali has made about Tony Lit and Sayeeda'token'Warsi.

How many people on this site would have the guts to do what Ali has?

[Chris Palmer]

'How many people on this site would have the guts to do what Ali has?' - Ian

What, ask Cameron for a peerage without deserving one?

[Cllr Tony Sharp]

Guts, Ian? That is not what I would call it. We can go over the election campaign failures once again and we can question Ms Warsi's elevation to the Lords. But maybe seeing as these have been discussed already and there is nothing new to add it would be more appropriate to stick to the point here.

No one has questioned the hard work Miraj put into Watford as a candidate. What I question is his attitude and his judgement. His failure to secure adoption since 2005 resulted in allegations of racism in the Guardian. He had nothing new to say yesterday so his media appearance was all about self promotion. His comments were nothing more than an attack and they were not constructive.

Then we discover that he asked for a peerage before heading off to the studio - we have it from Cameron's own lips. So I wonder if Watford Conservative is going to return here and call Cameron a liar? I am sure I am not alone is seeing a picture building here.

I am all for robust argument and debate. I call things as I see them and I am all for straight talking. I understand people offering their critique of party performance and leadership on this site when they do not have the ear of the party leadership and it is the only way they can express their views. But Miraj is a party board member with access to Cameron and if he really wanted to be constructive rather than spiteful he could have raised his issues with Cameron directly.

Instead he chose to make a public spectacle of his views knowing full well the effect it would have. If he had a principled bone in his body and felt so strongly about the direction of the party that he had to make those comments, why did he ask for a peerage on the same day and why has he not resigned his positions on boards and committees under the leader he has shown disloyalty to?

[Alex Fisher]

Ali Miraj has been arrogant as ever. He deserves absolutely nothing from the Party as he has achieved precious little for it.

For those who can't stop going on about Watford:

General Election 2005: Watford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Claire Ward 16,575 33.6 −11.7
Liberal Democrats Sal Brinton 15,427 31.2 +13.8
Conservative Ali Miraj 14,634 29.6 −3.7
Green Steve Rackett 1,466 3.0 +1.1
UK Independence Kenneth Wight 1,292 2.6 +1.4

Our vote was down and we finished third. If that entitles you to a safe seat, Ali, I'd love to see what you think constitutes a failed candidate...

You speak for no-one but yourself. I hope and expect that you won't be selected as a PPC anywhere.

Ali, the reason you are not going into the House of Lords is simple; you are not up to standard. Get over it.

[Justice is lost without challenge...]

I must say I'm deeply disgusted by most of the derogatory comments posted here. I fail to understand how any one of you seemingly intellectual individuals can criticise a man who has always shown belief, integrity, dedication and unwavering support to Cameron and the Party, on the basis that he has suddenly fallen victim to sour grapes syndrome.

I don't really see how anyone who has fought so hard on a personal level, to ensure Cameron has a strong position would then stab in the back, it's suicide for him too if that were true as this has been Ali's life, for anyone of you that knows him, for more than a decade.

He has given the best years of his life to the Tories and they have given him nothing in return but slander and abuse as you all clearly exhibit here.

Shame on the lot of you. Ever heard of a very useful yet almost always unjust little tool called "spin" you so called politically informed audience? Nothing quite like it to retrieve a fast sinking Cameron out of an ever growing hole he has dug for himself. Well that's all that can be said about the peerage argument so poorly constructed and with no evidence to support it.

Ali should absolutely continue to do what he has done for the last 10 odd years, and that is try with all his mite to get us back in Government where we can really make a difference.

Ali has made countless, invaluable contributions to the party and never once taken his eye of the ball. He has done more than his bit and we should should all follow in Ali's footsteps if we have any chance of helping Cameron lead us to victory which is what we ALL want. Ali is no different from the rest of us!

[Justice is lost without debate...]

I must say I'm deeply disgusted by most of the derogatory comments posted here. I fail to understand how any one of you seemingly intellectual individuals can criticise a man who has always shown belief, integrity, dedication and unwavering support to Cameron and the Party, on the basis that he has suddenly fallen victim to sour grapes syndrome.

I don't really see how anyone who has fought so hard on a personal level, to ensure Cameron has a strong position would then stab him in the back, it's suicide for him too if that were true as this has been Ali's life, for anyone of you that knows him, for more than a decade.

He has given the best years of his life to the Tories and they have given him nothing in return but slander and abuse as you all clearly exhibit here.

Shame on the lot of you. Ever heard of a very useful yet almost always unjust little tool called "spin" you so called politically informed audience? Nothing quite like it to retrieve a fast sinking Cameron out of an ever growing hole he has dug for himself. Well that's all that can be said about the peerage argument so poorly constructed and with no evidence to support it.

Ali should absolutely continue to do what he has done for the last 10 odd years, and that is try with all his might to get us back in Government where we can really make a difference.

Ali has made countless, invaluable contributions to the party and never once taken his eye off the ball. He has done more than his bit and we should should all follow in Ali's footsteps if we have any chance of helping Cameron lead us to victory which is what we ALL want. Ali is no different from the rest of us! He had the integrity to stand-up and make his voice heard and provide the check on Cameron which is needed more than ever..

[fibbingdems]

Why do you allow such a pesonally motivated hatchet job on a party website? Do you want to be in opposition for ever?

Posted by: Lib Dem Member | July 30, 2007 at 23:16

WOOOPS THE REAL SPIN DOCTORS ADMITTING THEY ARE TUT TUT SOME ONE IS IN FOR A WIGGING!

[Tory T]

The above commenters need to look at the evidence.

Fact, Ali Miraj fought one marginal seat one time, then claimed on his own blog that he head earned the right to "fight" only safe seats thereby, and that the only reason he was not selected in a safe seat was his skin colour. Witham then selected Priti Patel.

Fact, Ali Miraj then asked David Cameron for a peerage. Upon its refusal, he comes to ConHome to attack the leader.

Nobody is to blame here but Mr. Mirage. Probably most people on this site know a ppc or would be ppc who has fought more than once for the party. To think you fight one winnable marginal thereafter you deserve a safe seat is nothing short of disgraceful.

[Non Tory View]

It seems many people here have disengaged their brains over this. Why would somebody who has worked tirelessly for a good part of a decade expect to receive a peerage just like that? Ali has made some valid points and as somebody who is close to Cameron he is in a very good position to do so. He obviously wants the best for the party and if more people had that attitude, the party may not be so behind an underperforming and relatively unpopular government.

Well done Ali, keep doing the right thing.

[Watford Conservative]

Well done Ian, Justice and other posters who have pointed out the fact that Ali has given so much of his time to the Conservative Party, and when he criticises it (which, by the way, is usually only done in public when the leadership fails to listen in private), and then only once, and mildly at that, he is excoriated as a traitor and slandered by those whom he helped to get where they are today.

I won't bother with the silly statements here which take, as their unchallenged premise, the idea that Ali argued that he deserved a peerage because he fought a marginal seat. That this is so profoundly and self-evidently unlikely even to anyone with any political sense, never mind those who know Ali himself, is simply obvious, and I find it strange that I would have to point this out to anyone here.

I don't need to think Cameron a liar Councillor Sharp (though I by no means rule it out), but I can definitely think that he is spinning the facts to slander someone who supported him very directly during his leadership campaign. That this doesn't speak well of Cameron is obvious. That I wasn't in that room however, and neither were you, ought to lend at least some humility in considering what really might have happened.

Having said that, if I have to choose between believing Ali, and believing Cameron, I choose Ali. His criticisms of Cameron certainly do chime-in with my own early judgement of the guy: that whilst being a nice bloke (a perception of mine that this incident has greatly damaged), he is really quite intellectually morose. However, he has also rightly defended Cameron as the best way forward for the Party, and attacked those who would get rid of him. This was no hatchet-job, but a considered and realistic criticism.

If anyone should be ashamed, it should be the wilfully ignorant and naive posters here, who so easily buy the spin of the party machine and attack a man who has been nothing but a boon to his Party, and was a fantastic candidate for Watford in the campaign. If you don't believe me, feel free to ask any of the Executive Committee of the Watford Constituency Association.

Incidentally, if you ask them, they'll very probably tell you the fact of the matter: that Ali didn't get elected because people in Watford weren't willing to vote for an Asian candidate. How do we like them apples?

Not a good day for the party, by any means.

All the best,

Watford Conservative

[Who on earth is Ali Miraj?]

Who on earth is Ali Miraj?

Some people really do take themselves terribly seriously. What a self important pompous prat. Isn't this the same guy who complained when he didn't get selected for a particularly safe seat said it was racism and got poor Bernard Jenkins into trouble? Can't help thinking this is where political correctness leads - 'I deserve a seat because I am an ethnic miniority.' What is so special about this guy apart from his ethnicity?

[Tory T]

Watford Conservative,

What do you mean you "believe Ali"? Cameron says he pleaded for a peerage. As far as I know, Ali has not denied it.

Has Miraj denied he asked Cameron to make him a peer right before throwing his toys out of the pram?

Can we strike him from the candidates' list now please.

[Andrew Hudson]

It is apparent the backlash against Mr Miraj is nothing short of a character assassination - a typical response where any reasoned argument about the current state of Tory policy is met with Cameron & Co (and it seems the majority of posters above) deciding to 'close ranks' in an attempt to alienate him. The comments from Messrs Saatchi and Miraj centre on policy and direction, and are not a personal attack on Cameron's integrity. However this professionalism and integrity has not been echoed by Cameron in his arrogant and laughable claims regarding an 'alleged' request for a peerage by Mr Miraj.

The criticisms levelled at Cameron have come from many sources yet Mr Miraj exclusively bears the brunt of the collective venom from the posters above. Here is a potential future candidate who has provided many years of support for the Tories, and even DC himself in his campaign to become leader, and he is being villified and made a scapegoat to detract attention from clear failings in substance on the part of Cameron. Throughout all the public exchanges it has been Mr Miraj who has conducted himself with integrity and its about time people in general and party members began to voice their legitimate concerns about the direction of the party without fear of such reprisals.

[Cllr Tony Sharp]

Watford Conservative, on Radio 4's World At One Miraj did not deny he had asked for a peerage, but attempted to spin that it was not the issue. He had the chance to deny it and he could not because he had done so. What is there to believe or not believe? It seems only you and very few other people have a problem reconciling the fact this 'mild' criticism in public followed on from a rejected request for a peerage.

Miraj says he told Cameron last week he was planning to write a critical article. Cameron therefore respectfully made time to speak to Miraj and invited him to the office. That is when the rejected request for a peerage was made.

People could be forgiven for thinking that Miraj was angling for such a meeting so he could make his peerage request. It could be argued his actions were of a man seeking a quid pro quo. When he did not achieve the desired outcome he released his comments.

What frustrates me about your latest comment is that you are now suggesting Watford's electorate failed to vote for Miraj because he is Asian. I assume you will back that up with evidence? It seems a shame that Miraj is unable to demonstrate the same degree of loyalty to the party that you show towards him.

[Cllr Tony Sharp]

The problem, Andrew Hudson, is that Miraj had other options open to him to address his concerns. He said nothing in his press interview that has not be said elsewhere. He added no value. So what was the purpose of going to the media knowing the effect would be damaging and risk entrenching Cameron's position further?

Miraj's intervention was not reasoned argument about the current state of Tory policy. It was an attack on Cameron himself at a time when the party is working to address issues that have been pointed out.

As for the laughable claims regarding an 'alleged' request for a peerage by Miraj, you evidently did not listen to Miraj trying to skirt around that subject on World At One.

The criticisms levelled at Cameron by Miraj were not constructive and came from a man who has been given every opportunity and support by the party. We have William Hague and David Davis publicly backing Cameron and defending him - while I assume earnest discussion is going on behind the scenes. That is loyalty and a responsible way to deal with concerns. Where was Miraj's loyalty last night? Where was his criticism constructive? There was no integrity on show that I could see.

Members should always voice their legitimate concerns about the direction of the party. They have been for weeks. There are proper ways of doing so and effecting change without strengthening your opponents. Miraj chose a path that would boost Labour and damage the Tories. That is why I and others have criticised him today.

[Andrew Hudson]

Cllr Tony Sharp

There may well have been other options but the fact is that there seems to have been no real internal debate about these issues - had anyone raised these concerns with DC? I very much doubt it.

The emphasis should lie only on 'what' was said by Mr Miraj and not on the fact it was Mr Miraj who had made the comments. I find the piggy-backing and dredging up from the past by many posters a flimsy and baseless argument. A sad attempt to make mud stick which does not quite work. The constructive criticism was a genuine attempt to encourage debate, but more importantly, focus our attention on the policies we have and not on PR and spin. To castigate Mr Miraj on this false basis is simply to miss the whole point.

On the peerage issue, it would be wise to remember there is no evidence at all on this point other than the words of DC.

I respectfully disagree on it being a personal attack on DC - its a reflection of the attitude within the party itself to be a PR driven machine which results in losing sight of what is important and fundamental in our plan to win back power.

In answer to your final comments, I would argue that it has in fact been the lack of clear policy initiatives from DC that have done damage, and will continue to damage, to the Tories - not the constructive criticism from Mr Miraj and Saatchi. I recall Mr Miraj offering advice from his own experience as to what the focus should be - he did not criticise without offering a solution.

[Voice from the South West]

Ali Miraj = a waste of space.

[Justin Hinchcliffe]

How very sad, as others have said, that Ali didn’t tell interviewers that only yesterday he asked for a peerage. What’s so special about him? He scored a spectacular ‘own goal’ hours before Pretti Patel was selected for Witham, pushed us into third place in Watford, accused the Party of not doing enough for the BME communities, publicly attacked his colleagues and has given ammunition to the BBC, the Guardian, NuLab and the Dim Lebs. Thanks, mate. Thanks a bunch! With friends like you…

[Oberon Houston]

And now he's been suspended.... and claiming he is being smeared whilst refusing to comment on the peer issue. We don't need A-List candidates who behave like this, publicly seeking to damage the leader in this way. Honestly I despair.

[Matt Davis]

I do find this idea that no-one should utter any criticism of Cameron or what the Party is saying because it is "disloyal" very odd indeed. We are enagaged in politics which by its very nature, of its very essence even, is a matter of debate about ideas and solutions to problems. That is what happens on CH, debate.Politics without debate isn't democracy it is dictatorship.

I am also ever bemused by those calling for blind unquestioning loyalty to Cameron since they would be mostly the very same people who were so very unloyal indeed to Hague, IDS and Howard.Talk about hypocrisy.

[Boltz]

This is just wonderful. Are you all so totally frightened of any type of criticism that you join ranks against anybody who dares to criticize? He may not be the kind of guy that you would invite to your house, but can you not all see that by putting him up against your firing squad publically (I got here through a Guardian link) you are all sharpening these metaphorical knives? Come on boys, a little bit of dignity please as you've all been eager to point out, this petty squabbling and back biting looks bad. And believe me, it does.

[Oberon Houston]

Matt: We are talking about a man that served on Camerons campaign team, is (was) on the A-List, and yesterday asked Cameron for a peerage, and then, later that day wrote the piece above, and today went on the media circut to underpin his fustration and from very pro Labour media outlets got huge attention.

[Oberon Houston]

Why did he not ask for the peerage after writing the pice about. Get out of here.

[Oberon Houston]

Sorry, I'm fuming....

Why didn't he write the piece above before asking for the peerage?

[Christina]

Why does Ken Clarke get away with his brutal criticisms of the leaderships' call for a referendum, criticisms which have been used by Brown, while Ali Miraj is smeared for criticisms which are far less stringent?

[Oberon Houston]

Crustina, please point us to the BBC news lead story that describes this?
Or the Channel No. 5 News lead story (Phweew)? (Channel No. 4?)

Get a grip. Must try harder.

[Oberon Houston]

... ok off to watch the Newsnight producer and the Labour supporting presenters and production crew turn this into a dissaster for Cameron.

All the (non)GRASSROOT bloggers on CH will be cheering them on....come on Tim, this site can die as quickly as it was born. Please, at least, confirm they are paid up members?

[Christina]

Prime Minister's questions, dear boy.

[Christina]

"Mr Brown has been in politics long enough to know that there are questions which just ask to be evaded. Even Ken Clarke, he reminded us, had said a referendum would be "crackpot, dotty and frankly absurd". (To be fair, quoting Ken Clarke on Europe is like offering Homer Simpson's views on beer.)"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,,2134819,00.html

It seems to me that Cameron can only apply disciplinary measures to lightweights, the heavyweights can say what they want.

[Bruce Mackie]

I agree Oberon with most of your comments but the person concerned is(was) an 'A' Lister. Does that not show up the 'A' list for what it is by bringing in mainly people who have had no real association with the Party and have not in the main stood for any election (at least as a Tory)prior to being placed on that list. But to allow these critisms to go unheeded would have led to open war on our Leader and no one in the Party could condone such to be unpunished.
It really is about time we all got the message that Dave is the only game in town and lets go and get after Labour and the Lib Dems and get a Tory Gov back in this Country.