By Lord Ashcroft
Speech made on Tuesday 10 September 2019.
Watch the full speech that I made on Tuesday 10 September 2019 at the launch of my new book, Jacob’s Ladder: The Unauthorised Biography of Jacob Rees-Mogg. The launch was attended by a wide variety of guests, including Jacob Rees-Mogg himself.
By Lord Ashcroft
First published in the Mail on Sunday on 15 September 2019.
On March 26, 1981, an 11-year-old schoolboy stood up to address the annual general meeting in London of Lonrho, one of the largest conglomerates in the world.
Was it really sensible, the precocious interrogator asked from the floor, for Lonrho to make a bid to buy the failing Observer newspaper? (more…)
By Lord Ashcroft
First aired on Chopper’s Brexit Podcast on Friday 13 September 2019.
Listen to my chat with Christopher Hope, Chief Political Correspondent and Assistant Editor of The Daily Telegraph, Chairman of the Parliamentary Lobby and Presenter of Chopper’s Brexit Podcast, discussing my new book, Jacob’s Ladder: The Unauthorised Biography of Jacob Rees-Mogg, among other things.
By Lord Ashcroft
First published in the Mail on Sunday on 08 September 2019.
A new biography has revealed the unlikely sex symbol of Jacob Rees-Mogg.
Despite his controversial stances Rees-Mogg attracts admiration from his rivals.
Happily married for 13 years the Conservative now has a family of six children. (more…)
By Lord Ashcroft
Publication Date: 10 September 2019.
Price: £20 hardback.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, the new Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council, is one of the most prominent and controversial figures in contemporary British politics. He is a man who divides opinion in his own party, in Parliament and across the country. (more…)
By Lord Ashcroft
In the wake of Boris Johnson’s visit to Edinburgh last week I polled Scots to measure support for a second independence referendum and to gauge opinion on independence itself. I found a small majority in favour of a new vote – and the first lead for an independent Scotland for more than two years.
I found 47% agreeing that there should be another referendum on Scottish independence within the next two years (First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has demanded a new vote by 2021), with 45% disagreeing.
By Lord Ashcroft
Six years ago, I published some research entirely dedicated to the Boris Johnson phenomenon. The title of the report – Are You Serious? – encapsulated two things: the reaction of Boris-sceptics to the idea that he might rise to an office greater than the London Mayoralty, and the question many voters, intrigued but not altogether convinced by this unusual adornment to public life, were asking of Boris himself.
By Lord Ashcroft
First published on ConservativeHome.com on 22 July 2019.
The number of visitors to St Helena, the remote British Overseas Territory in the middle of the South Atlantic, remains worryingly low, despite widespread hopes that the island’s new airport would bring economic prosperity. Newly-released figures have revealed that, during the first six months of 2019, there were only 2,807 “passenger arrivals” to the island compared with 2,034 in the first six months of 2014. (more…)
By Lord Ashcroft
It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Like most Conservatives, I wanted Brexit wrapped up and out of the way under Theresa May’s stewardship, allowing a new leader to begin a new chapter, reinvigorate the party and – at long last – change the subject.
So much for that. Far from drawing a line under the unhappy recent history of British politics, the new Prime Minister will face exactly the same problem as his predecessor. He will also face the same parliamentary maths and apparently, despite the personnel changes in Brussels, the same stance from the EU. The first question on the minds of many Conservative Party members as they ponder over their ballot papers, then, will be who is finally going to get Brexit signed, sealed and delivered.
By Lord Ashcroft
While Boris and Jeremy make their pitch to Conservatives around the country, I have been giving their tyres a good kicking. My latest poll of more than 8,000 people shows in detail what people make of the two candidates vying to be their next Prime Minister – particularly their appeal to voters who are not already Tories.