Ahead of the conference, former Defence Secretary Liam Fox, long seen as a standard bearer for the right of the party, urged Mr Cameron to reconnect with core supporters.
But the writer ends by saying that it may be Kenneth Clarke rather than Cameron who has Tony Blair's main gift - of being able to reach beyond core party supporters to the wider electorate.
Mr Cameron said in 2006 he wanted to "entrench" a British bill of rights, which would outline "core values" and responsibilities, in British law - so it could not be overturned in the Commons.