Liam Fox and liberation theology
By Tony Grew - 6th March 2011
The ConHome/European Azerbaijan Society drinks reception was the hit of the Tory spring forum.
The event is always packed, and last night was no exception.
The speaker was Liam Fox, and he effortlessly roused the room, full of well-lubricated Conservatives, with a barnstorming address.
However, he barely touched on defence, Libya or the other profound changes taking place across the Arab world.
Instead he outlined a passionate explanation of his values and those of Conservatism.
It was inspiring, especially his reference to Toryism as "political liberation theology".
Liberation theology began in the Roman Catholic church in South America in the 1950s and 60s, as a reaction to endemic poverty.
Its proponents believe that Christ's teachings are a call to social action.
Given that Pope John Paul II suppressed the movement as dangerous - its detractors point to the shorthand often used to encapsulate liberation theology: "if Jesus were alive today, he would be a Marxist revolutionary" - Fox's choice of words was eye-catching if nothing else.
The speech left some observers wondering why he not leading the party - while others thought the speech to be "disloyal" to Cameron's vision of a broader, more touchy-feely Conservatism.
In any case, it was another reminder of just how popular former leadership contender Fox remains with the party faithful.
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd