Coffee House The Spectator Blog
Can the Tories learn to run before Brown runs to the country?
The psychology of this conference is like no other I’ve experienced. Having mastered walking, the Cameron Conservative Party believed it had a couple of years in which to get on… Continue reading
7 CommentsOsborne explains who the uber mods are
Steve Richards has just asked Osborne what he meant by "über modernisers" in his interview with me last week. Here’s his answer. "Some people who had urged modernisation on the… Continue reading
1 CommentOsborne and the non doms
I’m sitting in a George Osborne fringe event, where he’s being given the Parky treatment by Steve Richards from the Indy. He’s discussing his new tax on the non domiciles:… Continue reading
1 CommentWhat I would do if I were Gordon
Everyone is very upbeat this morning, despite the fact that I have yet to speak to anyone who got to bed before three am. There is a real buzz that… Continue reading
1 CommentBoris by the book
Unlike the Labour conference, there is a bookshop here in Blackpool (what does that tell you?) and I have found a gem: The Little Book of Boris. It’s one of… Continue reading
0 CommentsBlackpool truce holds
All those waiting for the latest instalment in the great grammar schools row are going to have to wait a little longer. The rumours that Graham Brady, the frontbencher who… Continue reading
1 CommentGordon tries to rain on Dave’s parade
There are certain gentleman’s conventions that govern British politics. One is that party leaders do not trash each other while overseas. Another is that, while one of the main parties… Continue reading
3 CommentsThe Terminator is here in spirit
Where the Conservative Party goes, the spirit of enterprise follows. Resourcefully, the local cinema in Blackpool is showing a mini-season of Arnold Schwarzenegger blockbusters to compensate for the Governator’s physical… Continue reading
0 CommentsBar talk
The ice-breaker at the bars in Bournemouth during the Labour conference was “when will the election be?” Here in Blackpool, the conversation starter is “is it over for Cameron?” But… Continue reading
9 CommentsTamzin’s Blackpool report
Hurrah! Finally arrived in Blackpool after only seven hours on train! It was v efficient, only had to change twice, and the engineering works only stopped us for an hour… Continue reading
4 CommentsIf the shoe fits
Nadine Dorries, the Tory MP for Mid-Bedfordhshire, will be blogging for Coffee House during conference. Heading for Blackpool. Slammed the boot of the car shut on far more luggage than… Continue reading
3 CommentsFrom Boris to Bloomberg
Boris has just brought the house down with a speech attacking Ken Livingstone and setting out the Tory agenda for London. One senses that Boris will have no problem in… Continue reading
7 CommentsGeorge Osborne’s conference diary
George Osborne, the Shadow Chancellor and Tory election co-ordinator, will be contributing to Coffee House throughout conference. Here is his first entry: The first full day of conference. Morning meeting at 8am… Continue reading
2 CommentsThe glory of music
Amidst the coruscating party conference commentary might I just slip in a small musical note akin to that so enjoyed by Matthew Parris in his terrific article in this week’s… Continue reading
0 CommentsWhat Hezza missed
Great to see Hezza back in the saddle, talking about the plight of British cities. But I’m not sure I agree with his analysis. The main problem, which he did… Continue reading
4 CommentsHezza still a conference darling after all these years
Michael Heseltine just rolled back the years with a crowd-pleasing address to conference. Heseltine extolled the values of decentralisation, celebrated the triumph of the Tory agenda and bashed Gordon Brown… Continue reading
3 CommentsWarsi illustrates the Tory dilemma
Amid all the polls, hoopla and election prognostications as the Tories gather in Blackpool, don’t miss this interview in today’s Sindy with Sayeeda Warsi, the shadow minister for social cohesion.… Continue reading
2 CommentsHague on Brown
William Hague has been given the task of Brown baiting. His speech went quite well until this bit: "After ten years of failure and disappointment, he cannot be the change… Continue reading
1 CommentNot the best cut
Given that David Cameron has given himself a tiny fund for tax cuts, I’m not at all convinced that cutting stamp duty should be his priority. Are first time buyers… Continue reading
6 CommentsSons of the Manse
Governments recycle policies, pledges and promises. Gordon Brown has decided to recycle his rhetoric as well-with some fine-sounding phrases about what he owed his father, a minister of the Church… Continue reading
0 Comments