Fox endorses Cameron

Hot on the heels of William Hague's endorsement of David Cameron comes the backing of Dr Fox (see The Sunday Times).

The Shadow Foreign Secretary (the first round choice of your Editor) is reported as saying that his decision was a “close call” but he wanted to see the leadership passed to the “next generation”.

Many of Dr Fox's leading supporters - John Hayes, Oliver Heald, Eleanor Laing, Stephen O'Brien and Gary Streeter - had already endorsed Mr Cameron.  Dr Fox said:

“I set out a very clear agenda in my own leadership campaign that what I wanted to see was a Conservative party that was very robust on the economy and committed to wealth creation, that was willing to stand up strongly for Britain abroad, but wanted to be seen as more compassionate at home.  I have decided to back David Cameron because I think the best approach for us to win is one of greater collective decision-making and leadership which accepts that it is important to return to a concept of first among equals.”

This talk of "collective leadership" will be very important.  If IDS, Dr Fox, William Hague and Mr Davis play prominent roles in a Cameron team leadership there is likely to be strong positions in the war on terror and against drugs.

Dr Fox's reasons for backing Mr Cameron will be reassuring to Michael Gove MP.  Early last week, Mr Gove, an early supporter of Mr Cameron, had identified five similarities between the Fox and Cameron campaigns:

1. Foreign Policy should be Idealist not Realist.
2. Let’s not wobble on the war.
3. We need a more meritocratic Britain. But that still isn’t enough to heal our broken society.
4. Don’t be afraid of the market.
5. Modernising doesn’t mean going soft – it means recognising how the world has changed.

The Sunday Times believes that Mr Cameron now enjoys the public support of 109 Tory MPs.

Writing for The Sunday Telegraph Mr Cameron promises to distance himself from the belligerence, vanity and lack of follow-through inherent in Blairism:

"The last thing Britain - or the Conservative Party - needs is more Blairism. I believe we need a new style of politics: thoughtful, measured and moderate. I believe we need serious long-term policy thinking to tackle the challenges we face. And I believe that if you give people more freedom and opportunity, they and society will grow stronger. That's the kind of leadership I offer, and I'm confident it will return our Party to government."

Comments

[John Coulson]

Soames Vs. Reid is a match made in heaven.

The Shadow Cabinet produced will not happen. It is very similar to the current one and does not bring into the equation Boris Johnson and other younger members who Howard hasn't quite got round to putting in his Shadow Cabinet.

It would actually be a good plan for DD to retire to the backbenches and bide his time. If DC loses momentum or does not perform as expected (by some, not me) then he could orchestrate a coup from the free dom of the backbenches. He would also look very powerful, and be able to cast a critical eye over policy devlopment (or the lack of it).

[John Coulson]

Cllr Iain Lindley and Barbara Villiers are the same person! The ISP addresses are exactly the same. What a cowardly thing to do Cllr.

[Merry]

Rick

You may be right: Lansley, might be better in a more touchy feely role -family, culture etc.

The important thing is to have Fox and Hague in key roles alongside Cameron, both from the same generation, but much stronger on substance than Cameron. Fox pursuing a truly ethical foreign policy and Hague attacking Brown for all he is worth, supported by Osborne who will have the leader's confidence to develop Cameron's "lite" policies.

[Merry]

Boris is a ggod laugh as the bumbling eccentric on "Have I got news for you" and he is fine journalist and editor of the Spectator, but he can't be taken seriously in a front line role.

His buffoonery would dominate the news!

[Jack Stone]

If David Cameron is elected I think he deserves the support and the loyalty of everyone in the party. If anyone is not prepared to do that than the party is better off without them and that includes any failed leadership contender.
David Cameron needs to have a mix of youth and experiance in his shadow cabinet but I don`t think that John Redwood should be found a place as frankly he is so bad on t.v. he is an embarassment.

[Russ]

Guys, let's use your brains. Shadow Leader Cameron isn't going to sack his best buddy Osborne as Shadow Chancellor. This is especially true since Osborne has been such a big help during the leadership campaign. By all accounts young George has held his own in the role so far. Osborne isn't going anywhere.

Fox will get moved to defense, while Hague will come in as Shadow Foreign Secretary. Lansley will stay at Health.

[Merry]

Russ

You are probably right - Cameron may well keep his buddy, Osborne, as Shadow Chancellor. I just think having Cameron & Osborne, both very inexperienced parliamentarians, in the two highest profile jobs is asking for trouble.

Cameron needs Hague, Fox and possibly Davis in prominent positions alongside him.

[Rick]

The ISP addresses are exactly the same. What a cowardly thing to do Cllr.

I hope you mean IP Address ?

And I hope you are comparing Static IP addresses not Dynamic ones

[houndtang]

Cameron needs to stock the shadow cabinet with bright, young, relatively attractive people who come across well on TV - have the Tories got 20 of these? The odd 'old head' like Rifkind can be kept on to provide gravitas.

[John Coulson]

At 34 Osborne does not need the Shadow Chancellors job yet.

[Oberon Houston]

My God. Some of the suggestions for shadow cabinet are shocking. How out of touch do we have to get, how low does our rating need to be before we will stop kidding ourselves.

The elected leader will have a strong mandate to implemet what he said he would do in his speech at Conference. Not what Fox said. When the new leader is chosen, I am praying that MPs will ponder for a moment what the result means, and not start muscling in and puting personal views ahead of that of the majority of members.

I, for one, will be extremely angry (putting it mildly), if any MP starts resorting to behaviour that undermines public trust in the party. Trust is not preferable in politics, it is critical, and for that we need discipline, not manouevering for personal gain or views.

[Kate Castle]

Just my own thoughts (& put together fairly quickly)....

Davis has done well and so him to Foreign, Dominic Grieve promoted, Eleanor Laing promoted & Theresa Villiers fast tracked. Fox fans might think I've been harsh on him, but I'd see the Social Justice brief as a huge one. No IDS, reason being his Centre for Social Justice is doing great work for the party and I'd rather he focused on that. A Chair who is not a big publicity seeker, but an experienced and sensible figure - Caroline Spelman. Who better to carry on Cameron's education work than Osbourne? Still very hugh profile at his age and with my choice of Ken as shadow chancellor, George could be the natural successer in due course. Here goes....

Chair: Spelman
Chancellor: Clarke
Constitutional Affairs: Grieve
Culture, Media & Sport: Laing
Defence: Maude
Deregulation: Villiers
Education: Osbourne
Environment & Rural Affairs: Letwin
Family & Social Justice: Fox
Foreign: Davis
Health: May
Home: Hauge
Leader of House: Redwood
Northern Ireland: Ancram
Local Government: Duncan
Trade & Industry: Willets
Transport: Lansley
Work & Pensions: Rifkind

[Kate Castle]

Just my own thoughts (& put together fairly quickly)....

Davis has done well and so him to Foreign, Dominic Grieve promoted, Eleanor Laing promoted & Theresa Villiers fast tracked. Fox fans might think I've been harsh on him, but I'd see the Social Justice brief as a huge one. No IDS, reason being his Centre for Social Justice is doing great work for the party and I'd rather he focused on that. A Chair who is not a big publicity seeker, but an experienced and sensible figure - Caroline Spelman. Who better to carry on Cameron's education work than Osbourne? Still very hugh profile at his age and with my choice of Ken as shadow chancellor, George could be the natural successer in due course. Here goes....

Chair: Spelman
Chancellor: Clarke
Constitutional Affairs: Grieve
Culture, Media & Sport: Laing
Defence: Maude
Deregulation: Villiers
Education: Osbourne
Environment & Rural Affairs: Letwin
Family & Social Justice: Fox
Foreign: Davis
Health: May
Home: Hauge
Leader of House: Redwood
Northern Ireland: Ancram
Local Government: Duncan
Trade & Industry: Willets
Transport: Lansley
Work & Pensions: Rifkind

[Rob]

When Cameron is elected leader, I am prepared to give him a chance to impress, however he must earn any right to loyalty and discipline, Just being elected leader doesnt give him a god given right to rule. All we can hope for is that Cameron proves our worst fears wrong and shows he isnt another Ted Heath/Tony Blair type character who is ideologically unsound and incompetent. I am vaguely optimistic that with time and influence of the MPs and the membership Cameron will turn out to be a good leader who deserves our support and we can campaign in confidence at the next election. If he proves to just be a public school boy twit with a thirst for power at all costs then he is fair game. I hope (and doubt) it will come to that. But lets not have anyone demanding discipline at this early stage, thanks.

[Ted]

Hopefully the Shadow Cabinet appointments will take account of where the likely pain is going to be for the government in the next session:
Works & Pensions - David Davis - good background and fighter to deal with Pensions report & disability stuff. (if DC is Tory Blair without the downside, then DD is probaby Blunkett without the women)
Education - Caroline Spellman - easily better than Ruth Kelly,
Health - Chris Grayling - Epsom Hospital stuff gives him a firm foundation
Chancellor - Osborne will probably stay - KC too much of a target for GB to remind everyone of the Major Gov't.
Defence - Not Soames - need a heavyweight to fight the forces corner & deal with Iraq fall out - thats where Redwood could be useful

[new front bench]

William Hague for Shadow Chancellor. It should go to the best person for the job. No one would do it better.

[Merry]

Oberon

There are many similarities between Cameron and Fox's approach. I agree with Michael Gove's analysis when he says "that a party which makes effective use of both their talents will have forged a powerful alliance for change". A Cameron/ Fox alliance working in harmony is key to the success of the party.

Here is more of Gove on Cameron and Fox( the full analysis is posted elsewhere on this excellent blog):

"....I considered to be one of the most interesting dynamics in the race – the overlap between the Fox and Cameron positions and the coincidence in the agenda of many of their supporters.

I write as a Cameron supporter from the beginning of this race .....But nevertheless I found myself increasingly admiring, and agreeing with, many of the arguments put forward by Liam and his supporters throughout this race. Readers of this blog will know that I was delighted to be able to support the Shadow Foreign Secretary’s drive to put human rights at the heart of Conservative Foreign Policy But in my view there is a broader convergence, beyond simply my views, which marks out the Cameron view and the Fox approach as closely aligned. Both candidates have been particularly energetic in arguing for a changed approach to the way in which the Conservative party responds to the new challenges of the 21st century. And I’d like to list just a few below.

1 Foreign Policy should be Idealist not Realist.

2. Let’s not wobble on the war.

3. We need a more meritocratic Britain. But that still isn’t enough to heal our broken society.

4. Don’t be afraid of the market.

5. Modernising doesn’t mean going soft – it means recognising how the world has changed.

Of course there are many people who were attracted to Liam’s candidacy who won’t vote for David Cameron. Their platforms overlap, they’re not identical. But the nature of the overlap is instructive. Both the Fox and Cameron candidacies have been attempts to move the party out of traditional trenches into a closer engagement with the modern world. They’ve both combined a compassionate approach towards the most vulnerable in our society, and across the globe, with tough-mindedness about international challenges".

[Oberon Houston]

Merry,

I profoundly disagree with every one of those points as a mantra, and they all originate from Liam.

[Merry]

Oberon

Would you not agree with the following Fox/ Cameron view of the world as described by Gove:

1)"...the need to engage ethically with the rest of the world ... This view of Foreign Policy, which treats Darfur as a more urgent issue even than Zimbabwe, both speaks to a new generation of idealists and is true to the party’s best traditions.

2)Both LF and DC have emphasised that our society needs to be more open to talent. But both have also shown they understand that there are many in our society whose needs go beyond just an extension of opportunity. LF’s focus on the mentally ill, and DC’s emphasis on special needs education, are just two examples of their campaigns’ focus on the requirement to help those whose vulnerabilities hold them back from full participation in our society. LF has won support from charities and voluntary bodies for his championing of those left behind. And DC has a long track record of supporting those organisations dedicated to helping the marginalised live with dignity. Some Tories have, in the past, given the impression that all we need to do is remove the barriers to success for “the hard-working” or “strivers” to do our duty by society. LF and DC recognise that social justice demands a commitment to provide support for those who are genuinely disadvantaged."

Surely Conservatives can unite around a Cameron/ Fox principled stand on compassionate conservatism at home and abroad?

[Rick]

"1)"...the need to engage ethically with the rest of the world ... This view of Foreign Policy, which treats Darfur as a more urgent issue even than Zimbabwe, both speaks to a new generation of idealists and is true to the party’s best traditions."

So tell China and France to stop supporting Sudan (oil you know) and then impose trade sanctions on South Africa and basn SAA from Britain unless Mbeki cuts off aid and electricity to Zimbabwe.

It is very simple but noone seriously expects Conservatives to do anything different from Jack Straw - the FO is imbued with inertia.

[Gareth]

Barbara,

Once again, you spectacularly miss the point.

The rights and wrongs of the 'he's gay, no he's not' name calling is neither here nor there. The point is, that when you retell the tale, you refer to 'gay smears', in manner of the Daily HateMail.

This comment, by the way, is your funniest yet. I particularly loved the juxtaposition of "You really are are very immature" with "so that's how much you know", a phrase I confess I haven't heard since prep. school at the end. As deployer of irony you are unsurpassable!

"You really are very immature and you have a huge chip on your shoulder to boot. If you read the posting properly you would have read that Fox was never going to back Davis because HE thought that the Davis camp briefed the press about HIM being gay (which by the way has been making the rounds of Westminster for years)and that it wasn't true. It actually almost came to blows between Conway and the accuser so that's how much you know."

You are officially the Hilda Baker of Conservative Home - all bow to Barbara because 'she knows y'know'.

[Rick]

"If you read the posting properly you would have read that Fox was never going to back Davis because HE thought that the Davis camp briefed the press about HIM being gay (which by the way has been making the rounds of Westminster for years)and that it wasn't true. It actually almost came to blows between Conway and the accuser so that's how much you know."

" I confess I haven't heard since prep. school "

This convoluted tittle-tattle suggests you have not graduated from the playground....yet