”He is able, articulate and intelligent. He has clear beliefs and a clear programme; he also listens. He has shown great ability in attracting the attention of people who believe in conservative values but have given up voting for the Conservative Party.”
Those words conclude a letter to this morning's Telegraph endorsing Shadow Education Secretary David Cameron. The letter’s signatories include two previously unknown Cameron supporters - Andrew Robathan MP and Newbury’s new MP, Richard Benyon.
Last night’s centralising vote by MPs to scrap one-member-one-vote means that endorsements from MPs will become critically important again. David Davis continues to lead the endorsements field and yesterday this blog identified Patrick Mercer as a new supporter.
David Davis (28)
Richard Bacon, Henry Bellingham, Graham Brady, Derek Conway, Philip Davies, David Davis, Nadine Dorries, Jonathan Djanogly, Nigel Evans, Eric Forth, Roger Gale, Paul Goodman, Damian Green, John Greenway, Philip Hammond, Nick Herbert, Julie Kirkbride, Greg Knight, John Maples, Patrick Mercer, Andrew Mitchell, Andrew Murrison, Richard Spring, Ian Taylor, Shailesh Vara, Peter Viggers, Bill Wiggin, David Wilshire.
David Cameron (12)
Greg Barker, Richard Benyon, David Cameron, Michael Gove, Michael Howard, Boris Johnson, Oliver Letwin, Peter Luff, George Osborne, Andrew Robathan, Hugo Swire, Ed Vaizey.
Liam Fox (8)
Liam Fox, Chris Grayling, Justine Greening, Greg Hands, Oliver Heald, Eleanor Laing, Daniel Kawczynski, Stephen O’Brien
David Willetts (4)
Charles Hendry, Mark Hoban, David Lidington, David Willetts.
Clarke-Lansley-Rifkind (30)
Peter Ainsworth, James Arbuthnot, Tony Baldry, Richard Benyon, Crispin Blunt, Alistair Burt, Kenneth Clarke, David Curry, Quentin Davies, John Gummer, John Horam, Nick Hurd, Michael Jack, Robert Key, Jacqui Lait, Andrew Lansley, Anne McIntosh, Anne Milton, Malcolm Moss, Richard Ottaway, James Paice, Sir Malcolm Rifkind, Keith Simpson, Nicholas Soames, Anthony Steen, Andrew Tyrie, Robert Walter, Ann Widdecombe, Tim Yeo, Sir George Young.
For the basis for this list please read edition one and its explanatory notes.
Should know Richard Benyon be taken off the C-L-R list of supporters or is he saying that he will vote twice know?
Posted by: Peter Berrow | 21 July 2005 at 08:48
Well, this still shows that nobody has really broken away from the pack (unless someone has lots of undclared supporters that we don't know about).
Even on these figures, a lot depends on whether the C-L-R supporters stay together or splinter between the other candidates, when we finally know which of C-L-R are actually going to run...
Posted by: James Hellyer | 21 July 2005 at 09:27
Thank you, Peter.
I will take RB off the CLR list.
In fairness to him he was put in the CLR camp as a guesstimate. He has only declared once.
Posted by: Editor | 21 July 2005 at 09:35
Thats okay, from info got from the last vote in 2001 we seem to have 45mps who definitly voted for either Portillo or IDS in first ballot who haven't declared yet and with that I think they will be the make or break of the David Davis campaign. What do other people think?
Posted by: Peter Berrow | 21 July 2005 at 10:46
Add David DaviEs (Monmouth) - declared for David Davis on Today this morning as part of an interview with new MPs from various parties.
Posted by: William Norton | 21 July 2005 at 11:46
Looking in more detail from last time election(2001) it looks like Clarke & Cameron will fight it out to see who challenges Davis, with Clarke winning in the last ballot by 10(a lead thats been reduced all the time). The one surprise in all this through is if Theresa May can get enough of the so called "50" to support her.
Still think through its a shame that Alan Duncan couldn't get support from his fellow MPs.
Posted by: Peter Berrow | 22 July 2005 at 09:07