General Press Comments

[Sir Tristan St. John]

Well, that's "tough on crime" out of the window, then. After years of police numbers being cut, now Labour's spin is finally unmasked for what it is with the appointment of a soft-on-crime socialist at the Home Office. I'm sure we'll see the police cut even further and mired in all the paperwork that the feeble spin doctor elite are inflicting on them by design of unaccountable bureaucrats now. Not to mention the "compassion" of continued mass immigration with all the effect it will have on our communities. Luckily, there's an alternative: a strong Conservative government that will cut down on red tape, reverse the cuts and invest. It's clear which party is the true friend of the people who want safer communities.

[Amelia Lockhart]

His supporters spent the entire election campaign condemning Cosette Beavais-Becker as far right with an immigration policy adopted from the BNP and the National Front, yet Mr Croft wanted her to serve in the Shadow Cabinet. Mr Croft doesn’t care about the dangerous rise of extremist politics in his party, he is complicit in its rise - and the entire country should be worried.

[Will Frost]

The real dangerous extremist that I and the rest of Britain are worried about is the radical socialist the Prime Minister tapped to lead the Home Office. We need a Government that is going to back the police, be strong on crime, and be uncompromising in its willingness to enforce our country's laws. Mary MacAndrews' decision to appoint a left-wing politician who is best known for suggesting that even limiting immigration would be "wrong" is disastrous for our country and for the rule of law. We need competence and an unyielding pursuit of justice in a Home Secretary, not a man who has committed to doing absolutely nothing to stem the unchecked flow of low-skilled immigrants into our country. It is possible to both support the vast majority of immigrants who make majorly positive contributions to our country, and to want to control who can and cannot come in to our nation's borders. The fact that the Home Secretary doesn't understand this reality is deeply worrisome.

[Elizabeth Tanner]

William Croft really does not waste any time, only a few days ago he was extolling the virtues of immigration when his back was up against the wall under pressure from Mrs Beauvis-Becker and he needed to show his softer, cuddlier side, but my oh my does the mask slip once he squeaks into his new position by a whisker. What is it, Mr Croft? Is immigration something to be proud of, or are immigrants an unchecked flow of low-skilled workers? You really should make up your mind. In Mr Edwards we will have a Home Secretary that is committed to justice, that will ensure the safety and security of this country is paramount - and if Mr Croft has a problem with a left-wing Government then he really should open his eyes because it was the Labour party that won the election and beat his party for the second time in a row.

[Sir Jack Anderson]

It was the honour of my life to be asked to be Chancellor of the Exchequer and First Secretary of State by the Prime Minister. Naturally, I have resigned as Chair of the Treasury Select Committee so that another fantastic Member of Parliament can take my place. Going from the scrutiniser to the scrutinised is nerve wracking, but I look forward to it immensely.

I also look forward to using my position to build a fairer, stronger and more prosperous Britain. I will unabashedly implement the manifesto commitments that won us the trust of the British public, and focus on many of the other big issues of the day – tackling tax avoidance, holding unscrupulous corporations and financial institutions to account and taking the bold action necessary to rebalance the United Kingdom and boost productivity, for a start.

[Will Frost]

"Rebalancing the economy," is New Labour double speak for the Government's real plan: taking more of your hard earned money away through tax and giving it to someone else. The Conservative Party I lead will be one that us fundamentally opposed to this viewpoint, and that utterly rejects that the state should be doing any economic "rebalancing." The way people get ahead in life, the way one does better for themselves and for their family, isn't by receiving a Government hand out but by seizing the opportunities of a free society. A Conservative Government would cut your taxes, make it easier for small businesses to hire more people, and allow the creative majority to thrive in a low-regulation economy. If we want to make our society more fair, we do it by empowering people to succeed, not by taking from some and redistributing it to others.

[Will Frost]

I'm very excited to unveil our Shadow Cabinet this morning. This new Shadow Cabinet has seen more women given top jobs, more new MPs elevated to the front bench, and the introduction of a renewed commitment to bold policies and a radical defense of British democracy and freedom. This is a team that is ready to fight for our country's future, and to protect our national sovereignty and the individual liberties all of us are entitled to. It is the honor of my life to have the opportunity to lead this team, and to begin the work of returning the Conservative Party to Government and providing the British people with the leadership they deserve.

[Sir Dylan Macmillan]

While Mr Croft's Shadow Cabinet's reliance on the Monday Club leaves a lot to be desired I am on the whole optimistic about the future for the Moderate Conservative movement. The appointment of leading reformers such as John Baker to the Shadow Business, Transport, and Social Mobility portfolio, Theresa May to the Shadow Education and Children portfolio, and Clarice Ashbridge to the Communities and Local Government portfolio show that the future of moderate, progressive, conservatism is in strong hands under their guidance from the top team. I urge Mr Croft to continue to choose moderation over extremism, pragmatism over ideology, and common sense over the Monday Club.

[Sir Jack Anderson]

Corporation tax is at its lowest level, competition policy has been strengthened and 150,000 small businesses has been set up since 1997.

If the Leader of the Opposition or Shadow Chancellor are expecting to wage an ideological war with dogmatic Thatcherism hoping to go against dogmatic state socialism, they’re going to be disappointed. Labour remains a champion of businesses and markets – and I do not intend to change that.

Where they lead by promoting an ideology of instability and boom and bust which crushed businesses and created poor conditions for workers, this government will put ideology aside, cooperating with businesses and workers alike to create wealth, jobs and opportunity. It’s time to leave dogmatism and ideology at the door, and to focus on results.

[David Malkin]

I’ve never known myself, or indeed any member of the Monday Club, to be considered Anti-Pound by anybody, it wouldn’t really make much sense; but I can assure everybody I am entirely committed to retaining Britain’s independent currency and all of its other distinctive attributes and traditions.

But to focus on the real issues at hand I am very much looking forward to holding the Labour Government to account on the issue of Defence and the Armed Forces. I believe that the only party which truly looks after our Armed Forces and can be trusted with ensuring they operate at their fullest potential is us, the Conservatives.