More progress for David Cameron (at the expense of Ken Clarke)

The Cameron campaign has just announced that it has won the backing of two MPs who backed Ken Clarke's 2001 leadership bid.  Robert Key (who previously had not declared) and Jacqui Lait (who had been one of Sir Malcolm Rifkind's six public supporters) take Mr Cameron's level of parliamentary support up to 34.

Comments

[Barry Graham]

Great news on one level, but, as KC is, in my view, the second best option, I'd rather see DC winning votes from the other two candidates.
This may well see KC eliminated first, rather than LF, sadly.

[Bob]

Seems to me that DC is a real gamble. He may be extemely good but is really an unknown quantity. KC can hit the ground running in taking the fight to Labour and the Lib Dems. If KC doesn't become leader I think we're in for a white knuckle ride !

[Disraeli]

Very bad news for Ken I fear. It looks like us moderates will have to fall fully behind Cameron to prevent the right taking control of the Party again.

[Daniel Vince-Archer]

Ouch this is dreadful news indeed. Unfortunately it would appear that Ken's best hope is for some tactical voting amongst his sympathisers in the Davis camp.

I'm starting to see shades of 2001, with Davis in the Duncan Smith role, Cameron as Portillo and Ken as, um, Ken. Not sure where Fox fits in with this analogy though!

[Barry Graham]

I take your point Bob, re Ken being a proven performer and I'd happily see him as leader. But I'd be astonished if the MPs let him go through to the final ballot.
I understand why you see DC as a gamble but I think the evidence that he will really change the direction (and with it the fortunes) of the party can be seen in the increasingly vitriolic views being expressed about him by some on this site, who fear their right-wing, idealogically-pure vision may not be realised.

[James Hellyer]

"who fear their right-wing, idealogically-pure vision may not be realised."

Would you care to a) articulate what this vision is and b) who expressed it? Or is this another generalised smear froma Cameron supporter?

[Selsdon Man]

"Ouch this is dreadful news indeed. Unfortunately it would appear that Ken's best hope is for some tactical voting amongst his sympathisers in the Davis camp."

I see that you picked up my point from my Davis post, Daniel. Ken is in deep trouble now and this news suggests that more of his natural supporters may drift towards Cameron. If Ken is eliminated first, it will be mainly to the benefit of Cameron.

[Barry Graham]

Yes, James. It's an obsession with Europe, and an authoritarian stance on abortion, drugs, lifestyle etc. The sort of issues that will do nothing to win us back the millions of voters who have abandoned us since 1992.
Those expressing them? Cornerstone.

[Barry Graham]

BTW, when I said yes, James, I meant I was happy to elaborate, not that I was giving a positive answer to your last question.

[Daniel Vince-Archer]

That's right Selsdon. Although in that post you didn't actually say that it was Ken's best hope, merely that some Ken supporters might consider tactically voting for Ken. But seeing as I agree with your point, I guess it would be churlish for me to argue any further!

[Daniel Vince-Archer]

Sorry mistake in my last post! I meant to say Davis supporters might consider tactically voting for Ken! I would hope that Ken supporters would also consider voting for Ken otherwise his leadership bid really is doomed LOL!

[Michael McGowan]

It's another generalised smear from a Cameron supporter. Given the amount of inspiration they draw from Tony Blair, it's not surprising that they adopt his debating tactics: (a) make vacuous and evasive statements of the blindingly obvious as if they were great statements of principle; (b) offer people false choices; and (c) caricatute those who don't share your views as weird and morally degenerate.

[Jack Stone]

I think the momentum towards DC is extremely good news for the party. It does suggest after eight wasted years the party is at last rediscovering a will to win and are backing the person seen by most now as the next Conservative Prime Minister.

[Daniel Vince-Archer]

"It does suggest after eight wasted years the party is at last rediscovering a will to win and are backing the person seen by most now as the next Conservative Prime Minister."

Despite Ken Clarke being more popular amongst the general public, you mean?

[Michael McGowan]

PS they are it again. I assume that the reference to an "authoritarian" stance on abortion is Cameron-speak for Fox's principled suggestion that the time limit on abortions be reduced, not least to reflect advances in the treatment of prematurely born babies. Any such change would be on a free vote and if passed, would merely align the UK with right-wing dictatorships like France and Germany.

It always amazes me how the very social liberals who abhor the death penalty for criminals are fully paid-up advocates of the death penalty without appeal for unborn children.

[Selsdon Man]

I was not trying to score a point Daniel - merely adding that KC's current woes will benefit DC. I agree that KC's only hope is to persuade his former supporters to defect from Davis. I cannot see him picking up the undeclared new MPs. John Penrose was a surprise and may be the exception that proves the rule.

[Selsdon Man]

"It always amazes me how the very social liberals who abhor the death penalty for criminals are fully paid-up advocates of the death penalty without appeal for unborn children."

I am social liberal who opposes the death penalty and abortion, Michael. I am not the only one.

[Nelson, Norfolk]

If KC won the race it would be interesting to know from your readers how Labour would deal with him at the next election.

For instance what would be on Labours posters. Would They use his links with the tobacco industry or present him as a through back to the 80s and very pro European. Or would they simply say ITS TIME TO BIN KEN. Over to you.

[Mark Fulford]

Once again Cameron supporters get smeared with the smear label. No doubt I'll now get smeared for smearing the smeared.

Rather than shouting SMEAR, why not stand up for your opinions?

[Daniel Vince-Archer]

"If KC won the race it would be interesting to know from your readers how Labour would deal with him at the next election. For instance what would be on Labours posters. Would They use his links with the tobacco industry or present him as a through back to the 80s and very pro European. Or would they simply say ITS TIME TO BIN KEN. Over to you."

I think all of the candidates, with the possible exception of Davis, are vulnerable to negative New Labour smear-and-sneer poster campaigning in the way you identify.

[Jonathan Sheppard]

It saddens me why we as Conservatives sometimes resort to trashing each other. Lets look at what’s happening. The Government are planning to release criminals as the jails are full. A Lib Dem MP has suggested people should be councillors so they can pay for their cleaners or their nanny – and we focus on why it would be awful to have one leader or another.

Why not focus on why Davis would be a great leader. I tried in the “your platform” section – and others had put a similar perspective for the other candidates (bar Ken so far).

My view is that talk of a lurch to the right under David is just ludicrous – look at those MPs backing him. It won’t happen. A leader needs to unite this party to face a common enemy – and that’s one of the reasons I am backing DD.

[malcolm]

It does appear that Ken may be doomed.I am very sad about this for two reasons.1 I think he's the only potential leader who is actually likely to win an election.I really hope I'm wrong about this as I'll support and campaign for whoever wins but it does get extremely wearing to campaign for an idealogically sound loser.2 From the extensive canvassing we have done I believe Ken would win a members vote and it will be a massive shame if the members are not given the chance to express their preference for him or not.The worst possible outcome in my opinion would be if both the final two are from the right,then I think it highly unlikely that we will make much progress.

[andy]

Labour's policy would be to make him into toast.
Can anyone remember Cameron's first outing as Shadow education secretary? Not a pretty sight was it? I was almost grateful to Ruth Kelly for putting him and us out of our combined misery. Pre-prepared speeches are ok if you want to be a guru and a motivator, but if you start rambling on and on and on when someone asks you a question that you can't answer, that doesn't prove that your a great orator, it just proves that you love the sound of your own voice.

[James Hellyer]

Can anyone remember Cameron's first outing as Shadow education secretary?

It makes you think there may a reason why he turneddown the post of Shadow Chancellor, doesn't it? Being turned into toast by Gordon Brown on a weekly basis would hardly have helped the leadership bid...

[malcolm]

Nice comments gentlemen.Remember one day soon,we will all have to work together.