David Willetts to back David Davis

He is widely known to have delivered the most intellectually interesting speech of the contest.

Ken Clarke talked about him having been in the back room for far too long and his lieutenants praised him.

David Cameron actively sought his support but David Willetts is now expected to back David Davis imminently.

David Willetts' endorsement of the Shadow Home Secretary will be a critical development in the race and will give Mr Davis' promise to build a Conservative Party of all the talents much added credibility.

Many of the party's more moderate and socially inclusive members will see David Willetts' endorsement as a 'permission slip' to embrace the Davis candidacy.

This is by far the biggest boost to David Davis' campaign to date and I personally hope that Mr Davis will fully embrace David Willetts' message of social reform.

Comments

[Wat Tyler]

This is excellent news, not just for the Davis leadership campaign, but also more importantly for the Party. I think Ed is right about the "permission slip", and I feel a rush of optimism that we can build some unity from this.

Personally I've never believed DD is the pantomime broken-nosed right-winger he's sometimes portrayed as. And social reformer Willetts' decision to come aboard suggests he agrees with me. He'll be a tremendous asset in fleshing out that opportunity/safety net agenda DD is pursuing.

Hurrah!

[Jonathan Sheppard]

Great news for the Davis camp if its confirmed. As posted elsewhere I think it smashed the myth that Davis is only appealing to those described as "Right Wingers". As one leadership candidate appears to be pulling out (willetts) another in Edward Leigh appears to be throwing his hat into the ring.

Are the waters any clearer now??

The Davis camp must feel they are consolidating their exisiting lead - but will there be a domino effect with some of the other leadership candidates falling into line behind their preferred front runners??

[James Hellyer]

Given David Willets other recent announcement, I wouldn't bank on this meaning that he'd have any significant role in a possible Davis Shadow Cabinet.

Willets cautious attitude toward tax cuts made him an unlikely candidate for Shadow Chancellor (the job he thought was his on merit, when Howard gave it to Osborn) under Davis's leadership anyway.

[James Hellyer]

"The Davis camp must feel they are consolidating their exisiting lead - but will there be a domino effect with some of the other leadership candidates falling into line behind their preferred front runners??"

Yes, expect lots of people dropping out to support... Edward Leigh ;=)

[malcolm]

This will be great news for the Davis camp,I'll be very interested to hear Willetts reasoning for this decision.
Personally I'm not sure what to make of Davis.His speeches have been OK even 'though they've lacked any sort of detail .What does put me off a bit are all the stories I've read about his endless plotting against past leaders which is something that has driven me nuts about our parliamentary party for many years.I hope if he does win that these stories prove to be unfounded and he will be able to unite the party.

[Jonathan Sheppard]

Now their are dark horses coming up through the middle and there are dark horses!

[Daniel Vince-Archer]

Call me cynical, but it will be interesting to find out what incentive Davis offered Willetts to back him. It's been widely reported that Davis wants Hague as Shadow Chancellor, which is the position Willetts wants. I've never thought it likely that Hague will take a position in the Shadow Cabinet so I wonder if Davis has actually offered Willetts the Shadow Chancellorship?

[James Hellyer]

"Now their are dark horses coming up through the middle and there are dark horses!"

Who are we to question a man on both a mission from God and Gainsborough?

[Jonathan Sheppard]

Malcolm - there are always endless stories about everyone. It was once put to me that you couldn't have Davis - as he wasn't always nice. It made me smile. I'm not sure being nice is always the best qualification for leading a political party.

Yet at the same time the ordinary bloke on the street appeal of Davis is an assett. I was working in a wharehouse as part of helping out the organisation I work for in the run up to Xmas. This was taking place in Notts - and of the two candidates people knew of and liked Clarke and Davis - and these weren't Tory voters.

Now if Davis can appeal to non Tory voters in Ken's back yard its pretty powerful.

[Editor]

David Cameron's team are quoted on BBCi as saying the Willetts' endorsement is particularly bad for Ken Clarke. There's truth to that. KC wooed DW big time and did not succeed in getting him in his column. For all KC's splashy last two weeks he has yet to pick up new parliamentary endorsements. Not one of the 2005 intake (25% of the parliamentary party) have backed him.

[malcolm]

I hope James that you're joking.If Leigh stands he will only be humiliated.He is no sort of leader at all,his vanity must have got the better of him even to contemplate this.

[James Hellyer]

"I wonder if Davis has actually offered Willetts the Shadow Chancellorship?"

I would be really surprised if Davis did. His and Willets positions regarding tax cuts are hardly harmonious. Davis seems to favour bold cuts, while Willetts is very cautious in that regard. Even George Osborne is, on the face of it, a more likely candidate (partly the point of his recent "flatter" tax escapades, I suspect).

[Daniel Vince-Archer]

Oh what a surprise! The best that the Cameron team can do in response to this news is to attack Ken again! Excuse me whilst I keel over due to shock!

[Oberon Houston]

Seems to still be rumour to me, very surprised that he felt the need to make an announcement this early. If it is true I'm completely flabbergasted. Need to have a wee sit down in a corner for a minute.

[James Hellyer]

Malcolm says, "I hope James that you're joking.If Leigh stands he will only be humiliated.He is no sort of leader at all,his vanity must have got the better of him even to contemplate this."

Sadly, while Leigh may not be joking, I was.

[Jonathan Sheppard]

Oberon - there's no need to go into denial :o)

[Disraeli]

Very interesting news and obviously a boost to DD. He has obviously been offered a major Shadow Cabinet post for this but is also clearly keen to attach himself to the 'favourite' for obvious reasons. Whether this approach will backfire we shall have to wait and see. Pretty surprised that he has declared so early though. Mind you, numerous high profile declarations didn't even get Portillo to the final round in 2001.

[James Hellyer]

"The best that the Cameron team can do in response to this news is to attack Ken again! Excuse me whilst I keel over due to shock!"

Well, Ken did big up Willets on his website and in The Daily Mail interview that launched his campaign. I said at the time that it would be a big blow for Ken if Willetts then endorsed anyone else. The message it sends is that Ken rates Willetts, but Willetts does not rate Ken.

In their analysis the Cameron team are right. It doesn't make them any less becalmed themselves though.

[malcolm]

I hope you're right Jonathan,all I'm interested in is that the Conservative party wins the next election.It can only do that if it is united and that after the leadership election the plotting,backbiting etc stops.
If Davis (or anyone else)can put together a shadow cabinet 'of all the talents' we may have a chance but he might have to drop his mates such as Conway and Forth first.

[James Hellyer]

"He has obviously been offered a major Shadow Cabinet post for this"

Obviously that's why he's just accepted a new job!

[Jonathan Sheppard]

Malcolm - it always pleases me to hear that. It took Labour so long to realise that while they were divided the Tories ruled. I back Davis not just because of his background and policies - but because I think he is most capable os pulling the party (MP, and supporters) together - so that once united we get on with the real job - engaging with the electorate.

It almost makes me want to go out and leaflet in this Derbyshire rain!

[Daniel Vince-Archer]

James, I agree, it has taken a lot of the wind out of the sails of Ken's campaign, I just think it's a bit pathetic how the Cameron campaign resorts to Ken-bashing every time something of interest crops up in the leadership contest.

[Daniel Vince-Archer]

Ken won't have been helped by the fact that the leaking of this news was impeccably timed to coincide with his big speech attacking Princess Tony's autocratic style of government either...

[Oberon Houston]

Where has this news leaked from, and why has it been leaked? Willetts needs to make a statement quickly to end this furious speculation.

[Jonathan Sheppard]

Less of a leak Oberon and no doubt more of a - Willetts to make an announcement shortly story