David Cameron will go down as one of the most significant political figures - perhaps the most - of the early 21st Century.
When all's said and done he'll have been at centre of the British political scene for almost 20 years.
Indeed, but not in a good way. As PM he left us more divided than ever. As Paxman called him, the worst PM since Lord North. I hope that's not his legacy in the FO.
Paxman has zero credibility as a political commentator given that he doesn't actually understand politics. I also suspect that if you asked him, he couldn't tell you anything about Lord North other than that he 'lost America', never mind about other contenders for 'worst PM of the last 250 years).
This isn't to defend some of Cameron's critical mistakes, in policy or in execution, but you have to ask what any other PM could reasonably have done in the circumstances to get a rounder view of his failures (bearing in mind that none had the benefit of hindsight that we now do).
Paxo is just following yours truly who has long used the Lord North line about David Cameron on this very pb.
I’m sure this has been mentioned on here, but dragging Dave back will remind viewers that they’ll have had 14 years of this.
Once the likes of @TSE have got over their euphoria, the general voting public will be unmoved. Indeed, it will ultimately reflect even worse on the party’s chances at the next election.
The fact that it’s probably a good thing for the country will be lost on voters. F.O. moves no dials.
(Also some very dodgy skeletons in Dave’s cupboard which aren’t going to play out well.)
Possibly for the first time ever, I completely agree
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 9m The only way to read this reshuffle is that Rishi Sunak has decided to completely give up on the Red Wall and try and go for damage limitation in traditional Blue Wall seats. But that’s todays plan. On current form, there’ll be an entirely different strategy unveiled next week.
David Cameron will go down as one of the most significant political figures - perhaps the most - of the early 21st Century.
When all's said and done he'll have been at centre of the British political scene for almost 20 years.
Indeed, but not in a good way. As PM he left us more divided than ever. As Paxman called him, the worst PM since Lord North. I hope that's not his legacy in the FO.
Paxman has zero credibility as a political commentator given that he doesn't actually understand politics. I also suspect that if you asked him, he couldn't tell you anything about Lord North other than that he 'lost America', never mind about other contenders for 'worst PM of the last 250 years).
This isn't to defend some of Cameron's critical mistakes, in policy or in execution, but you have to ask what any other PM could reasonably have done in the circumstances to get a rounder view of his failures (bearing in mind that none had the benefit of hindsight that we now do).
Paxo is just following yours truly who has long used the Lord North line about David Cameron on this very pb.
Still doesn't make it true.
Not to mention that even if it was true in 2016, it wouldn't be true now.
David Cameron will go down as one of the most significant political figures - perhaps the most - of the early 21st Century.
When all's said and done he'll have been at centre of the British political scene for almost 20 years.
Indeed, but not in a good way. As PM he left us more divided than ever. As Paxman called him, the worst PM since Lord North. I hope that's not his legacy in the FO.
Paxman has zero credibility as a political commentator given that he doesn't actually understand politics. I also suspect that if you asked him, he couldn't tell you anything about Lord North other than that he 'lost America', never mind about other contenders for 'worst PM of the last 250 years).
This isn't to defend some of Cameron's critical mistakes, in policy or in execution, but you have to ask what any other PM could reasonably have done in the circumstances to get a rounder view of his failures (bearing in mind that none had the benefit of hindsight that we now do).
Paxo is just following yours truly who has long used the Lord North line about David Cameron on this very pb.
Still doesn't make it true.
Not to mention that even if it was true in 2016, it wouldn't be true now.
I’m sure this has been mentioned on here, but dragging Dave back will remind viewers that they’ll have had 14 years of this.
Once the likes of @TSE have got over their euphoria, the general voting public will be unmoved. Indeed, it will ultimately reflect even worse on the party’s chances at the next election.
The fact that it’s probably a good thing for the country will be lost on voters. F.O. moves no dials.
(Also some very dodgy skeletons in Dave’s cupboard which aren’t going to play out well.)
I doubt it'll do much either way. It's not as if Labour and other opposition parties aren't going to mention the point - but either way, it's the failures of the last 4-5 years which will be upper-most in voters' minds.
One aside on this reshuffle and particularly on the Braverman/Cleverly/Cameron moves.
Does this tell us something about the possible timing of the next election? I would have thought that having signalled such a large apparent move in tone and direction, Sunak would want the maximum amount of time possible to sell it to the public whilst not appearing to leave it to the last minute.
So although I don't think it will make much difference to the eventual outcome, personally I am thinking this starts to solidify the chances of an autumn 2024 election, or at least drastically reduces the chances of a spring 2024 election.
In terms of winners and losers the timing couldn't be worse for the ERG. Thanks to Braverman and IDS and their media appearances on Friday the public's abiding memory of them will be support for fellow right wingers Tommy Robinson and his bunch of skinhead thugs assaulting the police and the cenotaph.
I’m sure this has been mentioned on here, but dragging Dave back will remind viewers that they’ll have had 14 years of this.
Once the likes of @TSE have got over their euphoria, the general voting public will be unmoved. Indeed, it will ultimately reflect even worse on the party’s chances at the next election.
The fact that it’s probably a good thing for the country will be lost on voters. F.O. moves no dials.
(Also some very dodgy skeletons in Dave’s cupboard which aren’t going to play out well.)
Possibly for the first time ever, I completely agree
I don't actually. It's a significant shift to the left – and purge of the hard right loons – and I reckon it will bring some Cameroon types back into the fold (who would otherwise had voted Labour or Liberal). Maybe not huge numbers, but could be worth a few points in the polls.
I’m sure this has been mentioned on here, but dragging Dave back will remind viewers that they’ll have had 14 years of this.
Once the likes of @TSE have got over their euphoria, the general voting public will be unmoved. Indeed, it will ultimately reflect even worse on the party’s chances at the next election.
The fact that it’s probably a good thing for the country will be lost on voters. F.O. moves no dials.
(Also some very dodgy skeletons in Dave’s cupboard which aren’t going to play out well.)
Possibly for the first time ever, I completely agree
I don't actually. It's a significant shift to the left – and purge of the hard right loons – and I reckon it will bring some Cameroon types back into the fold (who would otherwise had voted Labour or Liberal). Maybe not huge numbers, but could be worth a few points in the polls.
Senior Conservative source tells me there is talk in parliament of a meeting of the New Conservatives group later today and agenda item is Suella leadership play.
Interesting choice of Cameron for Foreign Sec. He's more than capable, but the appointment also seems to demonstrate that there's nobody in the PCP that's either up to it, or who wanted to accept a role in the SUNK Cabinet.
Cameron will probably shore up the blue wall and piss off the red one.
That'll be the theory, and they'd take that at this point, but why would it? Cameron as FS won't change the policies the Blue Wall has an issue with, and he's so obviously a stop gap option that will it change perceptions of Sunak?
Good! She’s gone! Now, Rishi, face up to the ERG. If they don’t like it, let them join Reform and see if anyone other than corrupt policemen, taxi drivers and football hooligans vote for them.
Well, Reform are consistently polling 5-10% which is enough to destroy the Conservative Party as an electoral force. If the Tories were polling 34-38% rather than 24-28% they’d be in a strong position to win the next election. At the moment they are well positioned for total oblivion
Reform will struggle to run candidates in all seats and I suspect their number will fall as the election nears.
I've been asked to stand.
"Reform UK intend to stand around 630 candidates at that General Election. To that end we are looking for potential candidates to come forward and apply to join our team. So, if any of you would like to consider standing for Reform UK and would like to find out more please check our website or reply directly to me. There will be lots of help/training available.
Please, please really consider this, we have all had a lifetime of these cheating, lying, self serving, arrogant, hand-in-the-till politicians of the Conservative, Labour and Lib Dem parties."
That reads more like Revolution UK than Reform UK.
Whatever you think of David Cameron you have to admire his sense of duty.
He hasn't undermined the government (unlike some of his successors) over the last 7 years, and nor did he have to take this job.
Yes it must be tough for him, having to become a Lord, with a cushy spot for life, and in the meantime do a really interesting job that means flying around the world First Class and having foreigners fawn over you
He's taking a job (might even be unpaid) in the fag-end of a very unpopular government, and he will get brickbats the whole time. The media outings won't be enjoyable.
He didn't have to do it, he will be away from his family and kids a lot, the world isn't pretty at the moment, and there are far easier and more lucrative options for him out there.
True, but a peerage and some attention at the top of politics again will reopen some doors as well.
Interesting choice of Cameron for Foreign Sec. He's more than capable, but the appointment also seems to demonstrate that there's nobody in the PCP that's either up to it, or who wanted to accept a role in the SUNK Cabinet.
Quite so. It's been very successfully newsworthy, but implies even more difficulties.
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Not to mention that even if it was true in 2016, it wouldn't be true now.
Not even a replacement for Nick Gibb.
Does this tell us something about the possible timing of the next election? I would have thought that having signalled such a large apparent move in tone and direction, Sunak would want the maximum amount of time possible to sell it to the public whilst not appearing to leave it to the last minute.
So although I don't think it will make much difference to the eventual outcome, personally I am thinking this starts to solidify the chances of an autumn 2024 election, or at least drastically reduces the chances of a spring 2024 election.
Thoughts?