Yesterday this blog expressed some concern that David Davis had failed to win big endorsements from senior serving colleagues. That failure came at a time when David Cameron was winning support from the likes of Michael Gove, Boris Johnson, Oliver Letwin and George Osborne (and after Liam Fox had been endorsed by Chris Grayling, Oliver Heald and Stephen O'Brien).
That concern was addressed today when Damian Green announced his support for Mr Davis in an article for The Sunday Times. Westminster had suspected that Mr Green had been a silent supporter of Mr Davis for some time. When Mr Green urged Michael Howard to quit early, some three weeks ago, many thought it was part of the Davis camp's attempts to accelerate the election timetable.
Mr Green's endorsement of Mr Davis is a real coup for the Shadow Home Secretary. It is the first practical demonstration of Mr Davis' aspiration for form a shadow cabinet of all the talents. Mr Green is traditionally seen as a man of the party's left. Shadow Education Secretary under IDS he was effectively sacked by Michael Howard but is widely regarded as one of the party's best communicators. He now believes that David Davis' beliefs offer the best opportunity of renewing One Nation Conservatism.
Also encouraging to Mr Davis is Ian Taylor MP's declaration that "David Davis could be the man for me". The fact that Green and Taylor are traditional allies of Ken Clarke puts the former Chancellor in an awkward spot. Still popular with the general public the former Chancellor has the loyal support of David Curry MP but few other MPs are openly supportive. The odds increasingly favour David Cameron becoming the leader of the Stop-Davis-coalition.
Damian Green and Ian Taylor major endorsements for Davis! Green was rightly sacked by Michael Howard for being totally useless when shadow education secretary and all you can say about Mr Taylor is that he is more minor than major!
Posted by: Jack Stone | 20 June 2005 at 11:44
The point is that this shows that Davis has appeal accross the Conservative spectrum and isn't the "one last heave" merchant that many of us suspected him of being...
Posted by: James Hellyer | 20 June 2005 at 15:42
If you add the Lib Dems to the Labour lot, we have enough lefties and Europhiles as it is without bogging the Conservative party down with them. Leftwing rightwing whatever, stick to Conservative principles, the country needs them, not more of the same. Davis is the man.
Posted by: jude | 20 June 2005 at 19:46
Taylor is quite good, former minister, euro sensible, former Clarkeist. This is a good coup for Davis.
Posted by: Edward | 21 June 2005 at 11:20