@davidgauke

@davidgauke

@davidgauke.bsky.social

Recovering politician, writes columns, editor of The Case For The Centre Right.

23.8K followers85 following125 posts

@davidgauke reposted

@davidgauke
@davidgauke.bsky.social

What were they thinking? My ConHome piece on the pro-Ukrainian British politicians who backed Trump in 2024 and how their tribalism got the better of them. conservativehome.com/2026/10/26/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: Those Brits who supported Trump and Ukraine must now see the former was their mistake | Conservative HomeSome have argued that Trump is a natural strongman, and that even if he is not sympathetic to Ukraine, Russia would be more cautious with someone as unpredictable as Trump. I think we can now see that...
@davidgauke
@davidgauke.bsky.social

What were they thinking? My ConHome piece on the pro-Ukrainian British politicians who backed Trump in 2024 and how their tribalism got the better of them. conservativehome.com/2026/10/26/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: Those Brits who supported Trump and Ukraine must now see the former was their mistake | Conservative HomeSome have argued that Trump is a natural strongman, and that even if he is not sympathetic to Ukraine, Russia would be more cautious with someone as unpredictable as Trump. I think we can now see that...

@davidgauke reposted

@davidgauke
@davidgauke.bsky.social

The political strategy has taken a welcome change in direction but there’s much more to be done to re-establish economic and fiscal credibility. My ConHome verdict on the Conservative Party Conference. conservativehome.com/2026/10/12/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: My verdict on Tory Party Conference is not, perhaps, what you're expecting | Conservative HomeRebuilding support from affluent voters makes political sense. For it to succeed, however, greater emphasis on economic and fiscal credibility is needed which will require some political bravery on is...
@davidgauke
@davidgauke.bsky.social

The political strategy has taken a welcome change in direction but there’s much more to be done to re-establish economic and fiscal credibility. My ConHome verdict on the Conservative Party Conference. conservativehome.com/2026/10/12/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: My verdict on Tory Party Conference is not, perhaps, what you're expecting | Conservative HomeRebuilding support from affluent voters makes political sense. For it to succeed, however, greater emphasis on economic and fiscal credibility is needed which will require some political bravery on is...
@davidgauke
@davidgauke.bsky.social

Why the current bidding war on tax cuts is out of touch with fiscal reality. My piece for ConHome. conservativehome.com/2026/09/28/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: Tax policy is about suppressing your desire for the popular and opting for what actually works | Conservative Homethe brutal truth today is that there is no money left for anything but, at best, the most growth focused tax cuts. Here is a test for the Conservative Party at next week’s party conference.  Be better...

@davidgauke reposted

@davidgauke
@davidgauke.bsky.social

He might be sitting on two new huge donations, but it’s still plausible that Nigel Farage might walk away from frontline politics. What happens then? My piece for ConHome. conservativehome.com/2026/09/14/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: What happens if Nigel Farage walks away? | Conservative HomeIf Farage goes – and it remains an ‘if’ - the threat to the Conservative Party from its right will be diminished. It is a great opportunity but also creates a crucial strategic dilemma. The Conservati...
@davidgauke
@davidgauke.bsky.social

He might be sitting on two new huge donations, but it’s still plausible that Nigel Farage might walk away from frontline politics. What happens then? My piece for ConHome. conservativehome.com/2026/09/14/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: What happens if Nigel Farage walks away? | Conservative HomeIf Farage goes – and it remains an ‘if’ - the threat to the Conservative Party from its right will be diminished. It is a great opportunity but also creates a crucial strategic dilemma. The Conservati...
@davidgauke
@davidgauke.bsky.social

Why stripping the Treasury of responsibility for growth and moving it to No 10 North would be a mistake. My piece for ConHome. conservativehome.com/2026/08/31/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: The throwaway line we've heard no more of, but would be a massive power shift to Burnham's beloved Manchester | Conservative HomeNo 10 North would inevitably reflect the instincts of its founder.  I fear it would be statist, prioritising reducing regional inequality over aggregate growth, and it would be suspicious of technolog...
@davidgauke
@davidgauke.bsky.social

Public disillusionment doesn’t stem from politicians failing to understand the public’s priorities and trying to meet them; it has been that politicians have too often failed to deliver what has been promised. My ConHome piece on the “politics of trying”. conservativehome.com/2026/08/17/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: If at first Burnham doesn't succeed, he's going to tell you he'll try trying again | Conservative HomeBurnham is a Prime Minister who demonstrably tries, and the public will appreciate that for a while.  But it is ultimately not good intentions that matter.  Trying must be followed by succeeding, and ...
@davidgauke
@davidgauke.bsky.social

My piece for ConHome on the “politics of trying” and why good intentions are not enough to over one hard facts. conservativehome.com/2026/08/17/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: If at first Burnham doesn't succeed, he's going to tell you he'll try trying again | Conservative HomeBurnham is a Prime Minister who demonstrably tries, and the public will appreciate that for a while.  But it is ultimately not good intentions that matter.  Trying must be followed by succeeding, and ...

@davidgauke reposted

@davidgauke
@davidgauke.bsky.social

There are some important lessons to be learnt from the failures of the Conservative government of 2019-2024 but it looks like both Burnham & Badenoch are learning the wrong ones. My ConHome piece on the new government plus “the purge of the wets”. conservativehome.com/2026/07/20/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: Getting the blame game wrong - you purge if you want to but it's lazy who they are purging | Conservative HomeLook at the drivers of the decline of the Conservatives’ popularity: there was always likely to be a moment when Johnson’s lack of integrity was likely to cause a political crisis; there was always li...

@davidgauke reposted

Stephen Bush
@stephenkb.bsky.social

Great piece this. "The real problem was that what the party offered in 2019 was incoherent and implausible and relied on a coalition of supporters that was inherently unstable...."

@davidgauke@davidgauke.bsky.social

There are some important lessons to be learnt from the failures of the Conservative government of 2019-2024 but it looks like both Burnham & Badenoch are learning the wrong ones. My ConHome piece on the new government plus “the purge of the wets”. conservativehome.com/2026/07/20/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: Getting the blame game wrong - you purge if you want to but it's lazy who they are purging | Conservative HomeLook at the drivers of the decline of the Conservatives’ popularity: there was always likely to be a moment when Johnson’s lack of integrity was likely to cause a political crisis; there was always li...
@davidgauke
@davidgauke.bsky.social

There are some important lessons to be learnt from the failures of the Conservative government of 2019-2024 but it looks like both Burnham & Badenoch are learning the wrong ones. My ConHome piece on the new government plus “the purge of the wets”. conservativehome.com/2026/07/20/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: Getting the blame game wrong - you purge if you want to but it's lazy who they are purging | Conservative HomeLook at the drivers of the decline of the Conservatives’ popularity: there was always likely to be a moment when Johnson’s lack of integrity was likely to cause a political crisis; there was always li...

@davidgauke reposted

@davidgauke
@davidgauke.bsky.social

There’s a good case for more devolution but there are big problems in Andy Burnham’s plans. My piece for ConHome. conservativehome.com/2026/07/06/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: Burnham's devolution plans won't work | Conservative HomeThis, I repeat, is not an argument against devolution. But it is an argument for a hard-headed devolution that considers local responsibility to be more important than regional equality, and makes the...

@davidgauke reposted

@davidgauke
@davidgauke.bsky.social

What the Makerfield and Aberdeen South by-elections tell us. My piece for ConHome on a good night for the Tories and why tactical voting could be disastrous for Reform. conservativehome.com/2026/06/22/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: Bye bye to the big by-election everyone remembers, but don't forget it wasn't the only one | Conservative HomeIn the context of Kemi Badenoch’s improving personal rating (now the least unpopular party leader in the country) and the growing evidence that the air is leaving the Reform balloon, in the gains of 1...

@davidgauke reposted

elainep.bsky.social
@elainep.bsky.social

Replying to @davidgauke.bsky.social

Quote re Burnham which really worries me. ‘His habit of saying whatever the audience in front of him wants to hear will, I fear, make him a poor Prime Minister, but it is an annoyingly successful approach to winning elections.’

@davidgauke
@davidgauke.bsky.social

What the Makerfield and Aberdeen South by-elections tell us. My piece for ConHome on a good night for the Tories and why tactical voting could be disastrous for Reform. conservativehome.com/2026/06/22/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: Bye bye to the big by-election everyone remembers, but don't forget it wasn't the only one | Conservative HomeIn the context of Kemi Badenoch’s improving personal rating (now the least unpopular party leader in the country) and the growing evidence that the air is leaving the Reform balloon, in the gains of 1...

@davidgauke reposted

Stephen Bush
@stephenkb.bsky.social

Good piece - contains a link to a Police Professional piece by Tony Thompson that is really worth your time also:

policeprofessional.com Police Professional | First lie wins First lie wins – Police Professional
@davidgauke@davidgauke.bsky.social

Why what went wrong when the police arrived at the scene might have nothing to do with race, but the police still need to change their wider approach. Plus why Reform’s response shows why the Tories can’t do business with them. My ConHome piece on the Nowak case. conservativehome.com/2026/06/08/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: The political lessons of the murder of Henry Nowak, are not just about policing and the law | Conservative HomeContrary to his parents' wishes, the murder has become a political – and divisive – issue.  Naturally there is close scrutiny of how the police acted and about wider police culture. But it has also re...
@davidgauke
@davidgauke.bsky.social

Why what went wrong when the police arrived at the scene might have nothing to do with race, but the police still need to change their wider approach. Plus why Reform’s response shows why the Tories can’t do business with them. My ConHome piece on the Nowak case. conservativehome.com/2026/06/08/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: The political lessons of the murder of Henry Nowak, are not just about policing and the law | Conservative HomeContrary to his parents' wishes, the murder has become a political – and divisive – issue.  Naturally there is close scrutiny of how the police acted and about wider police culture. But it has also re...
@davidgauke
@davidgauke.bsky.social

How Andy Burnham has to speak to Makerfield voters, Labour members & the bond market - and what his policy contortions tell us about the Labour Party. My piece for ConHome. conservativehome.com/2026/05/25/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: Burnham cannot muddle through fiscal policy forever | Conservative HomeAt some point tough decisions on public spending are going to have to be made, and neither Burnham nor his party are reconciled to that. He can kick the issue of EU membership into the long grass, but...
@davidgauke
@davidgauke.bsky.social

Makerfield voted 65% Leave in 2016 (the 75th most Leave seat). Over the next few weeks, there’ll be plenty of news coverage about Brexit (reset negotiations, 10th anniversary). Andy Burnham is a rejoiner. If Reform can’t make Brexit work for them here, it’ll tell us a lot.

@davidgauke
@davidgauke.bsky.social

In the circumstances where a centre left government will have failed but most of the country does not want a Reform government, there is plenty of space for a centre right platform to prosper. My piece for ConHome. conservativehome.com/2026/05/11/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: Cannons to the right of them, cannons to the left - Labour's dilemma is also that of the Tories | Conservative HomeThe strategic challenge for the Tories is that it has been losing support to both its right and left.  Move decisively to the right and more votes get lost to left-wing parties, move decisively to the...
@davidgauke
@davidgauke.bsky.social

My ConHome piece on the election results and why the Conservatives need to change strategy and appeal more to swing voters and anti-Reform tactical voters. conservativehome.com/2026/05/11/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: Cannons to the right of them, cannons to the left - Labour's dilemma is also that of the Tories | Conservative HomeThe strategic challenge for the Tories is that it has been losing support to both its right and left.  Move decisively to the right and more votes get lost to left-wing parties, move decisively to the...
@davidgauke
@davidgauke.bsky.social

This is fascinating about a part of the electorate that is too often ignored by our political parties.

Sam Freedman@samfr.bsky.social

New post just out: "Where's the centre?" I have an exclusive new poll which challenges conventional wisdom on one of the biggest questions in British politics. It turns out median voters aren't actually in the centre. (£/free trial) open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/w...

open.substack.comWhere's the centre?An exclusive new poll challenges conventional wisdom on one of the biggest questions in British politics
@davidgauke
@davidgauke.bsky.social

It was worse in the 1970s but it can certainly feel like history repeating itself. My piece for ConHome on the echoes of Tony Benn we’re hearing today. conservativehome.com/2026/04/27/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: It was worse in the 1970s but it can certainly feel like history repeating itself | Conservative HomeWe know now that the country got out of its 1970s malaise thanks to a government committed to fiscal discipline and a market economy.  Were matters worse in the seventies compared to today? Yes.  Will...

@davidgauke reposted

@davidgauke
@davidgauke.bsky.social

If you’re looking for radical economic reform from Reform, think again. My piece for ConHome. conservativehome.com/2026/04/13/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: If you're looking for radical economic reform from Reform, think again | Conservative HomeFor all the hope of bringing renewed dynamism to the British economy, Reform UK will not have assembled a pro-growth electoral coalition. The country may well need a brave and radical government, but ...
@davidgauke
@davidgauke.bsky.social

If you’re looking for radical economic reform from Reform, think again. My piece for ConHome. conservativehome.com/2026/04/13/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: If you're looking for radical economic reform from Reform, think again | Conservative HomeFor all the hope of bringing renewed dynamism to the British economy, Reform UK will not have assembled a pro-growth electoral coalition. The country may well need a brave and radical government, but ...

@davidgauke reposted

@davidgauke
@davidgauke.bsky.social

How should policymakers respond to higher energy costs? My ConHome piece on two unpopular realities - we cannot afford to do much, and that the price mechanism is a useful way to change behaviour. conservativehome.com/2026/03/30/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: The short term assumptions fuelling the petrol debate show politics still has its head in the sand | Conservative HomeThe Government – hoping to change the subject from scheduled fuel duty rises – accused fuel retailers of “price gouging” or“profiteering” despite no evidence to support that. Tory opposition is smart ...

@davidgauke reposted

Jill Rutter
@jillongovt.bsky.social

a more serious contribution to the debate on fuel prices than we have seen from the official opposition parties

@davidgauke@davidgauke.bsky.social

How should policymakers respond to higher energy costs? My ConHome piece on two unpopular realities - we cannot afford to do much, and that the price mechanism is a useful way to change behaviour. conservativehome.com/2026/03/30/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: The short term assumptions fuelling the petrol debate show politics still has its head in the sand | Conservative HomeThe Government – hoping to change the subject from scheduled fuel duty rises – accused fuel retailers of “price gouging” or“profiteering” despite no evidence to support that. Tory opposition is smart ...
@davidgauke
@davidgauke.bsky.social

How should policymakers respond to higher energy costs? My ConHome piece on two unpopular realities - we cannot afford to do much, and that the price mechanism is a useful way to change behaviour. conservativehome.com/2026/03/30/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: The short term assumptions fuelling the petrol debate show politics still has its head in the sand | Conservative HomeThe Government – hoping to change the subject from scheduled fuel duty rises – accused fuel retailers of “price gouging” or“profiteering” despite no evidence to support that. Tory opposition is smart ...

@davidgauke reposted

@davidgauke
@davidgauke.bsky.social

My ConHome column on Iran and why British politicians should keep their distance from Donald Trump. conservativehome.com/2026/03/16/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: Donald Trump is not our friend and all parties should be wary of being too close | Conservative HomeWanting the US action against Iran to replace an evil regime with something much better is one thing, but the odds were always that is not going to be the case.  In such circumstances, reticence in su...
@davidgauke
@davidgauke.bsky.social

My ConHome column on Iran and why British politicians should keep their distance from Donald Trump. conservativehome.com/2026/03/16/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: Donald Trump is not our friend and all parties should be wary of being too close | Conservative HomeWanting the US action against Iran to replace an evil regime with something much better is one thing, but the odds were always that is not going to be the case.  In such circumstances, reticence in su...

@davidgauke reposted

@davidgauke
@davidgauke.bsky.social

Gorton & Denton: why, unusually, this was an important by-election. My piece for ConHome. conservativehome.com/2026/03/02/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: Welcome to the new world of multi party politics - whose entrance was via Gorton | Conservative HomeThis was a by-election that showed political support is fragmenting.  Neither of the two traditional parties finished in the top two. The Greens got over 40 per cent of the vote but we're now in a wor...
@davidgauke
@davidgauke.bsky.social

Gorton & Denton: why, unusually, this was an important by-election. My piece for ConHome. conservativehome.com/2026/03/02/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: Welcome to the new world of multi party politics - whose entrance was via Gorton | Conservative HomeThis was a by-election that showed political support is fragmenting.  Neither of the two traditional parties finished in the top two. The Greens got over 40 per cent of the vote but we're now in a wor...

@davidgauke reposted

Prosper UK
@prosperuk.bsky.social

In over 84% of seats lost in 2024, the larger opportunity is not on the right. It lies with voters who backed Labour or the Liberal Democrats – or who have since disengaged. That’s why we’re going out meeting voters and businesses to help shape a serious, pro-growth offer that can win again.

@davidgauke reposted

Prosper UK
@prosperuk.bsky.social

The Conservative Party wins as a broad church. Yes, we lost votes to Reform. But for every one who went there, 1.3 went to Labour, the Lib Dems, or disengaged altogether. Rebuilding means offering something to them too - serious, pro-growth, pragmatic politics that can win a majority again.

@davidgauke
@davidgauke.bsky.social

Many thanks to all those who came to the Rose & Crown, Chorleywood on Wednesday to hear about @prosperuk.bsky.social.

Prosper UK@prosperuk.bsky.social

If the Conservatives want to govern again, they must win back the centre ground. That requires honesty about past mistakes - and a clear, pro-growth offer for the future. Prosper UK’s role is to strengthen that argument and reconnect with voters who feel overlooked.

@davidgauke reposted

Prosper UK
@prosperuk.bsky.social

A broad church isn’t about ideology. It’s about winning and governing. 7 million centre and centre-right voters feel unrepresented. If the focus is growth, living standards and competence, they can be won back. Sign up today prosperuk.com

@davidgauke reposted

@davidgauke
@davidgauke.bsky.social

Labour will go left and lose those people whose lukewarm vote was for something else. My piece for ConHome on the opportunity this creates for the Conservatives. conservativehome.com/2026/02/16/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: Labour will go left and lose those people whose lukewarm vote was for something else | Conservative HomeA move to the left will mean that more centrist voters will be up for grabs.  It is a huge opportunity that the Conservative Party cannot afford to miss.

@davidgauke reposted

Ben Bradshaw
@benbradshaw.bsky.social

This should serve as a warning to all those still agitating to depose Keir Starmer and/or drag the Government to the left from the sanest of Tories (if he still is a Tory?).

@davidgauke@davidgauke.bsky.social

Labour will go left and lose those people whose lukewarm vote was for something else. My piece for ConHome on the opportunity this creates for the Conservatives. conservativehome.com/2026/02/16/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: Labour will go left and lose those people whose lukewarm vote was for something else | Conservative HomeA move to the left will mean that more centrist voters will be up for grabs.  It is a huge opportunity that the Conservative Party cannot afford to miss.
@davidgauke
@davidgauke.bsky.social

Labour will go left and lose those people whose lukewarm vote was for something else. My piece for ConHome on the opportunity this creates for the Conservatives. conservativehome.com/2026/02/16/d...

conservativehome.comDavid Gauke: Labour will go left and lose those people whose lukewarm vote was for something else | Conservative HomeA move to the left will mean that more centrist voters will be up for grabs.  It is a huge opportunity that the Conservative Party cannot afford to miss.