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By appointment: Tory-fying the state
This era of crony conservatism has been characterised by sticking failed politicians into any state body available — sometimes to neutralise it, sometimes for a favour down the line, writes SOLOMON HUGHES
TORY INSTALLATIONS: (L-R) Nick Herbert, David Willetts, Julia Mulligan

YOU think some burnt-out Conservative Party figure, some terrible old former minister from yesterday, is gone; the small space they occupied in your mind can now be used for something more useful.

Only it turns out you can’t. Because the Tories are increasingly busy rejuvenating their old assets by giving them new salaried jobs as officials.

Caroline Spelman is the latest. She was the Tory environment secretary from 2010-12, among other roles. She stood down from Parliament in 2019 because she was sick of Tory infighting over Brexit (Spelman favoured Remain).

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