Lord Archer set to give new leader a first headache

Today's Times reports that Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare has rejoined the Conservative Party through local associations in Vauxhall and South Cambridgeshire.  The best-selling storyteller and former Deputy Tory Chairman was given a five year ban from Conservative Party membership by William Hague in February 2000.  That ban was made after he was sent to prison for perjury.

Lord Archer may soon reapply to sit with other Tories in the House of Lords.  Michael Howard washed his hands of the matter, telling The Times: "That will be a decision for my successor. I won’t do anything to embarrass my successor.”  Messrs Davis and Cameron were unwilling to comment.

Deciding whether or not to forgive Jeffrey Archer will just be one of the headaches that will greet the incoming Tory leader.  Restoring Tory finances will be of migraine proportions.  Streams of income have dried up during the leadership interregnum.

If, as is now almost certain, David Cameron becomes Tory leader his EPP commitment will cause some discomfort.  The more Europhile Conservative Members of the European Parliament are very unhappy about quitting the EPP.  At the Frimley Hustings on Wednesday Mr Cameron appeared to kick his EPP commitment into the long grass with the announcement that his Shadow Foreign Secretary will determine the timing of the exit.

Comments

[John Coulson]

BW if you are referring to me you are very wrong.

I donated a huge amount of my time to the GE campaign in April and May. The reason I often get irate is because I see our great party that should be the bastion of freedom, responsibilty and high principle being taken over by individuals who are the opposite to these principles. They would sell their souls for power and I don't believe actually care for this country.

Mrs Thatcher once declared: "I've been elected to change the facts".

I can imagine David Cameron saying: "I've been elected, wayhey!, back to my place for some beers and we can sort out who gets what office."

[malcolm]

Posts like the one above really do depress me.There are many bright, open,committed individuals who spend time blogging on this site and then we get people like John Coulson whose hatred of Cameron clouds his judgement entirely and results in a series of utterly ludicrous and very boring posts.

[John Coulson]

Malcolm - if DC is elected he will do something deplorable in his first week in the job. I can almost imagine the man/(boy) physically removing Baroness Thatchers membership card, ripping it up before pushing her down the stairs. I have never met him but that is the impression I get of him. I may be wrong but I really do fear for our party under his leadership.

[malcolm]

You're just embarassing yourself John.Why don't you keep quiet until and unless you have any evidence to back up your assertions.At the moment you have nothing.

[wasp]

I don't think Archer should come back because of the nature of his crime. There is one Labour MP is an ex-con but I don't think thats a problem. The real danger is that Archole was jailed for perjury, if he lies in court then how can he be a parliamentarian?

Look to Cameron making this a Clause 4 issue.

[Rick]

Look to Cameron making this a Clause 4 issue.

Forget this totemic rubbish. Clause IV was passed at the 1918 Labour Conference as a sop, it was basically meaningless - the German SPD dropped their commitment in 1957 Bad Godesberg Program - it just took Labour longer, but it had no importance.

The first act of nationalisation (after Henry VIII) was The East India Company being dissolved, and later when Disraeli nationalised the undersea telecom cable which became the basis for State control of wireless telegraphy.

If the Conservatives want to play this "Clause IV" ritualistic slaying of some sacred cow they will make themselves look stupid. It was a meaningless gesture by Blair and because it was meaningless it was passed - the Clause has always been irrelevant.

[Chris Palmer]

John Coulson: "BW if you are referring to me you are very wrong."

Guilty conscience John?

[Cllr Iain Lindley]

Anyone worried about either candidate "ripping up Thatcher's membership card" can read the CWF response to both candidates and rest easily assured. :)

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