Gazette

Owen and Rose Paterson will raise £50,000 for good causes in world's longest horse race

By Tim Montgomerie
Follow Tim on Twitter.

Owen Paterson, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and his wife Rose are set to raise more than £50,000 for good causes in the province by taking part in the 621 mile Mongol Derby. They will ride an average of sixty miles per day in one of the most gruelling races of its kind. The Press Association notes that "the Mongol Derby is modelled on warrior Genghis Khan's legendary system for communicating across his vast empire." PA continues:

"In imitation of Genghis Khan's Pony Express system of communication across his enormous empire, they will change horses every 40km (25 miles) at isolated nomadic settlements. Weight is at a premium, so they will only carry 5kg (11lb) of overnight kit and clothes for 10 days. The nomadic villages will provide mutton stew and unpalatable fermented mares' milk."

Yuk!

Owen Paterson commented:

"The weather will vary from fierce sunshine to violent storms, with freezing nights. We expect to have to cross mountains, marshes, forests and desert. River crossings will be our only opportunity to wash. We have been told to expect rabies, ticks and severe chafing amongst other hazards. Of the 20 riders so far committed, we are the only British and the only over-50s. We are doing it now, because if we don't we never will, but we do hope to raise significant sums for our three charities."

ConservativeHome's 2011 Manchester Party Conference Programme

ConservativeHome is delighted to announce its biggest ever Party Conference Programme for this year's gathering in Manchester.

Please add the times and dates in to your diary. Exact locations will be announced nearer the time.

6pm, Sunday 2nd October:

FRASER NELSON IN CONVERSATION WITH IAIN DUNCAN SMITH

Sponsored by Prudential and Age UK

***

12.30pm, Monday 3rd October (secure zone):

WILLIAM HAGUE ON BRITISH FOREIGN POLICY

Sponsored by the Legatum Institute

***

2pm, Monday 3rd October:

THE FUTURE OF CONSERVATISM WITH DAVID DAVIS AND JOHN REDWOOD

Followed by a panel with Graham Brady MP, David Green and Ruth Lea.

***

7.45pm (REVISED TIME), Monday 3rd October:

RALLY WITH BORIS JOHNSON

***

11.30pm, Monday 3rd October (secure zone):

CONSERVATIVEHOME'S CONFERENCE RECEPTION WITH PHILIP HAMMOND

Hosted by Sajid Javid MP.

Sponsored by Airport Operators Association, Emirates and Manchester Airport.

***

12.30pm, Tuesday 4th October:

HOW THE CONSERVATIVES CAN WIN THE NEXT ELECTION

Panel chaired by Janet Daley.

Speakers: Nick Boles MP, Tim Montgomerie, Priti Patel MP and Stephan Shakespeare.

***

3pm, Tuesday 4th October (secure zone):

THE POWER OF CLUSTERS
How financial services support jobs and growth across the UK

Panel including Mark Hoban MP.

Sponsored by TheCityUK

***

9.30pm, Tuesday 4th October (secure zone):

RECEPTION WITH SAVE THE CHILDREN AND SPECIAL GUEST OF HONOUR, GEORGE OSBORNE

____

For more information about any of these events please email [email protected].

If you haven't yet applied to go to party conference click here.

Record number of volunteers join Project Umubano

By Matthew Barrett
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Project Umubano, the Conservative social action project in Rwanda and Sierra Leone, has had a record number of volunteers - 120 - to join this month. 

The project, which will take place for the fifth year this year, is entirely self-funded and was set up in 2007 by David Cameron and (then-Shadow) Secretary of State for International Development, Andrew Mitchell. It is led by Conservative MPs  (pictured right is Mid Derbyshire MP Pauline Latham), and teaches skills such as education, business, health and community development. Since 2007, more than 230 volunteers - from students to Ministers of State - have participated, with many choosing to return to the project. 

Andrew Mitchell said:

"I am thrilled that Project Umubano is in its fifth year and that more people than ever are travelling to Africa to take part. It is a challenging experience and I am heartened that so many members of the Conservative family are taking time out from their summer to help."

Leader of the Project Stephen Crabb MP said:  

"This year’s project builds on the fantastic work already done by the Conservative Party in Rwanda and Sierra Leone, and I am delighted that so many volunteers will join us this time. Whether it’s our new partnership with Street Child of Sierra Leone, our work with the Rwandan Senate or our ongoing football and cricket coaching programmes, Project Umubano continues to go from strength to strength."

> Last month, Stephen Crabb wrote about project Umubano on Comment.

> On today's ToryDiary, we report Andrew Mitchell announcing £52.25m in emergency aid for East African drought victims

Why is Rory Stewart the only new MP to be invited to Chequers? Does the fact that Grant Shapps has been a guest mean he's a hop tip for promotion? Why hasn't Caroline Spelman or Eric Pickles been hosted yet?

By Tim Montgomerie
Follow Tim on Twitter.

10 Downing Street have published the "Government guests" and "senior media guests" that have been entertained at Chequers by David Cameron since he became Prime Minister. Inevitably the fact that Rebekah Brooks was the only person to be entertained twice and that Andy Coulson was a guest in March has got the tongues wagging.

The list reveals plenty of other material for the Kremlinologists looking to understand Cameron's plans.

Rory Stewart MP is, for example, the only member of the Class of 2010 to have been a guest. Does this confirm his status as one destined for great things or was he there to discuss Afghanistan? The fact that another sceptic about the Afghan campaign - Adam Holloway MP - is also on the list (alongside the likes of Lord Ashdown andSir Sherard Cowper-Coles) may point to the latter.

Why were Damian Green and Grant Shapps entertained as two of only a few junior ministers to get the Chequers treatment? Other middle ranking ministers will jealously worry that this means the Immigration and Housing ministers are in pole position for the next Cabinet position. My tips for promotion - Grayling, Clark and Greening - haven't been hosted. Not yet anyway.

No room has yet been found for Mrs and Mrs Pickles or Mr and Mrs Spelman. No Sir George Young. No Dominic Grieve.

Why no Right-wingers like Brady, Redwood or Davis?

There's lots of donors on the list. A couple of same sex couples including Greg Barker and Alan Duncan. Quite a few military types.

For Inside the Beltway types it's fascinating. Apologies to every reader with more important things to worry about.

> Download a PDF of full Chequers guest list.

> There is also this list of meetings with proprietors, editors and senior media executives - including ConservativeHome.

Andrew RT Davies is the new leader of the Welsh Conservatives

By Paul Goodman

The result was declared some two hours later than expected.  Is that related to the closeness of the result?

Mr Davies won 53% of the vote, defeating Nick Ramsay in a contest that had a 49% turnout.  He will head the Conservatives' 14-strong group in the Welsh Assembly.

The contest was called after the former group leader Nick Bourne lost his seat in May's assembly election.  Davies said:

"I'm a proud Welshman and a proud unionist and I feel bitterly disappointed when I look at the league tables on health, economic performance and education, and we see Wales propping those tables up, rather than leading from the top.  We will be inspiring the people of Wales to reach for those heights that I know our communities can go for."

David Cameron said:

“I want to congratulate Andrew on his election as the leader of our party in the Welsh Assembly. Under Labour, Wales has become the poorest part of the UK, its education system is failing a generation and now Labour are making cuts of £1billion to the NHS. We must now offer a strong Conservative voice for Wales and I look forward to working closely with Andrew to deliver this and realise our strong ambitions for Wales."

Davies also paid tribute to both Bourne and Ramsay.

> Read Andrew's article for ConservativeHome in which he explained his vision for the Welsh Conservatives.

House of Commons victorious in Lords vs. Commons Boat Race

By Matthew Barrett
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The annual Parliamentary Boat Race was held yesterday, with the House of Commons team beating their House of Lords colleagues for the third year running. 

The Commons team consisted of the following Members:

• Edward Leigh (Con, Gainsborough)
• Matt Hancock (Con, West Suffolk)
• Matthew Offord (Con, Hendon)
• Claire Perry (Con, Devizes) 
• George Freeman (Con, Mid Norfolk)
• John Stevenson (Con, Carlisle)
• Dan Byles (Con, North Warwickshire)
• Eric Joyce (Lab, Falkirk)

The Lords team consisted of:

• Lord Thomas of Gresford
• The Lord Lucas of Crudwell and Dingwall
• The Lord St John of Bletso
• The Earl of Courtdown
• The Lord Addington
• The Viscount Goschen
• The Baroness Walmsley
• The Lord Bilimoria

The Commons team had the advantage of a former Blue at Oxford (Claire Perry), a Guinness World Record-holder (Dan Byles (for more info, see his Wikipedia entry here)), and seasoned veterans Edward Leigh and Eric Joyce. As well as those experienced team-members, the Commons had Matt Hancock, who stepped in to the team at the very last moment, and first-timer John Stevenson. Matthew Offord took over the captaincy of the team after the retirement of Don Foster (Lib, Bath), last year. Foster announced, on a point of order on the floor of the Commons, the result of the Race after the BSkyB debate finished yesterday evening. Matthew said:

"Those early morning training session certainly came in handy but the power, skill and experience of a first-rate crew ensured our victory over the Lords."

Photo of the team (click to enlarge) (from left-to-right) Edward Leigh, Matt Hancock, Matthew Offord, Claire Perry, Helen (Cox), George Freeman, John Stevenson, Dan Byles and Eric Joyce:

Dan Byles also tweeted this photo after the event, reporting the Boat Race had raised £5,000 for charity (and see more pics on his Twitter page here): 

Joe Wilding, aged 7, takes over from David Cameron and becomes Prime Minister... for a few minutes... well almost

By Tim Montgomerie
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Joe Wilding, aged 7, from Swindon has a life threatening illness and also has a wish to become Prime Minister. Via the Make-a-Wish Foundation, his dream came true with a visit to 10 Downing Street and an interview over chocolate cake with David Cameron. The young man even had the chance to sit in the PM's chair.

There's more at Make-a-Wish:

"Joe and the PM spent some time discussing very important matters, such as whether Mr Cameron had fun at the Royal Wedding, and what his favourite football team was (answer: Aston Villa). Joe then proceeded to put forward some policies he would like to see on the PM’s agenda:- chocolate cake for breakfast for every child in school, free electrical items for six months – and no litter. The PM was very much in agreement on the last item! Mr Cameron then showed Joe his office before having to dash off. But the fun didn’t stop there - because Joe got to meet Larry, the infamous Downing Street cat with a dislike for reporters!"

William Hague reads Thatcher's tribute to Reagan at London ceremony to unveil the former President's Grosvenor Square statue

By Tim Montgomerie
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Beneath the new statue of Ronald Reagan in Grosvenor Square, London: Liam Fox, Defence Secretary; Eric Pickles, Communities Secretary; Alan Duncan, International Development Minister; Condoleezza Rice, former US Secretary of State; George Osborne, Chancellor; William Hague, Foreign Secretary; Iain Duncan Smith, Welfare Secretary.

In his remarks to unveil the statue Mr Hague said:

"On behalf of the British Government on this moving occasion, as a Briton, as a Conservative and as a passionate admirer of America, I am proud that we have made a home here in the centre of our city for President Ronald Reagan. It is a great honour for me personally to take part in a ceremony for a man who changed the political landscape at the time I first became involved in it He joins the ranks of great men and women whose statues adorn our London streets; Nelson, Wellington, Lincoln, Churchill, Roosevelt, Edith Cavell and Nelson Mandela. Statues bring us to face to face with our heroes long after they are gone. Ronald Reagan is without question a great American hero; one of America’s finest sons, and a giant of 20th Century history. You may be sure that the people of London will take his statue to their hearts."

He went on to read this message from Margaret Thatcher who, sadly, was unable to be present:

“Ronald Reagan was a great President and a great man - a true leader for our times. He held clear principles and acted upon them with purpose. Through his strength and his conviction he brought millions of people to freedom as the Iron Curtain finally came down. It was a pleasure to be his colleague and his friend and I hope that this statue will be a reminder to future generations of the debt we owe him.”

Etched into the bronze base of the statue, created by Chas Fagan of North Carolina, are, very appropriately, words from Margaret Thatcher:

"Ronald Reagan won the Cold War without firing a shot."

Download full PDF of William Hague's speech.

David Cameron is overseas and was therefore unable to attend.

Former US Ambassador to the Court of St James, Robert H Tuttle.

MPs Owen Paterson and Dan Byles seek sponsorship for their respective charitable adventures

News reaches us of two Conservative MPs seeking sponsorship for their efforts for worthwhile causes over the coming weeks.

Northern Ireland Secretary and North Shrophsire MP Owen Paterson and his wife Rose will be racing 1,000 km on horseback across the Mongolian Steppe in August. He explains:

"We will be taken to a secret starting point several hours away from Ulaanbaatar and given a GPS navigation aid. In imitation of Genghis Khan’s Pony Express system of communication across his enormous empire, we will change horses every 40 km at isolated nomadic settlements or uurtus. Weight is at a premium, so we will only carry 5 kg of overnight kit and clothes for 10 days. The nomadic villages will provide mutton stew and fermented mares milk, which is apparently considerably more disgusting than it sounds. The weather will vary from fierce sunshine to violent storms with freezing nights. We expect to have to cross mountains, marshes, forests and desert. River crossings will be our only opportunity to wash. We have been told to expect rabies, ticks and severe chafing amongst other hazards."

They are raising money for The Royal Irish Regiment Benevolent Fund, the Midlands Centre for Spinal Injuries and Mercy Corps Mongolia and you can sponsor them here.

Meanwhile North Warwickshire MP Dan Byles is doing a parachute jump on July 6th to raise funds for Troop Aid. He says:

"I served as a soldier for nine years before leaving the Army to stand for election. Now I am joining fellow veterans from Bedworth in jumping out of a perfectly servicable aeroplane in order to raise money for this worthwhile cause."

Click here to sponsor him.