08/09/2005
Fox launches Tory leadership campaign
Dr Liam Fox has become the latest Conservative MP to launch a bid for the party leadership.
The shadow foreign secretary launched his campaign with a speech at the Hillside Clubhouse in north London, an advice centre for people with mental health problems.
Dr Fox said he wanted to see a “forward-looking confident Conservative party”, which concentrated on the concerns of the public, rather than the party itself. He said: “The thing that most people can tell you about the Conservative party in recent years is that we have leadership elections. What we need to focus on is the real agenda of the people in the country.”
He said that the party needed to reconnect with voters and offer them a “distinctive vision” of what the party stood for.
Dr Fox’s speech focused on a number of issues, including lower taxation, family values, strong defence, scepticism about the European Union, mental health issues, crime and global warming and the environment.
Dr Fox is the third Conservative to formally announce their intention to run for leadership of the party when current leader, Michael Howard, stands down later this year. Former Chancellor Ken Clarke and former Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind have already launched their leadership bids.
Shadow Home Secretary David Davis is still widely regarded as the frontrunner in the contest, although he has not officially announced his intention to enter the leadership race.
Both Mr Clarke and Mr Davis attacked the government’s economic record on Thursday.
In a speech at the Sir John Cass Business School in London, Mr Clarke attacked current Chancellor Gordon Brown and accused him of ‘squandering’ the economic legacy he had left him in 1997. He said: “Far from building on the strong economy he inherited, growth and investment in our economy have been below what my party achieved before 1997. The Chancellor has failed to restrict public spending to what the nation can afford. His tax policies have not been the ‘fair’ policies that he promised.”
Mr Davis did not deliver a speech on Thursday, but wrote an article in ‘The Scotsman’, criticising Labour’s record on the economy and stating that lower taxes and less regulations were necessary for British businesses to compete against the economies to countries such as China and India.
Mr Davis was visiting Edinburgh airport in order to discuss security.
(KMcA/SP)
The shadow foreign secretary launched his campaign with a speech at the Hillside Clubhouse in north London, an advice centre for people with mental health problems.
Dr Fox said he wanted to see a “forward-looking confident Conservative party”, which concentrated on the concerns of the public, rather than the party itself. He said: “The thing that most people can tell you about the Conservative party in recent years is that we have leadership elections. What we need to focus on is the real agenda of the people in the country.”
He said that the party needed to reconnect with voters and offer them a “distinctive vision” of what the party stood for.
Dr Fox’s speech focused on a number of issues, including lower taxation, family values, strong defence, scepticism about the European Union, mental health issues, crime and global warming and the environment.
Dr Fox is the third Conservative to formally announce their intention to run for leadership of the party when current leader, Michael Howard, stands down later this year. Former Chancellor Ken Clarke and former Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind have already launched their leadership bids.
Shadow Home Secretary David Davis is still widely regarded as the frontrunner in the contest, although he has not officially announced his intention to enter the leadership race.
Both Mr Clarke and Mr Davis attacked the government’s economic record on Thursday.
In a speech at the Sir John Cass Business School in London, Mr Clarke attacked current Chancellor Gordon Brown and accused him of ‘squandering’ the economic legacy he had left him in 1997. He said: “Far from building on the strong economy he inherited, growth and investment in our economy have been below what my party achieved before 1997. The Chancellor has failed to restrict public spending to what the nation can afford. His tax policies have not been the ‘fair’ policies that he promised.”
Mr Davis did not deliver a speech on Thursday, but wrote an article in ‘The Scotsman’, criticising Labour’s record on the economy and stating that lower taxes and less regulations were necessary for British businesses to compete against the economies to countries such as China and India.
Mr Davis was visiting Edinburgh airport in order to discuss security.
(KMcA/SP)
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21 October 2005
Cameron and Davis begin battle for Tory leadership
David Cameron and David Davis are preparing to go to head-to-head in the final battle for the Conservative party leadership. Mr Cameron remains the bookie’s favourite, after he topped the poll in the MPs second ballot with 90 votes. Mr Davis came second with 57 votes, while Dr Liam Fox came third with 51 votes and was eliminated.
Cameron and Davis begin battle for Tory leadership
David Cameron and David Davis are preparing to go to head-to-head in the final battle for the Conservative party leadership. Mr Cameron remains the bookie’s favourite, after he topped the poll in the MPs second ballot with 90 votes. Mr Davis came second with 57 votes, while Dr Liam Fox came third with 51 votes and was eliminated.
13 January 2011
Irish Premier's 'Position In Peril'
Amidst increasing speculation that the Irish Republic's ruling Fianna Fáil party could be on the brink of a leadership change - as Brian Cowen's position remains perilous - a challenge from either senior Ministers or backbenchers has been mooted.
Irish Premier's 'Position In Peril'
Amidst increasing speculation that the Irish Republic's ruling Fianna Fáil party could be on the brink of a leadership change - as Brian Cowen's position remains perilous - a challenge from either senior Ministers or backbenchers has been mooted.
29 September 2005
NHS plan defeat for Labour party leadership
The Labour Party leadership has suffered an embarrassing defeat over proposals to increase private company involvement in health care. Unison leader David Prentis accused the Labour Party of "government by diktat" and asked if the party's vision was really a health service "driven not by patient need, but by profits and markets.
NHS plan defeat for Labour party leadership
The Labour Party leadership has suffered an embarrassing defeat over proposals to increase private company involvement in health care. Unison leader David Prentis accused the Labour Party of "government by diktat" and asked if the party's vision was really a health service "driven not by patient need, but by profits and markets.
15 June 2005
Tory MPs to vote on leadership election changes
Conservatives MPs are due to vote tonight on how the leader of the party should be elected.
Tory MPs to vote on leadership election changes
Conservatives MPs are due to vote tonight on how the leader of the party should be elected.
25 April 2005
Labour attacks Conservative economic policy
Labour have emphasised their focus on a strong economy today, as the party continued to criticise the Conservatives economic policy.
Labour attacks Conservative economic policy
Labour have emphasised their focus on a strong economy today, as the party continued to criticise the Conservatives economic policy.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:After a dry start this morning rain will spread from the northwest across all parts. This afternoon will be dull with some patchy rain and drizzle. Becoming much milder through the afternoon. Maximum temperature 11 °C.Tonight:A cloudy evening and night with a little light rain or drizzle, perhaps some clear periods developing along the east coast. A very mild night everywhere. Minimum temperature 10 °C.