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Tory MPs call for no-confidence vote in Cameron

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Published Date: 22 July 2007
By EDDIE BARNES
AT LEAST two Conservative MPs - and possibly as many as six - have called for a vote of no confidence in David Cameron's leadership of the party, it was claimed last night.
According to reports, the MPs wrote to the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, Sir Michael Spicer, requesting a vote on Cameron's future.

A vote would automatically be triggered if letters were received from 15% of the parliamentary party - currently 29 MPs - as happened when Iain Duncan Smith was ousted as leader in 2003.

The move follows the party's disappointing by-election results last week when it came third in both Ealing Southall and Sedgefield.

A string of bad polls has also put pressure on the Tory leader. Another poll today puts the Tories seven points behind Gordon Brown's Labour party.

According to the poll, Brown now outscores Cameron by 44% to 12% on "sticking to what he believes in", and by 35% to 8% for being strong.

There has been criticism of policies espoused by Cameron, most notably his decision to oppose more grammar schools.

His prioritising of causes such as preventing climate change has also led to grumbling among right-wingers.



The full article contains 203 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

 
1

'Hezza,

21/07/2007 23:41:46

wow! 2? nearly 6? I call for a vote of no confidence in votes of no confidence!

2

Colin B,

Bearsden 21/07/2007 23:42:14

Pity lazy Eddie Barnes couldn't name the two MPs. No story here -so what two safe Labour seats - the Ealing Southall being 125th most winnable on amajority of only 56 didn't go Tory? The swing from LAbour if repeated would lose their majority. The Toroes do need to start stating policy eg fathers rights, Justice reform, cutting beaurocracy and exposing Labour wasting money bribing public sector employees with an easy life and not holding public sector wasters accountable when they mess up eg social wrokers, SCRO,CSA, Inland Revenue, Home Office etc

3

Senga Jean,

scotland 21/07/2007 23:44:40

The SNP are 6% ahead in Scottish polls!

4

Suck-McCrunchie,

Doomster Hill 21/07/2007 23:53:13

They need to dump Cameron, as his Eton/Oxbridge history is enough to alienate him from real life sufficiently to act as a bar to heading any UK party hoping to be elected.

Just look at the record of the last Oxbridge/private school yah.

5

Willie,

22/07/2007 00:00:56

Hey Colin B

Maybe Cameron should bring back Grammar Schools if your spelling is anything to go by.

6

The Strategist,

22/07/2007 00:03:08

I think Scotland should offer to help "call me Dave" by promising not to vote Labour at the next election providing he agrees to Scottish independence.

7

Richardinho,

22/07/2007 01:29:27

#1
'2' in this context is a lot in politics. It's like when tv stations receive half a dozen letters of complaint about a programme. They're taken seriously as the producers understand that for all those, there were probably a lot more who were p*ssed off, but couldn't be bothered writing.

2 who are prepared to go public suggests a lot more who are unhappy.

And not suprising-Cameron is a joke.

8

ex katman 2,

ex sudan 22/07/2007 06:35:29

Same old Tory party then,one hand behind the back holding a knife.Who in their right mind would want to lead the Tories oh Cameron not in right mind.

9

Tory,boy,

The playing fields of Eton 22/07/2007 06:51:55

Those dweadful twaitorous Conservative MPs are behaving "priggish".
Dwavid was the finest pwerson I have ever mwet.My most happy memorwies are of bweingin dwinking partners in the Old Bullingham Club.

Gaddding about getting totally sloshed in all the local hostelries.
Then wecking them to bits. And when the wocal poor hoi polloi with their dweadfull smell complained.

We would make their little eyes light up by taking gweat big wedges of cash out of our pwockets and thwoing them in the air.

Then watching as the poor people scrabbled about to pick up our largesses.
Wery happy, happy days..toodle pip!

10

pehman,

sussex 22/07/2007 07:55:09

Maybe it's time for the Scottish Tories to breakaway from Westminster and go it alone

11

Armageddon Outtahere,

22/07/2007 08:43:35

It's time for the Tory Party to do the decent thing and fall on its sword! Rome gave us more than indoor plumbing you know!

12

Edward,

22/07/2007 09:15:09

Non story
just like the idiotic piece by Eddie Barnes, which for reasons best known to Scotland on Sunday, there is no forum allowed, I wonder why?
Next piece from Eddie Barnes is 'Alex Salmond ate my Hamster! - Exclusive' or has that one already been done?
Im refering of course to the article 'Salmond response to airport attack 'boost for radical Islam' says academic' in todays Scotland on Sunday. Yes its another 'academic' story from the Novo Labour spin meister Eddie Barnes
The so called 'academic' is Tom Gallagher, your basic nutter, the type that shouldnt really be given the time of day, except Eddie Barnes makes use of the trash strory to spin out a contravercial headline

13

Adrian Clegg,

England 22/07/2007 09:16:05

What makes me laugh about all this Scottish indepence nonsense is the way the advocates of it ignore the enslavement of the EU. They seem more like lemmings than the English.

Once they obtain their 'freedom' they will give it away to Brussels.

I am now wholly convinced that the English do not have a monopoly on delusional blindness.

14

Gordon, Canonmills,

22/07/2007 10:49:52

13 # Edward

Totally agree about the Eddie Barnes concoction, which appears, no less, in three different sections of the on-line edition, but with no possibility to comment.

He gives a prominent platform to some ivory-tower non-entity to bash the SNP.

The reason for not allowing comment, of course, is quite obvious. It is abominable muck - pure party propaganda in the worst Goebbels style.

He would have been flayed alive by a comment thread.

Ploughing the depths of the trough, SOS!

As to the actual thread above … eh, what’s a Tory?

15

The Strategist,

22/07/2007 11:14:08

Actually...... thinking about this in a moderately serious way I think the Tories are really missing a trick or three..

For example ... Remember recently when Alistair Darling said he didn't believe in economic patriotism well the Tories could say they do and accuse Labour of acting in an economically and industrially treacherous manner which has fundamentally weakened the UK economy leading to huge personal debt levels and the largest trade deficit on record..

They really need to try attacking on issues which will appeal naturally to Middle England..

16

Seannair,

Oban 22/07/2007 11:14:24

More dodgy journalism form Eddie Barnes, unbalanced and protected from critical comment. Scotland used to have two responsible broadsheet newspapers backed up by Sunday editions. Now we appear to have lost them both.

Off to watch the golf!

17

Lachie Todd,

Edinburgh 22/07/2007 11:40:17

Could the political editor of the SOS once again be flying a political kite in the hope that it can generate more interest in Cameron's failings? It is too late to change horses in mid-stream! The Tories would do well to leave Cameron alone, or Gordon Brown will undoubtedly win a landslide in a snap General Election
of his calling!

18

European Scot,

22/07/2007 11:48:01

14 Adrian Clegg

Standing up for the independence of your country was never a nonsense, and in most cases where it has been gained, the process of achieving it was not usually a laughing matter..
As a participating member of the European Union, Scotland would have to meet one of that Union's basic requirements for membership, it would have to be a country. Also, in so joining, Scotland would find that it had developed a voice.
The current arrangements in the much smaller Union, require that you act as a voiceless region, under the control of Westminster.
Of the two above options, not having a voice, or control of your own affairs, would seem to be closer to your term 'enslavement'.
Why on earth would you consider the English to be like lemmings because of the EU.?
They recognise the value of being part of a much larger Union as well, many also seeing it in terms of an Independent England in Europe.
You are correct on your last point regarding delusional blindness, you will certainly find it north of the border, Unionists in Scotland claiming to be acting for Scottish interests.

19

,

22/07/2007 15:57:25
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason: Scotsman Import, Original comment id: 807055, Article id was mapped to record!
20

Eve,

Scotland 22/07/2007 17:31:21

#20. Footjoy: Whats that got to do with Tories & their leader.

Are you suggesting that they got and play golf to talk about a no-confidence vote in Cameron.

21

Ms. Optimistic,

ND 22/07/2007 17:47:41

21. Eve, Scotland

It may help

22

Scottish Unionist,

22/07/2007 17:56:57

This is absolute madness and goes against what the overwhelming majority of activists voted for - a reforming, modernising leader. Polls are always in flux - a few months ago he was racing ahead!!!

One can hazard a guess as to which MP's are calling for a vote of no confidence - fatty Widdicombe, Anne Winterton (who tells jokes that even Bernard Manning would find offensive) and Edward Leigh, chairman of the Tombstone (or Cornerstone Group as it is commonly known) group.

Perhaps the Conservative Party needs to split. The radical hard right can sod off and join UKIP leaving the rest to carry on as a moderate centre right party which can win elections.

23

Ms. Optimistic,

ND 22/07/2007 18:25:36

Some stupid Troll deleted Footjoy's non offensive comment at #20. I found where he posted the same post on another thread to prove there was nothing offensive about it.

329. Footjoy, Cda

I wish Canada had some good Golfers but unfortunately the USA has produced the best players ever to play the game. I'm sure some biased Europeans will disagree but the facts speak for themselves.

1. Jack Nicklaus
2. Tiger Woods
3. Ben Hogan
4. Bobby Jones
5. Arnold Palmer
6. Sam Snead
7. Byron Nelson
8. Walter Hagen
9. Tom Watson
10. Lee Trevino

The list goes on & on.

24

Ms. Optimistic,

ND 22/07/2007 18:28:30

Now I know why some stupid troll deleted #20 which was not offensive, it was have been a european troll mad about the facts that Footjoy posted about the USA having the best Golfers in the World. That's really childish deletig posts.

25

Shamus,

Glasgow 22/07/2007 20:58:44

Hang in David another five years of Labour is guaranteed.

26

Eve,

Scotland 22/07/2007 21:03:18

#26. Shamus: Oh some one save us.

What choice Labour lieing to us!!!!


Tories are Tories!!!!!!!

Lib dems are confused!!!!


P.S. I'm so glad I'm no a unionist!!!!

27

Shamus,

Glasgow 22/07/2007 21:38:00

Of Course your a Unionist Eve, Check yer passport you pudding!

28

Barry Donald Scarfe,

23/07/2007 00:55:01

Re: 23 At least those MPs are recoginisably Conservative. There is no future for the Conservative Party if all it wants to be is a copy of Labour or the Liberal Democrats. It's time they started being Conservative instead of trying to be second-class socialists or lib dems. What is Cameron's latest stunt? To bugger off to Rwanda instead of dealing with the problems in Britain. Talk about clueless!

29

Barry Donald Scarfe,

23/07/2007 00:58:13

Adrian Clegg. You are totally correct. The SNP is a UNIONIST party abeit one that wants Scotland to be 'independent' in the EU rather than as a part of the United Kingdom. Seeing as the entire point of the EU is an 'ever closer union' and the TAKING AWAY of national sovereignty from those that belong to it I would dearly love to know how this constitutes 'independence'.

30

Barry Donald Scarfe,

23/07/2007 01:01:02

Re: 6. England doesn't want a neo-Marxist state on its borders. It would be a security risk.

31

Voldemort,

Edinburgh 23/07/2007 08:40:25

There is more than a hint of ultra flex wet blanket about Cameron but infinitely better than 'Massive administration, Tax and Spend Brown.

The state of affairs in politics seems to be say anything to get elected then after you have the votes to set your course. Fortunately alot of people see through this and view as wishy washy and ruddless politics.

I'd be surprised if the pheonix from fire for the tories wasn't some straight talking conviction about matters that really matter to people like ... The number of people employed by the state, corruption in local councils, the endless streams of immigrats that we are told are 'necessary', getting kids back under control, getting Police off the back of the motorist and dealing with real crimes, getting the MOD a proper budget, emptying the NHS of the middle men and time wasting patients and simplifying and reducing the Tax burden on the public.

Unfortunately politicians don't listen to the public and only scared of what the press may say about them if they were to offer real solutions to these problems rather than just pay them lip service.

This is why people have lost faith in politics and why the pendulum will swing to more radical parties unless they sort themselves out and start representing the public again rather than serving their own interests.


 

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