Lord Ashcroft
Lord Ashcroft’s message to the Tories: you’re doomed in 2015
I’m at the ConservativeHome ‘Victory 2015′ conference today, which after Lord Ashcroft’s presentation should perhaps be renamed Annihilation 2015. He started the day with one of his mega expensive polls… Continue reading
48 Comments
Labour are the real losers in Eastleigh
The Lib Dems are still on course to hold Eastleigh. Despite the loss of Britain’s AAA credit rating and the unfurling Rennard scandal, Lord Ashcroft’s latest poll today puts their candidate Mike… Continue reading
73 Comments
What Lord Ashcroft’s breakup with the Tories means for David Cameron
Now Lord Ashcroft has withdrawn his funding (£) from the Tory party, what implications does the move have for David Cameron? Much like losing Britain’s AAA rating this week, it’s less about… Continue reading
32 Comments
Lord Ashcroft’s friendly advice for Lynton Crosby
‘Passive Aggressiveness – a personality trait or disorder marked by a pervasive pattern of negative attitudes and passive, usually disavowed, resistance in interpersonal or occupational situations.’ Theory aside, Lord Ashcroft’s… Continue reading
1 Comment
The peer who came in from the cold
Mr Steerpike reported last week that the Tories’ shadowy donor-cum-puppetmaster, Lord Ashcroft was shunned in America. But it’s not all bad news for the man dubbed the sleaze of Belize.… Continue reading
2 Comments
Lord Ashcroft frozen out, again
The Tories’ shadowy donor-cum-puppetmaster has been given the cold shoulder, yet again. Taking full proprietor privileges at ConservativeHome, he’s taken aim at young Dave’s departed brain, Steve Hilton. It seems… Continue reading
8 Comments
Conservative Corby slips away
The first polling on the Corby and East Northamptonshire by-election is out today and not surprisingly, it suggests that Labour will take the seat by a landslide. The poll commissioned… Continue reading
37 Comments
The Osborne question
There is a simple rule in Tory politics: do not cross Lord Ashcroft. There is little love between the Conservative leadership and Ashcroft, the man who sustained the Tories through… Continue reading
18 Comments
What difference the Scottish independence question makes
A very useful contribution from Lord Ashcroft this morning, in the form of a poll he’s commissioned on Scottish independence. What sets Ashcroft’s poll apart from previous surveys is that… Continue reading
25 CommentsLord Ashcroft’s Common Sense
Good stuff from Lord Ashcroft this morning. Good because, obviously, he agrees with me that the Tory obsession with Europe and, just as importantly, the style in which that obsession… Continue reading
12 CommentsNot just a wily Fox, but a watchful hawk with time on his side
Liam Fox is fond of reminding us that he didn’t come into politics to cut the armed forces. A wistful look falls across his face when he says it –… Continue reading
13 CommentsMichael Fallon to replace Lord Ashcroft as Tory deputy chairman
So says Benedict Brogan, who rightly describes this as a "smart appointment": "Mr Fallon is being brought in to CCHQ to help Lady Warsi, who has not so far succeeded… Continue reading
6 CommentsLord Ashcroft’s warnings about David Rowland
Here in Westminster, the David Rowland story is the talk of the hour. It seems that Lord Ashcroft and Michael Spencer had both warned Cameron that Rowland would come in… Continue reading
13 CommentsAshcroft poll suggests that the Tories might do better under AV than first past the post
A Lord Ashcroft poll of marginal seats suggests, intriguingly, that the Tories could do as well—if not better—under AV than first past the post. Now, this is, obviously, just one… Continue reading
21 CommentsThe Ashcroft report
One thing that the AV referendum might do is revive the debate in Conservative circles about why the party did not win a majority in the general election. As the… Continue reading
25 CommentsLord Ashcroft clarifies a few things
After all the hoo-haa about Lord Ashcroft’s tax status, it’s only fair to mention this passage from his interview with the Telegraph today: "He explains that new laws brought in… Continue reading
6 CommentsPeople loathe politicians – but do they loathe the political media too?
One thing’s for certain: the Lib Dems are coming in for greater scrutiny and attention from the media. The covers of the Telegraph, Sun, Mail, Express and, yes, The Spectator… Continue reading
45 CommentsThe strange case of Charlie Whelan’s Commons pass
Well, now we know. Charlie Whelan enjoys the liberty of Westminster at the invitation of the parliamentary Labour party. Guido points out that it’s highly unlikely Whelan isn’t officially connected… Continue reading
6 CommentsThe Lib Dems attack Labservatism
In this post-expenses election, there is going to be a considerable vote going for the none of the above party. The Lib Dems are clearly determined to try and tap… Continue reading
21 Comments