Will Howard lead the way for Cameron?
David Cameron is set to make a significant move to try to shed his image as a PM who is surrounded by Old Etonian cronies and other toffs.
I hear that he is planning to replace boarding school-educated hereditary peer Lord Strathclyde as Leader of the House of Lords.
Such a decision would, he believes, go some way to stop the constant wounding jibes about the elitist nature of his Tory leadership.
Next Leader of the House of Lords? Michael Howard, former leader of the Conservative party has been a mentor to Cameron
Intriguingly, it has been suggested that Strathclyde’s replacement could be grammar school- educated former Tory leader Michael Howard. This would be a reward for the man who acted as Cameron’s mentor.
Howard resigned as party leader after the Tories lost to Labour for the third time in 2005. He immediately threw his weight behind the little-known David Cameron to succeed him.
The two men first worked together when Cameron was a twentysomething researcher for Howard, who was then Home Secretary in John Major’s government.
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Howard’s appointment could come as soon as next month in the expected ministerial reshuffle.
However, such a move would appal many Tory peers who dislike Howard’s abrasive style and think that he’s too inexperienced for the job because he’s been a lord for only two years. One grandee told me: ‘He’s hardly steeped in the tradition and ethos of the place.’
What’s more, if appointed, Howard would face a very tricky time in respect of a key Cameron policy.
The PM is hell-bent on a new law which would make gay marriage legal — a policy that will be fiercely opposed in the Upper House. But this would prove a Herculean challenge for Howard, who is widely hated by the gay rights movement.
As Environment Secretary under Margaret Thatcher, he introduced the controversial Section 28. This was a response to Left-wing councils promoting gay relationships in schools, and the new law banned councils and schools from intentionally promoting homosexuality.
In view of the fact that Section 28 lost the Tories the so-called ‘pink vote’ for more than a generation, David Cameron might be forced to have second thoughts about putting his old friend back in the frontline.
The Parliamentary Book Club summer reading list includes a title called Filthy English: The How, Why, When And Where Of Everyday Swearing. Surely MPs don’t need any more guidance on how to be offensively abusive to each other?
Rather daring your Majesty! The Queen's amusing skit with Bond actor Daniel Craig is causing a bit of confusion
Your Queen’s a real daredevil!
Many foreigners are still flummoxed by parts of the Olympic opening ceremony. For example, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has told how he was approached by a Japanese dignitary who said: ‘Your Queen is amazing, the way she parachuted out of that plane. Our Emperor would never do that!’
Could Fox make Boris king?
As Defence Secretary, Liam Fox was the standard-bearer of the Tory Thatcherite Right in the Cabinet until his resignation over his controversial friendship with lobbyist Adam Werritty.
Future King maker? How long will it be before Fox teams up with the Mayor of London?
In the past few weeks Fox has re-emerged on the political scene with a series of perceptive speeches including one in which he declared: ‘Life outside the EU holds no terror.’ Fox, I’m told, is now seeking to raise money from like-minded political allies to bolster his private office. He knows he has no hope of ever leading the Tory Party, but fancies his chances as a future king-maker. How soon before he links up with Boris Johnson? Watch this space!
The admirable Tory MP Rob Wilson has published his latest six-month ‘report’ on the performance of the pompous and vain Commons Speaker John Bercow. According to his findings, Bercow interrupted Tory MPs 99 times and Labour MPs only 64 times. This is no surprise. When elected Speaker, Bercow received the support of only three Tory MPs.
Marcus Brigstocke performing at the Harold Pinter Theatre
Quote of the week
Comedian Marcus Brigstocke to the audience at the new West End production of Spamalot: ‘Is Lord Coe here? Shame. We could have showed him how to fill an audience!’
Lib Dem activist Mark Pack has published a book called 101 Ways To Win An Election. I was most surprised to see that the most obvious suggestion — ‘Sack Nick Clegg’ — was omitted.
