In part (1) of this series we
noted that David Cameron is comfortable with all of the key traditions within conservatism, including fiscal, social and compassionate conservatism. One thing that has stemmed from this has been the rebuilding of the big Conservative tent.
There have been a few occasions when David Cameron has acted against his instincts to be a uniter. His hot-tempered response to the grammar schools row being most notable. His overall approach, however, has been to seek unity rather than division. Dominic Lawson noted how Cameron's language was part of this phenomenon:
"His tricks of political oratory are precisely the opposite of Brown’s, which is to say, he is a follower of Tony Blair. This involves not the setting-up of dividing lines, but a form of language that is “inclusive” — phrases to which nobody could possibly object."
He has brought big beasts in from the cold including the two contenders from the 1997 leadership contest. First to return was William Hague as Cameron's Shadow Foreign Secretary (and heir apparent if David Cameron was to fall under the proverbial bus) and Ken Clarke as his Shadow Business Secretary.
The Tory leader's willingness to use all the talents available to him was evident from the start of his leadership. From the traditional left of the party we saw John Gummer and Stephen Dorrell run the quality of life and public services policy groups. From the traditional right Cameron enlisted Iain Duncan Smith for the social justice policy group, John Redwood to examine economic competitiveness and Peter Lilley to look at global poverty.
Mr Cameron also wants to plant a portion of the big tent on the territory of the Liberal Democrats and New Labour. Orange Booker David Laws has been wooed and praise has been poured on to the head of schools reformer and now Transport Secretary Lord Adonis. Neither man or other targets have yet succumbed to Mr Cameron's charms but there's plenty of time for that to change.
One of the most important observations made about David Cameron's character was made by Quentin Letts in a recent Daily Mail sketch. Writing in the context of John Bercow's controversial election as Speaker, Letts concluded that Cameron is not one of life's haters:
"One of the Tories was David Cameron who wandered in early for a foreign policy statement and shook the Squeaker's hand with debonair charm. Mr Cameron is not one of life's haters. Plenty of his MPs think Mr Bercow is a sleazy traitor but the Tory leader prefers not to waste energy on such emotions. In this he is similar to Tony Blair, who worked out that hatred is a negative commodity which can only make life more complicated. Shrewd."
Shrewd indeed.
Cameron needs to do two things to remain a source of unity within the party:
- He needs to show that there is a possibility of rehabilitation. Graham Brady, David Davis, Mark Field, Bernard Jenkin, Patrick Mercer and Hugo Swire have all left the frontbench for various reasons. None have returned. That should change.
- A tight-knit group of people that Cameron has known for many years forms his inner circle. It has served David Cameron well but is a little too closed. His kitchen cabinet will be examined properly in another instalment of this series.
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