Great day.  Many congratulations to Chloe Smith.  This was an absolutely thumping win for the Conservatives and a devastating loss for Labour.  Let’s celebrate today and remember that there is no room for complacency as we still have a lot to do to win the next general election.

Labour’s Ian Gibson must have a wry smile tonight, not that he will show it in public.  He was victimised by the Labour Party as there were far far worse MP’s caught up in hurricane that was MP’s expenses.  Many predict he would have won this seat had he stood as an Independent.  Something he may still do in the next election.  But Gordon Brown picked on Ian, showed his strong leadership….and the Constituents of Norwich North let Mr Brown know exactly what they thought.  A Labour Majority of 5,000 was turned into a Conservative Majority of 7,348.  That is a horrific stab wound into the heart of Labour.  Many Labour MP’s must be looking at their Majorities tonight and feeling scared, including Alastair Darling who would be rejected by his Constituents based on this result and a swing of 16.5%.  The chattering of Gordon Brown’s leadership will start again and reach a crescendo at the Labour Conference.

Full congratulations must go the Conservatives over a strong campaign.  Yes Cameron went to Norwich 6 times and Shadow Cabinet members were frequent visitors, that is a sign of their hunger.  But also full marks from a Communications strategy.  I presume we must thank Andy Coulson for this.  The Conservatives chances in this election were magnificently downplayed throughout the whole campaign.  Conservatives consistently referred to it as a ‘tight’ election.  Today, again the messaging was ‘tight’….creating a sense of anticipation.  Closely before the result was called, sources were saying the Conservatives had won by 4-5,000.  When the actual result came through, because of underplaying the potential result, 7,300+ majority came across as meteoric and hence was seized on by journalists.  Masterful communication and PR strategy.

Always fun listening to politicians give their election analysis.  Brown was obviously downbeat.  He was ‘disappointted’.  Yup, he knows the chattering has started again…’is this the man that can turn round this ship’, Labour’s activists will be saying across constituencies spanning the UK.  ‘What can he do to help us win?’.  All this whilst Alan Johnson no doubt smugly awaits his time and David Miliband does his maths and again decides to bottle a challenge.

I was most disappointed today with Harriet Harman.  She is a bitter woman and is the very definition of a smear politician.  She came onto news channels stating that Conservatives were being arrogant and that we behaved as if the election was in the bag!  Conservatives have in no way been smug or arrogant in any news channel interview broadcast today.  Chloe Smith was very humble in her acceptance address.  Harman was smearing and that is disgusting.  As Cameron said in his speech to activists that Labour had fought a despicable campaign, full of lies and smears, and the people had seen through it and punished them.  Brown needs to learn the British people hold dear to their hearts fair play…something Brown cannot comprehend.

We all know as Conservatives not to be complacent.  There is lots to do.  Labour still have another 9 – 10 months to swing round their poll deficit and smear…and smear….and smear.  Noone is under any illusions that they will DO ANYTHING to cling onto power.  Damien McBride may not be in Downing Street but his spirit lives large and campaign ideas are at one with Brown.  Labour’s chance to turn this round is next to impossible.  But ‘events, dear boy, events’!  We may see a new Labour Leader later this October or early next year and they, inevitably, would gain from a honeymoon bounce….as all new leaders do.  The economy, swine flu, the war in Afghanistan, the cleansing of politics, have all still to play their continued part in the run up to the next election…..and of course events none of us can predict.

Celebrate today, re-double our efforts tomorrow.

Congratulations Chloe…Britain’s youngest  MP at 27. 

Cameron’s Reaction to Chloe’s victory:

Last night I attended the Summer Reception of Conservative Way Forward, (the pressure group/think tank that was founded in 1991 to defend and build upon the achievements of the Conservative Party under the leadership of Lady Thatcher, and to adapt the principles of her era in government to modern concerns and challenges).  It was a great event held at the Institute of Civil Engineers.  Last night William Hague was the host and guest speaker.

As ever Hague was in fine form.  It is fascinating to watch Hague work a room.  He quietly moves from group to group, engaging in conversation, giving his full attention, never breaking eye contact or looking around him or checking his watch.  He gives the group he is with 100% Hague.  Hague is a highly intelligent man and combined with his superb wit, makes him engaging in conversation.  Hague and I had an enjoyable conversation on oratory, Harriet Harman, economic mess, Norwich By-Election and his beautiful Constituency Richmond in Yorkshire.  Suffice to say Hague was a huge hit with the audience last night. 

Hague’s talk was, as you would expect, mixed with side splitting humour and a deadly perception into current affairs, covering usual subjects including, the devastating economic inheritance that Brown will bequeath the next Parliament, foreign affairs, by elections over the years and anyone who knows Hague knows that he always quotes his heroe William Pitt.  Hague oratory at its best.

John Whittingdale harnessed the feeling of the audience when he summed up after Hague’s bravado speech when he called William ‘the finest orator in the Conservative Party’.  That is so true.  I would go one stage further and say that he is the finest orator in British politics today.  (Some may questions whether Tony Blair is the stronger orator but he is no longer a front line UK politician…and Blair was on so many occasions outclassed and outspoken by Hague in their regular interchanges over the Dispatch Box). 

Interesting when working the crowd last night, there was a strong amount of agreement that there are few characters in the Conservative Party that people would happily pay to go and hear speak and of course look forward to it.  Reflecting on that, the Party is indeed crying out for those orators who can capture and engage people through the power of the spoken word.  Hague is without doubt our finest speaker, followed by Cameron.  After that, interestingly people were divided last night.  Hannan’s name came up a number of times.  Osborne was seen as an effective Shadow Chancellor by all but lacking as an engaging orator.  Hopefully, more engaging orators will be entering the House amongst our PPC’s.

Back to Hague.  Early on in this blog, I posted a blog on the finest orators: http://tiny.cc/akx5d  On reflection, Hague is fast entering into this list.  Hague has been a strong projection orator ever since his speech to the Conservative Party Conference when he gained a standing audience at the age of 16.  Thatcher was impressed…..

So what evidence of outstanding oratory?  I thought I would remind of some great recent speeches and exchanges over the dispatch box:

This is Hague reducing the House to stiches, (even David Miliband), over President Blair of the EU….sheer class….:

Hague v Harman…just savage humour cutting the hapless Harman down to shreds:

Michael Portillo interviews William Hague: Fascinating insight into Hague winning the Tory Leadership:

William Hague questioned on BBC Newsnight: Insight into using humour to attack Blair

Hague Launches the Conservative European Manifesto: (Parts 1 & 2)

William on the next election and his political future:

Dissolution of Parliament Debate on 10th June 2009 (3 Part) :

Keep up the great work William.  You are an inspiration to the grassroots and finest orator in UK Politics today.