Another survey confirms that Tory candidates are Thatcher's children (but against capital punishment and in favour of gay rights)

The latest edition of the New Statesman is a special issue, all dedicated to the Conservatives.

There are interviews with Boris Johnson and Iain Duncan Smith... a predictable article from Simon Heffer suggesting that Cameron possesses little by way of principle in his political wardrobe... a warning from David Maquand that the Left dismisses David Cameron at its peril... and a very funny suggestion that I'm one of the "10 people David Cameron should fear"...

There's also a survey of Tory candidates, undertaken by ComRes. I should warn readers that it's less authoritative than ConHome's own surveys! Our most recent survey reached 141 candidates in the 250 top Tory-held and target seats. ComRes reached a smaller number of candidates, a good number in less winnable seats. ComRes tell me that they questioned "101 Conservative PPCs [with] two-thirds of the sample replacing MPs standing down or in seats requiring a swing of less than 10%." I'm confident, however, based on our own questionnaires that the survey is close enough to the truth.

I reproduce the results below with the kind permission of the New Statesman.

Tim Montgomerie

Please click on the graphics to enlarge.