The term Notting Hill set refers to an informal group of young figures who were in prominent leadership positions in the Conservative Party, or close advisory positions around the former party leader and Prime Minister, David Cameron.[1] Several of the group studied at Oxford University.
The term was coined by Derek Conway in July 2004, before Cameron became leader.[2] It was intended to be pejorative, as Conway was one of the 'bed blockers' preventing the party modernising.[2] The term is in reference to all of them having lived in Notting Hill, in west London,[3] although the group's two leading players, Cameron and George Osborne, by 2006 no longer lived in Notting Hill.[4]
The set is often seen as symbolic of the wing of the party that dominated the leadership during Cameron's time as leader of the Conservative Party.[5] It combines traditional centre right economic views with socially liberal and environmentally friendly stances on other issues. The group refer to themselves as the "Smith Square set" and at the time of the 1992 General Election, were often referred to as the "Brat Pack".[6][7]
- ^ "Who are the Notting Hill Set?". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- ^ a b Marie Woolf; Ben Russell (28 July 2004). "Tory leader put under pressure on three fronts". The Independent. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022.
- ^ Nicholas Watt (28 July 2004). "Tory central". The Guardian.
- ^ Katherine Barney (3 March 2006). "The Tory Notting Hill Set sell up and move on; Cameron and his pals quit west London base". The Evening Standard.
- ^ Beckett, Andy (21 March 2007). "Club Cameron: The truth about the team behind the Tory leader". the Guardian. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2008/02 Make a million by helping the poor
- ^ Snowdon 2010, p. 3.
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