Update

Conservatives

Those in the Party who criticise David Cameron have a short memory and are clearly content on being in Opposition for the forseeable future. Don't they remember that focusing solely and primarily on immigration, low taxes and Europe has cost us the last three General Elections. Edward Leigh says that these issues "enthuse" activists. I'll tell you what would enthuse me - winning and actually engendering change by being in government rather than by sniping and carping from the sidelines. We need to get behind David Cameron instead. Leigh goes on to say that "liberalism doesn't win elections". Maybe not but nor does factionalism. Pragmatism and centrism wins elections. United parties win elections. It serves neither man nor beast for Edward Leigh or Ali Miraj to be undermining Cameron in this way.

Nick Bourne is right to say that a change in strategy would be absurd. I totally agree with Nick in saying that “David Cameron’s leadership has taken the party in exactly the right direction." I am glad that the Welsh Conservatives seem to be united and supportive of DC in spite of our difficult few weeks in Westminster. Brown's bounce won't last forever. We must remain on this course and not succumb to the opportunists who seek to undermine the leadership.

Lembit Opik

Lembit Opik has been tipped as a potential candidate for the London mayoral race. He says he has no intention of standing but if I were him, I would be tempted given that he is up against the Welsh Conservative powerhouse that is Glyn Davies at the next General Election. I would want to get out of Montgomeryshire too if I were Lembit. The prospect of facing Glyn can't exactly fill him with joy. It would certainly be an interesting contest though - Boris, Ken and Lembit going head to head. Whether Lembit stands or not, it will prove to be an intriguing contest. However, it would be nice to see the Lib Dems field a heavyweight candidate to avoid being also-rans.

Andrew Lilico - The Differences between a modern Conservative and a Blairite

I read an interesting article on Conservative Home on Tuesday about the differences between a modern Conservative and a Blairite. I encourage everyone to read it at http://www.conservativehome.co.uk/

European Treaty

Whether you're a pro-European or a Eurosceptic, it's clear that Brown must honour his party's manifesto commitment and give us a referendum on the proposed European Treaty given that 90% of the proposed measures have been lifted from the rejected European Constitution. Labour members refer to the fact that we did not offer a referendum on the Maastricht Treaty. That's true but we didn't promise one either.