...along with two A4-sized leaflets for each candidate; a note from Michael Spicer (Returning Officer) and a financial appeal from Michael Howard. Sir Michael's note contains the warning to call 020 7984 8233 to reserve a place at one of the hustings - seats will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
At first glance Mr Cameron's leaflet looks superior. The text is broken up into bite-sized chunks - with subtitles and key messages emboldened. It has more policy statements than Mr Davis' leaflet - although most are pretty vague. On the back page it carries endorsements from the likes of Bruce Anderson, Charles Moore, Steve Richards and Mary-Ann Sieghart. The front of the leaflet carries a photo of Mr Cameron giving his conference speech - an obvious reminder of his finest moment.
Mr Davis' leaflet has a more colourful centrefold and messages like "Substance", "Experience" and "Winning beyond the south" are printed in larger type.
DC signs his leaflet with a simple "David" - the older Mr Davis has a "Yours sincerely, David Davis".
I won't be voting yet. What about you?
That's a lie, Wasp. It wasn't requested by the voluntary party, but rather representatives of the voluntary party who did not garner the opinions of those they represented before proposing to disenfranchise them. That was contrary to their members wishes according to all the polling evidence: while most members supported giving MPs the final say, a larger number still wanted the members to keep a vote in the process.
Posted by: James Hellyer | 08 November 2005 at 09:32
I will hang on to the donation form and give a big (for me anyway) donation if David Cameron is elected leader.
I've also voted early to try and avoid the Christmas post.
Posted by: michael | 08 November 2005 at 10:22
I am amazed at the lack of faith in our postal system. I know it isn't as good as it used to be, but I still reckon a letter will get delivered in three or four days at the very outside, and I live in a rural area.
Posted by: Derek | 08 November 2005 at 10:32
Well Derek I rely on the post hugely in my business and it never fails...it always lets me down.Hence my advice to you yesterday.
BTW Are any other bloggers going to the London hustings?Would anyone fancy a beer or two afterward?
Posted by: malcolm | 08 November 2005 at 10:44
Ditto Malcolm - as Election Agent this year, I spent many happy days chasing invoices lost in the post.
I was surprised to get my ballot paper at all, but would be amazed if it ever finds it way back.
Posted by: michael | 08 November 2005 at 10:50
I have booked into the London hustings. The Methodist Central Hall, although large, will not be able to cope with demand. Book early as Fred Pontin used to say.
Posted by: Seldon Man | 08 November 2005 at 11:08
Having made the wrong call in who to back, are the Davis camp holding David Willets in a dark cellar somewhere?
Yesterday we found out why, his name is on David Davis's leaflet.
They had a choice, either pulp 300,000 leaflets, or pulp David Willetts.
So they pulped old two-brains.
Posted by: michael | 08 November 2005 at 11:21
The Willetts story is rather strange. It reminds of Oliver Letwin in 2001. If DW has changed his mind, he should come out and say so.
Posted by: Selsdon Man | 08 November 2005 at 11:25
The strange thing is that Willetts backed Davis in the first place. WHY? I really can't understand it.
I'm a big fan of David Willetts too.
Posted by: michael | 08 November 2005 at 11:32
Just rang up and got through straight away. Excellent.
Posted by: Cllr Iain Lindley | 08 November 2005 at 11:44
For those still making up their minds, there's a bit more substance from DC coming this evening at the CPS.
Andy McSmith reports in The Independent today: "Today, Mr Cameron sets out his "compassionate Conservatism'' in a speech to a Tory think-tank, the Centre for Policy Studies. He will propose scrapping the "five barriers to wealth creation"- irresponsible government spending, excessive regulation, EU bureaucracy, inadequate infrastructure, and "insufficient capacity" for developing the nation's talents."
Note that David Cameron's list does not include high taxes as one of the five barriers to wealth creation.
Posted by: loyal_tory | 08 November 2005 at 14:01
Does he define these five things and indicate how he would scrap them?
Posted by: James Hellyer | 08 November 2005 at 14:06
As member of Conservatives Abroad I am delighted to say that my ballot papers have arrived safely in Bangkok today. Great service!
Thanks to all involved with this Blog site for enabling people like me who obviously cannot make any of the hustings meetings to be informed of all the issues at stake in this election.
I am pleased too that the membership of the party are still able to voice an opinion in the matter of the leadership.
Posted by: Pauline Buffham | 08 November 2005 at 14:25
As member of Conservatives Abroad I am delighted to say that my ballot papers have arrived safely in Bangkok today. Great service!
Thanks to all involved with this Blog site for enabling people like me who obviously cannot make any of the hustings meetings to be informed of all the issues at stake in this election.
I am pleased too that the membership of the party are still able to voice an opinion in the matter of the leadership.
Posted by: Pauline Buffham | 08 November 2005 at 14:26
"Am I alone in being profoundly irritated by the declaration form attached with the ballot paper which states that I am only voting once?"
Maybe you are. A similar declaration is required with a postal ballot. I was an election agent during the all-postal voting trials in the East Midlands for the 2004 Euro elections - if this ballot is run along the same lines, the ballot paper envelopes are separated from their declarations *before* being opened, so that the secrecy of the ballot is maintained. This process is monitored by scrutineers (in Jun 2004, me, in this case, I presume ERS), and any doubtful ballots are retained with their declarations while being referred to the Returning Officer.
And let's face it, before anyone gets too offended, there have been issues in this country with fistfulls of postal ballot papers. I'd much rather see ERS and CCHQ being too rigorous, rather than not rigorous enough. Wouldn't you?
Posted by: Richard Carey | 08 November 2005 at 19:48
I have voted for David Cameron for two resons.
Firstly you can see him on the steps of Downing Street you just can`t see that with David Davis and secondly I just can`t vote for Davis and help push the party into crisis by having a party leader who would have barely a third of his own MP`s supporting him.
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