Tarzan's return

Cardinal Richelieu's mole

Effectiveness in government, and promptly, is more important than temporary right-left balance and so it would be self-defeating to overlook Heseltine. He may not serve a whole term anyway - but Heseltime's experience could well be invaluable in making the best start , itself important for continuing in the same way.

David Raynes

Lilley? In a Cameron government? Let us hope not. He is dangerously unsound on drugs policy. He called for legalisation of cannabis. When the Government's own professional mental health advisor suggests otherwise and argued for reclassification upwards, Lilley is (or was) away with the fairies. Even Cameron has changed his mind on cannabis harms, can Lilly? Will he admit he was wrong? It would be very helpful if he did.

James J

As I have written before Cameron may be Prime Minister after the next election but there must be questions as to whether he will lead the Conservative Party at the end of the first term of office.

DavidDP

Two Europhiles out of 20 is unbalanced? Old Tim just doesn't like anyone with a different strand of Toryism.

Frank P

Hezza is semi-senile, as his recent appearances on QT have indicated. And his European stance would be another nail in the coffin of British Sovereignty. If this is being mooted, it is an ominous omen. Hasn't he made enough gelt? He has lots of trees to attend to, anyway.

Perhaps he has a gaff dans Le Continent that needs refurbishment and fancies the Euro 'rules' for upkeep of a second home?

He once owned some properties in Bayswater, whose tenants lived very Continental life-styles, I remember. Perhaps that's where he got a liking for Europe.

He was one of the main reasons why the Tories have been in the wilderness for so long, let us not forget it. The Westland affair; his betrayal of Maggie. Any Tory leader who would choose him for his cabinet would be not just naive, but bloody bonkers.
Who the hell would consider Tarzan an asset?
As for Lilley, David Raines is spot on. A very strange cookie indeed. And I spell-checked that penultimate word carefully, so let there be no misreading of it.

Frank P

Sorry Mr Raynes - I spelled your name wrong , that WAS a typo!

TGF UKIP

Oh I love this, I really do. Not just Clarke but now Heseltine as well; two vaunting egos and massively disruptive political personalities who will never allow self discipline to get in the way of causing trouble.

Even by Daft Dave's standards this really would be stupid.

TrevorsDen

Would he actually be in the Cabinet? Otherwise he is a Conservative and I would expect him to support the Tories. I suspect Hesletine would do a Lord Falconer role - he was useless but he could defend a cause.

Alfred T Mahan

There go another 50,000 votes to UKIP.

John Barrett

This would push any waverer straight into UKIP's embrace.
Both Hezza and Clarke are part of the "old corruption" that was kicked out in 1997, couple that with Cameron's imminent betrayal over the referendum and we can almost hear the votes draining away.

T .England

I saw Tarzan on QT recently & he didn’t seem to be very sharp to say the least, I think his best debating days are over. I believe this decision casts a shadow over Cameron’s judgement.

drakes drum

Just recall that this skate was in Thatcher's cabinet. It did not stop him from ignoring cabinet responsibility.

He is a legend in his own mind!

But, it shows Cameron's mindset. PRO the EU and against the majority of the people.

Cameron, if he is elected, will be a one term PM!

Colin

"the presence of Clarke and Heseltine in the Cabinet will make a robust approach to Europe almost impossible."

What on earth makes you think that Cameron and co want to take a robust approach on europe?

old fogey

This is absurd, really absurd; Heseltine is nearly ga-ga, and therefore even more unreliable than before. Many of us will not forgive him his role in the defenestration of Mrs Thatcher, nor the appearance with Clarke, when the Tories were really struggling, on Blairs campaign for Europe in 1999. He will always be divisive when he cannot get his own way. If the principle is having someone of cabinet experience in a new May 2020ff cabinet then there are other options, in the Commons, or in the Lords.
What on earth is Cameron thinking ? There is also something faintly creepy about this idea. Heseltine is the Blair of his generation; he lives a very charmed life, with fortune, and his peers, always indulging him. I really will vote for UKIP if this idea moves to a confirmed deal.

anne allan

This is a joke - isn't it?
Why not also bring back David Mellor, Jonathan Aitkin, Norman Lamont.......
Just like old times even down to being wiped out in the General Election.

THX1138

Dave gets better everyday. Great idea bring back another sane old Tory the public recognize and with some sensible and pragmatic views on the EU to boot.

I hope Hezza will be intervening before breakfast, before lunch, before tea and before dinner and then getting up to do it all over again.

Derek

David Raynes I thought we were meant to be working for the dismantling of the Nanny State. Anyhow, I am glad that there is at least one spokesman for this government who you say can be believed...

Verity

Old Fogey thinks "this is creepy".

I'll see ya and raise ya!

Taipei Exile

And there was me thinking Hezza died a couple of years back.

The Laughing Cavalier

Never forget that this is the man whose monumental ego gave us the Millennium Dome. Granted, it took NuLabour to turn it into a complete fiasco but he got the ball rolling. Yesterday's man, a has-been and of a treacherous mind-set. What on Earth is Dive thinking of?

Craic O'Doom

Taipei Exile:-
"And there was me thinking Hezza died a couple of years back."

Looking at the photo: you may be right.

Dorothy Wilson

This just would not work. Clarke and Hezzie are yesterday's men. Neither looks particularly healthy. If DC wants some ballast around him their are better candidates. Redwood for one.

roadrunner

The way Cameron is driving peole to UKIP I don't think he's going to win.Like Brown he's not listening to the people and he's as sneaky with it.A majority of people want a referendum on Lisbon and an end to open door immigration but neither of these subjects were mentioned at conference.To those who say it will let Labour back in what difference does it make we will be ruled from Brussels.Two generations bled to preserve democracy in Europe and now it's being given away.

Frank P

If this was a blog litmus test, James, you'd better get the results back to Doctor Cameron immediately as they seem positively fluorescent judging by the reaction hereupon. 'Strong contra-indications' is the medical term, I believe. Not that DC is likely to read the runes; he's far too arrogant and if he cared what the Conservative voter base thought he would have nailed his colours to the mast, regarding both Europe and unfettered immigration; obviously his colours do not match theirs, or so it can be inferred. Every day that passes gives Verity's assertions about Cameron greater validity. He's obviously trying to garner the votes of the disenchanted Blairites: lunacy, when he could mop up most of the Old Labour disenchantment if he played the two trump cards I have nominated.