Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "Leader adjoint du Parti conservateur (Royaume-Uni)" in French language version.
« Robert Halfon will become deputy leader of the Conservative Party. »
« David Cameron is to give William Hague a wider-ranging role – effectively making him the deputy leader of the Conservative Party.
The Tory leader's decision to bring Mr Hague closer to him will be seen as a rebuff for George Osborne, the shadow chancellor, who had performed the "deputy" role since Mr Cameron became leader.
But Mr Osborne's stock has fallen since the Yachtgate saga in which he admitted being offered a loan from a Russian oligarch.
Mr Cameron said: "William is effectively my deputy in all but name and people need to know that. I have been in this job for three years. William did it for four."
The Tory leader told The Sun: "There's a real opportunity as we go into an election year of William as well as doing the foreign affairs stuff of actually carrying a lot of the message to the country."
"I want people to see the role he has already which is effectively deputy in all but name. But you are going to see him in the frontline on national issues. »
« David Cameron's choice of George Osborne shows that party leaders need a reliable second-in-command. A deputy isn't the same thing.
Political parties require leaders but they have very little call for deputy leaders. They do, on the other hand, require a second-in-command. The distinction between the two is important. The Conservatives understand it. Labour and some smaller parties do not.
The difference was well illustrated in the Commons today by George Osborne's debut at prime minister's questions in the absence of David Cameron. Mr Osborne is not the Tory deputy leader. No such post exists. Yet the party has got on pretty well over the years without one. On the other hand, Mr Osborne is very much Mr Cameron's second-in-command, not as of right or of rank, but chosen because of ability and trust. He is the man to whom Mr Cameron most confidently turns to act as his senior lieutenant. The chancellor now carries the title of first secretary of state as an acknowledgment of that reality. Mr Osborne's confident performance today showed why this is. »
