ConservativeHome's Interviews

Chris Grayling answers your questions...

Chris Grayling, Shadow Secretary of State for Work & Pensions, answers your questions.

Ewan Watt: Where does the government's Flexible New Deal fall short?

At the moment neither Pathways to Work nor the Flexible New Deal offer a real alternative for the 2.6 million current claimants of Incapacity Benefit. Almost all of the current claimants are excluded from the Government's plans. Yet they are by far the biggest welfare challenge we face, and we know that many of those claimants would like help to get back into work. My view about Flexible New Deal is that it is putting some foundation stones in the ground for us in implementing our much more radical proposals. Its other big drawback is the length of time it will take before it kicks in. Normally now people will wait a year before being put onto a return-to-work programme and even then what is on offer will be too limited. That's all much too long. But the whole Government approach is much too tentative, and as such continues to make relatively little difference.

Tony Makara: How do you intend to move the 1.65 million JSA claimants and the 700,000 expected to move from IB onto JSA into the 665,000 jobs that are available at the better end of the economic cycle? Even if all the vacancies are filled you will still be saddled with over a million jobless. What can you do to help a million people find work?

No one pretends that this will happen overnight, but we do know that between two and three million additional jobs have been created in the UK in the past decade. The Government admits that the majority of those jobs have gone to people coming in to this country from overseas. I just think that it makes no sense to have people coming to the UK to work while we have potentially three million or more people who could be back in work. Of course we will not eliminate unemployment, but I think we can and should do much better than we have over the past ten years. That's the whole purpose of our welfare reform proposals. We should improve the support available to help people back into work, but be much tougher on those who are not doing their bit to get back into work. So we will expect them to take part in comprehensive return to work programmes and to accept reasonable job offers - and if they don't they can't expect to carry on receiving out of work benefits.

Jennifer Wells: How can I help in Henley? I'm a full-time mother who can't travel to help you.

There are a number of ways in which you can help us. There are others in your position, and we are keen to get everyone involved. Give us a ring at the campaign office on 0845 230 4026 and we'll sort out what will work for you.

Daniel Emmett-Gulliver: Which is more lamentable: a nation which leaves its children behind, or a nation which refuses to repay the debt it owes to its older generation?

Neither is great - and we will have to do a better job with both. For our children, we need to stop looking at child poverty in such a two dimensional way. Until we address the root causes of poverty, like family breakdown and worklessness, we will never really tackle the problem. For our pensioners, we need a simpler system of support for pensioners on low incomes and to restore the earnings link so we can move more pensioners out of means testing altogether.

Any questions for Chris Grayling?

Chris Grayling is MP for Epsom & Ewell and Shadow Secretary of State for Work & Pensions.  Please use the thread below to ask him any questions or email them to us.

You might like to ask about...

• Today's news that 100,000 more children are living in poverty according to Government measures;
• His latest announcements on welfare reform including 'boot camps' for the young jobless; and
• Chris' role alongside Stephen Gilbert coordinating our campaign in Henley.

Andrew Lansley answers your questions

Andrew Lansley, Shadow Secretary of State for Health, answers our selection of the questions that you asked here.

a-tracy: What do you suggest should happen in the future to doctors surgery hours, in order to facilitate improved service for workers and do you support forward bookings for non-emergency appointments to help with time off from work planning? or do you feel that opening from 0830 to 1700 with limited appointments over lunch periods Monday to Friday was a successful contract negotiation?

We do not want to micro-manage GPs by prescribing in detail their opening hours.  Access and opening hours should be determined by GPs in response to their patients’ needs and choices. We will ensure there are no barriers to the opening of new surgeries, and would reward GPs who choose to deliver services in deprived areas.  Patients should have greater scope to choose their GP and to exercise choice through their GP as budget-holder for their care. 

Kate Bollinger: A lot of candidates campaign against the closure or transferral of services at big hospitals. Does this sometimes go against the party's decentralising principles?

No, on the contrary, giving patients and the public a real voice over the provision of local health services is at the heart of the party’s decentralising principles. If brought forward in legislation, our NHS Autonomy and Accountability White Paper would strengthen patient and public engagement through LINKs and ‘HealthWatch’ – a new national consumer voice for patients to impact upon policy-making and decision-making. 

Grant Shapps MP answers your questions

Grant Shapps, Shadow Minister for Housing, answers the questions you asked here (sorry for the delay).

NigelC: Is the Green Belt safe under the Conservatives? Labour talk about maintaining the total acreage by compensatory additions when one site is redesignated for building. This defeats the purpose of the Green belt in containing urban sprawl and encouraging urban regeneration. Do the Conservatives recognise the real benefits the Green Belt brings in forcing hard planning decisions for our towns and cities? 

Yes we will rigorously protect the Green Belt and won’t pull the wool over people’s eyes by saying that we’re enlarging it, whilst simultaneously deleting parts and creating new green belt where there’s no real development pressure. The only caveat to this very firm policy would be if local people wanted to use Green Belt for a community based facility. I’m thinking here of the kind of development that may well provide a community sports facility on Green Belt in my own constituency. This would be subject to all the safeguards that you would expect, including final sign-off by the Secretary of State. The message would be simple though. We’ll protect the Green Belt and we won’t play tricks by deleting one part and creating it elsewhere in the country.

Secondly will the Conservatives abolish regional plans (whether drawn up by regional assemblies or regional development agencies) and return to county structure plans and district local plans?

Yes. We’ll scrap the Regional Assemblies, as the Government have now said that they will do. But rather than giving those powers to the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs), we will hand the powers to Local Authorities either at Parish, District or County level as appropriate.

Our entire approach to planning will emphasise bottom up, rather than top down and so it’s only natural for decision making to happen through incentivised local communities, rather than because Whitehall knows best.

The public are savvy. They understand that the power of locally elected Councillors has been diminished over the years and none more so because of the growth of Regional Quangos. Last year I completed a piece of research which demonstrated that the cost of Regional Government, by which I mean just administering it, had hit £1m per day. Centrally inspired, unelected and pen-pushingly bureaucratic, this regional approach to governing us uniquely distant from everyday lives. We’ll scrap this structure and in the process give people good reasons to go out and vote for local councillors who will once again have real power over what happens in our own communities.

Any questions for Andrew Lansley?

A previous Director of the Conservative Research Department and coordinator of 1999's successful European Elections campaign, Andrew Lansley has been MP for Cambridgeshire South since 1997 and Shadow Secretary of State for Health since November 2003.

David Cameron recently took the unusual step of saying that Mr Lansley will be Secretary of State for Health in his first hoped-for Government.

Please leave your questions for Mr Lansley in the thread below or email them to us.

Caroline Spelman answers your questions...

Party Chairman Caroline Spelman answers our selection of the questions that you asked her here.

Jim: Caroline, can we have your assurance that making our voter software "fit for purpose" with Associations and Branches is in your top 5 priorities?

It's certainly one of my top priorities. Rolling out new software is never straightforward and there will be glitches, but having seen the advantages that the new system has to offer I'm certain it will be worth it. To be fair, our IT department are putting in a Herculean effort to get it up and running as quickly and easily as possible but complications will arise as they do with any organization embarking on an IT project of that scale.

James Maskell: Does the Conservative Party have any plans to make membership of the Party more affordable?

We've got some ideas in the pipeline for membership which you will hear about next year, but in terms of membership rates we do have the lowest standard suggested membership amongst the three main political parties. £25 is the rate at which we charge members who wish to join centrally, and it is the annual rate we suggest associations charge, but in line with our aim to devolve more power to local associations they have the right to vary the membership fees as long as a small registration figure is paid to CCHQ for each member in order to cover administration.

Alex Swanson: When is the leadership going to start appreciating and listening to the membership and activists instead of, as currently seems to be the case, regarding them only as an embarrassing and potentially dispensable source of money and election manhours?

When I was first elected in 1997 it was on a recount with a majority of just 582 so I am acutely aware and appreciative of the work done by our members and activists. Far from being embarrassing or dispensable I want the Party to invest in its members and activists so that there is a greater sense of unity and people feel their involvement with the Party is a genuine two way street. We are already making good progress, not least through Don Porter's tireless efforts in bringing CCHQ and the voluntary party closer together. As you may know the Conservative Policy Forum was established in 1945 and is still going strong. Just last month David Cameron wrote a letter of response to all CPF members in response to their latest submission. In addition our Stand Up Speak Up consultation on the policy group reports also marked a genuine commitment to engage with everyone interested in the Conservatives about the issues that matter to them.

Michael Gove answers your questions

Michael Gove, Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, answers your questions.

David Belchamber: "Mr Gove, having spent most of my working life in an around schools - mainly independent - might I raise the question of grant maintained status? I had the pleasure of meeting you in Desmond Swayne's constituency and I probably asked you the same question then. Why don't the Tories pledge to reintroduce GM schools? They worked very well and drove up standards by the simple expedient of cutting out the middle man."

David, I remember our meeting and it’s nice to hear from you again.

Grant-maintained schools were a great success, and the principle which underpinned them – greater autonomy to pursue excellence – is still at the heart of our schools policy.  Tony Blair revived a watered-down version of GM schools as ‘Trust Schools’, and we supported the Education & Inspections Act which introduced them last year.  In our Green Paper we outlined proposals for more new schools within the state sector - New Academies - which would have even more freedoms than the GM schools did. And we will be developing more policy ideas in the New Year which build on the principle of reducing bureaucratic control.

James Maskell: "Why has the Conservative Party been so very quiet about the very serious issue of looked-after-children?"

My apologies if our concerns haven’t been communicated clearly enough. My colleagues Tim Loughton and Trish Morris have worked immensely hard to improve Government policy in this area and their tireless campaigning on behalf of some of the most vulnerable in our society deserves more credit. It's part of my job in the future to ensure their efforts are rewarded.

Tim has recently highlighted the unhappy fact that the gap between the educational attainment of looked-after children and other children is widening and has made the case for urgent action to address educational under-achievement among those in care. Tim has also conducted a review of social work policy, and how it affects vulnerable children, which made a series of concrete suggestions about how we can build more stability into the lives of children who have been at risk and have been taken into care. 

I am also, personally, particularly keen to explore every avenue we can to provide children currently in institutional surroundings with the warmth of family life and its an issue I touched on in my maiden speech.

The government is currently bringing forward a Bill to address some of the problems and both Trish and Tim will work hard to amend it to reflect our priorities.

Any questions for Caroline Spelman?

Caroline last answered your questions in June 2006 when she was Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

In the June 2007 Shadow Cabinet reshuffle Caroline was appointed to replace as Francis Maude as Party Chairman and is happy to now answer your questions on that brief.

Please leave your questions in the thread below or email them to the editors.  A selection of the questions will then be put to Mrs Spelman.

Any questions for Michael Gove?

I'm seeking questions for Michael Gove, Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families.  Michael has agreed to answer questions not just on his brief but on any political topic.

You may want to ask about the recent education announcements or his book, Celsius 7/7.

Please leave your questions in the thread below or email them to me.

I will then select a dozen of the questions and pass them to Michael to be answered.

Cheryl Gillan answers your questions

Cheryl Gillan MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, answers the questions that you asked here.

Tony Makara: Is there a danger that a vote on devolution in Scotland could trigger a break-away trend in Wales too and if so how could that be countered?

Tony I think you mean if there was a vote on independence not devolution, as there is already a Parliament in Scotland.

I do not believe there is any real appetite for independence in Scotland or indeed in Wales. When you really think it through, it does not make any sense to break up the world's fifth largest economy and we could sacrifice our position at the top in international arena such as the UN and even Europe.

Wales, although a proud Nation, is also inextricably linked to England in so many ways and I have never been asked to press for independence by anyone I have met over the past 2 years. I think Wales and for that matter Scotland is stronger and better placed as part of the United Kingdom. When we are facing challenges in the future from emerging economies like China and India we need a united front.

 Tax cutter: What do you think can be done to overcome an often illogical anti-Tory bias in Wales?

The Labour party and for that matter the other parties have always sought to paint the Conservatives as anti-Wales, as if supporting the Union is somehow anti the constituent countries of the Union. That for me is an enormous lie.

What concerns me is that Wales is still the poorest part of the UK and I would hope that so many of our developing policies would help lift many families in Wales and build on the strength and determination which is, to me, such an obvious national characteristic. I would hope that our policies on tackling social breakdown and on helping people achieve their aspirations would appeal to voters. I and the tremendous and growing Welsh team of politicians and candidates for the next council elections and the Westminster elections (whenever the PM finds the courage to call it) will be doing our best to show that our plans are quite simply the best for the people and families in Wales.

Paul Oginsky answers your questions

Paul Oginsky of the Young Adult Trust answers a selection of questions that you asked here.

Pisaboy:  Great speech at conference Paul. I remember you saying you were in the Paras- My favourite part of the idea is the military service bit. Do you think that could be a bigger element than currently proposed without it putting strain on our forces?

Every sector (including the military) has something to offer and something to gain from NCS. The military’s contribution will be focused in the ‘challenge’ section of the programme where they have a great deal of expertise. In this way NCS will not overstretch the military and it will become one of the most enjoyable and rewarding parts of service life. It is also recognized however that ex-service personnel have an enormous amount to offer throughout the NCS programme.

Baskerville: Would you agree that a National Citizenship Service should not be organised centrally, but locally? My preference would be to base it on counties, but I'd like to hear your views. Also, what should be the public/private/charitable mix and how would you ensure it was achieved?

You have correctly identified some of the key questions for the implementation of NCS. We have set up an accreditation working group lead by Joe Gordon of PricewaterhouseCoopers to ensure effective local delivery and the successful businessman Kim Taylor Smith is leading a working group which will make recommendations on logistical systems.

Anthony Broderick: A lot of schools seem to be keen on cutting down their summer holidays and spreading the holiday time throughout the rest of the year. Wouldn't that be a fly in the ointment for this? I'd love to see this as a compulsory gap year that gave people life experience (and I agree that military training should be a big part), but I suppose you ruled that out for being too radical?

As the programme becomes embedded, schools, business, the voluntary sector, the military and everyone will recognize the hugely positive impact it will be having on British life. They will get behind the collective effort and play their part in its delivery. NCS does have some key elements but beyond them the programme is meant to be flexible and as such it will adaptable to local need and to any changes in the school term.

Any questions for Cheryl Gillan MP?

Cheryl Gillan is MP for Chesham and Shadow Secretary of State for Wales

Cheryl was Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Lord Privy Seal, Leader of the House of Lords from 1994 until July 1995. In July 1995 she was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Education and Employment.

She was appointed Frontbench Spokesman for Trade and Industry in June 1997, and in June 1998, she was appointed Frontbench Spokesman for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. From September 2001 to June 2003, she was an Opposition Whip. In December 2003, she was appointed a Shadow Minister for Home, Constitutional & Legal Affairs.

Any questions for Paul Oginsky?

Paul Oginsky co-founded the now well-established Weston Spirit organisation with Simon Weston back in 1987 and remains Vice-President. After establishing a company that supports organisations that seek to foster positive social interaction, he was appointed Chief Executive of the Young Adult Trust in October 2006. The YAT was launched by David Cameron and began its work reviewing various age limits.

More recently it was largely responsible for the thinking behind Cameron's National Citizenship proposals for a course for 16 olds that could include volunteering abroad, military service, and an oath of citizenship. Download the full proposals here.

Pauline Neville-Jones answers your questions

Pauline Neville-Jones answers all of the questions asked of her here.

Michael Mcgough: Are you in favour of the new constitutional/amending/reform treaty?

Let’s be clear about the Reform Treaty.  It is the Constitution in all but name and almost every European leader has said that 90% of the content is the same.  The Conservative Party promised a referendum on it because of the powers it would transfer to the EU.  Promises should be kept.

As for my own feelings about the Treaty, I am not a eurosceptic. But I am not happy with this document. I do not believe, for instance, that it is in the best interests of the United Kingdom that our ability to represent ourselves in the world, to conduct business directly and to cast votes- and vetoes- in the UN Security Council on fundamental issues of war and peace, should be displaced by a proxy.  These are not rights and duties we should be giving away.

James Burdett: Whilst embroiled in the Cold War and then ecstatic at its conclusion, almost everyone missed the growth of Al-Qaeda based terrorism. Where should we be looking to avoid the danger of repeating the mistake, that with the massive focus on the current Al-Qaeda and associated threats we miss the emerging security threats?

I agree that the threat of terrorism is the most serious threat to the UK now.  But there are other important threats we can clearly identify. Proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, especially nuclear is one, exemplified by Iran’s refusal to come clean about her nuclear programme or to honour her commitments under the NPT to allow inspection.

Down the road, one can see the risk of renewed interstate warfare of a more “conventional” kind. Issues disputes over borders or resources could spark war as pressure on natural commodities – such as water - grow.  Climate change, if extreme, leading to loss of landmass and big migrations of people could generate tension and even fighting.  In a globalised economy, even if the location of the conflict is far away, British interests are likely to be involved and our security could be threatened. We need active policies to protect our interests and reduce the likelihood of war.

Any questions for Pauline Neville-Jones?

For over thirty years Pauline Neville-Jones was a career diplomat serving in Rhodesia, Singapore, Washington, Bonn and the European Commission.

In 1991 she was appointed Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Defence and Overseas Secretariat in the Cabinet Office. After a brief stint as Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee she became Political Director in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from 1994 until her retirement, where she led the British delegation to the Dayton negotiations on the Bosnia peace settlement.

Since then she has held senior positions in NatWest, the BBC and Qinetiq before being  appointed by David Cameron to head the Conservative Party's National and International Security Policy Group. Read its findings here. This summer Pauline was also appointed Shadow Security Minister and National Security Adviser to the Leader of the Opposition.

Boris Johnson answers your questions

ConservativeHome selected some of the questions you recently asked and Boris Johnson answers them below.

Liz Stevenson: Can you bring back the Routemaster? If not, what will you replace 'bendy buses' with? The money has been spent on them now and I think most 'Londoners' have moved on. Don't you think that the most pressing transport issue is over crowding on the tubes? Do you have a policy on addressing this?

We need (A) to get Crossrail built as soon as possible, since it will ferry 72,000 people East-west every day. We need (B) to move on from the Metronet fiasco and get the Tube upgraded, jettisoning all ideological posturing about the financing arrangements. We need (C) to prise the thumbs of the RMT from the neck of London's transport system, and I see no reason why we should be able to make a mobile phone the size of a credit card and not be able (D) to introduce air conditioning in the Tube. It is also vital (E) to improve the overground rail links, for instance by connecting the North London line with the South West of the city.

I do indeed intend to phase out the bendy buses and replace them with a new version of the Routemaster, a beautiful and iconic machine which would gladden the hearts of Londoners and be so popular as (F) to help further to alleviate pressure on the Tube.

We also need to make it easier for people to switch between modes of transport, so that they can take bikes on trains… but there will be much more on this and other matters if I am lucky enough to get the nomination.

Any questions for Boris Johnson?

Boris Johnson... MP for Henley... Telegraph columnist... former Spectator Editor... Have I Got News For You? presenter... cyclist... and now the Tory who wants to be Mayor of London.

Please leave the questions you'd like Boris Johnson to answer in the thread below.  We'll then choose a large number of those questions and submit them to him for answers by early next week.

The other candidates have already answered questions: Andrew Boff, Victoria Borwick and Warwick Lightfoot.

Matthew D'Ancona answers your questions

The Editor of the Spectator answers the questions you asked him.

Matthew’s Dad: Having read Campbell's diary, it occurs to me again that Cameron's Tories- who's tactical thrust I massively support- still lack the essential fire in their bellies and thirst for power that Campbell so vividly describes in the upper echelons of New Labour from 1994 onwards. "Heir to Blair" comments and giving the War Criminal a standing ovation in the Commons were huge tactical mistakes. Would you agree?

I think Cameron has returned from the summer holidays with – at last – a clear sense of mission, having recognised that it is not enough to be liked. He exudes an urgency which was lacking before the recess. Long may it continue.   

Graeme Archer: Are you writing another novel?

Yes, but much too slowly!

- Why don't you sack Taki? (just joking).

Taki is a superstar and I love him dearly. 

- If Lloyd Evans leaves, may I apply to become the Hackney-based theatre critic?

Well, you can certainly apply, but I hope Lloyd doesn’t leave!

Andrew Boff answers your questions

Mayoral hopeful Andrew Boff answers the questions you posed on Wednesday.

Les: "As a person with an impressive track record in local government, I wonder how you feel about the Conservative party's various attempts to push seemingly unqualified 'celebrities' into the role.  To me, this says that winning the Mayoral election is more important to the party than any competence that the candidate might bring to the actual job."

Celebrity is temporary, passion and principles are forever. There is nothing wrong with celebrities standing for public office and we should welcome newcomers to the party but they must have clear ideas about what it is they want to do. The public are not stupid; they know the difference between 'Big Brother' and an election for a serious political post.

malcolm: "What would be your top priority be Andrew?  And what do you see as Livingstone's biggest blunder?"

Democratic renewal. The Tory party is about liberation or it is nothing. The steps I have announced about voters initiatives, where the people can take direct control over the direction of policy, and providing support for locally expressed wishes for smaller local authorities puts power back in the hands of the people. The political class hate the idea. I think non-conservatives, when expressing their second preferences and wanting to see a door open for their opinions to be expressed, will rather like it.

Livingstone's most telling blunder (perhaps not his biggest though) was the western expansion of the Congestion charge zone. Not so much because of the effect that this had on transport but the contempt he displayed by making it plain that he wasn't going to listen to residents. A Boff Mayoralty will be one that gives people the power to have real influence over such schemes.

Any questions for Andrew Boff?

Andrew Boff is one of the four shortlisted candidates for the Conservative nomination for London Mayor.  He was second-placed in yesterday's ConservativeHome survey of London Tories.

A Londoner all his life, Andrew runs an IT consultancy and is publisher of EASTeight magazine. He and his partner, who registered their civil partnership in December 2005, live in Hackney.

Andrew is the secretary of the BMTRA, a social enterprise which, by managing London's most successful community-run market, Broadway Market, regenerates the area.

Andrew led Hillingdon Conservatives to victory against the national trend in 1990 and was Chief Whip of the London Boroughs Association. In 1993 he co-founded the “Civic Skills” consultancy. He contested Hornsey and Wood Green in 1992 and stood for the European Parliament for Lewisham, Southwark and Greenwich.

He was GLA candidate for Hackney, Islington and Waltham Forest in 2004. In 2005 he won a solid Labour seat on Hackney Council at a by-election and a year later more than trebled the party's vote over the previous full Borough elections.

If you have any questions for Andrew please leave them in the thread below.