From 2005 onwards, David Cameron flirted with fantasy. He had seen the damage that rows about Europe had inflicted upon the Conservative Party and he wanted no repetition. The less Europe was discussed, the better it would be for his party's prospects. That was true, but irrelevant. Whatever plans leaders may have, Europe has a […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter A number of Tory MPs led by Damian Collins have come together to propose a new industrial strategy for Britain. Mr Collins explains how the approach recommended by him and his colleagues is different from the industrial strategy of the 1970s and also a mythical laissez-faire policy: "The industrial strategy […]
Walsall Council is to remain a Conservative led after the Council meeting last night. Instead of being a minority Conservative administration it will be a Conservative/Lib Dem coalition. Under the Conservatives this has been a progressive council using the New Homes Bonus to promote growth and regeneration including bringing empty homes back into use. The […]
Dr. Owen Corrigan is a Research Fellow in Education at Policy Exchange. Launching the Government’s update on the social mobility strategy yesterday, the Deputy Prime Minister railed against the class snobbery which, he says, has made Britain a closed society. A society where people don’t choose their place, rather they know their place. Nick Clegg […]
8.45pm WATCH: Martin Callanan MEP rejects a UKIP/Tory pact: "I think we should stand as Conservative candidates across the UK" 5pm WATCH: Theresa May records pro-gay marriage video for Out4Marriage campaign 4pm LISTEN: Michael Gove: "We now have more than half of secondary schools either academies or on the way to becoming academies" 2.30pm Sarah Newton MP on Comment: […]
By Paul GoodmanFollow Paul on Twitter James Forsyth's Spectator interview with Nigel Farage, which Tim Montgomerie wrote about on this site yesterday, is a sign of how far the UKIP leader has come – and how seriously Fleet Street now takes both him and it. The party is sometimes nudging the Liberal Democrats into fourth […]
A defence of grammar schools from, say, Melanie Phillips in the Daily Mail would surprise no one, but when it comes from Mary Ann Sieghart in the Independent feathers are ruffled. Referencing the ongoing debate about social mobility, Sieghart reminds us that education really can make a difference: “…pupils who had free school meals and […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter Well, nearly. Tim Montgomerie with AFC Bluebirds Captain, Hudson Roe ConHome is delighted to be the new multi-pound sponsors of AFC Bluebirds – a five-a-side football team of Tory parliamentary researchers. In my dreams I see this as a first step towards becoming a sponsor of Man Utd and having […]
I was pleased when I heard that Lord Adonis had Ed Miliband's policy advisor as I hoped it would mean the Party resolving to support the Government's policies of allowing free schools to open and more schools to convert to become academies. That would have been good for the Labour Party but it would also […]
Thom Wiseman says York Council are stopping the public having their say on community grant York had a great policy to allow a little bit of democracy when it comes to deciding who receives the community grants. However this has all been changed under the banner of ‘cuts’. The previous system worked well, any community […]
Sarah Newton is the Member of Parliament for Truro and Falmouth. With the average family now spending more than a quarter of their income on childcare, it is vital that we find ways to encourage new ways of working that are flexible and allow parents to spend time looking after their children while still being able […]