THE TELEGRAPH: David Davis, the leading Conservative MP, has been accused of lampooning the Tory-Lib Dem alliance and describing it as the "Brokeback Coalition".
In reportedly extended criticism, he also referred to David Cameron's flagship Big Society policy as “Blairite dressing”.
Mr Davis' alleged comments suggest deep frustration at the way Conservative MPs have been forced to accept the deal with Nick Clegg’s party.
Mr Davis is reported to have said: “The corollary of the big society is the smaller state. If you talk about the small state, people think you’re Attila the Hun. If you talk about the big society, people think you’re Mother Teresa.”
The former shadow home secretary was allegedly overheard making the comments in a City of London pub during a private lunch with businessmen.
The leading right wing MP - who stood against Mr Cameron in the 2005 leadership campaign - also allegedly said the Prime Minister was more concerned with appeasing Lib Dems rather than appealing to MPs in his own party.
The Financial Times reported that three of its journalists heard Mr Davis attack the Coalition.
He was alleged to have approvingly repeated a remark attributed to a senior Conservative, which talked of the David Cameron-Nick Clegg partnership as the “Brokeback coalition” – a reference to the Oscar-winning film about two homosexual cowboys. Continue reading and comment >>> Andrew Porter, Political Editor | Friday, July 23, 2010
