But I'm not so sure. As I've said on Iain's blog, Cameron does not strike me as a vindictive man and if, in time, it becomes clear that bringing back Davis in a senior role would strengthen the team - which in my view it will - I think he'll probably be prepared to let bygones be bygones.
Whereas incoming Labour Prime Ministers are required by the party's own rules to appoint Shadow Cabinet members to the Cabinet - although it didn't stop Tony Blair sacking four of them after a year - there is a fairly long Conservative tradition of bringing in heavyweights from outside whenever the party enters government.
Lord Carrington, chosen as Foreign Secretary from outside the then Shadow Cabinet by Margaret Thatcher in 1979, was an example.
There has been much talk in Tory circles about whether Prime Minister Cameron would bring in, not just DD, but also IDS, Ken Clarke and even Peter Lilley if he wins the next general election.
Such talk is a tacit recognition that the current Shadow Cabinet, while strong on intellect and ideas, is lacking in that indefinable quality that, in the days of Trollope, used to be known as "bottom."
My guess is that at least two of the aforementioned "Big Beasts" will return, and that the first Cameron Cabinet will indeed look fairly different from the current Shadow Cabinet line-up.
2 comments:
I guess the by-election result suited Cameron about right, DD did well enough to make his point and avoid any risk of embarrassing himself but not so well that he embarrassed his leader?
Here is a good link I am posting around the blogopshere for fellow labour fans. It is the official blog for labour for glasgow east.
Seems pretty good with friendly blog entries and up to date news. Good way to keep labour campaign on top of local and national news agenda.
I think this may be good example for other candidates, as it seems to have pretty good depth.
http://www.eastendlabour.org.uk/news_from_the_east_end
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