This week’s Economist has an interesting leader. The general thrust of their argument appears to be that David Cameron looks the part, talks the part but is still far from being the part. An absence of policies, and in particular the absence of an ‘idea’ of the Britain he wants to create, are there main criticisms. I think they have a point, however, why the rush? If by the end of his first year in charge David Cameron has successfully changed the public perception of the Conservative Party he will be ahead of schedule. Policies can come later. I think the Economist’s worry is that the Conservative Leader will miss his opportunity to wrong foot Mr Brown, and hence fail to remove this discredited government at the next Election. Patience is a virtue.

In an increasingly competitive world, investment in talent will make the economic difference between countries.

Congratulations to Jane Ellison on her selection for Battersea last night. Apparently there are some Conservatives ‘activists’ who were unhappy with her success and fear her ‘centrist’ and ‘left wing’ views. Where exactly do these critics think the votes we need for General Election success reside? Further to the right?

At last I have had Sky HD installed. Champions League tonight. Boys with toys…….

An interesting article has been posted here on Conservative Home this evening. Clearly there is positive discrimination at play in the selection of candidates to the Priority List of Candidates. Before commenting further, I must declare I am one of the 62 men. As someone who stood in Blaenau Gwent in the 2005 General Election, I need no reminding of an electorate’s potential for voting strongly against candidates selected by positive discrimination. Consequently, I believe the Conservative Party is right to be against the imposition of ‘all women short lists’. However, what is it to do when confronted by such an obvious lack of female representation within its Parliamentary party? The Priority List has been its answer. I, like many, am uncomfortable about any process that is not strictly meritocratic, however, the present system appears a compromise worth making in the short term in order to rectify such an embarrassing representational imbalance.