thetorydiary

The Daily Telegraph's Benedict Brogan notes in this morning's paper that if David Cameron becomes Prime Minister next year, he will swiftly need to appoint a raft of new peers in order to rebalance the arithmetic in the House of Lords "as a matter of urgency".

This I do not doubt; indeed, it is an issue which ConservativeHome has addressed previously by seeking suggestions as to who should be appointed to the Upper House by an incoming Conservative administration.

But I am somewhat concerned by the rumours flagged up in the article that Mr Cameron may be thinking of following the lead of Tony Blair in seeking to persuade MPs to stand down at the last possible moment - on the promise of a peerage and ministerial office - in order to free up safe seats for favoured candidates:

"Tory sources talk of 30 to 40 new peers to be created in short order, which explains the accelerating Establishment stampede to catch up with the Cameron bandwagon. Baubles remain a potent inducement, and the Tories know it. Particular attention is being paid to sitting MPs who might be suitable for a ministerial job in the Lords. The Tory front bench there is in need of bolstering in order to cope with the drudge of government. While those caught dredging their moats cannot hope for the consolation of ermine, a list of candidates is being quietly drawn up. I'm told that the names circulating include James Paice, Keith Simpson, Tim Yeo and Geoffrey Clifton-Brown*. All could be asked to exit the Commons at short notice before polling day, giving Mr Cameron another clutch of seats to distribute."

As we have previously reported, any candidate selections taking place in seats where the sitting MP announces their retirement after Christmas will see by-election rules kick in - i.e. CCHQ will limit associations to choosing from a list of just three names to pick a new candidate. Party chairman Eric Pickles told ConservativeHome in July that he wanted MPs to make their intentions clear as soon as possible as regards whether they would stand down or not:

The chairman also added that he expects to see "a significantly larger number" of retirements than have already been announced and expressed a desire that his colleagues did make their minds up before Christmas in order that associations get "the widest possible choice they can".

It is therefore unnerving to hear rumours that the party leader may be actively seeking to circumvent the full selection process in some seats at the last minute. I hope that he too will echo the party chairman's call for MPs wanting to stand down to make that announcement as soon as possible so as to maximise the choice (as far as it goes under the already amended rules) open to associations when selecting.

Jonathan Isaby

*Tuesday update: Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP has been in touch and says: "I would like to state that there have been no discussions with me on this proposal and I fully expect to be the Conservative Candidate for the Cotswold constituency at the next election. I would be grateful if you could clarify this in your piece."

Highlights, not verbatim, of David Cameron's interview with Andrew Marr:

Andrew MacKay and Julie Kirkbride: Andrew MacKay's dismissal was not connected with Friday's public meeting.  I have to deal fairly and his case was one of the more serious ones. Mr MacKay was technically within the rules but he was guilty of a serious misjudgment.  Mr Cameron declined to say whether he orded Mr MacKay to step down after a telephone conversation yesterday.  Julie Kirkbride's case is different, he says, because she genuinely lives in London and has another home in the constituency. 

Deselection: I will withdraw the whip from MPs who the scrutiny committee finds guilty of serious offences.

Timing of General Election: The public needs to be involved in clearing out the bad apples and that is why we need a General Election now.

Re-opening the candidates list: He supports primary elections and says he is today re-opening Tory candidates list for anyone from outside of politics who feels they want to become a Conservative MP.  He agrees that Conservative MPs have to be team players but like with Ken Clarke - who disagrees with party policy on Europe - there is room for difference within the Conservative Party and there should be more free votes.

Parliament is a poodle at the moment: It passes too many laws, scrutinises them badly, the whips have too much power, the select committees are chaired by executive appointments, too much power has gone to judges and Europe.

Reducing the cost of politics: We are overgoverned and will start with a 10% cut in the number of MPs to 600.  All constituencies will become more equal in size as part of a boundaries review. 

Expenses reform: We need an allowance that is simple and transparent.  Challenged on his own expenses claims he defends himself by saying he never claimed for furniture or food.  He rejects the idea of dormitory-style purpose built accmmodation, saying it would not be good for families.

John Bercow?: Asked about the Speaker he says he will not put a white spot or a black spot on any candidate.

Lisbon tactics: Asked about a referendum on Lisbon he says that one of the reasons for an early election is that a Conservative government, if elected, will give the British people the opportunity to reject it in a referendum.  Andrew Marr puts it to David Cameron that a voter can reasonably conclude that the Conservatives will not hold a referendum to unwind Lisbon if it is ratified by other states.  Mr Cameron promises to come back on to the programme and explain what the Conservatives would do IF that happens.  He repeats the 'we won't let matters rest there' formulation.

Outside of the EPP: David Cameron promises that Tory MEPs will not sit with extremist parties.  We are leaving the EPP because we want to repatriate powers and stay out of the Euro and yet the EPP holds the opposite view.  The new grouping will be with mainstream parties including the Czech civic democrats.

Tackling Britain's debt burden: We will say more about debt closer to the election but we have already said a lot including opposing the VAT cut and starting trimming spending growth now.

Tim Montgomerie