Dolly's advice for Mr Cameron

"There are 17 people who count. And to say I am intimate with every one of them is the understatement of the century."

That was Derek Draper's most hyped statement.  Today it is as accurate as his other prediction that Rupert Murdoch would become a supporter of the euro.  Mr Derek 'Dolly' Draper is now a psychotherapist but he was special adviser to Peter Mandelson at the heady beginning of the Blair years.

Mr Draper can be found on the comment pages of today's Mail on Sunday - offering some very public advice to David Cameron.

He admits to partying hard with the Notting Hill Tories (David Cameron, Steve Hilton, Rachel Whetstone and Ed Vaizey) when they were all advisers to the Major government and he was one of New Labour's young turks.

Mr Draper, admitting to cocaine use himself, encourages Mr Cameron to find out if any of his key supporters are current drug users and, if there are any, "remove them from his inner circle":

"He must ensure the drugs question does not cripple his campaign and his subsequent leadership.  Believe me, Labour spin doctors and their friends in the Press will be trying very hard to reignite the row."

Mr Draper's second warning concerns the extent to which David Cameron is a "creature of Blairism":

"Slick presentation, soundbites and spin come naturally to him.  But he must do all he can to resist their siren calls.  The last thing voters want is 'Blair lite'.  Already Cameron's interviews are too full of jargon.  He would be far better off taking inspiration from his vanquished foe, Ken Clarke - let his real personality shine through, ditch the jargon and risk looking a little rough and ready."

Mr Draper's final piece of advice to Mr Cameron is to 'keep going' when (if?) he becomes Tory leader at the beginning of December:

"His family and friends will be urging him to take a break.  But modern politics waits for no man.  I know Brown's team are already working on their first attack.  They will try to do what New Labour has always done so brilliantly - define their opposition's identity before the opposition gets a chance to do so itself."

Comments

[buxtehude]

Although of course advice from Dolly will generally be a source of amusement rather than insight, I did think he was right on the button with: "The last thing voters want is 'Blair lite'. Already Cameron's interviews are too full of jargon. He would be far better off taking inspiration from his vanquished foe, Ken Clarke - let his real personality shine through, ditch the jargon and risk looking a little rough and ready."

What people don't seem to grasp is that Cameron IS 'Blair lite'. Why was John Major elected to succeed Thatcher? He was different to her - the friendly face of Conservatism. What will the public want at the next election? Someone different to Blair. The choice they will have is Brown (very different to Blair) and Cameron (very similar to Blair). I can imagine Cameron saying: "I'm a pretty straight sort of guy", can anyone here imagine Brown saying that. I am sure DC is bright, articulate and would be a good PM, but quite frankly I don't think it will happen. Davis is the man to fight the next election.

[Selsdon Man]

It is all too easy for politicians of all parties to use jargon - it is the practice through Westminster and Whitehall. I have done it myself. However, both Davids are clear in their speeches and interviews. In any case, there will be plenty of opportunities to test them over the next six weeks.

[john Skinner]

Nobody gives a monkey's what Derek Draper thinks about anything. You know that, Montgomery, but it's a good excuse to bring up the drug smear again. A bit of advice to you pal: continual bias means you lose credibility.

[Henry Fitzpatrick]

Do you lose any cred John by not knowing it's 'Montgomerie'? But you're right of course: whether the possible next Leader of the Party has done Class A drugs is NOT an issue' nobody else cares; the Labour party won;t ever raise it; and nor, of course, will Labour supporting papers like the Sun and the Times. Everyone who talks about it - including, perversely, you, by giving this thread the ozygen of 'recent comments' publicity - is doing the party's enemies' work for them. Because, *obviously*, it is not an issue, even though it is, repeatedly and rightly.

[john Skinner]

I'll excuse "ozygen" Henry, because, at this late hour you're probably pissed like me.

[Guido fawkes]

Is it an issue that the current home secretary admits to smoking dope during his student days?

Does it disqualify him from imposing ID cards and taking away our civil liberties?

[michael]

I'm very attracted by the idea of Cameron opposing Brown rather than Davis.

Cameron will be everything Brown isn't - young, attractive, fresh. He could make Labour look very tired. And we've already seen a poll which shows him 15 points ahead of Brown among the crucial floating voters.

I'm more worried that Davis would be Brown-lite!