CAMERON TAKES ON "AWKWARD SQUAD"
(That's "real" Tories to you and me!)
David Cameron has made an audacious attempt to stamp his authority on Conservative MPs and smother back-bench dissent. He has announced a controversial move to neutralise the 1922 Committee which gives back-bench MPs a forum for criticising the Conservative leadership.
The move turned simmering anger at Cameron's coalition deal with the Liberal Democrats into fury among many Tory MPs. One senior Right-winger described it as a “deliberate provocation” that could split the party. Others likened the moment to Tony Blair’s “Clause IV” confrontation with Labour members in 1995.
At a meeting with MPs on Wednesday in the Commons, Cameron announced that he wanted to change the way the 1922 Committee was organised.
The committee represents back-bench Conservatives and is traditionally used to communicate rank-and-file MPs’ feelings about the way Tory governments are conducting themselves. The committee is named after the 1922 general election, which was called after the Conservatives withdrew from a coalition government with David Lloyd George’s Liberals. Ministers and other government members are barred from the 1922, a rule meant to ensure that the party leadership cannot influence the committee directly.
Cameron has proposed a change in the rules to allow him and his ministers and other allies to vote in the committee and even take up elected positions. Many back-bench Tories were angry at the proposed change and the way it was announced by surprise. Most of the MPs at the meeting believed they were there to be briefed about the final detail of the coalition agreement.
During the private meeting, Peter Bone, the MP for Wellingborough, told Mr Cameron that the changes were an unacceptable attempt to control the party. Bill Cash complained there had been no consultation or discussion of the proposed changes, which would “end the independence of backbenchers”.
After the meeting, one MP said: “This is an attempt to crush dissent, nothing less. He’s effectively trying to abolish the 1922.” A former minister added: “He’s caused enormous resentment. People who were feeling sullen before are now feeling furious.”
The 1922 is due to elect a new chairman next week. The favourite had been Graham Brady, a former frontbencher who quit Mr Cameron’s team in 2007 in protest at his opposition to new grammar schools.
Senior party sources said they were confident that Mr Cameron’s new rules would be approved, thanks to support among ministers and most of the new intake of Tory MPs. However, one minister said: “He could end up with a bloody nose here.”
Well, good, I hope he fucking does!
Give me fucking strength - this fucker doesn't know when to stop! Quit while you're ahead, twat boy!