Telegraph Column: Who is David Cameron's Willie?
- 8 Feb 2007
If, as Margaret Thatcher believed, every Prime Minister needs a ‘Willie’, it is not unreasonable to think that a Leader of the Opposition needs one too. Thatcher was, of course referring to her trusted deputy, Willie Whitelaw, who gave her total loyalty, wise counsel and spoke...
EDP Diary: Unfit to be President?
- 7 Feb 2007
Ten days ago the LibDems said all British troops should be out of Iraq by the end of October. It got them a few headlines and Ming Campbell attacked Tony Blair in Prime Minister’s Question Time. To me, it was the very worst kind of political headline grabbing stunt. US Preside...
The Changing Face of Farming
- 3 Feb 2007
I'm spending most of this weekend in Devon, hence the lack of posts yesterday. The thing that has struck me here is how much I miss this kind of lifestyle. I was brought up in a very rural area in North Essex and never imagined I would spend much of my working life in Londo...
Is Yasmin Right? Does Blogging Impoverish Democracy?
- 2 Feb 2007
I don't mind admitting I enjoyed myself yesterday on Sunday AM. The only other time I have been on the programme I did a paper review with Polly Toynbee and was extremely nervous. I remember locking swords with her on the Iraq war and her looking shocked that I should dare to ...
Gay Adoption & the Catholic Church
- 28 Jan 2007
Several people have queried why I haven't commented on the row over gay adoption and the Catholic Church. I suppose it's because I haven't got anything terribly original to say on it. The government seems to have painted itself into a corner with threats of resignation if Tony...
Dogging in the Wilds of North Kent
- 28 Jan 2007
Tonight I went to speak to Chatham & Aylesford Conservatives Annual Dinner. Before the dinner I gave a talk to their councillors and council candidates on blogging. It's great that each of their wards now has its own blog which they're using to communicate with their local...
Ranking the Prime Ministers
- 28 Jan 2007
The Daily Politics is conducting a poll to find out who their viewers think is the best Prime Minister since World War II. They seem to have forgotten that Winston Churchill was Prime Minister from 1951-55 and have eliminated him from the poll! Astonishing. Paul Linford gave h...
EDP Diary: Ever Considered Being a Candidate?
- 19 Jan 2007
There’s nothing like a bit of bad whether to get the British quaking in their boots. The roads become gridlocked, people cower in their houses and absentee rates at work rocket. My experience on “Windy Thursday” was somewhat more irritating. I got a parking ticket. Why? Becaus...
EXCLUSIVE: The Fallout from the Daily Politics Debacle
- 12 Jan 2007
I've now had the inside story of what happened the the Daily Politics this lunchtime, when they were taken off the air and missed Blair's final remarks in the Commons and the standing ovation. In THIS post I said... I am dumbstruck. Andrew Neil will be furious. The Daily Po...
My Ten Predictions for 2007
- 31 Dec 2006
1. More than one person will face charges in the Cash for Peerages Inquiry 2. Sir Ming Campbell will not be leader of the LibDems by the end of the year 3. Ed Vaizey, Jeremy Hunt and Nick Herbert will be promoted to the Shadow Cabinet 4. The Conservative Party 'A' List will...
The Ten Most Unlikely Predictions for 2007
- 31 Dec 2006
1. Ming Campbell leaves Lady Elspeth for a Cheeky Boy 2. John McDonnell gets 44 nominations to enable him to run against Gordon Brown 3. The SNP win the Sedgefield By Election 4. Arise Sir John Yates 5. Cherie Blair turns down free holiday to Mustique courtesy of Richard B...
Top Ten Nicest MPs
- 24 Dec 2006
Kerron Cross is an all round good guy. He's so nice in fact that he's just compiled his list of his Top Ten Nicest MPs and has emailed to ask if I fancy doing the same. Well for lack of anything better to do on a very tedious Christmas Eve in the wilds of Essex (more of which ...
Book Review: DC Confidential by Christopher Meyer
- 23 Dec 2006
Christopher Meyer is certainly a colourful character, some would say rather unsuited to the world of diplomacy. But this is an entertaining, if at times infuriating, account of his career in the Foreign Office. Should he have been allowed to write such a book? My view on this ...
Ten Things I would Never Do
- 22 Dec 2006
The Telegraph has had a lot of letters lately suggesting clubs its readers would never join. Today they even have a page 3 feature on it. So I thought I'd compile my Top Ten Things I Would Never Do... 10. Join the Carlton Club until they admit full women members 9. Take ad...
The Seven Best Things I Did in 2006
- 22 Dec 2006
1. Go to Cardiff to the FA Cup Final and witness one of the greatest football matches of all time 2. Meet Cliff Richard 3. Resume blogging and make many new friends through it 4. Lose two stone in weight 5. Rediscover the delights of playing golf 6. Celebrate eleven years...
Top Ten Political Chatup Lines
- 21 Dec 2006
1 Would you like to see the contents of my despatch box? 2 Have you ever had a whip? 3 Hello, I’m David Mellor 4 I’ve asked Angie to join us, you don’t mind do you? 5 I’ve asked Bobby to join us, you don’t mind do you? 6 I’m so depressed about the world crisis I really do...
The Tory Leadership Campaign Finally Comes to a Cloe
- 6 Dec 2006
In a few hours time new leader of the Conservative Party will be preparing for PMQs. Last night the Davis diehards held an end of campaign party to thank all those who had worked on the campaign. We held it at the campaign office in Victoria Street. Quite a number of MPs were ...
Independent Diary: Curtains for Ann Clwyd
- 6 Dec 2006
Some people take losing very badly. Ann Clwyd and her supporters were by no means gracious in defeat, when on Tuesday evening Ms Clwyd was deposed as the chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party. After hearing the result of the ballot, in one of the House of Commons commit...
EDP Diary: Victim of Crime
- 30 Nov 2006
This week my workplace in London’s Bloomsbury has been the victim of crime on three occasions. On Sunday a burglar broke into our offices before being frightened off by the alarm, on Monday a bike was stolen from outside our offices and on Tuesday five cars were broken into i...
Guardian: Cameron is Right to Pitch for the Centre Ground
- 21 Nov 2006
The centre of power Despite Lord Saatchi's call for Conservatives to abandon the centre ground, David Cameron is wise to pitch his tent there. Lord Saatchi is without doubt a man with an enormous creative mind. His pamphlets for the Centre for Policy Studies are invariab...