My letter to the Prime Minister seems to have got some tongues wagging – among party activists as well as the Press and Westminster politicos – which is fine. If it starts a serious conversation between the Party’s leaders and our voters then I’ll consider it a success because it’s about time that we had some proper engagement between the various levels of the Conservative Party and actual conservative voters. Previously, it’s felt like the PM and his circle have gone out of their way to disregard their concerns and aspirations. That has to change.
Much of the reporting about the letter has focused on its passing reference to gay marriage. The issue is certainly an important one – David Cameron’s pursuit of his pet project in the face of all opposition is symptomatic of a wider problem – but the argument is broader than that single topic. The gay marriage debacle is just one of a growing number of cracks in the relationship between the party leadership and its support base. My concern is that if we continue along this path then it won’t be too long before the division becomes a rupture and we end up losing the next election.
It’s a question of priorities and Mr Cameron’s priority still seems to be to “modernise” and re-brand the Conservative Party. He wants to focus on gay marriage and “green” issues even though these have little resonance with the people who might actually vote for him. It might keep the Lib Dems happy but he’s actively alienating the core support base of our party. We have to fight an election in the not too distant future and I want to see a full Conservative Government with David Cameron as Prime Minister at the end of it. But if he persists in ignoring the party then he’s not going to have the support of the activists who put in the vital groundwork. We’ll be at risk of Labour getting back into power and that, quite frankly, would be a disaster for the country.
So Mr Cameron needs to stop pandering to trends and fashions and actually concern himself with the issues that matter to Conservative-thinking people. They’re not lying awake at night worrying about the UK’s contribution to global warming – they’re concerned about the size of their energy bills. They want to see the Government using our money to support our citizens and our businesses, not giving it away to EU bureaucrats and so-called poverty alleviation in countries with their own space programmes! If he only took a moment to listen to them then the PM would understand that these are the real issues concerning people. Perhaps he should take a break from his circle of advisors and look beyond the Westminster bubble; take a walk through his constituency and speak to the people who actually voted for him. I guarantee that gay marriage wouldn’t be high on their list of priorities.
He must listen to our party’s concerns. The impression the leadership gives at the moment is “we know best.” Downing Street’s initial reaction to my letter is an example. I was dismissed as being “well known for his right-wing views”. That’s the sort of arrogance that is driving party membership down. They’re not just right-wing views. They’re the views of real conservatives across the country and David Cameron would do well to listen to them.
Cameron is not going to listen so what is going to happen next?
ReplyDeleteDoes the 1922 committee only bark or does it still bite as well?
Cameron & Co have not listened to right-wing MPs or their own loyal party members for over two years, they are really not interested, so I can guarantee they WILL NOT listen now.
ReplyDeleteThey are arrogant socialists lacking worldly business experience and the Conservative party is unfortunately over-filled with their ilk. The 'liberal' conservatives now appear to rule the roost - I blame the Heseltine/Clarke years & influence on the direction of the party.
In my opinion the remaining right-wing MPs and traditional Tory party supporters need to transfer their allegiance to UKIP to bolster it and make it a viable option.
As a voter I would like to vote for a party that isn't a particular shade of socialism & unfortunately Labour, Lib-Dem and Conservatives are.
It's UKIP for me.
He’s still not listening
ReplyDeleteDon’t take it personally Brian; Cameron is still refusing to listen to anyone he doesn’t agree with!
The services of Justin King, chief executive of J Sainsbury and a vocal critic of the Coalition Government, together with Paul Walsh, Diageo chief executive, Sir Martin Sorrell, boss of WPP Group, Sam Laidlaw, chief executive of Centrica and Sir Mike Rake, chairman of BT and EasyJet, are no longer required on Cameron’s Business Advisory Group.
The committee was established to provide a forum for Mr Cameron to discuss economic, employment and long-term business challenges with executives responsible for employing more than 1m people in Britain.
“The whole process has been abysmally handled,” one departing member said. “It has been shabby and has fomented a negative attitude to Cameron and suggests that he is totally unable to cope with dissenting voices.”
The scale of unhappiness among these executives risks opening a wider rift between the Government and major private sector employers at a time when the economy can ill-afford it.
Brian, you are still being very careful with your words, as of course you are compelled to be. However, I strongly suspect you know very well that the Conservative Party is heading for a monumental defeat at the next GE under Cameron. He has set his course, surrounded himself with like-minded liberal advisors, many of whom (like him) have no experience in the wider world apart from PR. He has never listened to anyone with a different opinion, and will never do so. He and his coterie are bringing down the Party, and he must be removed soon. I just hope a quiet revolution is taking place behind the scenes. Otherwise, you and your fellow MPs will not be forgiven.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I believe it is wishful thinking to hope for a quiet revolution taking place behind the scenes at Tory HQ. Unlike Simon Heffer’s article in today’s Daily Mail I believe the infiltration of left-leaning liberals started long before 1999.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, there has been an on-going battle between the two ideologies within the Conservative party since Ted Heath (in my life-time) was followed by Margret Thatcher and it subsequently spent 20 insignificant years out of power during which time the party has moved zig zag fashion but progressively more & more to the left, so much so, that it now has a clear majority of ‘liberal’ MPs within its cabinet and its general make-up.
The traditional right-wing, who are clearly not happy are sadly in a minority as far as MPs go. As the party loses waves of support on the right it hopes to pick up replacements and more in the crowded centre ground – it’s a risky strategy –Blair pulled it off, but Cameron is no Blair - I don’t think they’re going to succeed.
Simon Heffer is right when he says, ‘their grass roots are in revolt’ and ‘Conservatism, is a legitimate & honourable political doctrine that has done much good for this country. Millions of decent, respectable people subscribe to it. Progressive ‘conservatives’ insult it, and them, at their peril.’
The problem with the current Tory leadership is one of privileged guilt and a lack of moral strength. Simon Heffer identifies the fact that this government wastes £10 billion a year on overseas aid because it doesn’t want to be called racist. It ring-fences money for a wasteful, over-managed NHS because it doesn’t want to be seen attacking the ‘vulnerable’. It squanders money on uneconomic renewable energy projects because it doesn’t want to be accused of ‘destroying the planet’ and tax cuts which would boost our economy won’t be considered because they would be described as ‘favouring their wealthy supporters’.
Waste continues as it did previously under Labour & aggressively inflating the debts away will be next on the agenda (they are already hinting at massively more money printing with Carney). Pensioners on fixed incomes will be particularly hard hit (again). In fact global respect for UK economic strategy, businesses and everyone suffers (we have been here before) but particularly the individuals who have tried to be responsible and provide for themselves.
The only answer I can see is CHANGE.
UKIP grows as voters become disenchanted with the alternative parties.
It was in direct response to the last bout of high inflation running at approximately 25% in 1980/1 that the current agreed 2% level was introduced by government to create stability & to enable successful future economic business planning.
ReplyDelete