Tim Montgomerie
Tim Montgomerie (born 1970) is best known as the co-founder of the Centre for Social Justice and as creator and Editor of the ConservativeHome website, and has been described as "one of the most important Conservative activists of the past 20 years".[1]
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[edit] Conservative Christian Fellowship and Centre for Social Justice
Montgomerie and David Burrowes (now an MP) jointly started the Conservative Christian Fellowship in 1990 while students at the University of Exeter, supported by the Christian Coalition of America.[2] During this period, he argued that the Conservative party should form closer links with churches on issues such as homosexuality and Section 28, saying that the party should "expose the unbiblical and the libertine".[3] Following the tradition of people such as William Wilberforce, the Earl of Shaftesbury and Richard Oastler he aimed to make the condition of the poor a priority. He established a social action project called "Renewing One Nation" which helped Iain Duncan Smith appreciate these issues.[1] In 2004, with Iain Duncan Smith and Philippa Stroud, he established the cross-party Centre for Social Justice to take forward the work that IDS had begun as party leader.
[edit] In Conservative Central Office
In September 2003, two months before Iain Duncan Smith[4] was ousted as Conservative party leader, Tim Montgomerie became IDS's Chief of Staff. He had become a main influence behind Mr Duncan Smith's theme of compassionate conservatism.[5]
[edit] ConservativeHome.com
Montgomerie started the ConservativeHome website prior to the 2005 United Kingdom general election campaign.[6] With John Hayes MP he also set up conservativedemocracy.com, which aimed to co-ordinate grassroots opposition during Michael Howard's attempt to abolish the 'one member one vote' rule in the 2005 Conservative leadership election.[7]
The Independent described him as "emerging as a major player in Tory politics."[8] He is critical of the A-List and believes that Conservative Party Leader David Cameron is in danger of alienating working-class Tory voters,[9][10][11] and has pressed Cameron for specific pledges on tax cuts.[12]
Montgomerie has been used as an expert on internet campaigning by Conservative Central Office.[13][14][15]
[edit] Internet Television
Montgomerie was a director of the internet television channel 18 Doughty Street which began broadcasting in October 2006 and went off air in November 2007. While at 18 Doughty Street, Montgomerie hosted its 'Campaign HQ' programme, which developed the channel's internet political advertisements after allowing viewers to vote on a choice of (usually) three different proposals. Previous adverts included attacks on taxes, state funding of political parties, and London Mayor Ken Livingstone. The latest, "A World Without America", with an end scene depicting the Statue of Liberty wearing a burqa, was co-produced by 18 Doughty Street and the website BritianAndAmerica, and had 50,000 views within its first 24 hours of publication.[16]
[edit] Present day
Montgomerie continues to co-edit ConservativeHome with Joseph Willits, Matthew Barrett[17] and former Tory MP Paul Goodman. After the 2010 General Election campaign Montgomerie wrote a report that was critical of David Cameron's election campaign, entitled 'Falling short'. MediaGuardian listed him at number 90 in their 2010 list of the most powerful people in the media.
In February 2012 the Observer said that "In the eyes of most MPs, Montgomerie ... is now one of the most influential Tories outside the cabinet."[18]
Montgomerie lives in Salisbury, Wiltshire.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Daniel Finkelstein The coup behind the Tories’ clap for poverty Times Online, 13 October 2009
- ^ Marvin Olasky A new fab four World Magazine, 22 July 2006
- ^ Nick Cohen Onward, Christian Tories New Statesman, 1 May 2000
- ^ Blue heaven: now, at last the Tories have a prayer, The Guardian, 8 September 2003
- ^ Gaby Hinsliff, chief political correspondent (13 October 2002). "Devout whiz-kid seen as Tory saviour". London: The Observer. http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,6903,811015,00.html. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
- ^ Bloggers ready for general election debut, Sunday Herald
- ^ Ben Macintyre. "Davis has eyes on 'common ground'". London: Times Online. http://tls.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1637807,00.html. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
- ^ New Model Tories: Tory tribes The Independent, 24 September 2006, accessed 17 October 2006
- ^ New Leader Tries to Update Conservatives’ Image New York Times, 3 October 2006
- ^ Tories vow to learn over A-list BBC News, 31 May 2006
- ^ Tories 'failing to recruit women' - BBC, 14 July 2006
- ^ "Cameron set to avoid tax giveaway". BBC News. 1 October 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5396096.stm. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
- ^ Tories to use US internet tactics to target BBC Financial Times
- ^ Tory activists may get blog spot BBC News, 8 June 2006
- ^ Battle of the conference blogs BBC News, 15 September 2006
- ^ 18 Doughty Street[dead link]
- ^ Joseph Willits joins ConservativeHome World Magazine, 22 July 2006
- ^ Tim Montgomerie, the man who takes the Conservative pulse, The Observer, 12 February 2012
[edit] External links
- 18 Doughty Street
- ConservativeHome
- Tim Montgomerie Interviewed by Sophie Elmhirst
