Gazette

Invitation to foreign policy event with Liam Fox, Andrew Mitchell and expert Q&A panel

A CONSERVATIVEHOME CONFERENCE

THE COALITION'S FOREIGN POLICY

A three hour overview of the Government's foreign, security and development policies

Monday 6th June, 11am to 2pm, Westminster

TWO KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Dr Liam Fox, Secretary of State for Defence

followed by

Andrew Mitchell, Secretary of State for International Development

EXPERT QUESTION AND ANSWER PANEL

With:

John Baron MP, Member of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee

Justin Forsyth, Chief Executive of Save The Children

Bernard Jenkin MP, Former Shadow Defence Secretary

David Rennie, Political Editor of The Economist and former Brussels and Beijing correspondent

***

To reserve a place please email [email protected]

Lord Ashcroft to lead review of UK military bases on Cyprus

By Jonathan Isaby
^{Follow Jonathan on Twitter}

It has been announced by the Ministry of Defence this afternoon that Lord Ashcorft, the Conservative peer and majority proprietor of this website, has been appointed as lead advisor on a government review of military bases on Cyprus.

He will work alongside Conservative MP Patrick Mercer on the review, considering the future of the 3,000 UK personnel stationed across two bases, Akrotiri and Dhekelia.

They will report by the end of the year.

Lord Ashcroft has shown a particular interest in - and commitment to - the military over many decades, so there is no doubting he will take this role extremely seriously.

I offer him my personal congratulations on the appointment and wish him well as he goes about conducting the review.

Who is the youngest Conservative Councillor in the country (reprise)? Could it be Cllr Stuart Green of Breckland?

by Paul Goodman

We have had the following bids for Britain's youngest Conservative Councillor, after asking on the site recently who qualifies.  (We opened the bidding with Cllr Jodie Jones of Cannock Chase Council.)

• Cllr Stephen Canning, Braintree, 18. (who wrote in: thank you!)
• Cllr Callum Chadwick, Shevington Parish Council, 18.
• Cllr Stuart Green, Breckland, 18.
• Cllr Jennifer O'Grady, Waverley, 18.
• Cllr Jack Brereton, Stoke on Trent, 19.
• Cllr Becky Brunskill, Durham County Council, 19.
• Cllr James Binns, New Forest, 20.
• Cllr Laura Webster, South Norfolk, 20. 
• Cllr Frankie McHugo, Harborough 21.
• Cllr Rhodri Oliver, North Norfolk, 21.
• Cllr Jonathan Gullis, Stratford-upon-Avon, 21.
• Cllr Andrew Sheldon, Castle Point, 22.
• Cllr Gary Sambrook, Birmingham, 22.

For better or worse, I've tended not to count in anyone who was clearly elected before last May: none, in any event, would beat our four front-runners for the title.  Congratulations to all those of any age who in their time have won - or indeed lost - council seats for fighting the good fight in the first place.

A "Local Tory" wrote very precisely that Cllr Green is 18 years "and two months", so I suspect that he will take some beating, and a photograph of him appears above.

Footnote: "SotonBoy": wrote that "Southampton also had two 19 year olds as cabinet members".  I have inspected the photos, and am assuming that have-a-go-hero Cllr Royston Smith isn't one of them.  I am also exluding Cllr Ivan White, though there is of course an appeals process.

That leaves Cllrs Peter Baillie, Daniel Fitzhenry, John Hannides and Jeremy Moulton.  My money is on the second plus one other, but photos can be deceptive.

The Libyan regime murdered photographer, Anton Hammerl, six weeks ago

By Tim Montgomerie

I am very sad to report that photographer Anton Hammerl was killed by Libyan troops six weeks ago. Anton worked for ConservativeHome on a number of occasions and, below, we republish some of the photographs he took for us. We hadn't reported his connection with us until now because we feared any loose connection with the Conservatives might endanger him if the Libyan authorities had been detaining him.

For the most part Anton, a South African national living in Britain, was a photographer who operated in dangerous parts of the world but, on a freelance basis, he did some work for us. I didn't know him well. I didn't what his politics were. But I did know him as funny and very professional. My thoughts are with his wife and family today. The world has lost a brave man and we have further confirmation - if it was needed - of the hideous nature of the Gadaffi regime.

Photographs of Sayeeda Warsi, Andrew Feldman, Rory Stewart and Benedict Brogan.

Some of his last work from Libya.

ConHome's Graeme Archer has won the Orwell Prize for blogging

By Matthew Barrett

Huge, huge, huge congratulations to Graeme Archer, who has won the 2011 Orwell Prize for blogging for his writing on ConservativeHome.

Graeme beat a very strong short-list:

• Cath Elliott of Too Much To Say For Myself
• Daniel Hannan MEP
• Duncan McLaren of Visiting Mabel
• Heresiarch of Heresy Corner
• Molly Bennett of Mid-Wife Crisis
• BBC Newsnight's Paul Mason

I'm sure all readers will join me in congratulating Graeme for this hugely deserved award!

8.30am on 18th May | Tim Montgomerie writes:

Over the years of editing ConservativeHome I'm proud of many things we have done. I'm proud we've given members a voice and a place to come together. I think of ConHome as the party conference that never stops. I'm proud of our campaigning for members' rights in the leadership election and other internal party selections. I'm proud of the way we've argued for a broader and more compassionate conservatism. I'm particularly proud that we've been able to encourage new talent. Putting former Deputy Editor Sam Coates on the map, for example, and now, in Matthew Barrett I think we've found another star of the future. It's also been a great privilege to give a platform to writers who otherwise might never have found an audience for their insight and eloquence. Graeme Archer has contributed many dazzling pieces over the years to ConservativeHome. He has made me laugh out loud. His writings have changed my mind about things. His writings have always been characterised by compassion. He has a great gift for relating his own experience of life with his political worldview. Thank you Graeme for all you've contributed to ConHome. You and writers like Andrew Lilico and Peter Cuthbertson have made this site what it is. I am delighted that your brilliance has been recognised.

And this is how it began, in May 2008...

"There is a beautifully camp scene in an old 1960s episode of Doctor Who, where Patrick Troughton, locked in a cave full of cybermen, is confronted with the treachery of two human logicians, who have deliberately sabotaged their comrades' spaceship in order to give them time to build an alliance with the ice-cold creatures of steel. Why on earth do you believe the cybermen will form an alliance with you? asks the Doctor, in bemused horror. Because we're logicians, and because such an alliance makes sense, they reply: everything yields to logic, doc-torrrr.

I was quite powerfully moved by that scene as a child, and it probably had more to do with my ultimate choice of career as a statistician as anything else. Secretly, shamefully, I rather empathised with the logical humans. It's taken many years of therapy (aka "life") for me to discover that love is somewhat more important than critical thinking. However, I do retain a sincere belief that evidence, measured numerically, can tell us something real about the hidden motivations of politicians. Please don't quote Disraeli at me: even he wasn't right about everything." [MORE...]

The Westminster Brat Pack

Matthew Barrett

With so many new and young faces sitting on the government benches, it’s easy to overlook the next generation of twenty-something Righties. This London-based group of friends and professionals, who drink, blog, tweet, and network together, are definitely ones to keep an eye on over the next few years. Let’s meet some of them:

• Samuel Coates
   Formerly of this parish, Sam was our Deputy Editor, who left to become a speech-writer for David Cameron at the age of 22. He then led the online war for CCHQ, and is now Head of Digital, responsible for the Party's online strategy. Sam is in the TA and later this month he will be deployed to Helmand for a six-month tour of duty.

• Dan Hamilton
  A regular ConHome contributor, Dan used to work for ComRes and has a much respected political knowledge of Europe, as well as Britain. He led something of a Brat Pack trip to Kosovo earlier this year, with more Pack trips abroad expected in the future. Currently the Director of the Big Brother Watch campaign group, this month he stepped down as a Runnymede Borough Councillor

• Harry Cole
  A former Vice-President of Scottish Conservative Future, and CCHQ-based CF recruiter, Cole wrote the “ToryBear” blog, before becoming the News Editor of the Guido Fawkes blog. He has sources all over the Westminster village, and is a strong media performer; his Sunday Times paper reviews are characteristic of his provocative style. His parties south of the river (hosted at the flat he shares with Christian May) are, apparently, the stuff of Brat Pack legend.
  
  
• Mark Wallace
  This (early era) Elvis lookalike Tynesider, who describes himself as a “patriotic libertarian”, is a former head of campaigns at the Freedom Association and the Taxpayers’ Alliance, and was previously a part of the No campaign in the 2004 North East Regional Assembly referendum. Last year, he moved into the world of PR, but his personal blog, “Crash Bang Wallace” is a must-read.
  
  
• Shane Greer
  Formerly Iain Dale’s right hand man, he is now the Executive Editor of Dale’s Total Politics magazine. His prolific appearances on television, radio and the paper reviews have led to him being jokingly referred to by fellow Packers as “TV’s Shane Greer”. One of few accomplished media performers who can confidently talk about most news stories, he is an American-style pundit.
  
  
• Nick Pickles
  Music photographer extraordinaire and proud Yorkshireman, he took on Yvette Cooper in Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford as the Conservative candidate in 2010, out-performing the national trend by achieving a formidable 12.5% swing to the Conservatives. President of the Durham Students' Union 2005-6, he is Mark Wallace’s flatmate and “an all-round good egg”, but despite rumours, he is no relation to Eric Pickles.
   
  
• Matt Sinclair
  Sinclair took over the role of Director of the Taxpayers’ Alliance when Matthew Elliott left to head the No2AV campaign. Many people would struggle to follow Elliott, but Sinclair has made his own mark, is a polished media performer (including a notable clash on the BBC’s Daily Politics with Unison’s Dave Prentis), and has a razor-sharp mind.
  
   
• Jimmy McLoughlin
  Son of the Chief Whip, Patrick, he is a respected political consultant, and former Conservative Future official. Keeps a quiet and low profile, but is “a big player behind the scenes”. There is a consensus that he is, as one source told me, “one of the nicest guys and most loyal friends in Westminster”.
  
  
   
• Piotr Brzezinski
  A Harvard-educated trans-Atlantic writer and CCHQ policy analyst, he was recently on loan at the No2AV campaign. Brzezinski has performed some serious roles for the party, and is considered “one to watch” to the extent that one source even tipped him to work in Downing Street in the not-too-distant future.
• Juliet Samuel
  Another Harvard grad, Samuel was the fearless face of the spoof news channel, Guy News. As “Emily Nomates” she notably managed to interview then-UKIP leader Lord Pearson in a burka. She is now one of the increasing number of libertarian conservatives at City AM, with an impressive number of scoops and front pages already under her belt. One source told me she was “one of the most interesting people” he’d ever met.
   
  
• Christian May
  May is a political consultant for a public relations firm, with a strong interest in foreign affairs. He is said to have had a hand in a surprising number of notable speeches made by Cabinet members in recent times. May is a former Deputy National Chairman of Conservative Future.
   
  
• Raheem Kassam
  Over the last few years, Kassam has been involved with a number of groups: Conservative Future, the Taxpayers’ Alliance, the Henry Jackson Society (where he is currently the Director of Campaigns), and was referred to in the Daily Telegraph as an organiser of the “British Tea Party”. Kassam has carved a strong niche with his work against Islamic extremism in universities. He is also the only Brat Packer so far to have his own Wikipedia page.
   
  
• Donata Huggins
  Also formerly of this parish, Huggins used to work at the BBC’s Daily Politics, and is now the Features Writer at City AM. She is said to be a “ruthless networker”, and has an extensive contact book. Apparently more focused on the media than campaigning; one source said “she’s destined for a broadcast career”.

Who have I missed?

Guy Opperman MP diagnosed with a brain tumour - by Daniel Poulter MP

Matthew Barrett

Back in April, we reported that Guy Opperman (Hexham) had been diagnosed with, and had successful emergency surgery to remove, a non-malignant growth. But the Mail on Sunday reports today that when Opperman was suffering with vomiting and severe headaches, he sought medical help from Commons staff, who initially believed it to be nothing more than a bad headache. Opperman was ready to go home, when staff asked fellow Conservative MP, Dr Daniel Poulter (Central Suffolk and North Ipswich) for a second opinion. Dr Poulter realised he had been suffering from a potentially lethal brain tumour. Dr Poulter told Opperman to go immediately to St Thomas’ Hospital, close to Parliament, where he was sent on to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in central London, and had surgery.

Dr Poulter told the Mail on Sunday:

I was in the bar drinking Diet Coke when I was called. Guy’s symptoms were pain in the back of his head and vomiting. I took those as possible signs of bleeding in the brain. He hadn’t been drinking so it was clear something was happening. He was going to be sent home but I realised it was urgent to get him to hospital.

The operation has been reported to be a success and Mr Opperman is now recouperating in hospital where his family have joined him.

Ravi Govindia to be the new leader of Wandsworth Council.

by Paul Goodman

The Council's website says:

"Cllr Govindia is set to replace Edward Lister who will step down as leader to take up a new role as deputy mayor of London.

Born in Jinja, Uganda's second largest city, Ravi first arrived in the UK aged 17 following General Idi Amin's expulsion of Ugandan Asians.

First elected in 1982, he has chaired several committees during his career at the council including leisure and amenity services, technical services and planning.

He currently holds the post of cabinet member for strategic planning and transportation.

Cllr Govindia is set to formally take over as leader at the next full council meeting on Wednesday 18 May."

At the risk of alienating councillors elsewhere, I think it's fair to say that Wandsworth has long been one of the most prominent Conservative councils in Britain, and Cllr Govinda's election will be widely noted in local government.  Good luck to him.

I'm not going to list Cllr Govinda's full C.V, but I've been sent an account of his life that he wrote himself, and post below some details of his early years, which give a flavour of who he is, where he's come from, and what formed his beliefs:

"I was born in Jinja, Uganda’s second city, which I thought was big until I arrived in the UK aged 17 following Idi Amin’s expulsion of Ugandan Asians. It is an experience that has shaped my world view and there is little wonder I place a high value on individual freedom and personal choice.

Having spent the previous 72 hours at a half­complete airport being bitten by mosquitoes, the long coach trip to mid­Sussex was a joy. Two days later we were taken by train to Plymouth and eventually to a disused army camp in the middle of Dartmoor.

I was a gawky youth straight from the tropics faced with a steep learning curve – going to a local comprehensive and confronting a different curriculum, meeting new people and new ways of doing things. An early crash course in etiquette, manners and ways of my adoptive country has stood me in very good stead all through my life.

I achieved the required ‘A’ level grades to go to university. To help family finances and save for university I became a bus conductor on the Western National buses operating on routes from Plymouth to all over south Devon and Cornwall. In the summer of 1973 I was voted the friendliest conductor on route 5A!

I read law at Queen Mary College and joined the Conservative Students Association. It was a decision which met with the disapproval of many of my fellow students but I stuck it out."

The vacancy of course arose because Cllr Edward Lister was recently appointed as a Deputy Mayor and chief of staff to Boris Johnson.

Who is the youngest Conservative councillor in the country?

by Paul Goodman

The golden rule with pieces of this kind is that if someone's named, it's not long before a reader has found someone else even younger.  None the less, I open the bidding with Cllr Jodie Jones, elected last week to Cannock Chase Council.  She is 22.

Jodie was born in Cannock, grew up there, established a student council at school, and was consequently elected its Chair.  Then to Magdalen College, Oxford University, where she studied history and politics.  She graduated in 2009, and worked for 18 months in Australia and the UK for a fundraising consultancy.

Then, in her own words, "when I got back to the UK in November, I was desperate to get back to politics".  So thence to the constituency office of Aidan Burley, the local MP, which she now manages - having originally asked simply for some work on a voluntary basis.

She writes: "The ‘Help Zone’ concept we operate means that we are open to constituents every day of the week... I love being able to provide help and support to constituents who, often, come to their MP because they have nowhere else to turn for advice and support."

"My work in the Help Zone is why I decided to run for Council.  There are many problems which I have seen and which I would like to address to improve Cannock Chase.  I know what a difference it makes to people to have someone to turn to who will look out for their interests, and I want to do that for my ward, Rawnsley.

It’s important to me that young people feel engaged with politics.  The apathy and disinterest felt by many terrifies me – and I hope that I can, by being a younger member of the Council, reach out to more young people, and encourage them to take an active part in politics too."

Now, let me guess: you know someone even younger.  But best of luck to Jodie in any event.

 

 

Alex Deane elected as Common Councilman in the City of London

by Paul Goodman

Cry Freedom in the City.  Let it scrub its DNA records, tear down any CCTV cameras happen to be in place, and steel itself for the full disclosure of the last drop of information: Alex Deane has been elected as a "common councilman", as the post is called.  Doesn't he look commanding in the photo?  Is that a Tory branch committee in the background?  Why are they holding the raffle in a church?

At any rate, warmest congratulations are in order.  Deane is a former Director of Big Brother Watch, hence the civil libertarian business above, and a contributor to this site.  Oh, and he was also Chief of Staff to David Cameron.  But the City has an ancient tradition of non-party political elections, and Deane was elected as an independent.  We send him our best wishes for his venture in the Square Mile.