With apologies for the lack of graphics this month, here are the December net satisfaction ratings for the shadow cabinet (as rated by 1,090 Tory members of the ConservativeHome Members' Panel) - with highest-rated members at the top of the list:
- David Davis +83% (+82%)
- William Hague +68% (+72%)
- Liam Fox +50% (+51%)
- Lord Strathclyde +40%
- George Osborne +35% (+43%)
- David Willetts +33% (+23%)
- Alan Duncan +30%
- Andrew Lansley +30% (+26%)
- Chris Grayling +26%
- Caroline Spelman +24% (+18%)
- Patrick McLoughlin +18%
- Hugo Swire +16%
- Philip Hammond +13%
- Oliver Letwin +12% (+9%)
- Oliver Heald +10%
- David Lidington +10% - who described his work on Northern Ireland here
- Andrew Mitchell +10%
- Peter Ainsworth +9%
- Cheryl Gillan +9% - who wrote for yesterday's Platform on her role
- Theresa Villiers +7%
- David Mundell +2% - who has written for today's Platform
- Francis Maude -4% (-3%)
- Theresa May -5% (+2%).
Shadow Leader of the Lords, Tom Strathclyde's rating of +40% is the standout number from the new group of shadow cabinet members we ranked in December.
The bracketed figures are the November ratings for the ten shadow cabinet members ranked in ConservativeHome's year-long tracking series.
Related links: 'Don't know levels for the shadow cabinet' and Last month's ratings for the shadow cabinet.
All those who were leadership contenders appear near the top..........clearly brand recognition is lingering even if performance Mr Fox is highly disappointing
Posted by: ToMTom | January 12, 2007 at 11:40
Part of the problem is that of being seen to be doing something. As weve discussed on other threads recently, many Shadow Cabinet members arent able to speak on their own and instead Cameron speaks for them...the food patriotism speech would have been more appropriate for the Environment rep...
Davis keeping his first place. He is getting a lot of press attention given the Home Office's inability to do anything remotely resembling its job.
How did Osborne get on last night on Question Time? I missed it...
Posted by: James Maskell | January 12, 2007 at 11:45
Question Time was really good last night, James - you should try to watch it on the BBC News website if you get the chance.
George Osborne was ok, although (as part of a strong panel, it has to be said) he was overshadowed by Kelvin Mackenzie and Clare Short. Charles Kennedy did quite well too, and Charlie Falconer was his usual blustering, evasive self and was humiliated by Mackenzie at one point.
Posted by: Daniel VA | January 12, 2007 at 12:59
Osborne alas had the usual Tory problem of facing a QT dominated by Iraq. The only Conservative MPs I've ever seen make much headway on the issue are those who can say they opposed the war in the first place - Ken Clarke and Malcolm Rifkind.
Posted by: Adam | January 12, 2007 at 15:25
I am tired of Bunter Falconer - I thought Lord Irvine was far more dignified as Lord Chancellor - ie. not party political and not on chat shows
Posted by: ToMTom | January 12, 2007 at 17:32
I'm tired of public schoolboy Osborne.
Haven't we got any normal people who could be Shadow Chancellor, like someone with some actual experience of real life?
Posted by: wondering | January 12, 2007 at 22:09
"Haven't we got any normal people who could be Shadow Chancellor, like someone with some actual experience of real life?"
Surely, all that experience managing the trust fund that contains his inherited wealth from his parents is excellent experience for the job of Shadow Chancellor.
Posted by: Andrew Clarke | January 13, 2007 at 18:33
Whats wrong with inherited wealth? Are you a socialist?
Posted by: houndtang | January 14, 2007 at 18:31
I thought I was a political anorak but I must confess to knowing very very little about Strathclyde.Can anyone enlighten me on what he's achieved?
Posted by: malcolm | January 15, 2007 at 14:43