Tory rebels pledge loyalty to Cameron
LONDON — Monday saw more fallout from Conservative leader David Cameron’s surprise majority win in last week’s U.K. election. Here is a look at the highlights.
A HERO’S WELCOME
Cameron was greeted to a hero’s welcome by more than 300 Conservative MPs in Parliament Monday, as rebels in the party’s caucus pledged “undying loyalty” to their newly empowered leader. Bill Cash, one of the Tories’ most prominent Euroskeptics, told Cameron to his face that he would not cause any trouble. Cash, a constant thorn in the side of the Coalition before the election, said afterward that any MPs thinking of causing Cameron trouble on Europe should “put a sock in it.” Cameron has vowed to hold a referendum on the U.K.’s participation in Europe. Brandishing a copy of the Conservative manifesto, Cameron told his MPs that he would be focused on delivering its policies between now and 2020. “I want the Conservative Party to demonstrate the true compassionate conservatism — fighting for social justice, reforming education, reforming welfare, helping people,” Cameron told reporters. “The third thing is bringing our country together — and bringing the United Kingdom together.”
BBC BLUES
Cameron’s win could signal difficult days ahead at the BBC. The Tory Prime Minister appointed one of the BBC’s biggest critics as culture secretary in a move that will be seen as an effective declaration of war on the corporation. John Whittingdale has previously said that the flat fee that British TV watchers are forced to pay to support the channel is “worse than a poll tax” and ultimately “unsustainable.” Downing Street sources said that Whittingdale will “sort out the BBC” ahead of the corporation’s royal charter review next year, which will set out the future of the £145-a-year fee. Senior Conservatives said they were “furious at the BBC’s coverage” of the election campaign and accused the corporation of an “unforgivable pro-Labour bias.” Friends of Whittingdale said he is at the very least likely to freeze the licence fee and could implement significant cuts.
OFF TO IBIZA
Meanwhile, former Labour leader Ed Miliband was quick to skip town following his party’s disastrous election showing. Miliband was spotted at London’s City airport late Monday morning en route to Ibiza with his wife, Justine — narrowly avoiding bumping in to dozens of Scottish National Party MPs arriving in Westminster. Miliband reportedly spent the flight reading the Financial Times and was said to look “tired” and “sad,” and was overhead telling one fellow passenger that they needed “a month” off. The Milibands however appeared happy to pose for photos as they emerged from the airport in Ibiza. Both wore jeans and white tops, with the former Labour leader wearing a sweater draped around his neck. Miliband remains MP for Doncaster North while his wife is a high-flying environmental lawyer.
BROTHERLY LOVE?
Even Miliband’s brother was unimpressed with Labour’s campaign. David Miliband, the former British foreign secretary who lost a battle for the party leadership to Ed in 2010, told the BBC his brother’s loss was “devastating” for the progressive cause. He said that Ed, like former prime minister Gordon Brown during the 2010 election, allowed himself to be portrayed as “moving backward from the principles of aspiration and inclusion.” He called for a return to the New Labour era of Tony Blair. “Either we build on what Labour achieved after 1997 and we have a chance to succeed, or we abandon it and we fail,” he said. David, who runs an international charity in New York, ruled out running himself, saying that he is “clearly not a candidate” for the Labour leadership.