It's now official - David Willetts is endorsing David Davis. David Willetts is the first leadership contender, with parliamentary backing, to quit the race. There are now five contenders (with parliamentary backers) still in the race: David Davis, David Cameron, Ken Clarke, Liam Fox and Sir Malcolm Rifkind. It is not clear who David Willetts' four backers will support. This rolling update will identify them if and when they - and others - declare.
David Davis (65)
- David Amess (2/10)
- Richard Bacon
- John Baron (2/10)
- Sir Paul Beresford (2/10)
- Graham Brady
- Julian Brazier
- Dr Greg Clark (24/9)
- Derek Conway
- David Davies
- Philip Davies
- David Davis
- Nadine Dorries
- Jonathan Djanogly
- James Duddridge
- Nigel Evans
- David Evenett
- Michael Fallon
- Mark Field (25/9)
- Eric Forth
- Roger Gale
- David Gauke (2/10)
- Cheryl Gillan (22/9)
- Paul Goodman
- Damian Green
- Dominic Grieve (22/9)
- Philip Hammond
- Nick Herbert
- Mark Hoban (25/9) - former DW supporter
- Philip Hollobone
- Adam Holloway (6/10)
- Stewart Jackson (24/9 in Peterborough Evening News)
- David Jones
- Julie Kirkbride
- Greg Knight
- Ian Liddell-Grainger (19/9)
- David Lidington (25/9) - former DW supporter
- Tim Loughton (19/9)
- Andrew Mackay (20/9)
- Anne Main
- Humphrey Malins (22/9)
- John Maples
- Patrick Mercer
- Andrew Mitchell
- Malcolm Moss (2/10)
- Andrew Murrison (30/9)
- Richard Ottaway (21/9)
- James Paice (2/10)
- Mike Penning (2/10)
- Eric Pickles
- Mark Pritchard
- David Ruffley
- Lee Scott
- Mark Simmonds (19/9)
- Keith Simpson (23/9)
- Richard Spring
- Robert Syms (19/9)
- Ian Taylor
- Shailesh Vara
- Charles Walker
- Ben Wallace (2/10)
- Bill Wiggin
- David Willetts
- David Wilshire
- Ann Winterton (2/10)
- Nicholas Winterton (21/9)
David Cameron (27)
- Peter Ainsworth (10/10)
- Tony Baldry
- Greg Barker
- Richard Benyon
- Sir John Butterfill (29/9)
- David Cameron
- Alan Duncan (6/10)
- Tobias Ellwood
- Nick Gibb MP (7/10)
- Michael Gove
- James Gray (6/10)
- Jeremy Hunt (6/10)
- Boris Johnson
- Mark Lancaster (6/10)
- Oliver Letwin
- Peter Luff
- David Mundell (5/10)
- George Osborne
- Andrew Robathan
- Hugh Robertson (29/9)
- Grant Shapps (6/10)
- Nicholas Soames (29/9)
- Hugo Swire
- Ed Vaizey
- Peter Viggers (8/10)
- Theresa Villiers (5/10)
- Jeremy Wright (7/10)
Kenneth Clarke (20)
- John Bercow
- Alistair Burt
- James Clappison (1/10)
- Kenneth Clarke
- David Curry
- Quentin Davies MP (28/9)
- Stephen Dorrell
- Edward Garnier (10/10)
- John Greenway (7/10)
- John Gummer
- Charles Hendry (16/9 - was backing David Willetts)
- John Horam (28/9)
- Michael Mates (28/9)
- Anthony Steen
- Andrew Tyrie
- Robert Walter
- Nigel Waterson (30/9)
- Ann Widdecombe
- Tim Yeo
- Sir George Young (28/9)
Liam Fox (15)
- David Burrowes (10/10)
- Stephen Crabb (6/10)
- Liam Fox
- Chris Grayling
- Justine Greening
- Greg Hands
- Stephen Hammond (6/10)
- Mark Harper (6/10)
- Oliver Heald
- Eleanor Laing
- Daniel Kawczynski
- Brooks Newmark (6/10)
- Stephen O’Brien
- Gary Streeter
- Desmond Swayne
Sir Malcolm Rifkind (7)
- Michael Ancram (7/10)
- Crispin Blunt
- Peter Bottomley
- Sir Patrick Cormack (7/10)
- Jacqui Lait
- Andrew Pelling
- Sir Malcolm Rifkind.
The rolling update for when David Willetts was still in the race can be accessed here.
Surely David Willetts is ahead of John Redwood in the queue to be Shadow Chancellor if/when David Davis becomes leader?
Posted by: Daniel Vince-Archer | 23 September 2005 at 17:30
BBCi is reporting Keith Simpson as a declared Davis supporter by the way.
Posted by: Daniel Vince-Archer | 23 September 2005 at 17:32
I'm confident that Willetts won't be Davis's choice of Shadow Chancellor if he becomes leader. Besides Willetts cautious attitude towards tax cuts not being to Davis's tastes, Willetts has just taken additional work on with as a consultant in the pensionsn industry. He accepted that job just before doing a deal with Davis. If he thought he'd be in a top post he wouldn't have taken that job on.
Posted by: James Hellyer | 23 September 2005 at 17:39
Well David Davis (or any of the candidates for that matter) would be a fool to consider putting John Redwood in a senior position like Shadow Chancellor.
Posted by: Daniel Vince-Archer | 23 September 2005 at 17:45
"I'm confident that Willetts won't be Davis's choice of Shadow Chancellor if he becomes leader... Willetts cautious attitude towards tax cuts not being to Davis's tastes..."
In his article in The Times in which he declared his support for Davis, Willetts said that the Conservatives should argue relentlessly for lower taxes, or words to that effect. Michael White in the Guardian also claimed that Davis is more likely to present Willetts with the Shadow Chancellorship than Ken would have been.
Posted by: Daniel Vince-Archer | 23 September 2005 at 18:03
"In his article in The Times in which he declared his support for Davis, Willetts said that the Conservatives should argue relentlessly for lower taxes..."
Sorry, but that was about his support for Davis. It does not reflect Willetts own attitudes...
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,1072-1665233,00.html
... which are almost certainly too cautious, especially on income tax, to appeal to Davis.
Posted by: James Hellyer | 23 September 2005 at 18:35
James, did you miss the following paragraph in that article?
"I have been arguing that we can renew our Conservatism by standing for personal freedom in a stronger society. These are not just the usual principles enunciated by politicians, they are above all statements about what it is that enables people to lead fulfilled and satisfied lives. Conservatives have been quite good at the freedom bit — and of course the price we must pay for that freedom is eternal vigilance. That means deep scepticism about the Government’s proposals for ID cards and it means relentlessly pursuing the case for free trade, lower taxes and market reform."
If you think relentlessly purusing the case for lower taxes is too cautious, I'd be really interested to hear what you would consider to be an adventurous or aggressive approach.
Posted by: Daniel Vince-Archer | 23 September 2005 at 19:42
Correction: I meant 'pursuing', not 'purusing'!
Posted by: Daniel Vince-Archer | 23 September 2005 at 19:49
Daniel, you are railing against a phantom argument. Willetts thinks we should argue for tax cuts. Davis and other Conservatives have indicated that we should cut taxes and specifically income taxes. Those are the very tax cuts Willetts pooh poohs.
Saying we should argue for tax cuts does not mean he shares the same attitude towards tax cuts. Willetts very much believes that we can't cut taxes soon, having first to reduce demand for services. Davis by contrast would cut taxes sooner, as his recent IPPR lecture showed.
Posted by: James Hellyer | 23 September 2005 at 19:51
Basically the two men mean very differnet things when they talk about tax cuts, with specific differences over the timing, scope and types of cuts to be made.
Posted by: James Hellyer | 23 September 2005 at 19:53
If we regect Ken Clarke again we will confine ourselves to a right-wing rump for many years I am a euro-sceptic but i would rather have a Conservative Primeminister as opposed to a Labour one protecting my interests in europe. We must look to the bigger picture and that is the quality of life in the UK and elect a leader who the public want to elect
Posted by: Paul Leeman | 23 September 2005 at 23:22
Exactly Paul - we need someone who can become a Conservative PM - which is why it has to be David Davis!
Posted by: Jules | 23 September 2005 at 23:28
Stewart Jackson, MP for Peterborough, is quoted in today's (24/9/2005) "Peterborough Evening Telegraph" as backing David Davis for the Leadership.
Posted by: David Sanders | 24 September 2005 at 16:40
Thank you for the spot David. I'll add SJ to DD's list.
Posted by: Editor | 24 September 2005 at 16:50
Very interesting, and very useful. And, if we cannot have Liam Fox (which, in truth, we can't – and, besides he is rather too close to that idiot in the White House), we must undoubtedly have David Davis.
Incidentally, how did you find out that Mark Pritchard (a local MP) is supporting David Davis? Neither (an admittedly quick) search on Google nor his website gleaned that information.
Posted by: Ronald Collinson | 24 September 2005 at 17:05
Mark Pritchard declared his support for Mr Davis in a joint letter to The Sunday Telegraph on 4/9.
Posted by: Editor | 24 September 2005 at 17:33
Why's Dr Fox gone down one since this morning?
Posted by: James Hellyer | 24 September 2005 at 18:58
The Rugby MP (sorry don't recall his name) was attributed as a Fox supporter in the press, but then that was denied or at least not confirmed.
Posted by: AnotherNick | 24 September 2005 at 19:07
Why has Dr. Fox lost Jeremy Wrights' support? It WAS made public in his column in his local paper. As it is HIS column (and we assume, and hope, it was written by him) couldn't we reasonably add his name to the list?
Posted by: John Coulson | 25 September 2005 at 17:40
What did he say, John?
Posted by: James Hellyer | 25 September 2005 at 17:57
He talked about the leadership race alienating a lot of the electorate but that a decision must be made. While he is only a new MP he said, that on performances alone, he will be backing Fox. Praising him for his unity with America and his courage in opposing the Constitution.
Posted by: John Coulson | 25 September 2005 at 18:05
That sounds pretty unambiguous to me!
Thanks, John.
Posted by: James Hellyer | 25 September 2005 at 18:11
With Davis know on 56 out of the 67 needed to get on the final ballot now I think in terms of Clarke and Cameron their be saying lets hope the present rules stay. Also with know 17 out of 41 Portillo first round(confirmed) supporters backing him Davis has only know to be worried about the 18 or so IDS supporters who have yet to pledge support?
Posted by: Peter | 26 September 2005 at 15:52
I understand that Jeremy Wright has not endorsed anyone yet and until I see proof to the contrary I cannot accept Mr Coulson's interpretation of an article I have not seen and cannot be sure even exists.
Posted by: Editor | 26 September 2005 at 16:08
You can add Sir George Young, Quentin Davies, John Horam and Michael Mates to Kenneth Clarke's backers according to this letter in The Times:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,59-1800532,00.html
No surprises there, all of them are backers from 4 years ago so it's not a big boost. Ken needs to get some supporters from the 2001 and 2005 intakes. The fact that he can't find a single one so far speaks volumes.
Posted by: Coffee Monster | 28 September 2005 at 02:08