Anti-politician strategy the right way forward
It's become a bit of a cliche to describe a blog entry as "must read", but in the case of Guido's post on David Cameron's strategy, it's true. Readers who have followed the TPA's polling will notice some familiar themes - taking a stand against Westminster, running from 'outside the beltway'. Take a look at slide 48 from our September 2006 conference poll. If this turns out to be part of a longer term strategy, the Conservatives are spot on.
Those interested in the evolution of this debate should also read this paper by Dominic Cummings and James Frayne who wrote it while running the successful No campaign in the referendum on the North East Regional Assembly in November 2004 - the only electoral test so far of a political campaign using the "anti-politician" message. Dominic Cummings is now an adviser to Michael Gove MP.
But The Tories always have been an intrinsic part of the Establishment.
Why would anyone believe we're suddenly outsiders?
Posted by: Martin Coxall | February 28, 2008 at 13:47
DC's best strategy is to call in Oliver Cromwell, have an Augean cleansing on a Stalin scale, and then, we can start again.
Posted by: George Hinton | February 28, 2008 at 15:13
I do hope Cameron will see this one through. .
I'm sure that some of his colleagues will be urging caution because there are skeletons everywhere. But the time for caution has passed. The public is sickened by the incompetence and self-serving behaviour that they see. They expect it to be dealt with. If leaders do not address it - wherever it arises - they become guilty by association.
A real effort to clean up would resonate throughout the country.
Posted by: deborah | February 28, 2008 at 17:01
"But The Tories always have been an intrinsic part of the Establishment.
Why would anyone believe we're suddenly outsiders?"
The old Establishment has been overtaken by a new breed that doesn't believe in following the rules. Along with New Labour we got the New Establishment running the government agencies, quangos etc which rule our lives.
If people are to believe conservatives are on their side they need to see
Action to demolish the quangos and reassert the proper democratic process
+Action to make public servants accountable
+Action to sort out the gravy train
+Openness and transparency rather than cover-up
It's not rocket science
Posted by: deborah | February 28, 2008 at 17:41
Deborah's point about the New Establishment is central to understanding how the country now works.
I quote from the latest Salisbury Review editorial: "The crony businesses allied to the present government and the ubiquitous QUANGOs get some bad press, mainly in Private Eye, but Vivian Linacre dissects in one small area, Perthshire, the Quasi-Autonomous Local Authority Partnerships, the QUALAPs that sound so appropriately like malignant tumours. We have become a post-democratic State, with unelected and unaccountable bureaucracy above, in Brussels, and below, at every level."
http://www.salisburyreview.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=440&Itemid=28
Now is the time for Conservatives to be enemies of big government and seize the zeitgeist (note the cunning use of Lefty terms).
Posted by: Mark B | February 28, 2008 at 18:24
I think there is a real opportunity to look at how things are done as well as what we would do. I was very impressed with the localism approach. The public really are concerned the system is broken and are wanting change. Conservatism is about sticking up for people and facilitating opportunity so as many people can get on in the world as possible.
Posted by: Matt Wright | February 28, 2008 at 22:30
All of this is correct but its a bit motherhood and apple pie . Its obvious.
As for Cummings and Frayne be very sceptical. Its been shown elsewhere that their role in the north east referendum was nowehere near the level they claimed. The battle had effectively already been won before they arrived.
Cummings and the Tories have not been a very good combonation for some time. very surprising he is back.
Posted by: kow tow | February 29, 2008 at 00:39
Politicians posing as anti-politicians? Great - Let's make the voters even more cynical!
Posted by: Anti-Political troll | February 29, 2008 at 00:57
Spot the trolls at the witching hour.
If it is motherhood and apple pie and obvious, why haven't the Labour party done anything about it?
Posing as anti-politicians?
We've had quite enough posing from New Labour to last us a lifetime, thank you. What we are actually talking about is real, value based politicians sorting out the show.
The public are crying out for this. Show them some action and they will be with us all the way.
Posted by: councillor | February 29, 2008 at 08:22
Dominic Cummings is a god amongst mortals.
Posted by: Chase Olivarius-McAllister | March 14, 2008 at 15:09