The most influential people on the UK Right

Iain Dale has blogged on the 25 most influential people on the right in UK politics.  It’s an interesting concept doing it by political alignment, so it isn’t so much about who is in Government, but about who has sway amongst their own side.

Of course all these power lists are subjective and more entertainment than serious.  I did note with delight that Tony Blair is listed at No 10 on the Right’s list. He was more a right winger than left winger in reality.

The top ten are:

1 David Cameron MP, Leader of the Opposition
2 George Osborne MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
3 Lord Ashcroft, Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party
4 Lady Thatcher, Former Prime Minister
5 Steve Hilton, Director of Strategy, Conservative Party
6 William Hague MP, Shadow Foreign Secretary
7 David Davis MP, Shadow Home Secretary
8 Michael Spencer, Conservative Party Treasurer
9 Michael Gove MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families
10 Tony Blair, Former Prime Minister

I can’t help noting that I’ve actually managed to meet five of the people in the top ten, thanks to my IDU forays.  Three of them have only been meet and greets for a few minutes at functions, but two of them have been through spending a couple of weeks together at conferences.

I was invited over to the Tory Party conference this year, which has just finished, and would love to have made it.   But far too busy.  Next year will be worse with our election but may aim for 2009.  Their conferences leave our ones for dead – amazing spectacles.