There was a palpable air of confidence at the Tory Party conference last autumn. Shadow cabinet ministers were pumped up with such high levels of optimism that they arrogantly thought the next General Election was already in the bag.
However, the mood this weekend is completely different as delegates meet for their spring conference in Brighton.
With just a few weeks to go to polling day, that previously healthy Tory lead has halved to around six per cent, not nearly enough to secure an outright victory. The misplaced triumphalism has gone - to be replaced by nervousness and even quiet desperation.
There was a palpable air of confidence at the Tory Party conference last autumn. Shadow cabinet ministers were pumped up with such high levels of optimism that they arrogantly thought the next General Election was already in the bag.
However, the mood this weekend is completely different as delegates meet for their spring conference in Brighton.
With just a few weeks to go to polling day, that previously healthy Tory lead has halved to around six per cent, not nearly enough to secure an outright victory. The misplaced triumphalism has gone - to be replaced by nervousness and even quiet desperation.There was a palpable air of confidence at the Tory Party conference last autumn. Shadow cabinet ministers were pumped up with such high levels of optimism that they arrogantly thought the next General Election was already in the bag.
However, the mood this weekend is completely different as delegates meet for their spring conference in Brighton.
With just a few weeks to go to polling day, that previously healthy Tory lead has halved to around six per cent, not nearly enough to secure an outright victory. The misplaced triumphalism has gone - to be replaced by nervousness and even quiet desperation.
There was a palpable air of confidence at the Tory Party conference last autumn. Shadow cabinet ministers were pumped up with such high levels of optimism that they arrogantly thought the next General Election was already in the bag.
However, the mood this weekend is completely different as delegates meet for their spring conference in Brighton.
With just a few weeks to go to polling day, that previously healthy Tory lead has halved to around six per cent, not nearly enough to secure an outright victory. The misplaced triumphalism has gone - to be replaced by nervousness and even quiet desperation.At the most senior levels, there are ill-tempered arguments about the party's strategy. In a deeply worrying sign, senior advisers have started to brief against one another. Meanwhile, there are increasingly bitter mutterings on the backbenches about David Cameron's leadership.
It is worth remembering that Cameron has never been liked by a hard-core of Conservative MPs, who see him as cliquey, remote and dismissive of what they feel are traditional Tory values.
Pragmatically, though, they have put up with him because they believed he was a winner. But now that they fear he might fail to lead them to the Promised Land of power, there is talk of plots against the Old Etonian.
Indeed, if the profoundly stupid and mediocre Right-wing Graham Brady (who was rightly sacked as a party spokesman on Europe by Cameron two years ago for disloyalty) wins the forthcoming election to be chairman of the influential 1922 committee of backbench Tory MPs, it will be a clear signal that Cameron's enemies are making serious headway.
To make matters worse, the Tory leader's personal political machine has started to stall. There have been a series of minor, but telling, factual errors in press releases (like the crass mistake on teenage pregnancy statistics) as well as policy blunders (such as Cameron's muddle over tax breaks for married couples).
Last month's poster campaign (featuring a picture of a tieless Cameron looking airbrushed) backfired badly. And for all of his brilliant successes as leader, Cameron has failed to define, in simple terms, exactly why ordinary voters should vote ToryAt the most senior levels, there are ill-tempered arguments about the party's strategy. In a deeply worrying sign, senior advisers have started to brief against one another. Meanwhile, there are increasingly bitter mutterings on the backbenches about David Cameron's leadership.
It is worth remembering that Cameron has never been liked by a hard-core of Conservative MPs, who see him as cliquey, remote and dismissive of what they feel are traditional Tory values.
Pragmatically, though, they have put up with him because they believed he was a winner. But now that they fear he might fail to lead them to the Promised Land of power, there is talk of plots against the Old Etonian.
Indeed, if the profoundly stupid and mediocre Right-wing Graham Brady (who was rightly sacked as a party spokesman on Europe by Cameron two years ago for disloyalty) wins the forthcoming election to be chairman of the influential 1922 committee of backbench Tory MPs, it will be a clear signal that Cameron's enemies are making serious headway.
To make matters worse, the Tory leader's personal political machine has started to stall. There have been a series of minor, but telling, factual errors in press releases (like the crass mistake on teenage pregnancy statistics) as well as policy blunders (such as Cameron's muddle over tax breaks for married couples).
Last month's poster campaign (featuring a picture of a tieless Cameron looking airbrushed) backfired badly. And for all of his brilliant successes as leader, Cameron has failed to define, in simple terms, exactly why ordinary voters should vote Tory
At the most senior levels, there are ill-tempered arguments about the party's strategy. In a deeply worrying sign, senior advisers have started to brief against one another. Meanwhile, there are increasingly bitter mutterings on the backbenches about David Cameron's leadership.
It is worth remembering that Cameron has never been liked by a hard-core of Conservative MPs, who see him as cliquey, remote and dismissive of what they feel are traditional Tory values.
Pragmatically, though, they have put up with him because they believed he was a winner. But now that they fear he might fail to lead them to the Promised Land of power, there is talk of plots against the Old Etonian.
Indeed, if the profoundly stupid and mediocre Right-wing Graham Brady (who was rightly sacked as a party spokesman on Europe by Cameron two years ago for disloyalty) wins the forthcoming election to be chairman of the influential 1922 committee of backbench Tory MPs, it will be a clear signal that Cameron's enemies are making serious headway.
To make matters worse, the Tory leader's personal political machine has started to stall. There have been a series of minor, but telling, factual errors in press releases (like the crass mistake on teenage pregnancy statistics) as well as policy blunders (such as Cameron's muddle over tax breaks for married couples).
Last month's poster campaign (featuring a picture of a tieless Cameron looking airbrushed) backfired badly. And for all of his brilliant successes as leader, Cameron has failed to define, in simple terms, exactly why ordinary voters should vote ToryAt the most senior levels, there are ill-tempered arguments about the party's strategy. In a deeply worrying sign, senior advisers have started to brief against one another. Meanwhile, there are increasingly bitter mutterings on the backbenches about David Cameron's leadership.
It is worth remembering that Cameron has never been liked by a hard-core of Conservative MPs, who see him as cliquey, remote and dismissive of what they feel are traditional Tory values.
Pragmatically, though, they have put up with him because they believed he was a winner. But now that they fear he might fail to lead them to the Promised Land of power, there is talk of plots against the Old Etonian.
Indeed, if the profoundly stupid and mediocre Right-wing Graham Brady (who was rightly sacked as a party spokesman on Europe by Cameron two years ago for disloyalty) wins the forthcoming election to be chairman of the influential 1922 committee of backbench Tory MPs, it will be a clear signal that Cameron's enemies are making serious headway.
To make matters worse, the Tory leader's personal political machine has started to stall. There have been a series of minor, but telling, factual errors in press releases (like the crass mistake on teenage pregnancy statistics) as well as policy blunders (such as Cameron's muddle over tax breaks for married couples).
Last month's poster campaign (featuring a picture of a tieless Cameron looking airbrushed) backfired badly. And for all of his brilliant successes as leader, Cameron has failed to define, in simple terms, exactly why ordinary voters should vote Tory
At the most senior levels, there are ill-tempered arguments about the party's strategy. In a deeply worrying sign, senior advisers have started to brief against one another. Meanwhile, there are increasingly bitter mutterings on the backbenches about David Cameron's leadership.
It is worth remembering that Cameron has never been liked by a hard-core of Conservative MPs, who see him as cliquey, remote and dismissive of what they feel are traditional Tory values.
Pragmatically, though, they have put up with him because they believed he was a winner. But now that they fear he might fail to lead them to the Promised Land of power, there is talk of plots against the Old Etonian.
Indeed, if the profoundly stupid and mediocre Right-wing Graham Brady (who was rightly sacked as a party spokesman on Europe by Cameron two years ago for disloyalty) wins the forthcoming election to be chairman of the influential 1922 committee of backbench Tory MPs, it will be a clear signal that Cameron's enemies are making serious headway.
To make matters worse, the Tory leader's personal political machine has started to stall. There have been a series of minor, but telling, factual errors in press releases (like the crass mistake on teenage pregnancy statistics) as well as policy blunders (such as Cameron's muddle over tax breaks for married couples).
Last month's poster campaign (featuring a picture of a tieless Cameron looking airbrushed) backfired badly. And for all of his brilliant successes as leader, Cameron has failed to define, in simple terms, exactly why ordinary voters should vote Tory
However, the mood this weekend is completely different as delegates meet for their spring conference in Brighton.
With just a few weeks to go to polling day, that previously healthy Tory lead has halved to around six per cent, not nearly enough to secure an outright victory. The misplaced triumphalism has gone - to be replaced by nervousness and even quiet desperation.
There was a palpable air of confidence at the Tory Party conference last autumn. Shadow cabinet ministers were pumped up with such high levels of optimism that they arrogantly thought the next General Election was already in the bag.
However, the mood this weekend is completely different as delegates meet for their spring conference in Brighton.
With just a few weeks to go to polling day, that previously healthy Tory lead has halved to around six per cent, not nearly enough to secure an outright victory. The misplaced triumphalism has gone - to be replaced by nervousness and even quiet desperation.There was a palpable air of confidence at the Tory Party conference last autumn. Shadow cabinet ministers were pumped up with such high levels of optimism that they arrogantly thought the next General Election was already in the bag.
However, the mood this weekend is completely different as delegates meet for their spring conference in Brighton.
With just a few weeks to go to polling day, that previously healthy Tory lead has halved to around six per cent, not nearly enough to secure an outright victory. The misplaced triumphalism has gone - to be replaced by nervousness and even quiet desperation.
There was a palpable air of confidence at the Tory Party conference last autumn. Shadow cabinet ministers were pumped up with such high levels of optimism that they arrogantly thought the next General Election was already in the bag.
However, the mood this weekend is completely different as delegates meet for their spring conference in Brighton.
With just a few weeks to go to polling day, that previously healthy Tory lead has halved to around six per cent, not nearly enough to secure an outright victory. The misplaced triumphalism has gone - to be replaced by nervousness and even quiet desperation.At the most senior levels, there are ill-tempered arguments about the party's strategy. In a deeply worrying sign, senior advisers have started to brief against one another. Meanwhile, there are increasingly bitter mutterings on the backbenches about David Cameron's leadership.
It is worth remembering that Cameron has never been liked by a hard-core of Conservative MPs, who see him as cliquey, remote and dismissive of what they feel are traditional Tory values.
Pragmatically, though, they have put up with him because they believed he was a winner. But now that they fear he might fail to lead them to the Promised Land of power, there is talk of plots against the Old Etonian.
Indeed, if the profoundly stupid and mediocre Right-wing Graham Brady (who was rightly sacked as a party spokesman on Europe by Cameron two years ago for disloyalty) wins the forthcoming election to be chairman of the influential 1922 committee of backbench Tory MPs, it will be a clear signal that Cameron's enemies are making serious headway.
To make matters worse, the Tory leader's personal political machine has started to stall. There have been a series of minor, but telling, factual errors in press releases (like the crass mistake on teenage pregnancy statistics) as well as policy blunders (such as Cameron's muddle over tax breaks for married couples).
Last month's poster campaign (featuring a picture of a tieless Cameron looking airbrushed) backfired badly. And for all of his brilliant successes as leader, Cameron has failed to define, in simple terms, exactly why ordinary voters should vote ToryAt the most senior levels, there are ill-tempered arguments about the party's strategy. In a deeply worrying sign, senior advisers have started to brief against one another. Meanwhile, there are increasingly bitter mutterings on the backbenches about David Cameron's leadership.
It is worth remembering that Cameron has never been liked by a hard-core of Conservative MPs, who see him as cliquey, remote and dismissive of what they feel are traditional Tory values.
Pragmatically, though, they have put up with him because they believed he was a winner. But now that they fear he might fail to lead them to the Promised Land of power, there is talk of plots against the Old Etonian.
Indeed, if the profoundly stupid and mediocre Right-wing Graham Brady (who was rightly sacked as a party spokesman on Europe by Cameron two years ago for disloyalty) wins the forthcoming election to be chairman of the influential 1922 committee of backbench Tory MPs, it will be a clear signal that Cameron's enemies are making serious headway.
To make matters worse, the Tory leader's personal political machine has started to stall. There have been a series of minor, but telling, factual errors in press releases (like the crass mistake on teenage pregnancy statistics) as well as policy blunders (such as Cameron's muddle over tax breaks for married couples).
Last month's poster campaign (featuring a picture of a tieless Cameron looking airbrushed) backfired badly. And for all of his brilliant successes as leader, Cameron has failed to define, in simple terms, exactly why ordinary voters should vote Tory
At the most senior levels, there are ill-tempered arguments about the party's strategy. In a deeply worrying sign, senior advisers have started to brief against one another. Meanwhile, there are increasingly bitter mutterings on the backbenches about David Cameron's leadership.
It is worth remembering that Cameron has never been liked by a hard-core of Conservative MPs, who see him as cliquey, remote and dismissive of what they feel are traditional Tory values.
Pragmatically, though, they have put up with him because they believed he was a winner. But now that they fear he might fail to lead them to the Promised Land of power, there is talk of plots against the Old Etonian.
Indeed, if the profoundly stupid and mediocre Right-wing Graham Brady (who was rightly sacked as a party spokesman on Europe by Cameron two years ago for disloyalty) wins the forthcoming election to be chairman of the influential 1922 committee of backbench Tory MPs, it will be a clear signal that Cameron's enemies are making serious headway.
To make matters worse, the Tory leader's personal political machine has started to stall. There have been a series of minor, but telling, factual errors in press releases (like the crass mistake on teenage pregnancy statistics) as well as policy blunders (such as Cameron's muddle over tax breaks for married couples).
Last month's poster campaign (featuring a picture of a tieless Cameron looking airbrushed) backfired badly. And for all of his brilliant successes as leader, Cameron has failed to define, in simple terms, exactly why ordinary voters should vote ToryAt the most senior levels, there are ill-tempered arguments about the party's strategy. In a deeply worrying sign, senior advisers have started to brief against one another. Meanwhile, there are increasingly bitter mutterings on the backbenches about David Cameron's leadership.
It is worth remembering that Cameron has never been liked by a hard-core of Conservative MPs, who see him as cliquey, remote and dismissive of what they feel are traditional Tory values.
Pragmatically, though, they have put up with him because they believed he was a winner. But now that they fear he might fail to lead them to the Promised Land of power, there is talk of plots against the Old Etonian.
Indeed, if the profoundly stupid and mediocre Right-wing Graham Brady (who was rightly sacked as a party spokesman on Europe by Cameron two years ago for disloyalty) wins the forthcoming election to be chairman of the influential 1922 committee of backbench Tory MPs, it will be a clear signal that Cameron's enemies are making serious headway.
To make matters worse, the Tory leader's personal political machine has started to stall. There have been a series of minor, but telling, factual errors in press releases (like the crass mistake on teenage pregnancy statistics) as well as policy blunders (such as Cameron's muddle over tax breaks for married couples).
Last month's poster campaign (featuring a picture of a tieless Cameron looking airbrushed) backfired badly. And for all of his brilliant successes as leader, Cameron has failed to define, in simple terms, exactly why ordinary voters should vote Tory
At the most senior levels, there are ill-tempered arguments about the party's strategy. In a deeply worrying sign, senior advisers have started to brief against one another. Meanwhile, there are increasingly bitter mutterings on the backbenches about David Cameron's leadership.
It is worth remembering that Cameron has never been liked by a hard-core of Conservative MPs, who see him as cliquey, remote and dismissive of what they feel are traditional Tory values.
Pragmatically, though, they have put up with him because they believed he was a winner. But now that they fear he might fail to lead them to the Promised Land of power, there is talk of plots against the Old Etonian.
Indeed, if the profoundly stupid and mediocre Right-wing Graham Brady (who was rightly sacked as a party spokesman on Europe by Cameron two years ago for disloyalty) wins the forthcoming election to be chairman of the influential 1922 committee of backbench Tory MPs, it will be a clear signal that Cameron's enemies are making serious headway.
To make matters worse, the Tory leader's personal political machine has started to stall. There have been a series of minor, but telling, factual errors in press releases (like the crass mistake on teenage pregnancy statistics) as well as policy blunders (such as Cameron's muddle over tax breaks for married couples).
Last month's poster campaign (featuring a picture of a tieless Cameron looking airbrushed) backfired badly. And for all of his brilliant successes as leader, Cameron has failed to define, in simple terms, exactly why ordinary voters should vote Tory
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