Gazette

Lord Ashcroft announces his support for a £1m appeal for bomb disposal heroes

By Joseph Willits 
Follow Joseph on Twitter   

In an article for the Sunday Telegraph, Lord Ashcroft has stated the reasons why he is supporting the launch of Felix Fund, a new charity being created to assist and support bomb disposal experts and their families.

Lord Ashcroft talks of his admiration for the courageous work of bomb disposal experts, and how it was brought about during a training exercise at Melville Barracks, Essex.  He spent a day there, researching for his new book, 'George Cross Heroes' with 621 EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) Squadron, part of 11 EOD Regiment.

To launch Felix Fund, Lord Ashcroft will be hosting a reception at the House of Lords on September 15th, to begin the campaign to raise £1m for the charity.

Lord Ashcroft highlights the role that members of 11 EOD regiment are playing in Afghanistan, where in recent years, 6 bomb disposal experts have been killed.  At present, in Afghanistan, bomb disposal experts can be called to detonate up to 40 lethal devices each day, which is some indication of the huge risk and responsibilty involved in their day to day work.

It is not only in Afghanistan, where the the role of bomb disposal experts is imperative.  In 2010, there were 3,000 incidents in the UK and Northern Ireland, where the service of bomb disposal experts was required.

In raising £1m, Felix Fund would be able to ensure several things.  Bomb disposal experts will be able to be sent on "normalisation" breaks on their return from Afghanistan.  Individual needs will also be met, through Felix Fund Hardship grants, and general facilities for the servicemen and their families improved.

Launch of Tory Hoose, a blog to debate Scottish Conservatism

By Joseph Willits 
Follow Joseph on Twitter   

A new blog has been created by a group of Scottish Conservative Holyrood candidates, senior party officials and activists.  Tory Hoose was launched yesterday, and will focus on Scottish politics, and in particular, Scottish Conservatism.

Already, in the next coming days, Tory Hoose has contributions lined up from the three Scottish Conservative leaderships contenders - Murdo Fraser, Ruth Davidson and Jackson Carlaw - aswell as from other MSPs, councillors, candidates and senior party officials.

Tory Hoose will be welcome to contributions from across the political sphere, and we all wish them well in their start-up.

They will be tweeting from @toryhoose and have a Tory Hoose Facebook page.

Conservative Friends of Israel statement on terrorist attacks in southern Israel

By Joseph Willits 
Follow Joseph on Twitter

Following a series of series of attacks in southern Israel, near the resort town of Eilat, the Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI) Parliamentary Vice-Chairman, James Clappison MP has made the following statement:

“I am shocked and dismayed by the events in southern Israel today and I am certain that the UK Government will unreservedly condemn the perpetrators of these indiscriminate attacks on innocent Israeli civilians. It’s especially shocking after so many peaceful years on the Egyptian-Israeli border, to see reports of gunmen - some of them wearing Egyptian uniform - launching an unprovoked attack and thereby raising questions about security on the Egyptian side of the border. As the news develops, the British Government must seek urgent clarification with both the Egyptian and Palestinian authorities and ensure that they immediately take the necessary security measures in the wake of the attacks. The interim Egyptian Government must also provide crucial assurances that they intend to ensure border security is maintained.”

For more information on this series of attacks, please see news reports from Haaretz and the Telegraph concerning events happening there.

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.

Lady Thatcher hopes to make first public appearance for many months, at unveiling of Ronald Reagan statue

By Tim Montgomerie
Follow Tim on Twitter.

The Evening Standard is reporting that Baroness Thatcher is "determined" to attend the unveiling of a ten foot bronze statue of Ronald Reagan on 4th July.

Lady Thatcher hasn't made any public appearances for some time and her absence from the public stage has fuelled sometimes wild expectation about her health.

The statue will be unveiled at a ceremony to be attended by the Foreign Secretary, William Hague, and the former US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice.

Beneath the statue of America's 40th President will be the words, "Ronald Reagan won the Cold War without firing a shot."

It will stand in Grosvenor Square near the American Embassy and statues of Dwight Eisenhower and Franklin D Roosevelt. The Embassy is actually moving premises next year but the statues will stay behind, claiming a little part of London for America's greatest presidents.

It's my human right to take my dog to work, says Tory MP Matthew Offord

By Tim Montgomerie
Follow Tim on Twitter.

I couldn't quite believe today's Mail on Sunday story by Brendan Carlin but I have double checked this morning and it's true. Tory MP Matthew Offord is citing the Human Rights Act in his bid to ensure he can continue to take his Jack Russell, Max, to the House of Commons with him.

Mr Offord has been taking Max to work for a number of weeks but the House of Commons authorities are now insisting that the Conservative MP for Hendon observes the 1991 parliamentary rule that no dogs are permitted in the Palace of Westminster - excepting guide dogs, sniffer dogs and pets owned by people living on the estate.

Mr Offord complains: "If they try to push this, I will invoke the Human Rights Act because they're breaching my right to a private, family life." Article 8 does indeed talk about a private, family life but was it intended for this? Offord insists that if the Commons authorities are daft enough to have such a stupid rule they deserve a human rights challenge.

The Conservative MP who shares Mr Offord's Westminster office, John Stevenson, told the Mail on Sunday that he is happy for Mr Offord to gave him his full backing over bringing in Max.

11.30am: Matthew Offord has just sent this email:

"I have read the above piece and have to correct Tim. Citing the Human Rights Act is a demonstration of how the legislation is being used for frivolous purposes. The fact that it frustrates the jobsworths is a bonus. I am, and remain, fiercely opposed to the HRA."

Tory MPs and activists up and down the country campaign in No2AV Super Saturday

By Jonathan Isaby

I have already noted today how CCHQ has launched another offensive in the fight against AV and how the latest poll is carrying good news for the No2AV campaign.

Today, Conservative MPs, councillors and activists have been taking part in a "Super Saturday" national day of campaigning ahead of the referendum.
 
Hundreds of activists have been helping with leafleting, canvassing and street stalls, including Cabinet Ministers Eric Pickles, Owen Paterson, Cheryl Gillan, Philip Hammond, David Willetts, Oliver Letwin, Andrew Lansley, Caroline Spelman, Jeremy Hunt, Theresa May, Iain Duncan Smith, George Young and Francis Maude.

Eric Pickles remarked:

“More people are realising what’s at stake - that AV will take power away from them and hand it to the politicians. And across the country we are seeing people of all ages, from Conservatives to life-long Labour supporters, united in calling for a ‘No’ vote on May 5th.”

Portrait of The Queen unveiled at Scottish Parliament after campaign by Tory MSP

By Jonathan Isaby

The Princess Royal was the the Scottish Parliament yesterday to unveil a portrait of her mother, which was commissioned after Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser first asked that such a portrait should be installed at Holyrood in 2009.

Explains Murdo:

“It is welcome news that the Scottish Parliament now hangs a portrait of HM The Queen, Scotland’s Head of State, in the building.  It is a fitting tribute to the very warm friendship and support that the Queen has shown to the Scottish Parliament as an institution since it was established in 1999.

“The official portrait was taken by Shaun Murawski, a talented young Scottish photographer, and showcases his photography skills and is an excellent portrait of the Queen. It will hang proudly in the Main Hall of the Scottish Parliament for visitors, guests and staff to see.

“The Queen has always been a strong supporter of Holyrood and I am delighted that we now have an official portrait to show our appreciation for her support.”

The Parliament's Presiding Officer, Alex Fergusson - originally elected as a Conservative MSP - added that he thought the portrait was "absolutely stunning".

"I think it's a wonderful piece of work and I think it will grace our walls for many years to come. It's an astonishing piece of work and I personally am absolutely delighted with it."  

> Boris Johnson installed a portrait of The Queen at City Hall, after finding that there never was one there during Ken Livingstone's sojourn, whilst Eric Pickles did the same at CCHQ and the DCLG and Tim Loughton likewise at the Department for Education.

Ann Widdecombe revealed as guest on the forthcoming season of TV's Strictly Come Dancing

By Tim Montgomerie

The Guardian has the report:

"The annual battle for ratings and column inches between The X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing has become an autumn television fixture. After the BBC came off second-best in last year's scheduling head-to-head – in part thanks to a lacklustre celebrity lineup – the corporation appears to be pulling out all the stops with a host of household names. Ann Widdecombe, Felicity Kendal, Paul Daniels, Peter Shilton and former Destiny's Child member Michelle Williams will all be slipping into super-sequinned costumes and taking their first steps on the dancefloor in the coming weeks. Also embracing glitter and sparkle will be the DJ Goldie, the actor Patsy Kensit, rugby player Gavin Henson, psychologist Pamela Stephenson Connolly, Coronation Street's Tina O'Brien, and EastEnders stars Scott Masien and Kara Tointon. Presenter Matt Baker and East is East star Jimi Mistry will also join inbe taking to the dancefloor."

Will viewers vote for her in the same way they warmed to John Sergeant? Or am I being unfair about the former Home Office minister's likely dancing skills?