Conservative MPs say prime minister weakened by reshuffle which resulted in 'culpable homicide' of talented ministers
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David Cameron is turning into the Tories' new Ted Heath, according to senior Conservatives. Photograph: Composite
David Cameron's position must be serious.
At the launch of the new Conservative Voice Group on Tuesday morning, a group of Tories on the centre right of the party were muted in their criticisms of the prime minister. The group was originally set up to put a brake on Cameron's modernisation project. On Tuesday members of the group simply said they wanted to ensure there is a strong Conservative voice as the party shares power with the Liberal Democrats.
Why kick an injured man while he is down, goes the thinking. The latest barb about Cameron doing the rounds, even in ministerial circles, is that he is fast becoming the Tories' new Ted Heath. This is one of the biggest insults in the Tory lexicon because it means that Cameron is weak and liable to embark on U-turns when under fire.
One senior Tory told me:
David Cameron is no Margaret Thatcher. He's our Ted Heath.
The immediate reason for the criticism is last week's reshuffle which has, in the eyes of many senior party figures and ministers, failed the most important test: it has not enhanced the prime minister's authority. The indiscriminate sacking of three highly respected ministers – and the promotion of key figures from Cameron's 2005 leadership contest – is causing particular anger.
• The three sackings
Tories across the board are furious at the removal of Tim Loughton (children's minister), Charles Hendry (energy minister) and Nick Gibb (schools minister). There is particular anger because all three met the criteria laid down by Cameron for ministers. They were experts, having shadowed their ministerial portfolios in opposition, and were highly respected in their chosen field.
One Tory has described some of the sackings as "culpable homicide". Loughton and Gibb lost out because Cameron decided to bring on fresh blood to the education department by promoting the very able Liz Truss and Edward Timpson. Hendry was an unfortunate victim of Cameron's need to reward a supporter from 2005.
• The three promotions
Tories are irritated that three key supporters of Cameron in his 2005 leadership contest were rewarded. John Hayes, the skills minister who delivered the right wing Cornerstone group vote to Cameron in 2005, was given Hendry's job after George Osborne moved two of his allies to the business department. Tories are incredulous that Cameron thinks Hayes can do a better job than Hendry who is respected on the diplomatic circuit.
Andrew Robathan, another early Cameron supporter, was promoted within the Ministry of Defence to succeed the Lib Dem Sir Nick Harvey as minister for the armed forces. Critics acknowledge that Robathan did serve in the SAS.
There is less anger over the final promotion for the 2005 supporters. Hugo Swire was moved from the Northern Ireland Office to the foreign office.
One Tory joked:
I suppose it is no bad thing sending a Swire back to run the Pacific.
While the immediate criticism was prompted by the reshuffle, there are Tories who would like to mount a more direct challenge to Cameron. Colonel Bob Stewart, the MP for Beckenham, was approached by two MPs in the summer to stage a "stalking horse" horse challenge against Cameron. Stewart rejected this out of hand.
Tories say the challenge should be taken seriously in one sense. It was a warning shot to Cameron to move Osborne who is seen as the cabinet's weakest link.