Is David Davis steadying his parliamentary ship?

Dr Fox and David Davis both delivered good performances in front of yesterday's '92 group hustings.

Dr Fox appeared in charge of the subject matters under discussion and one of my spies described him as "witty".  It now appears likely that 12 to 15 of the Cornerstone Group of MPs will declare for him.  With those supporters Dr Fox has a realistic chance of beating Mr Clarke into fourth place in next Tuesday's ballot.  Mr Clarke is, today, the fourth of the leadership contenders to make his pitch on the opinion pages of The Telegraph.

My four '92 meeting sources were all agreed that Mr Davis delivered an "assured" performance.  He appeared relaxed and made strong commitments to a more socially-just Conservatism.  He quoted Iain Duncan Smith's contention that Conservatives had to stand on a manifesto that wasn't only seen as 'good for me' by voters but also as 'good for my neighbour'.  Tomorrow he will speak about a more inclusive, compassionate conservatism at a meeting in Bradford.

Mr Davis declined to match the commitment made by both Dr Fox and Mr Cameron to exit the EPP.  Mr Davis said that he would leave that decision to the Tory MEPs.  Mr Davis may fear that very strong Eurosceptic messages might upset some of his early backers, such as the Europhile MP, Ian Taylor.

Mr Davis was this morning boosted by the news that James Brokenshire, a new MP, has become a public backer.  Mr Brokenshire is the first MP to publicly declare for Mr Davis since before the Blackpool conference.

But if Mr Davis does get through to the final round - and he told this morning's Today programme that he was confident that he would - he still needs to overhaul his campaign operation.  Yesterday evening I attended the launch event for Lord Ashcroft's new book - 'Dirty politics, Dirty times'.  Five MPs (from different camps) all told me how their Associations had swung decisively towards David Cameron in the last seven days.  The blogger Watlington believes that an inadequate campaign team - rather than poor oratory - is David Davis' main weakness.

Comments

[EU Serf]

I am disappointed that he is not following DC and LF down the EPP road. It is something that we have to do, if we are to offer any realistic alternative to the current EU mentality.

Disraeli,

A sensible response from Davis to a rather silly question. If anybody thinks in which grouping a group of Tory MEPs should belong is a major issue in this leadership eleection then that is surely an indication that the navel gazing goes on... You would be hard to find one in a million people who give a damn about this question.

[Disraeli]

A sensible response from Davis to a rather silly question. If anybody thinks in which grouping a group of Tory MEPs should belong is a major issue in this leadership eleection then that is surely an indication that the navel gazing goes on... You would be hard pressed to find one in a million people who give a damn about this question.

Apologies for earlier anonymous (well almost anonymous) posting.

[Graham D'Amiral]

Yes can't say a member of the public has ever brought it up with me on the doorstep. Still I guess they think it might help sway the votes of a few euro sceptic MP's.

[wasp]

Its not a vote winner no but it sends eurosceptic messages to the members.

It is very hypocritical of Fox though as it was he that brokered the deal with the EPP.

[Peter]

I wonder if anyone else has seen the mistake made by the times today when they list 21MPs as supporters of Liam Fox but state he has only 19 backing him for sure. Hate to be the prove reader on that one?

[EU Serf]

Its a non event for most people that is true. However if we wish to offer a credible alternative on the EU, then step one of the process will be leaving the EPP.

[henry curteis]

Here are some classic 'moderniser' comments. If it's not of interest to voters/consumers - the EPP in this case - then any politician who believes it a matter of principal is wasting everyone else's time.

Those who followed the ejection of Roger Helmer MEP from the EPP/ED for bravely speaking up one Barroso's corrupt practices must realise that this is an important battleground. Do we really want to sit idly by while the EU tolerates corruption on amassive scale? Just possibly we might say the occasional word about it, or is that too much for the delicate sensibilities of those writing above?

The EU's corruption affects not only us in Britain but millions of people all over the world. If the modernisers couldn't give a toss, then I'm not surprised. But it doesn't mean the issues are not important - just that most people don't follow political stories. Which is one reason why Blair and Co can lie so easily and get away with it. We don't need modernisers in the Conservative Party who play to the media's agenda - but a leader who will address difficult issues such as EU corruption. Come on Fox - you're on the right track.

[malcolm thomas]

The eurosceptic credentials of David Davis are the most dubious. He personally forced through the Maastricht Treaty as Party Whip. Many of his supporters are europhiles.

Liam Fox was Party Chairman when Conservatives agreed to the Conservative MEP's being in the EPP/ED. It was Michael Howard's decision as party leader not Liam Fox's. There was some hope at the time that the ED might have operated separately from the EPP, but this has not happened. In the light of events, I agree that Roger Helmer MEP's stand must be supported. Conservatives surely care about corrupt practices and must refuse to be silenced by euro-bullying. We must now get out of the EPP.

[Selsdon Man]

As I have posted elsewhere, there are a about a dozen former Ken supporters who have declared for Davis. If Ken is currently in fourth place, they might be tempted to vote for him in the first round to eliminate another candidate. If this happens Cameron, Fox and Ken would be very close. Any one of them could be eliminated.

[Daniel Vince-Archer]

"As I have posted elsewhere, there are a about a dozen former Ken supporters who have declared for Davis. If Ken is currently in fourth place, they might be tempted to vote for him in the first round to eliminate another candidate. If this happens Cameron, Fox and Ken would be very close. Any one of them could be eliminated."

This wouldn't be such a bad idea. All the evidence seems to suggest that Davis doesn't stand a chance against Caviar Cameron in terms of support amongst the members so the best bet for his supporters is to try and ensure that Caviar Cameron is eliminated before the members' ballot and many of the Ken sympathisers in the Davis camp would probably prefer Davis to face Ken in the final round anyway.

[henry curteis]

Roger Helmer's story does not look good for Ken Clarke, who lied on national radio about what happened.
Please read Roger Helmer MEP's letter to Ken Clarke -

Open letter to Ken Clarke

The Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke QC MP 3 September 2005
House of Commons
Westminster
London SW1A 0AA

Dear Kenneth

World at One, September 1st

On this programme, you declared that Michael Howard had withdrawn the Conservative Whip from me. This was a false, damaging and prejudicial allegation, and you chose to make it on one of the nation's highest-profile radio programmes.

Many concerned constituents have written to the leader on the question of the reinstatement of the whip, and his office has repeatedly insisted that the question was an internal matter for the Conservative delegation in Brussels.

In fact the whip was withdrawn by delegation leader Timothy Kirkhope and Chief Whip Philip Bradbourn, because I insisted on fulfilling a clear manifesto commitment to highlight cronyism and malpractice in the European institutions, despite firm instructions from Kirkhope and Bradbourn, backed by disciplinary threats, not to do so.

In the circumstances, I believe that the least that I can expect is that you should issue a public retraction of this damaging allegation. And an apology would not come amiss. I look forwad to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

ROGER HELMER

Come on Ken Clarke. Are you in favour of Euro-corruption? Apparently you are. Please quit the leadership race immediately. Apologies are hardly sufficient.

[Daniel Vince-Archer]

Ken might have been misinformed. Let's not rashly jump to the conclusion that he was deliberately lying, Henry.

In any case, he was right about Helmer having the whip removed, which is the important point, not the person(s) involved in removing the whip.

[Selsdon Man]

It is unlikely that Timothy Kirkhope would have withdrawn the Whip without consulting Michael Howard (for whom he worked as a Minister at the Home Office). It was also Michael Howard that negotiated the deal with the EPP - including a vice-Presidency that is currently held by Mr Kirkhope too.

[henry curteis]

what amazes me is why did Michael Howard and Ken Clarke not support Roger Helmer MEP whose lone voice was the only Conservative trying to speak out against blatant malpractice on the part of Barroso.

Not only did Ken Clarke not support Roger Helmer, he deliberately set about misrepresenting the position to assist his corrupt euro-buddies. I'm sorry, but what aspect of Ken Clarke's behaviour am I meant to approve of?

If he cannot get his facts right when making announcements on national radio on a key current topic, then what right does he have to ask anyone to vote for him? Get rid.

[Jack Stone]

Firstly any attempt by David Davis supporters to keep David Cameron off the final ballot would simply split the party and ensure that the party once again become full of the sort of factions and infighting that have made it unelectable since 1992.
Secondly any MP foolish enough to vote for someone so obviously not up to being leader of the party let alone Prime Minister would be nothing more than th eqvalient of a turkey voting for christmas.
If Davis leads the party at the next election the landslides of 1997 and 2001 would seem like triumphs.

[Peter]

Selsdon, firstly tell us who is these twelve people who you are talking about who were Clarke know Davis supporters. Secondly Jack its a bit demeaning of you to first complain about a tactic that one candidate has said he won't do then to demean the same person if in fact he won, come on be sensible next time?

[Peter]

What is peoples' problem with allowing the MEPs the right to choice which group they belong with. What if the new leader said they had to leave the EPP and the majority said no, do we kick them out?

[Peter]

Do people on this board feel that MEPs have no rights in terms of which group they belong to? If so then of course you probably supported also the campaign for the members to lose their right to select the next leader. David Davis is only doing what is good for the party.

[Small Beast]

The Davis approach the the EPP-ED question is simply a cop-out, which bodes ill for his prospective leadership. The ED component has no separate, identifiable voice within the group, so the Howard 'deal' is effectively a dead letter. It's high time that we made an honest, clear-cut break with this group whose overriding aims are in complete conflict with Conservative manifesto policy. (That's why Conservative MEPs shouldn't sit with them.) BTW, Peter, I voted against the proposed changes to the leadership selection rules (i.e. in favour of retaining members' individual votes).

[henry curteis]

for those interested in the latest on EPP from roger helmer mep click http://www.rogerhelmer.com/reviewmeeting.asp

or click rogerhelmer.com and look at the links at the bottom of his home page. Read first. Judge second. I can guarantee many who don't know this story will be shocked.

[henry curteis]

JOURNALISTS -

Every candidate for the Conservative leadership should be asked a simple question.

Do they or do they not support Roger Helmer MEP's efforts to challenge the blatant malpractice of Barroso. Ken Clarke has already belittled Roger Helmer, even misrepresenting what happened - so it is quite clear that Clarke feels that a bit of EU corruption is alright by him.

So that leaves the others - Davis, Fox and Cameron.

OK some won't tell us which drugs they do or don't do, and those questions have been blocked for now - but I think corruption is another matter - especially within the EU. Where do Davis and Cameron stand on that?

If they are against it, then let's all hear it loud and clear. Fox has already shown the way by making it clear he wants out of the EPP....showing a clean pair of heels to the others.

[Cllr Iain Lindley]

Henry, Cameron has also stated that we should leave the EPP.

[Derek]

Henry, I agree completely that Roger Helmer has been very badly treated, and should have the whip restored without delay. Remaining in the EPP-ED group is not of concern to the public because most of them are unaware of the goings on in the EU parliament, but it can be used against us by UKIP and others, and make us look ridiculous.

Roger is a man of principle, and deserves our support.

[James Crouch]

I would be very happy if either DD or KC became leader. I prefer Dd, due to his more or less right wing policies, his exprience and his backing by MPs. I think KC should come a decent second because he is thoroughly decent man who in the end of teh day brilliant at the dispatch box.

I do however have large discontent at DC. He is far to centre-wing for my liking and the idea that he is at like Tony Blair makes me fill ill! He is far too young at 38, and would 'slaughtered' on the floor of teh House of Commosn by Brown!