The europhile ‘Independent’ newspaper and the editor of Conservative Home (who is anti-euro) conducted a survey of (1500) members of the Conservative Party – the results of which were published by both the ‘Independent’ and Conservative Home on 2.10.2006:

Conservative members are disappointed by the small (or non-existent) Conservative lead in the polls (1% over Labour according to ICM in the Sunday Mirror of 1.10.2006) – 65% thought that the 4.8% Conservative lead in the Conservative Home poll of polls (as at the end of September 2006) should be more – considering the mess Labour was in.

Those members of the Shadow (Conservative opposition) Cabinet who are openly against the euro and who have criticised the EU were favoured more in the poll than the ‘Tory’ left. - David Davis was approved of by 72% of those who took part in the ‘Independent’/Conservative Home poll. , William Hague scored 56% and Liam Fox 44% (down 2%). The ‘Tory’ left (who now call themselves ‘modernisers’ rather than what Mrs. (now Lady) Thatcher labelled ‘wets’) Theresa May – of which there is no record of her saying anything critical of the EU – got just 3% and Oliver Letwin 10%. Francis Maude, Conservative Party Chairman was backed by 2% of respondents.

On the question of David Cameron’s ‘A list’ of priority candidates, only 6% of respondents thought it contains the most talented candidates. But 32% did think it was necessary to get more women and ethnic minority candidates even though they also did not think the most talented people were on the list. politically correct list that has excluded many of the party’s most experienced male and local candidates and it is a backward step.

Of those questioned for the Conservative Home-‘Independent’ poll, 46% agreed with the statement that “David Cameron’s decision to downplay issues like tax, crime, Europe and immigration is de-motivating some of the Conservative Party’s traditional voters and he needs to change quite soon.” A further 35% accepted that the issues were not discussed as long as they were part of a Conservative Government. The decision not to talk about tax, crime, the EU and immigration was supported by 15%.

The number of Conservatives dissatisfied with David Cameron is up 2% (the Conservative Home-'Independent' survey/poll found).
[Rep]