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David Cameron today tried to bind Tory wounds after the MPs expenses furore by offering jobs to old guard figures Peter Lilley, Stephen Dorrell and John Gummer.
He suggested the trio of grandees, who all served in John Major's Cabinet, could get key posts if he wins the next election.
“These people bring a huge amount to the House of Commons and Conservative Party,” he said. “I listen to their advice. They have every chance of serving in a future Conservative government.”
Mr Cameron's comments were seen as an olive branch to older Tory MPs who complained they were treated as scapegoats in the expenses scandal. Significantly, it came on the day that his young chief media adviser, former New of the World editor Andy Coulson, was facing a grilling by MPs about the phone hacking scandal on his old paper.
The old guard have long felt frozen out by Mr Cameron's youth-dominated leadership, and have accused the Tory leader of treating them as “bed-blockers” in the way of young talent.
Mr Cameron told the Daily Telegraph: “It's often said that I wanted to get rid of old MPs. That is not true. People like George Young, James Arbuthnot or Peter Lilley, Stephen Dorrell; people that have done work for me, like John Gummer.”
Mr Lilley was once one of the most controversial Right-wingers of the Major years, who offended lone mothers and benefits claimants by saying he “had a little list” of scroungers who would “not be missed”.
However, he has impressed Mr Cameron with a 500-page study on global poverty that helped establish the Conservatives' credentials in the field.
Mr Gummer, the former agriculture minister who fed a burger to his daughter Cordelia to calm BSE fears, is now a leading environmental campaigner. Former health secretary Mr Dorrell is a centre-Left Tory who backed Ken Clarke for leader.
Reader views (5)
God, Cameron is such a lightweight. Bringing back a Gummer shows real lack of initiative. The electorate don't want a moldy hamburger like him rammed down their necks.
On second thoughts I suppose he could be showing a bit of initiative in trying to lose the election so as not to take up the poisoned chalice of a totally wrecked economy. Looking at Cameron's previous brainless utterances, though, that is highly improbable.
Cameron and the Tories are taking England for granted and will pay for it. Post-devolution, the English have been discriminated against appallingly, with all the benefits and jobs going to the Celtic fringe.
Cameron has not once defended England. On the contrary he blames English people fighting for at least some equality, for all the pathological moaning-for-more the Scots do.
I won't be voting for the Tories until they start talking about England, let alone fight for it.
Shadow Health Minister Andrew Lansley even spoke today about 'patients in the UK' when talking about English patients. Health Minister Andy Burnham had to correct him by saying 'England'.
That does not inspire voters in the Tories' natural constituency, England to vote for them.
- Stephen Gash, Carlisle England, 21/07/2009 23:56
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As most of the work in the "British Parliament" is to deal with English affairs Mr cameron would do well to listen to English voters if he wants to get elected. There must be an English Parliament and he must find some pro English candidates who promote England and not carry on suppressing the English people. Look around you Sir are you blind?
- Bobbyboy, Prague, Czech Republic, 21/07/2009 17:31
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Mr Pastry. Keep dreaming. It will never happen. We have gone too far beyond the point of no return
- Joanna Carling, london, 21/07/2009 09:24
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BLAH DE BLAH DE BLAH.
Does Mr Cameron think that we have forotten already how BAD the last Tory government was.Now he wants to wheel out the remnants of a failed cabal in the vain hope it will bolster the Tory chances of re-election ,IT WILL NOT WORK.
A Tory govenment will be elected as there is no viable alternative , as the current "Labour" debacle has brought our once great country to it's knees in shame.
NO PARTY IN ENGLAND CAN CLAIM TO TRULY REPRESENT THE PEOPLE.
I am afraid that the once gullible proletariat are much more savvy to governmental shennanigans in the halls of power, and as was seen at the polls earlier this year , WE WILL NO LONGER PUT UP WITH CONSTANT LIES AND HALF TRUTHS FROM WESTMINSTER.
I for one will vote for ANY PARTY that can GUARANTEE that :
1) The N.H.S really is safe in their hands.
2) That the streets will once again be safe to walk after dark.
3) The education system in the uk will get a complete overhall.
4)The benefits system is safe for those that deserve it in time of need and that spongers and those not entitled are weeded out and excluded from the system.
5) Our armed forces are expanded and fully equiped so that we are once again a world superpower.
6)Our industrial base iS re-established IMMEDIATELY
7)They will introduce A much more harsh penal system , including hard labour .
Not too much to ask is it really 
your in the cause
MR PASTRY
- Mr Pastry, london, 21/07/2009 08:25
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At first glance I thought this read David Cameron hints at return of Tory big breasts, so I clicked on it straight away.
Am I the only one ?
- Colin, France, 21/07/2009 08:22
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