Monday, 8 February 2010
My hopes for the election
The election will bring with it the real possibility of the first Conservative election victory since 1992 and the first time the Tories have defeated an incumbent Labour Government since 1979. The Conservatives were in power for about 70 years of the last century, dominating the political landscape, being out of power was the exception. The fact that we are now on the verge of getting back into power, ten years into this new century, means that at least we are ahead of where we were a hundred years ago – it took the Tories until 1922 to wrest the reins of power away from the Liberals.
As well as having an eye on the electoral history of our Party, we must also ensure that we learn the lessons of those past battles. The Conservatives win from the centre ground, when our policies chime with the hopes and ambitions of the British people. Whether it was Baldwin reshaping Conservative attitudes to social issues, Churchill reversing Tory antipathy to the welfare state or even Thatcher modernising the nation's economy, Conservatives govern best and win elections when battling over the centre-ground, not when indulging in cult-like reverence to fringe issues.
I know that the modern, liberal and progressive Conservative Party will campaign positively for real change in the election. We have a duty to fight for the poorest in our society, to fix Britain's social problems, provide excellent public services and target extra help and support to those who need it most. I want to see more emphasis on a fair taxation system, one which removes the burden from the lowest paid. I want to see our Leadership prioritising the protection of the NHS, education and children's services from the worst of the inevitably large cuts in public spending. I want our Party to be seen by working people as being "on their side".
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Progressive means big government,progressive means more nanny state. progressive means you know best. 13 years of labour, 4000 new laws, lying about global warming, second hand smoke eating, drinking, seatbelts anything to save a life but keeps our solders fighting a war that is total crap and nothing to do saving people in Britan just more control. If the Torys do win and carry on with the progressive agenda it will be a one term gov and a real broken Britian that will rise from miss goverment. Labour have tried and failed, to try again would be utter madness.But then again progressives no best LOL!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe Tories will never be on the side of the working people, how will inheritance tax cuts help the voters of Swansea West?? Also the Tories voted against the minimum wage and want to withdraw from the social chapter.
ReplyDeleteTories will always protect the interests of the wealthy.
Is it your Welsh outlook that spurred you on to use a derogatory term of "little Englander" some unionist you are pal.
ReplyDelete@Tally I think you commented in the wrong post. The term "little Englander" was used against those who wish to break the Union by claiming that England would be better off out of the UK
ReplyDeleteWe clearly have someone here who is on the sane fringe of the Conservatives, and it would not surprise me if you have a progressive opinion on devolution and getting a proper Parliament for Wales.
ReplyDeleteHowever, where you're mistaken is in your outlook on getting a fairer taxation system. The Tories support the same economic system that broke down a year or two ago, resulting in the huge spending cuts.
Do you welcome the fact that the private sector completely failed and needed to be rescued? Do you believe they (specifically the banks) owe us (the people) anything in return for our support?
@Illtyd Luke thanks for your comment. I do indeed support a more sensible devolution settlement for Wales, including supporting the proposals from the All Wales Convention (which had Tory representation on it, of course).
ReplyDeleteThe Conservatives have made it clear that bankers need to be restrained in terms of mega bonuses at a time when they really are still in "pay back" time to the taxpayer for the bail out.
Thanks Rene- would that restraint be at the level Alistair Darling has advocated, or higher at the level that Barack Obama's administration are undertaking? Or somewhere in between?
ReplyDeleteI don't think the Conservatives have made it clear at all. I've heard more from them about cutting the deficit. They (the Tories) have absconded from taking on the government over the collapse of the banks, because they essentially support deregulation and the free market even though it has failed. It worries me, especially as you do look set to win.