ConservativeHome's Interviews

Any questions for Caroline Spelman?

Caroline last answered your questions in June 2006 when she was Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

In the June 2007 Shadow Cabinet reshuffle Caroline was appointed to replace as Francis Maude as Party Chairman and is happy to now answer your questions on that brief.

Please leave your questions in the thread below or email them to the editors.  A selection of the questions will then be put to Mrs Spelman.

Any questions for David Davis?

ConservativeHome's interviews blog has been neglected of late but now returns with a regular weekly feature.

Today we are seeking your questions for Shadow Home Secretary David Davis.  Mr Davis has unsuccessfully challenged for the Tory leadership on two occasions but is now the most popular member of the shadow cabinet according to the ConservativeHome Members' Panel.

You can leave questions for Mr Davis in the thread below or you can email them here.  They will be answered for the end of next week.

Challenge the Chairman III

After a short break for the parliamentary recess, ToryRadio in conjunction with ConservativeHome, is resuming its regular "Challenge the Chairman" slot which gives you the chance to put your questions to Francis Maude.

Much has happened since the last questions were put to the Chairman.

Should a former Labour candidate have made the A list top up?
Do you think the new logo is a good move?
Was it worth £40,000

If you have any questions on these or any subject, please leave them in the comments section below, or email [email protected].

Any questions for William Hague?

William Hague is currently Shadow Foreign Secretary and was Leader of the Conservative Party from 1997 until 2001.  He was Welsh Secretary in John Major's administration.

Mr Hague is currently working on a biography of William Wilberforce.  His recent biography of 'William Pitt the Younger' was popularly acclaimed.

Please use the thread below to pose questions for William Hague or email questions to [email protected].  The answers will appear next Friday 29th September. 

Any questions for... anyone?

The Interviews section has taken a break during August but will return next month.

Please use this thread to suggest people you would like ConservativeHome to question.

Any questions for Iain Duncan Smith?

Iain Duncan Smith led the Conservative Party from one day after 9/11 and until he lost the support of Tory MPs in November 2003.  His leadership was dominated by the first two years of the war on terror.  He supported both the liberation of Afghanistan and the war against Saddam Hussein.

Although he emphasised Euroscepticism (notably in his Prague speech), lower taxation and a massive expansion of police numbers, IDS also attempted  to use his shortlived leadership to steer the Conservative Party towards a greater concern for Britain's poorest communities.  His last major decision as Tory leader was to commit the party to restore the link between the basic state pension and earnings.

After losing the Conservative leadership he founded the Centre for Social Justice to carry that work forward.  The CSJ has aimed to increase the Westminster establishment's understanding of community-rooted poverty-fighting organisations.  One of David Cameron's first acts as Tory leader was to put IDS in charge of the first policy review group - into social justice.

From the backbenches IDS has led cross-party opposition to Labour's Mental Capacity Bill, foresaw the importance of right-wing blogging and campaigned successfully for a commemoration of the WWI generation.

Please use the comments thread below to raise questions for IDS or email questions to Tim.

Any questions for George Osborne?

Since being elected as MP for Tatton in 2001 George Osborne, 35, has enjoyed a rapid series of promotions that saw him become Shadow Chancellor in May 2005.

Although he had been widely tipped for the Tory leadership himself, Mr Osborne decided not to join the race to succeed Michael Howard and became David Cameron's campaign chief.  Underlying his closeness to the leader he helped elect, Mr Osborne's own office - and that of Oliver Letwin, head of party policy - are now adjacent to Mr Cameron's own.

Before entering parliament Mr Osborne was speechwriter and political secretary to William Hague.  A committed Atlanticist and supporter of the war in Iraq, Mr Osborne has adopted a cautious approach to tax policy since he became the party's Treasury spokesman.  He has emphasised the need to put economic stability before tax cuts although he has emphasised tax simplification and lower taxation of business.  He has also championed the interests of start-up media businesses who fear being crowded out by the BBC.

Mr Osborne is married with two children.

Please use the comments thread below to raise questions for George or email questions to Tim.

Any questions for Francis Maude?

Francis Maude has been at the forefront of embracing the use of new technology as a way of engaging Conservative members and supporters, and is a regular reader of ConservativeHome and other right-of-centre blogs.

In a sign that the internet will play a more crucial campaigning role than it has historically, the party recently announced the hiring of “internet guru” Sam Roake from Google and is recruiting a new editor for conservatives.com.

In an exciting new development - thought to be a first in British politics - the Party Chairman has agreed to taking part in what will become a monthly “Challenge the Chairman” slot which will take the form of a Tory Radio podcast.

You have the opportunity to submit a question which Jonathan Sheppard, Editor of ToryRadio, will try to put to Francis each month....

• Do you have any burning issues you feel the party needs to be thinking about?
• Now that the A list is up and running is there any scope for criticism?
• What of changes to the party membership rules?
• What else would you like to ask?

Please use the comments thread below to raise questions for Francis or email questions to [email protected].

Any questions for Lynton Crosby?

Australian Prime Minister John Howard is one of the most successful conservative leaders in the world today - perhaps the most successful.  Lynton Crosby is the man widely credited for helping Mr Howard achieve some of his biggest victories.

Another Howard, Michael Howard, tried to import 'the Crosby factor' for last year's UK General Election and appointed Mr Crosby as director of the Tory campaign.  Mr Crosby became closely associated with the dog-whistle campaign that characterised last year's Tory campaign.

Please use the comments thread below to raise questions for Lynton or email questions to [email protected].

Any questions for Caroline Spelman?

Caroline has been Conservative MP for Meriden since 1997, and is Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

Her previous roles in the party are: Opposition Whip, Frontbench spokeswoman for Health, Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, Shadow Minister for Women, and Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment.

She has also been on the Science and Technology House of Commons Select Committee, and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Conservative Parliamentary Committee.

Please use the comments thread below to raise questions for Caroline Spelman or email questions to [email protected].