Hello everyone. I’m Giles Dilnot, and I’m the new Editor of ConservativeHome. If that sounds like the opening words of a new arrival at a confessional self-help group, it was meant to.
One thing that comes with a new job is a lot of advice from friends and colleagues on what you should do first; “start as you mean to go on” is a regular.
With the huge responsibility and privilege of taking on the editorship of this site, that I have read since it was founded, I want to do just that – and that means this first post is a healthy dose of honesty and transparency. I want readers of ConHome to know what my aims, values and editorial principles will be from the get go.
After the announcement of my appointment on social media one of the first questions I was asked was “are you a Conservative?” Yes, I am.
I actually think the entire party could do with a frank and thorough examination of what that really means, since one of the criticisms of the last Conservative Government from many members was they felt that it wasn’t really “Conservative”.
What part of the Conservative family do I come from? The one that wants a Conservative vision to get back into government and run the country effectively for the good of Britain and the British people. I believe rumours of the demise of this party are greatly exaggerated, and I do not see this role as just charting the Conservatives’ success and failures in opposition but charting the road back to electoral success in local and national government.
This site supports the Conservatives, but it is independent of the party and that independence will be strongly maintained. By the start of 2024 the party, in government, had ended up in a completely unsustainable position of being viewed by many Conservatives as being the most left-wing form of Conservatism possible and, by all our opponents, as the most right-wing government ever.
Now as we head towards finding a new direction and policy platform I want to lay out how ConHome will play its part, a crucial one I think, to give voice to all Conservatives, whatever wing they see themselves on, whatever their place in the party or where they are in the country.
Whatever the direction taken we will follow its course: sometimes critical, sometimes favourable, but not from the base of one faction over another. This party could do with less faction and more function.
Iain Duncan Smith was absolutely on the money when he said that the party’s first job after the election defeat is to “earn the right to be heard”. I would like to see that start on the pages of this site.
Oddly for me, it is quite honestly the complete opposite of the message I was responsible for in government to communications officials. We told them not to express what the government feels or thinks, but what it was doing. “We are not commentators on the sidelines, we are players on the pitch”.
Now my job is different; ConHome has always deliberately chosen the role of commentator on the side the pitch, and we will be taking all the privileges that entails. We support the party, but will be its critical friend.
I reserve the right, like all fans either of sport or music, to cheer in the first half, moan in the second, and, when the players have shaken hands and gone home, to continue either critiquing or arguing in favour, in the pub or round the water cooler. So should you, as readers.
I want this site to be the crucible for debate about where the party is going and who is driving it forward, both in Westminster but equally out in the country. ConHome exists both inside and outside the Westminster bubble, and will continue to do so. Members, councillors, and mayors, who see Westminster from afar (and often see better for it) are all welcome with open arms.
We will also hear from Conservatives from other countries who want to learn from us but equally have important things to teach us. We will have people argue for and against policy ideas and not take a position on them ourselves. The future of the party, is in the hands of the party, not mine. However we will help in earning that right to be heard.
It follows that if the direction the party now takes is not for ConHome’s Editor to choose, the issue of who leads us from November is no different. Some of you will know, and I will say it now for those who don’t, I worked in government for one of the leadership contenders, James Cleverly MP.
It was an honour and a privilege to serve. It was also the most fascinating and intense experience, both in the Foreign Office and Home Office; to learn how government works and, perhaps more importantly, when and why it doesn’t.
However, in this new role all six of the contenders to lead will be given exactly the same respect and handling by this site. No one individual will be given favour, nor will they be campaigned against. This site won’t choose the new leader, nor will it try to. MPs, and party members will. I will be writing more on this soon. The voice of the membership needs to be understood, not shut down.
Having said all that, what would ConHome be if it didn’t platform opinions? And we will. Lots of them. Sometimes they’ll be strong – no debate benefits from beige interjections. Strong disagreement with strong opinions will also be catered for. Editing is not about dictating a personal agenda to contributors, but finding those with important things to say and defending letting them say it.
There are sites, in my view, that appear to be Conservative-leaning who give the impression they dislike pretty much anything the party does. When this site gives space to those who are uncomfortable with a direction taken, or a policy adopted, we are doing so as a critical friend.
We will allow that criticism to be voiced and itself be criticised. How could we not and still remain true to what this site is for?
Henry Hill and William Atkinson will be known to you all. I have a great deal of faith in both of them, and want to publicly thank them for keeping the site on track and in good shape for the past months.
Editors do not know everything, and I will be working with them to ensure we keep ourselves focused and clear in what we bring you the audience. There is a lot we will aim to bring you: Conservative news, news about Conservatives, news for Conservatives, and, yes, very definitely a keen eye on what the Labour Government is up to. The team has already made a great start in doing just that.
We suffered an historic defeat in July; we need to learn a lot from that, and try not to focus on one single cause. When people do, it’s usually because it suits them in support of one single favoured solution.
But if the electorate didn’t like us or want us – and they really didn’t – I never thought they loved, or chose, Labour. As Andrew Neil, my former colleague and great journalist, said in the aftermath: “the Labour majority is as wide as a river and as deep as a village pond”.
They are already doing things we knew they’d do and warned of them doing. It’s not that the honeymoon for this Labour Government would end up being being short – it’s more they never made it to the airport (even as they rushed to board government planes they continually berated us for using).
We will challenge them based on evidence and solid argument – particularly where they happily abandon things they promised the electorate.
There is a busy time ahead for Conservatives. But I’m optimistic this incredible political machine can repair, rebuild, and grow. It will do so whilst others try to sabotage its chances. Bring it on: we at ConHome are ready.
