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Team Cameron

Thursday, October 01, 2009

Cameron's two pathways to the dismantling of the centralised, powerful state

Interviewed by Fraser Nelson for the latest edition of The Spectator, David Cameron says he has four priorities: “The deficit, Afghanistan, the broken society and mending the mess of our politics.”

But what do these priorities add up to?  What is 'Cameronism'?  What is the vision?

October_CoverOfProspect

In the main feature for the latest edition of Prospect magazine, The Guardian's Julian Glover attempts to answer those questions and does so persuasively.  The article's introduction is here but the full copy is only available to subscribers.

Two big themes emerge: (1) information and (2) society.

Glover writes:

"The starting point will be to flood the public sector with information. No budget will be secret or hard to track down. Go to the website of a government agency at the moment, and it is all but impossible to discover what it spends or what its top staff are paid. Cameron’s team place great faith in technology and openness as a substitute for the bodies that control public service provision. They point to price comparison websites such as moneysupermarket.com. Do not underestimate the immediate impact of massive doses of information, they say, pointing to what happened when MPs’ expenses were revealed."

Then there is this:

"The most important soundbite of his leadership was his first: “There is such a thing as society, it’s just not the same as the state.”"

Do these make sense to you as two pathways to a smaller state?  One path is an information revolution that produces internet-age accountability for the state.  As Glover notes, that internet-age transparency has already produced a revolution in the Commons.  What will it do to local government? To the NHS? To the BBC?

Continue reading "Cameron's two pathways to the dismantling of the centralised, powerful state" »

Posted at 07:34 in Cameronism, Compassionate conservatism, Team Cameron | | Comments (54)

Monday, August 03, 2009

Terrible advice from The Guardian's Julian Glover

Exclusivity I can't think of a way of writing this politely so I'll just write it directly: Julian Glover's article about the Conservative Party in this morning's Guardian is flawed from start to finish.

Four of his arguments and my four responses:

  1. "There is a tension inside conservatism between the old party and the new one. The new is focused on the future and has insulated itself consciously from the failures of the old – indeed, won public support by insulting the old. It is young, steady-nerved, ambitious and deliberately dismissive of what came before." As parties change there are always tensions but JG doesn't define the tensions accurately. It's much more complex and interesting than he presents. In many ways Cameron is a very traditional Conservative. As Ridley Grove's correspondent notes today, Cameron is a Unionist, a Eurosceptic and a social conservative. One of Cameron's greatest strengths is that he is comfortable with all the conservative traditions but is a temperamental moderate. He doesn't over-emphasise any of them. The Right has its caveman elements but the Right is much more interesting than is usually suggested. IDS, for example, was the champion of social justice before any of Cameron's circle. John Redwood writes intelligently about the environment. Peter Lilley writes intelligently about global poverty. David Davis is Parliament's number one civil libertarian. Does this make them new or old? To ask the question is to show how silly it is. It's also completely wrong for JG to write that Cameron has won public support by "insulting the old". During the grammar schools row Cameron became confrontational but that was a near disaster. He has since avoided any of the 'blood-on-the-carpet' modernisation favoured by Michael Portillo.
  2. "He could spend time schmoozing the tearooms and asking people in for drinks; a few would be flattered. But he cannot increase the number of real jobs on offer, and in real jobs he wants real allies. Those allies come from the future, the majority of Tory MPs likely to have been elected for the first time at the coming election." Mr Cameron would be wrong to take this advice. Cameron has no party management problems so long as he's 24% ahead in target seats. There will be problems in government when very difficult decisions are being made on the public finances. JG is also wrong to assume the new intake will be automatically and universally grateful to Cameron.  For reasons that The Economist understands and I set out here the new intake are independent-minded and will need to stay close to their Conservative Associations. Cameron, like all sensible party leaders, will wisely "schmooze" his colleagues.
  3. "A current fashion among Tories is to call on Cameron to promote the old-timers, to give his team strength now that office looks near. He is wise to be cautious: Ken Clarke always stood apart from the worst parts of the old Tory party, which is why he makes a plausible member of the new one. But bringing back the old guard only makes sense to people who do not think that, underneath, the party had to change." Nonsense. This is a caricature of the old guard. Davis, Lilley and Young, in particular, are all agents of change and would all be very capable ministers. Cutting himself off from the talent on his backbench is one sure way of repeating the biggest failure of the Blair years; a failure to manage Whitehall.
  4. "On 2 October, Ireland votes for a second time in a referendum on the Lisbon treaty. Barely 48 hours later, Conservatives gather for their autumn conference... This could be a real and caustic mess, with Euro divisions cutting across new and old Tories. Cameron's response should define his leadership. Does he follow the deeply Eurosceptic heart some say beats inside him? Or does he place ideological obsessions to one side to deal with the pressing issues of government?... Cameron may have to face up to his party this autumn. He will have to tell it that tolerating Lisbon is the price it must to pay for power... There will be a temptation to give in to primeval Tory instincts. The lesson of the Cameron leadership so far is that that is always, but always, the wrong thing to do." JG's choice of "primeval" is the giveaway word.  As much as he may not like it, most Britons are Eurosceptic and pejoratively dismissing them as "primeval" does not advance understanding in any way.  Cameron does, of course, have to be careful with the issue of Europe. It is an issue that still has the power to cause explosive divisions but Cameron has an opportunity to modernise Euroscepticism. So much of Europe is out-of-date. The Fisheries Policy is bad for the environment, the Common Agricultural Policy is bad for the developing world, the annual failure to audit the EU accounts is just plain indefensible.  When Cameron is suffering politically because of tough spending decisions he does not need a war with his base vote by sticking two fingers up at them on Europe.  Euroscepticism will be part of his 'Shoestring manifesto' of cost-free initiatives to keep the country happy while there is no money to spend.

Tim Montgomerie

Posted at 16:08 in Big Beasts, Compassionate conservatism, Europe, Team Cameron, The Conservative Right, The Shoestring manifesto | | Comments (61)

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

David Cameron's team is not so much The West Wing as an episode of Friends

Friends&WestWing That is the snappy conclusion of Rachel Sylvester in this morning's Times in a piece in which she considers how a political leader's greatest strength can become their biggest weakness. For David Cameron, this is his "close-knit circle of friends and advisers" which she asserts has the potential to become seen as "a privileged clique".

In politics, as in any walk of life, the people whom you trust the most are likely to be those whom you have known the longest. So on one level, I cannot and do not blame David Cameron for seeking to surround himself with a number of those to whom he has been close for a long time.

And whilst several "outsiders" such as Michael Gove, William Hague and Andy Coulson have penetrated David Cameron's inner circle, a considerable number of his aides and confidants are long-standing friends from Eton, Oxford, the Conservative Research Department or West London (or all of the above).

But as Rachel Sylvester points out, there is increasing concern that decisions are taken without sufficient formal consultation and that the close-knit nature of the party leader's inner circle is resented by some, not least because 

"its members are wealthier than most MPs, who are feeling the pinch after paying back some of their expenses".

Rather like Tim indicated in this post last night, when he called for the talents of a number of former frontbenchers to be recognised, breadth is arguably as important as depth when it comes to a party leader's "kitchen cabinet" as well.

Jonathan Isaby

Posted at 08:59 in Team Cameron | | Comments (72)

Monday, July 27, 2009

On internal debate

At the height of 2007's grammar schools row David Cameron was asked about military intervention against a rogue regime.  He joked that he would support it if the military sorted out ConservativeHome while they were at it!

I am well aware that our role in the grammar schools row was not appreciated by the Conservative leadership but, on the whole and despite the criticisms that ConHome makes of some aspects of Conservative strategy, I can only report a very good relationship.  There is a good flow of information both ways.  No grudges.  No hostility.

I write this because of the debate in the blogosphere today about David Davis' piece in The Times.  It's the latest in a series of edgy interventions by David Cameron's 2005 leadership rival.  I spoke to David Davis this afternoon and he told me that the party needs two things at the next General Election: a majority and a mandate.  He's quite right.  It will be politically murderous for the party to win without giving voters a very clear idea of what needs to be done to get this country back on track.

Iain Dale thinks it is perfectly appropriate for DD to make interventions of the kind that he has.  Iain writes persuasively on the subject:

"What we want is for senior politicians to feel able to try to lead a debate on particular issues. If when Davis writes an article it is now only viewed through the prism of whether he is trying to cause trouble, it says something about the level of political debate in this country."

Continue reading "On internal debate" »

Posted at 18:40 in Big Beasts, Blogs, websites, e-etc, Team Cameron | | Comments (62)

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

The Guardian guns for Rupert Murdoch... and Andy Coulson

Picture 20 You can almost hear the licking of lips at The Guardian.  It reports that there is a "Trail of hacking and deceit under nose of Tory PR chief" - by which they mean Andy Coulson, Head of Communications and Planning at CCHQ.  The Guardian's clear implication is that Coulson knew a great deal about the shady activities that took place within NewsCorp during his time at the News of the World.

Alastair Campbell has posted this on his blog:

"It is not my place to advise Cameron, or Coulson. But if it were, I would be saying to Cameron to find out very quickly whether Coulson did act in any way improperly, and to act accordingly if he thinks he did. And if I were Coulson, I would be totally honest with Cameron to help him make that decision.  When the Damian McBride emails first surfaced, it was obvious where it was going to end. If Cameron thinks that this situation might also end in him having to lose his right-hand man, better to do it quickly."

We may not like its source but that's good advice.  Andy Coulson has been central to the revitalisation of the Conservative project since the summer of 2007.  He stands at the heart of David Cameron's 'West Wing'.  Losing him because of this would be a grave setback and I hope it will be unnecessary.  I hope he will be able to tell David Cameron that he was not in any way involved in the illegal phone tapping of John Prescott and others.  I hope that the enemies of the Conservative Party will be frustrated in their attempt to weaken the Cameron operation.  But Cameron must ask Andy Coulson all the necessary questions tonight so that the Conservative Party is not dangerously exposed to what may be a damaging story over the next few days.

Tim Montgomerie

* Image of Guardian front page added at midnight.

Posted at 22:23 in Team Cameron | | Comments (125)

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

David Cameron's 'West Wing'

 At yesterday's Inside David Cameron's Conservatives conference Jonathan Isaby and I published a comprehensive guide to the next intake of Tory MPs (a preview here) and also to the machine that surrounds David Cameron.

Click on image to enlarge.

Wallchart Based on more than fifty interviews with staffers, journalists and politicians our guide made the following conclusions:

  • Four shadow cabinet ministers are the key influences: George Osborne, William Hague, Oliver Letwin and Michael Gove.
  • We identified the six key staffers: Andy Coulson (Head of Communications), Catherine Fall (Deputy Chief of Staff), Andrew Feldman (Party CEO), Stephen Gilbert (Head of Field Campaigning and of the party's 'ground war'), Steve Hilton (Director of Strategy), and Ed Llewellyn (Chief of Staff).
  • And we looked at the work of the Party's Implementation Team and noted its seven existing work projects as an indication of Tory legislative priorities:
  1. Low carbon economy
  2. Schools reform
  3. Prisons reform
  4. Health
  5. Welfare reform
  6. Family policy
  7. Decentralisation

The one hundred page guide to the Tory machine and every adopted Conservative candidate will be available for sale shortly but our wallchart of 'David Cameron's West Wing' is available now as a PDF or as a free gift to every ConHome reader who sends a large Stamp Addressed Envelope to ConservativeHome, 5 The Sanctuary, Westminster, London SW1P 3JS.

Tim Montgomerie

Posted at 08:58 in Team Cameron | | Comments (58)

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Cameron considers joint Downing Street HQ with Osborne

Osborne & Cameron 2 I have just completed my 15,000 word guide to David Cameron's 'West Wing' - a guide to the key shadow cabinet members and staff advisers that have taken the Conservative Party to the edge of power.  It'll be formally published on Tuesday at our 'Inside David Cameron's Conservatives' conference.

I mention it today, though, because Fraser Nelson has previewed one of the key findings in today's News of the World (not online):

"I hear Cameron and Osborne have a novel idea for government: move in together.  They're thinking of sharing one big HQ, rather than settle down in No10 and the Treasury respectively."

As I've been studying Cameron's West Wing the most striking thing is the power of George Osborne.  George isn't just Shadow Chancellor; he's also General Election co-ordinator.  It is no exaggeration to say that as I've been meeting staffers over recent weeks in preparation for this guide, George Osborne's name is mentioned at least three times as often as David Cameron’s.  In reporting this I'm not suggesting that Osborne is more influential than the man who leads the Conservative Party.  He obviously isn't.  My conversations with staffers have focused on the workings of the Tory machine and it is clear that they defer to Osborne when key decisions of tactics, resource deployment and staffing are made.  If you look back on many of Project Cameron's biggest decisions - abandoning uber-modernisation, recruiting Andy Coulson, overhauling Boris Johnson's campaign - George Osborne's influence is enormous.

George Osborne's power is reflected in the geographical arrangement of the Tory leader's office.  See the crude sketch below:

Click on image to enlarge

Geography3 Osborne's staff, headed by Matt Hancock but also including the super-influentials, Rupert Harrison and Rohan Silva, sit within the leadership suite.  Also there, notably, is Oliver Letwin (who, I say in the report, is one of four shadow cabinet influentials).

OSBORNE OUTSIDE HMTThe proximity of the Osborne and Cameron offices is something the Tory leadership is anxious to retain if the Conservatives win the General Election.  I am not aware of definite plans for integrating Numbers 10 and 11 Downing Street but thinking is going in that direction.

Tim Montgomerie

Posted at 08:51 in Government-in-waiting, Team Cameron | | Comments (50)

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Learning lessons from the three resignations from Team Boris

AxedBorisAide Yesterday Boris Johnson lost his third Deputy since becoming London's Mayor thirteen months ago.

Today's Evening Standard suggests that Ian Clement resigned after dishonest expenses claims.  Clement, 44, claimed to be meeting London council leaders when he was allegedly meeting his lover, 23.

Mr Clement's resignation follows the earlier departures of Ray Lewis and Tim Parker.

All three resignations are unfortunate but Boris Johnson has overcome these problems and has built a very strong core team of Anthony Browne (Policy), Guto Harri (Communications), Malthouse (Policing) and Milton (Policy and Planning).

I hope the Conservative Party is watching this whole business carefully, however.  Nick Boles - who ran Boris Johnson's transition - is heading up the Party's Implementation Team with Francis Maude.  Some personnel problems are unavoidable but there must be lessons from this.  I think particularly of vetting procedures, agreeing structures in advance and also the strength of guidance that is issued to those that David Cameron will appoint to his own team (should he become Prime Minister).

A key difference between Team Boris and Team Cameron is the stability of the latter's 'inner sanctum'.  As ConHome will reveal in a few days' time - with the publication of our profile of 'David Cameron's West Wing' - the Cameron machine is characterised by very stable relationships, forged over many years. 

Tim Montgomerie

Posted at 12:54 in Boris Johnson (Mayor), Government-in-waiting, Team Cameron | | Comments (21)

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

A letter complaining about Team Cameron's power is circulated to all Tory MPs

Letter A letter on House of Commons notepaper - purporting to come from anonymous Conservative MPs - has been circulated to every Tory MP.   I don't know if it is genuine or a complete counterfeit but one MP told me yesterday that any one of hundred of his colleagues could have written much of the letter.  Morale in the parliamentary party remains at rock bottom because of the whole expenses saga.  Here is a PDF of the full text but below is a key section:

"We all know that the expenses crisis is a massive problem, but it has brought out clear evidence of what all of us had sensed and feared, namely that the party in parliament has ceased to be a team effort and is now just run and dictated to for the personal advantage of David Cameron and George Osborne. We are concerned that the parliamentary party is just being used and abused by the leader and his inner circle. They are treating the party as if it is their private property. Action is being taken to respond to the expenses scandal but its main purpose actually seems to be to build up a position for themselves of permanent power. Colleagues are threatened with expulsion, older members are being forced out, untested candidates are being invited to apply from nowhere, and all of it is designed to assert a Stalinist hold over the party. The importance of parliament is being sacrificed to help them."

My own view is that David Cameron's handling of the expenses crisis has been the high point of his leadership.  The Middleton letter reminding Association Chairmen of their deselection powers - attacked in the above letter - was something ConHome recommended.  The overall negativity of the letter about the Cameron project suggests it is written by unrepresentative malcontents.

But the letter shouldn't be completely ignored by Team Cameron.  David Cameron is making renewed efforts to build better links with the parliamentary party - Nadine Dorries MP blogged about a dinner he held with some colleagues last week - but a lot of Tory MPs are very unhappy at the power that they see concentrated in the leader's office.  This is something for all of us to watch.

Tim Montgomerie

Posted at 08:14 in Team Cameron | | Comments (135)

Monday, May 04, 2009

Team Cameron

Click here for previous posts.

Posted at 16:21 in Team Cameron | | Comments (0)

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