Conservative Party

David Cameron boardroom pay and putdowns

Turgon on January 10, 2012, 9:56 pm

| Readers 53

The coverage of David Cameron’s views on any Scottish independence referendum have been analysed in detail. Those comments did rather eclipse the coverage of his interview with the Sunday Telegraph. The Telegraph is obviously the most pro Tory of the broadsheets but they do seem to be even more sympathetic than usual in their coverage of the interview: not only the article by Patrick Hennessy above but also Matthew d’Ancona who bordered a little too close to sycophancy</a. and a …

Conservatives winding up the UUP?

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on November 10, 2011, 11:41 am

| Readers 25

If you tilt your head towards East Belfast, hold your breath and listen carefully, you’ll be able to hear the sound of chuckling from UUP HQ. Jeff Peel has blogged this morning about an audacious, bold, and unlikely-to-be-considered offer from the Conservative Party to the UUP. I was today forwarded a letter that has been sent to all members of the Conservative Party in Northern Ireland. The letter suggests that the Conservative Party chairman, Lord Feldman of Elstree, has addressed …

Tories struggle to maintain a political ecosphere beyond England…

Mick Fealty on September 5, 2011, 9:57 am

| Readers 21

The latest developments don’t mean the end of Conservatism in Scotland. But it is indicative of 1) the kind of fuzzy thinking that at times pervades some very well intentioned innovations within the Cameron kitchen cabinet; and 2) the dearth of committed Scots within the modern Conservative party. And it comes within a year of the failure of the UCU-NF project. I’m told over and over that David Cameron is committed to the Union, and to outreach to the outer …

The working class can kiss my ass: I’ve got the foreman’s job at last

Turgon on March 27, 2011, 6:27 pm

| Readers 7284

Sorry for the somewhat rude title but that modification of the Red Flag (Billy Bragg sings it too fast here in my view) came to mind over this story. Over 70% of the UK population now describe themselves as middle class, they have an average household income of £37,000: in contrast only 24% regarded themselves as working class and they had an average household income of £24,000. The survey by Britain Thinks (available here) identified six “middle class segments” and …

Conservatives and Unionists abandoned on the road to nowhere

Mick Fealty on February 7, 2011, 12:10 pm

| Readers 9

Let’s start with the good news for the Ulster Unionists. Membership is up. And up by quite a bit for a party that’s not exactly been making all the best kind of headlines. Some estimates put it at about 2k. Which (if they are paying their dues) is not bad at all. The bad news is that the failed tie up with the Conservatives, continues to become ever more thin. Jeff Peel (who has consistently blamed the UUs for never …

Pan-Union Politics: A Policy Without a Party for a Party Without a Purpose

Dilettante on February 1, 2011, 3:42 pm

| Readers 4

With the Ulster Unionist Party, once a monopolist mechanism for the exercise of unionist political power, now out of power, it needs to carve itself an ideological space in Northern Irish politics to survive. The best hope both for the party and the province is becoming an advocate for mainland politics.

Has the DUP already switched back on ‘double jobbing’?

Mick Fealty on June 23, 2010, 2:21 pm

| Readers 33

Anyone watching Sammy Wilson last night on Stormont Today last night, may have noticed he devolved upwards the decision over his future as Finance Minister. It is, he said, a matter for his party leader. Well, the last time we looked it was DUP party policy was to unilaterally bring an end double jobbing. Or in Peter Robinson’s own words: “any of our Assembly Members elected to Westminster will give up their Assembly seats.” Even Sammy himself told Gerry Moriarty …

From the Scotland Bill to Scottish independence…

Jeff Breslin on May 27, 2010, 12:46 pm

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The inclusion of the Scotland Act amongst the UK Government’s 22 Bills has pushed Scotland’s place in Britain back up the discussion list in many quarters. Personally I am surprised that the Conservatives have moved so quickly on the issue when it potentially poses such a risk for the continuation of the union, particularly given that David Cameron claims to have the Union Jack stamped onto his insides like a stick of rock. For me, the implementation of the Calman …

After the election: Why a coalition is good for the UK…

Mick Fealty on May 18, 2010, 8:52 am

| Readers 4

In passing, last week’s editorial from the Economist (who had backed the Tories) on the nature of the UK’s new coalition government is worth noting: The parties will share responsibility for unpopular fiscal decisions, which should make them easier to take. The fact that, together, they have 59% of the vote will help persuade the electorate to accept painful cuts. Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg have struggled to marginalise their parties’ loonier fringes, and their alliance may assist them in …

Conservatives considering their options in Northern Ireland?

Mick Fealty on May 17, 2010, 9:32 pm

| Readers 2

Interesting news from Jeff Peel on status of the Conservative party staffers in Northern Ireland. Slugger cannot confirm whether it is true or not, but we understand the Conservatives did indeed expend a great deal of time, money and energy on trying to help get Ulster Unionist (as well as their own) candidates elected in the latest general election. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the …

Cameron’s bold bids to keep ahead of coalition sceptics

Brian Walker on May 16, 2010, 12:21 pm

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Accidentally perhaps, the test paper for the success of the Lib Con coalition has just been set by the centre left commentator Will Hutton in the Observer. Why should a comment piece be so significant? Because Cameron has just announced the dramatic appointments of Hutton to head up a commission on public sector pay and maverick Labour MP Frank Field as poverty czar. This is triangulation with a vengeance and will cause much Conservative heartburn. Hutton’s test paper deals with another part …