Can David Cameron be stopped?

I'm beginning to doubt it.  Over the last few days the Westminster village has been alive with gossipy suggestions that today's newspapers would bring damaging revelations about Mr Cameron's past.  The 'raincoats' at the News of the World have uncovered some allegations about George Osborne but nothing that will really unsettle the front-running Cameron campaign.  In any case a BPIX poll for the Mail on Sunday suggests that Tory voters are a forgiving lot (and more forgiving than the wider public).  37% say that Mr Cameron should say if he has used drugs but 54% support his decision to protect his private life.  61% of the same group do not think that Mr Cameron should stand down if he or any of the leadership candidates have taken 'hard drugs'.

Links to articles about the 'Cameron drugs frenzy' are found on conservativehome's homepage.  The newspapers are almost completely addicted to David Cameron's private past - there is almost no examination of his policy views.  It's rare to have such a conclusive illustration of the media's obsession with personality over substance.

There are plenty of other stories in Sunday's newspapers that will encourage Mr Cameron's leadership bid:

• The same MoS BPIX poll shows that he stands the greatest chance of cutting Labour's opinion poll lead (although a survey in the Independent on Sunday suggests a more complicated picture).
• The Sunday Telegraph publishes a very positive profile from Alison Pearson.
• In The Business Fraser Nelson paints a glowing picture of Mr Cameron's skills: "charm without sleaze, compassion without schmaltz".

One way in which the drugs row may have actually helped Mr Cameron is the 'crowding out' effect.  All of the other leadership candidates struggle to win any attention in the Sunday papers.   One article in The Sunday Telegraph notes that Gerald Howard has endorsed Liam Fox (taking his tally to 21).  I would have expected more of the Cornerstone Group to have declared for Dr Fox by now.  The fact that they haven't suggests that they aren't going to - or, more likely, the endorsements will come tomorrow and/or Tuesday when the drugs issue has faded.  The same Telegraph article notes that David Davis is trying to 'prop up' his support on 'the right'.  A promise of tax cuts for married couples with children appears designed to appeal to economic and social conservatives.

A Sunday Times leader hopes that Tory MPs will set up a run-off between Cameron and Davis or Cameron and Fox.  Either of those two possibilities "would give party members the appropriate choice between the modernising centre and the robust right."  Please cast your own vote in conservativehome.com's online survey or win a prize by taking part in our first round prediction competition.

Comments

[pigmalion]

You see boys in the years that you've been out of power you haven't yet realized that the motto was "The hand that feeds"

[pigmalion]

It would have been interesting to see who David Starky would have called a twerp if this weeks panel of QT where to be transported back in time to last week.

[James Maskell]

David Starky was brilliant. At first I thought he was a boring old man, but when he started getting rude to other people my respect for him slowly rose.

[Rick]

Hilarious ! Group of Old Etonians from the Bullingdon Club decide they should run the Tory Party.............they certainly know how to pull the curtain down on this show. I should think having Old Etonians trying to out liberal the Lib Dems should be so funny, but at least the defections of Tory MPs will bring it fresh blood as the meltdown gathers pace in the Lifestyle Party

[esbonio]

Interesting comment by Rick.

For what it is worth, when I was at Oxford a very few years before the Notting Hill Tories it was very exclusive. Many people from the top public schools (define your own terms) would not even say hello to you if you came from a state school or even a minor public school. As for the dining societies, say no more. If we are now moving towards a more "inclusive" society I am all in favour of it but the sceptic in me somehow doubts it.

[Rick]

Then we were possibly contemporaries esbonio

[esbobio]

Rick

Perhaps i was being too kind to myself. Cameron left in 88. I left in 83.

But I still find your analysis amusing if not spot on.

Esbonio

[Rick]

Remember it's when you Matriculated that matters not when you left.............after all you might have been in an Oxford Eight and graduated at 33 like someone I recall.

You weren't by any chance that Fresher waving as we came out of Schools after Finals were you ?

In my day it was Philip Oppenheim + Range Rover on the party circuit and Rupert Soames chundering all over his dinner jacket

[wasp]

I drank too much at university

does this mean I should hand in my drivers license?