Throughout the rest of today - on the hour, every hour until I run out of award ideas! - ConservativeHome will be presenting its Awards Of the Contest (notice the glittering golden writing).
The first Award is for The Biggest Moment/ Event.
In third place is the Cornerstone Dinner at which David Davis underperformed and Liam Fox excelled. From then on Dr Fox began actively courting the right-wing MPs who could have otherwise underpinned DD's candidacy.
In second place is the Question Time debate. Although David Davis won the debate (according to readers of this blog who reflect the overall bias to Cameron) it was not enough to halt David Cameron's already established and 'big' momentum.
He had that 'big mo' because of his performance in Blackpool. DC's speech to the Blackpool Party Conference is ConservativeHome.com's Event of the Leadership Race. Leo McKinstry - writing for today's Express - says Mr Cameron possesses "astonishing eloquence":
"Some critics have dismissed his fluency as a showy irrelevance but, given that politics is all about communication, it is a vital asset and one that his inarticulate rival David Davis did not possess".
The Biggest Mo' of all was about 1 minute into that Davis conference speech when you knew it was all over for Basher.
It was the funeral speech for Davis' leadership.
Posted by: Guido Fawkes | 05 December 2005 at 14:12
Mr Editor - will you be blogging PMQs as you did with Question Time and the other TV debates? Do you want instant feedback on the new leader's performance?
Posted by: Victoria Street | 05 December 2005 at 14:15
Cameron's momentum didn't just come from the speech itself but from the totality of the conference campaign which was slick and highly impressive up to the people campaigning at the train station on the way home.
Combining rhetoric with brilliant organization.
Posted by: wasp | 05 December 2005 at 14:18
Rather tactless to award Cameron a RED rosette, don't you think?
Posted by: Neutral umpire | 05 December 2005 at 14:20
What about when he "had" Paxman? Or was that not as dramatic as he likes to make it sound?
Posted by: Al G | 05 December 2005 at 14:22
Hello Victoria Street... I'll certainly blog his first PMQs but I've always thought too much is made of PMQs. I'd like DC to turn it into a real question period where answers to real questions are sought - rather than it being an exercise in point-scoring. Is mine a foolish notion?
Posted by: Editor | 05 December 2005 at 14:22
Blogging PMQs is a bad idea. By then the election will be over and you can all go back to proper work and start earning your money you idle swine.
Posted by: Your Boss reads this stuff also | 05 December 2005 at 14:28
Tim,
I agree with your first choice - that's the obvious tipping point of the contest. Not sure about the other two though. What about some events which might leave a more lasting impact on the Party's direction. For example:
Liam Fox's decision to put Human Rights at the heart of Conservative foreign policy?
The series of moments when senior conservatives pledged their support for marriage, including Damian Green & David Cameron.
There's also a case to be made for Cameron's success in refusing to answer any questions about his pre-political personal life. That may have a long-term impact on our political culture. It also diverted attention away from what his actual policy views on drugs were, which may have been more damaging amongst MPs. This is an example of successful spin - see my comments on today's thread about "unacceptable briefings".
Or do these fit better into other award categories?
Posted by: Simon C | 05 December 2005 at 14:30
Point noted Boss. Hols over Tuesday afternoon. Oh well.
Posted by: Research slave | 05 December 2005 at 14:35
Ed's right on this one. We need constructive opposition, not punch and judy. Blogging the first PMQs would give an opening to knock DC and we can't afford to damage the new leader.
Posted by: I Love DC | 05 December 2005 at 14:38
What about unsuccessful candidate who most enhanced his/her reputation by participating in the race? My vote goes to Liam Fox.
Posted by: fox fan | 05 December 2005 at 14:38
"What about unsuccessful candidate who most enhanced his/her reputation by participating in the race?"
Best conference speech? Sir Malcolm by a mile.
Posted by: rifkind respecter | 05 December 2005 at 14:42
Liam Fox wins the "Winner who didn't win" category.
Posted by: Simon C | 05 December 2005 at 14:44
How about a top 10?
This could also include Performances against Paxman, the points raised by Simon C and the renewed optimism within the party.
Overall, Michael Howard has to be credited with an excellent hand over.
Posted by: TC | 05 December 2005 at 14:45
"Liam Fox wins the "Winner who didn't win" category." Er, 'loser who didn't lose', surely?
Posted by: Pedant | 05 December 2005 at 14:46
I don't know about blogging Prime Minister's Questions - how about blogging the withdrawal from the EPP?
Posted by: Disappointed Eurosceptic | 05 December 2005 at 14:50
Even if you want EPP withdrawal surely you realise that it takes time to build an alternative coalition?
Posted by: wasp | 05 December 2005 at 16:37
That's right, Wasp - it could take over a week and almost as long as Christmas.
Posted by: Disappointed Eurosceptic | 05 December 2005 at 16:47
"Rather tactless to award Cameron a RED rosette, don't you think?"
Better than pink one!
Posted by: | 05 December 2005 at 17:00
I thought that first prize winners were traditionally awarded a blue rosette!
Posted by: Alexander Drake | 05 December 2005 at 20:39
It's the US Republican in me, Alexander!
Posted by: Editor | 05 December 2005 at 20:46