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A great victory for John Major.
The Conservatives won 42% of the popular vote against 35% for Labour - not at all close David.
Most memorable election night ever.
The 1992 election - Bas-il-don! Bas-il-don! David Amess's victory starts the stuffing of the BBC's exit poll
Clark's calm but effective put down of Dame Fiona [who is resigning from the NT] and Sir Simon.
Greg Clark: New planning rules will create a "presumption in favour of sustainable development"
Calm down Chris and get some perspective.
Former Labour MP Robert Maxwell stole around £500m from the Mirror Group pension fund.
Chris Bryant MP says News Intl scandal is biggest case of corporate corruption since 1720
The Labour MP made the claim within this ITN report on James Murdoch's resignation.
He is one of a dishonest band surely.
UKIP MEPs, plus honorary Ukipper Roger Helmer, sought to be members of an organisation where they do no work and achieve no results and yet they still trouser enormous salaries and generous expenses. I guess they will take their pensions too. This would be deemed fraudulent in any other activity.
Why not get elected, stay at home AND refuse the money. A more honest way of opposing the European Parliament.
Is Farage's UKIP a one-man band?
Man of the people is made to look like a complete tit.
Jacob Rees-Mogg MP makes his case for a Somerset timezone
Cheer up, we can only improve if the Scottish Party focuses on things that matter to Scots - same as us really; the economy, jobs, inflation - and not keep banging on about the Union.
Ruth Davidson is the new leader of the Scottish Conservatives
By Tim Montgomerie Follow Tim on Twitter Many congratulations to Ruth Davidson, the new leader of the Scottish Conservatives. I had the pleasure of meeting Ruth – albeit briefly – at the Manchester Party Conference. She was everything I had expected from media reviews – warm, thoughtful and aut...
Many private sector employees are experiencing falling or static pay.
Many public sector employees are having their salaries frozen at 2009 levels.
Those in receipt of final salary and state pensions will be getting an increase of 5.2% in 2012 following a 3%+ increase in 2011.
Pensioners suffering? Maybe some are.
David Gauke tells Andrew Neil that the Coalition is doing all it can to cut the cost of living
Treasury Minister David Gauke says he agrees with the Bank of England forecast and other commentators that inflation will start falling at the end of the year. Andrew Neil invites him to come back then and predicts it will likely be an uncomfortable interview.
Philip Hammond is very capable and very competent. He is also on the right on economic policy and Europe - but I guess the Conhome boys know this.
Justine Greening is work in progress and has yet to prove she can cut it - seen her at conference a few times where, as someone else said, she struggled with her brief. On the other hand she has to be better than Theresa Villiers who is a known car crash.
Philip Hammond is new Defence Secretary. Justine Greening is new Transport Secretary.
By Paul Goodman Follow Paul on Twitter. Three quick points: For defence, David Cameron clearly wanted someone who will calm down the department, who has management experience, and will see the spending scaleback through. I'm unaware of Hammond having any previous defence experience, and suspe...
Liam Fox has done the honorable thing and behaved with some dignity during the past 6 days.
Time now for him to reflect from the backbenches on how he can be a better team player in future.
LIAM FOX HAS RESIGNED
By Tim Montgomerie Follow Tim on Twitter. 4.15pm: Three quick observations: Cameron has handled the saga well. One of the Prime Minister's greatest qualities is that he doesn't panic. He knows that today's newspapers are tomorrow's fish and chip wrappers. He doesn't allow himself to get too exc...
Fiona makes some sound points. It was the 6th consecutive that I've attended. We members were often outnumbered by NGO folk and lobbyists at fringe meetings - I took to ironic applause whenever they put a question - but there was a lot of very well informed member participation - particularly from councillors - at fringe sessions on draft NPPF, local issues and so on.
Most new MPs engaged with us members at fringe meetings -e.g. Raab, Javid, Wollaston, Stewart - and there was the usual sterling work from Eric Pickles and David Willetts.
But most Main Hall sessions are dull and a bit patronising.
Hope to attend next year's in Brum.
Fiona Hodgson: The Conservative grassroots is getting more of a say in the Party - as Manchester 2011 showed
Fiona Hodgson is President of the National Conservative Convention and chaired this year’s Conservative Party Conference. Now that the dust has settled on Party Conference, I want to take this opportunity to look back at Manchester 2011 and set the record straight on one or two points. In th...
Looks like an endorsement of the cautious reform programme and economic stewardship of Donald Tusk and Civic Platform.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wins another term
By Joseph Willits Follow Joseph on Twitter Poland's centre right party, Civic Platform, led by current prime minister Donald Tusk, have won a new four year term. Tusk becomes the first prime minister in Poland to win a second consecutive term since the fall of Communism in 1989. At prese...
Liam Fox has acknowledged his flawed judgment. His future depends on how others view the flaw and his response.
Can't see why the authoritarian right are so concerned to support him. He has adopted some right leaning postures - on relations with the US and on Europe - but there has been no coherent political viewpoint from him.
Liam Fox reminds me of another Scot, the former Conservative MP Teddy Taylor - a populist in his Cathcart seat in Glasgow, a Thatcher favourite, loses his seat, gets a berth in Southend and ends up as muted pussy cat.
Liam Fox apologises for blurring professional responsibilities and personal loyalties
By Tim Montgomerie Follow Tim on Twitter. The Times' Michael Savage has tweeted the contents of a statement from Liam Fox: "I accept that it was a mistake to allow distinctions to be blurred between professional responsibilities and my personal loyalties. I have apologised to the PM & agreed wit...
Tim, your attacks on Ken are silly, belittling and, as has been said, just tiresome.
We need to remember that Ken Clarke has held the major offices of state with some distinction – Treasury, Education, Health and the Home Office.
A great servant to the Party. Most Tory members I know think the same.
Ken Clarke should be sacked for his renewed attack on Theresa May
By Tim Montgomerie Follow Tim on Twitter. "Justice Secretary Ken Clarke ramped up the war of words with Home Secretary Theresa May today by accusing her of using "laughable and childlike" examples to criticise the Human Rights Act." So reports The Independent. Whatever the accuracy of Theresa Ma...
Can recommend the ETAP in Salford Quays/Media City. French chain; new, simple, comfortable at £50 per night. Tram - stop by the hotel - to the conference centre in 10 minutes with a concessionary fare[i.e. free] for delegates.
This was a party conference without party members
By Tim Montgomerie Follow Tim on Twitter. I offered my thoughts on Cameron's speech yesterday. Max Hastings has the best reaction in this morning's press. It was a good speech, he concludes, but didn't match up to the gravity of these economic times. This morning I want to briefly focus on t...
Heard a few real people there apart from Peter Hitchens and Nick Bowles for instance who lived up otherwise dull events. For most delegates the FZ meant EUROPE and all its ills.
Policy Exchange - similarly located outside the secure zone - ran livelier, better attended sessions on a wider range of issues.
This was a party conference without party members
By Tim Montgomerie Follow Tim on Twitter. I offered my thoughts on Cameron's speech yesterday. Max Hastings has the best reaction in this morning's press. It was a good speech, he concludes, but didn't match up to the gravity of these economic times. This morning I want to briefly focus on t...
Not so much Malcolm.
You can stay at a comfortable new French chain hotel near Media City [Salford Quays] for £50 per night, travel to the conference centre by the excellent tram service in 10 minutes - free thanks to a concession to delegates, you could have booked your conference place and travel early and done it all for less than £250.
Bruce Anderson: This is the flattest Tory Conference I can remember... but Cameron wants to reassure, not to excite
I have been coming to Tory conferences since 1976 and this is the flattest that I can remember. There are a number of explanations. It may be that sea air invigorates Tories soul in a way that a great if embattled industrial city cannot rival. Also, the absence of cheap boarding-houses has deter...
What bollocks Bruce.
Monday/Tuesday I attended 18 or so fringe events, almost all well attended, i.e. the venues were full, more younger folk than ever, a lot of impressive new MPs participating.
Bruce Anderson: This is the flattest Tory Conference I can remember... but Cameron wants to reassure, not to excite
I have been coming to Tory conferences since 1976 and this is the flattest that I can remember. There are a number of explanations. It may be that sea air invigorates Tories soul in a way that a great if embattled industrial city cannot rival. Also, the absence of cheap boarding-houses has deter...
The Countryside Alliance and the Country and Land Business Association, with a total membership of 136,000, represent and speak for people who live and work in the countryside.
Theirs is a legitimate voice of people in rural areas - unlike that of the urban based CPRE and that of the metropolitan elite that has hijacked the National Trust.
Alice Barnard: How to prevent the planning debate from dividing into two rival camps
Alice Barnard, Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance, is on the Conservative candidates list. The debate over the Government’s draft National Planning Framework has steadily intensified in recent weeks. In the media-storm that has accompanied the struggle, few have been able to escape be...
Having read their pieces for more than 25 years I'd say that Simon Jenkins and Max Hastings have always been Little Englanders; praising rural churches, hunting with hounds, both traditionalists plus their recent hysteria over possible reforms to planning.
I'd guess that they have been emboldened by eurozone troubles to join the euro sceptic chorus. Not sure what it says about their self awareness, judgment or courage in that its taken them so long.
Simon Jenkins, Matthew Parris, Camilla Cavendish and Max Hastings lead Fleet Street's rush towards Euroscepticism
By Tim Montgomerie Follow Tim on Twitter. Today Simon Jenkins becomes the latest of several establishment journalist to turn on Europe. Jenkins writes: "Europe is clearly at a turning point, turning against the single-statism of the European movement, with its straitjacketed currency, its flows ...
The Countryside Alliance - membership circa 100,000 - represents the views of its supporters in rural areas.
Contrast with the National Trust where the Director General has launched an ill judged and expensive campaign for which she has no authority or member endorsement.
She has hijacked the Trust to support the agenda of the Campaign to Protect Rural England for whom she once worked.
This member of the National Trust thinks it outrageous.
"Myth busters" listed by DCLG on planning changes
Given the sluggish economic growth it is particularly important that the Government press ahead with changes to make the planning system less bureaucratic and more flexible. There is plenty of scope for attractive development in suitable places that existing communities would welcome. These safe...
The Director General has no mandate from NT members for her shrill and ill judged campaign.
Instead of behaving like a custodian of our built and natural heritage the Trust is acting like an interest group.
We members join the Trust to support and enjoy its heritage stewardship. We don’t pay our subscriptions to support contentious lobbying. We would join the Campaign to Protect Rural England [CPRE] if that was our aim. Representations and lobbying are best left to us the public and to interest groups formed for the purpose.
Where is the authority to devote funds from member subscriptions to fund the campaign? The Director General’s time; the use of Corporate Affairs Department and other staff resources; preparing petition forms and their display in Trust properties; the additional work of staff in dealing with petition enquiries and then in collating petition forms.
This lobbying and political adventure by the Director General - who was recruiting from the CPRE - is a distraction from the job of leading an organisation with an annual income of more than £400m and 3.6 million members.
It is a failure of judgement that in many other situations would lead to a CEO having to consider their position. Unlikely at the NT as she is reflecting the values of her Chairman; What influence is he exerting in using the Trust to push his own views?
Governance at the Trust has always been opaque, its current actions point to the need for reform.
National Trust urged to "get specific" on planning grievances
In an interview (£) for The Times this morning the Planning Minister Greg Clark urges the National Trust to "get specific" and to "make positive suggestions." But the Government have made clear that the thrust of their policy will remain unchanged. It is to simplify the planning process to encou...
There are serious conflicts of interest in any police authority opposition to the elected commissioner proposals.
The Chairman of a Police Authority [always a County Councillor and never one of the first rank] will get an allowance of £15k plus and his mates [also County Councillors] will get an allowance of at least £9k.
Saw on an audit of Cumbria Police Authority - just to north of me - that 9 County Councillors received an allowance of £9,341 per year in addition to their £8,030 per year for being County Councillors.
Nice little earners - so don't listen to them.
Kent Police Authority use taxpayers' money to attack the Government
Kent Police Authority have launched an attack on the Government plans for elected police commissioners. Their press release in its headline says the proposals are "naive and disastrous". It says: “There is no place for political interference in policing as recent public spats between ministers a...
Anyone know what the Scottish Daily Mail leads on today?
£1,624 - the gap in public spending per person between England and Scotland
By Matthew Barrett Follow Matthew on Twitter Figures released by the Treasury's annual Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses today have shown a record gap in yearly public spending on people in Scotland, and people in England. The total public spending per Scot last year was £10,212, compare...
Sorry Ruth, usual trite stuff garnished with some relish to tickle eurosceptic palates.
For best analysis see Wolfgang Münchau in the FT - the consistent and most insightful critic of eurozone governance.
Ruth Lea: There are two permanent solutions for the €uro area; full economic union or the division of the currency area into northern and southern zones
I’ve watched the Eurozone’s “dance of death” with increasing disquiet. And this is in spite of the fact that I have had deep misgivings about the project from the very start. At the time of the Maastricht Summit (1991) I scarce believed that the EU’s politicians would be so unwise and careless...
John Prescott is the epitome of the 'busy fool'.
Always active, always useless, sometimes harmful.
Are you as shocked as John Prescott about ministers going on holiday?
By Tim Montgomerie Follow Tim on Twitter. The Mirror and John Prescott are very excited about the PM, Deputy PM and Chancellor being away on holiday. Prescott has been tweeting excitedly away all day, at one stage joking that Larry the Cat was in charge of the country! A few quick fire observa...
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