New Conservative party co-chair Oliver Dowden gives Christopher Hope the inside track on his appointment, including a rather curious instruction bestowed upon him by the PM. But how will he increase party support? Is the membership simply too old? And what will a new HQ in Leeds mean for the grassroots? All this and more, including an attack on the “middle-class outlook” he claims dominates Labour ranks, and a glimpse into the Dowden family dynamics, as the MP tells us why he still gets in trouble with his mum.

Read more from Christopher Hope: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/c/cf-cj/christopher-hope/ |

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