Cameron loyalists say his Tory critics are a small minority

The drumbeat of criticism of David Cameron and George Osborne by
various Tory MPs, summed up on the front page of today’s Telegraph, has
drawn a reaction from those MPs loyal to the leadership. Kris Hopkins, the founder of the 301 group of Tory MPs, complains that the trouble is being whipped up by a ‘small group of
disaffected people’ and that ‘the nature of their criticisms shows that this is about their egos not making the country a better place.’

At issue here is who speaks for Tory MPs. Hopkins claims that the vast majority of his colleagues are ‘committed and supportive of the Prime Minister and his team’ and that
they’re ‘really annoyed that it is the same group of people who keep standing up and claiming to speak for the parliamentary party when they do not’. In a sign that the gloves are
coming off in this internal argument, Hopkins warns that if Tory MPs are ‘represented in the media by a bunch of whingers then we’re compromised’. He continues that, while
‘there should be constant challenge to the leadership, it shouldn’t start from the position of dislike for the Prime Minister’.

Hopkins’ criticisms are echoed by Charlie Elphicke, a leadership loyalist on the executive of the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers. He says ‘it is not the Prime Minister who needs to
get a grip but colleagues on the backbenches who need to realise that government is not a cakewalk’.

Hopkins’ argument that the malcontents are a small minority will soon be put to the test. The coming elections for the 1922 Committee next month will pit 301 group backed candidates against
those more critical of the leadership. The results of these contests will be the clearest guide yet to where power really lies in the parliamentary party.

Tags: 1922 Committee, 301 Group, Backbenchers, Charlie Elphicke, Conservatives, David Cameron, George Osborne, UK politics

Baron

You recall one of Sadam’s henchmen telling the journalists confidently the Republican Guard were giving the Yanks a thrashing as the TV coverage of the outside was showing the regime collapsing? What would you expect the boy’s friends to say then?

and this:

Barbara, sad as it is, it’s true, have a peep at this, the end of it mostly.

http://blogs.wsj.com/brussels/2012/03/20/will-new-hire-help-eus-ashton/
libertarian

Dear jane

You voted for Tony Blair & Dave Cameron, says it all really. We should take any notice of you why? you’ve already proved twice you are a gullible idiot
Matthew Wilson

The one saving grace for Cameron and Co is Ed Miliband. No matter what they do they can’t be more unelectable than Mili Minor.
Athesius the Facilitator

I think these Cameron loyalists are wrong. I am as Conservative as can possibly be and also very sympathetic to Cameron and Osborne. But they have lost me and my vote. It is not just one thing it is loads of little things heaped together and when you weigh it all up the end result is they are rubbish. So I think Charlie Elphick and others should “switch on” and then sort these Numpty’s out. If not it’s 5 years of Millybonkers.
Matthew Wilson

As is well known, Cameron and his chums styled themselves after Blair – complete with the New Labour strategy of repudiating their own party. The difference is, Blair won three general elections (the last one even despite the widespread public opposition to Iraq). As such, he was able to command huge loyalty from the vast majority of his MPs.

Cameron, by constrast, failed to secure a majority at the last election – despite having easily the worst prime minister of my lifetime as his opponent (hello Gordon!). As such, the new intake of MPs don’t really owe him anything. It can’t be long before the parliamentary party starts to get antsy about the reality that is staring it in the face – that Cameron is incapable of winning the next election either.

A former PR man who marketed himself as the solution to the Tories’ image problem, Cameron is now making that problem worse. Is it too much to hope that Boris, a politician with genuine popular appeal, can return to the Commons in time to do something about this mess?
Axstane

Coffeehouse is now hardly worth reading as most threads consist of abuse and almost no reasoned argument.

It is going the way that Boulton & Co did – originally quite stimulating but eventually just personal rows.

Cameron loyalists say his Tory critics are a small minority

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