ConservativeHome's Interviews

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.

Caroline Spelman

Ross Cowling: "With the failure of John Prescott's flawed plans to set up regional assemblies in England, what can the Conservative Party do to further stop the fragmentation of this country's historical and cultural boundaries?"

The sad truth is that John Prescott’s regional assembly project has actually gathered pace rather than failed – despite the resounding ‘no’ in the North East referendum.  Regional assemblies exist throughout the country and between them and various other regional quangos they are sucking power up from local councils.  Their powers cover things like planning and housing and you will have noticed that the regionalisation of public services such as the police and fire services is also underway.  We have pledged to abolish regional assemblies and return powers to local communities when we get back into power.  In the meantime we are working with Conservative councillors up and down the country campaigning against this regionalisation by stealth.