By Paul Goodman
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The combination of Eastleigh and Italy have between them unleashed a tidal wave of commentary about the drawbacks of being governed by the professional politics. Consider Charles Moore's column in today's Daily Telegraph:
"Eastleigh brings out something which more and more voters feel. A quarter of a century ago, when people used to complain in pubs that “they’re all the same”, I used to argue back: it seemed to me patently false. Today, I stay quiet. Nigel Farage says that we have three social democrat parties now. There is a bit of truth in that, but I would put it differently. It is not so much that they all think the same thing. It is more that they are all the same sort of people. They all belong to a political elite whose attitudes and careers are pretty different from those of the rest of us."
Even the briefest inspection of David Cameron and Ed Miliband supports this view. Miliband has been a full-time political apparatchick since University. Cameron briefly had a job in television, but not a career: the post was acknowledged to be a waiting room for the Commons, even by his employers.
Continue reading "We're governed less by professional politicians than we think" »
Saturday, March 02, 2013 in Andrew Lansley MP, Chris Grayling MP, David Cameron MP, David Jones MP, David Willetts MP, Dominic Grieve MP, Eric Pickles MP, Francis Maude MP, George Osborne MP, George Young MP, Grant Shapps MP, Iain Duncan Smith MP, Justine Greening MP, Ken Clarke MP, Maria Miller MP, Michael Gove MP, Oliver Letwin MP, Owen Paterson MP, Patrick McLoughlin MP, Philip Hammond MP, Sayeeda Warsi (Baroness), Sir George Young MP, Theresa May MP, Theresa Villiers MP, William Hague MP | Permalink | Comments
By Tim Montgomerie
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As reported widely in today's written and broadcast media a new Tory-led group has been formed to support equal marriage. You can read more about 'Freedom to Marry' on its website.
I should declare an interest. Some months ago I made a conservative case for gay marriage on this website and I've joined the group as one of its supporters. The other initial supporters are listed below:
As media outlets have noted the support of evangelical Christians Alistair Burt and Desmond Swayne as well as the Catholic Cabinet minister Patrick McLoughlin is an indication of the group's broad base. More high-profile supporters will be announced in the coming days and weeks.
Sunday, December 09, 2012 in Alistair Burt MP, Bernard Jenkin MP, Boris Johnson, Desmond Swayne MP, Gavin Barwell MP, Jane Ellison MP, Kris Hopkins MP, Margot James MP, Michael Gove MP, Nicholas Soames MP, Nick Herbert MP, Patrick McLoughlin MP, Ruth Davidson MSP | Permalink | Comments
By Matthew Barrett
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Following on from the last few days' rolling blogs, I have below a final list of the MPs (and Baroness Warsi) appointed as Ministers for each department. I have put new appointments in bold.
Cabinet Office
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Department for Communities and Local Government
Continue reading "Full post-reshuffle list of Ministers" »
Wednesday, September 05, 2012 in Alan Duncan MP, Alistair Burt MP, Andrew Lansley MP, Andrew Mitchell MP, Anna Soubry MP, Anne Milton MP, Baroness Warsi, Chloe Smith MP, Chris Grayling MP, Damian Green MP, Daniel Poulter MP, David Evennett MP, David Gauke MP, David Jones MP, David Lidington MP, David Mundell MP, David Willetts MP, Desmond Swayne MP, Dominic Grieve MP, Edward Timpson MP, Elizabeth Truss MP, Esther McVey MP, Francis Maude MP, George Osborne MP, Grant Shapps MP, Greg Barker MP, Greg Clark MP, Greg Hands MP, Greg Knight MP, Helen Grant MP, Hugo Swire MP, Iain Duncan Smith MP, James Brokenshire MP, Jeremy Hunt MP, Jeremy Wright MP, Jo Johnson MP, John Hayes MP, John Randall MP, Justine Greening MP, Karen Bradley MP, Ken Clarke MP, Mark Harper MP, Mark Hoban MP, Mark Lancaster MP, Mark Simmonds MP, Matthew Hancock MP, Michael Fallon MP, Mike Penning MP, Nick Hurd MP, Nicky Morgan MP, Oliver Heald MP, Oliver Letwin MP, Owen Paterson MP, Parliamentary etiquette, Patrick McLoughlin MP, Richard Benyon MP, Robert Goodwill MP, Robert Syms MP, Sajid Javid MP, Simon Burns MP, Stephen Crabb, Stephen Hammond MP, Theresa May MP, Theresa Villiers MP, William Hague MP | Permalink | Comments
And the winner of the Conservative awayday quiz was...
20 Sep 2013 10:42:23 | Comments (0)Today's Tory MPs awayday will be told that the 40/40 strategy is now a 50/40 strategy
19 Sep 2013 06:10:30 | Comments (0)New edition Loyalty Boris hits the shelves
18 Sep 2013 14:28:51 | Comments (0)Lorraine Fullbrook announces she is standing down as MP for Ribble South at the next election
14 Sep 2013 12:56:56 | Comments (0)Grant Shapps writes to the UN Secretary-General in protest at biased Housing investigator
12 Sep 2013 00:05:07 | Comments (0)Candidate applications open for five more seats
6 Sep 2013 15:57:35 | Comments (0)Sajid Javid says he’d “embrace the opportunities” that leaving the European Union would bring
6 Sep 2013 13:15:39 | Comments (0)We need more social entrepreneurs as Tory MPs: Toby Young must do his duty
5 Sep 2013 16:23:54 | Comments (0)Reshuffle speculation, what reshuffle speculation?
1 Sep 2013 12:24:10 | Comments (0)Who's to blame? Cameron, the Whips, or both?
30 Aug 2013 09:04:08 | Comments (0)