Tim Dawson

The six wittiest conservatives

  • From Spectator Life

Left-wing people are funny and Conservatives are not. That’s the myth the Left like to perpetuate – particularly left-wing “comedians”, usually with all the wit and subtlety of John McDonnell at a Palestine Solidarity rally.

We have in Boris Johnson a Conservative Prime Minister famous for his wit and wordplay – a man who famously declared during the 2005 election campaign that “Voting Tory will cause your wife to have bigger breasts and increase your chances of owning a BMW M3.”

But, he’s not the first, and certainly won’t be the last, Tory to light up Parliament with his quips. Churchill was the master, naturally, but, as the current Prime Minister will no doubt set out to prove, he is far from alone in bringing humour into the political sphere.

Here’s my pick of the best Conservative wits:

Alan Clark

British Conservative Member of Parliament and diarist Alan Clark (1928 - 1999) and Caroline Jayne Beauttler, 30th July 1958

British Conservative Member of Parliament and diarist Alan Clark (1928 – 1999) and Caroline Jayne Beauttler, 30th July 1958 (Getty)

A rake.

Get Britain's best politics newsletters

Register to get The Spectator's insight and opinion straight to your inbox. You can then read two free articles each week.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in