Thursday 28 February 2013

Dilettante on ConHome: Red, White and Blue 08

My latest Conservative Home column examines the failure of the NI Conservatives to attract John McCallister and Basil McCrea to defect, why this might have happened, and what it means for the party in Northern Ireland. Read it here.

Thursday 21 February 2013

Dilettante on ConHome: Red, White and Blue 07

In my latest column for Conservative Home, I look at how two different groups of arch-devolutionaries, in Wales and Scotland, are attempting to force unionism in a position of "federalism-by-default". Read it here.

Edit: In an unexpected twist, the article has re-appeared on Labour Hame, courtesy of Tom Harris MP! See here.

Thursday 14 February 2013

Dilettante on ConHome: Red, White and Blue 06

My latest column for Conservative Home makes the case for a constitutional convention, drawing on the very public concerns of Welsh devolved politicians about the implications for Wales of the Scottish independence referendum. Read it here.

Thursday 7 February 2013

Dilettante on ConHome: Red, White and Blue 05

My latest Conservative Home column examines again the Fraserite suggestion that the Scottish Conservatives should go their own way. I explain why I came down against Fraser's proposals at the time, and why a recent column by a senior member of his campaign staff vindicated - and exceeded - my suspicions. Read it here.

Tuesday 5 February 2013

Dilettante at the International Business Times: Could a Europe referendum reunite the right?

My latest International Business Times article looks at the pros and cons of the European referendum for the political unity of the British right, and tries to assess whether it will help or hinder that process. Read it here.