Fox closes in on Clarke

Midnight has arrived and four Cornerstone MPs have just declared for Liam Fox: Mark Francois, Robert Goodwill, Owen Paterson and Angela Watkinson (pictured). 

Dr Fox is now breathing down Ken Clarke's neck (what a thought!) and many Westminster insiders now expect that it will be Mr Clarke who has to drop out of the race after the first round of voting.  Another ten Cornerstone MPs have yet to declare and most are expected to endorse Dr Fox.  Expect more declarations in Sunday's papers to create some momentum for Dr Fox ahead of Tuesday's vote.

Comments

[Matthew Oxley]

This shows now that the Man emerging to take the party forward is Dr Fox. Opinion polls may have reflected badly but that I feel is purely because people felt he didnt have any chance of winning - now it looks likely he'll at least make round 2 it looks clear he is the real alternative to Cameron.

[Midnight Blue]

I hope the good doctor doesn't end up taking us forward, as under his leadership we'd be facing the edge of a cliff.

Robert Goodwill is my MP (and a damn good one as well) but I can't say I agree with him here

[wasp]

Fox has nothing to offer this party as a leader.

Under his leadership we would lose yet more voters to the liberal democrats. It would be william hague all over again.

[Selsdon Man]

Mark Francois is not a Cornerstone member. Robert Goodwill was reported to be considering Cameron. That suggests that Dr Fox is picking up previously undecided or undeclared MPs

[Disraeli]

I think that Goodwill was only considering voting for Cameron in the Times journalist's imagination! He has always been a dead cert Fox supporter.

[Disraeli]

If, by some miracle, Fox does become Leader we will finally have lost touch with reality. It saddens me that even a handful of MPs genuinely think that by continuing to bang the same right wing drums we will have any hope of regaining power. Perhaps these MPs have no grasp of electoral politics or perhaps they seem happy to ignore numerous electoral defeats and swing further to the right on a socially authoritarian, right wing platform? No compromise with the electorate for the Fox followers.

[Selsdon Man]

That was my opinion too until I read the Times article.

[Barry Graham]

Agree with all of the above. Pick Fox and we really have given up hope of winning the next election.

[Selsdon Man]

I was referring to Disraeli's comment on Robert Goodwill.

The Newsnight focus group showed that Liam Fox was well received by floating voters - second to David Cameron.

[Henry Mackintosh]

What's the betting that Fox,, after coming third will drop out after the first ballot? Think about it from his perspective, and you see the merit in the deal he would be able to strike with Davis.

[henry curteis]

Fox has a big advantage over Cameron. He's not so dependent on media image. People talking about David Campbell (the name the public use in error for Cameron) only refer to 'his past'. He may have higher public recognition but only for an alleged history of drug-taking. How the Economist sees this as 'stature' defeats me. As we all know, the image game is very dangerous. When the media are 100% behind a politician offering nil policy platform, people must realise they are being conned. They won't like Fox as they know they will not be able to dictate. Bad luck!

[wasp]

Yes Fox did come second in the Newsnight focus group but Cameron got I believe 89% so its not really a comparisom.

[James Hellyer]

Yes Fox did come second in the Newsnight focus group but Cameron got I believe 89% so its not really a comparisom.

When they tested the video excerpts Dr Fox scored in the high 80s and David Cameron in the low 90s - so it is a valid comparison.

As for the final choice, Luntz is a pollster whose methodology is designed to lead people to make a certain choice. The choice he lead them to was Cameron.

[Selsdon Man]

"What's the betting that Fox,, after coming third will drop out after the first ballot? Think about it from his perspective, and you see the merit in the deal he would be able to strike with Davis."

Liam's web site originally plugged him as an alternative to Davis. He may do a deal with Cameron if he does not make the final two.

[Jack Stone]

Liam Fox was never a success when he was health secretary.
Firstly he never was able to convince people of the way Labour have failed on the NHS and secondly he came up with solutions that left the party open to Labour`s charge that you were taking money out off the NHS to aid those who wanted private health care which allowed Labour to sucessfully accuse the party of not being serious about improving the NHS,
Personally I have always thought Liam to be an average politican who is capable of holding down a senior position in the party but I just can`t see him as leader or Prime Minister.

[James Hellyer]

Liam Fox was never a success when he was health secretary.

Jack, you've repeatedly asserted this, and each time you have been shot down in flames. Once more: during his tenure as Shadow Health Secretary, Dr Fox cut Labour's lead on health issues from more than 30 points down to single figures.

[Michael McGowan]

Fox also has the inestimable advantage of having worked in the NHS. While I had problems with the Patients Passport, Cameron and Co lack the intellectual courage to take the steps needed to give us universal healthcare of the same quality and diversity as, say, France. They will end up sooner rather than later dancing to labour's tune and offering no more than unspecified improvements in management.

[Graham D'Amiral]

Liam Fox was a competent front bencher and a good party chairman, but I'm not convinced banging on about the broken society (do people really think it is broken?), raising issues irrelevant to most peoples lives like the EPP and relying on all that flag waving patriotism to revive our electoral fortunes is going to work.

He does however have interesting things to say on mental health, human rights and domestic violence, that whoever becomes leader should look at carefully.

[Simon C]

A further example of Liam walking the walk, not talking the talk is that, as pointed out above, instead of talking about public services in the abstract he has actually worked in them.

As to brokeness - yes Graham, there are parts of our country where society is most definitely in pieces. That needs fixing.

Liam has also emphasised the need for a prosperity agenda as well. But, to use IDS's phrase, his campaign has been "good for me - good for my neighbour" because (as you say) it has focused on human rights abroad, and the victims of years of failed social policy at home. See my post on the platform blog for more.

[Daniel Vince-Archer]

"Liam Fox was never a success when he was health secretary."

I'm sure it would be hypercritical (please note this is not the same as hypocritical!) pedantry to point this out, but Liam Fox has never been Health Secretary.

But anyway... I'm sure you won't mind me pointing out that your man has hardly been a roaring success as Shadow Education Secretary either. I mean, anybody that gets monstered over the despatch box by Ruth Kelly shouldn't really have so many people crowing about his ability.

[James Hellyer]

your man has hardly been a roaring success as Shadow Education Secretary

Labiour gave him open goals about gerrymandered exam results, university drop out rates and failed anti-truancy policies, and David Cameron's responses bordered on the invisible. A CCO press release is not the same as holding the government to account.

[Small Beast]

I agree that the EPP issue is, as Graham says, "irrelevant to most people's lives" but, when he raises the issue, Liam Fox is doing so with the immediate electorate in mind (i.e. the MPs first, then the Conservative Party membership). I know several members who will be more likely to support Dr Fox because of his stand on EPP membership. Of course, the same now applies (if rather belatedly) to David Cameron.

[michael]

In the eyes of floating voters, what would Liam Fox be offering which would make him a better Prime Minister than William Hague?

I find both Hague and Fox likeable, but just can't see Fox as a leader who will inspire.

IDS found that straightforward decency in itself just isn't enough.

[Selsdon Man]

"In the eyes of floating voters, what would Liam Fox be offering which would make him a better Prime Minister than William Hague?"

Certain media pundits would probably say hair. His competition is not Hague but Brown. Liam has charm and his background as a doctor has appeal - as proved by the Newsnight focus group on floating voters.

[henry curteis]

who says the EPP issue does not affect anyone other than MP's MEP's? The issue is the corruption of the EU which affects the prospects of millions of people throughout the world. Roger Helmer MEP has spoken out in the Europarl criticising the perpetrators of corruption, and been slapped down by Ken Clarke in the media and had the Conservative whip removed. He is being hung out to dry by his fellow conservatives for fulfilling a manifesto commitment. Inside the EPP the Conservatives are agreeing to keep quiet about the EU's massive corruption problem. Click www.rogerhelmer.com and see bottom of homepage links. Ken Clarke has shown no leadership qualities here. He hasn't even replied to roger helmer's letters. Fox was the only one prepared to address this thorny issue - and propose a solution. Why above bloggers don't think this issue is important shows NIMBY attitudes. Fox has guts - things will get solved with him as leader.