Donal Blaney: How to build on this momentous weekend

Donal Blaney, Chief Executive of the Young Britons' Foundation and the author of Blaney's Blaney, offers ten lessons to be learnt if we are to keep our momentum.

Last Friday was Gordon Brown's 100th day as Prime Minister having spent 13 years licking his wounds after the Granita Pact with Tony Blair. It was the moment he had dreamt of for decades. Brown's spokesmen made a great deal of wanting to have a whirlwind first one hundred days. You wouldn't think so now, would you? It is a safe bet to say that with his decision not to call a general election, the climax to his first 100 days in office won't be forgotten soon.

Conservatives are rightly ecstatic that an election they feared last weekend they would lose, and which would probably had led to a fresh round of blood-letting, has been avoided. Such was the turnaround in the polls that the Tories have even swung into the lead. Much of the reason for the Tories' success in the past week rests on the fact that, at last, Team Cameron realised that the Party's strategy had been unbalanced. Tim Montgomerie has rightly and repeatedly called for the adoption of "the and theory" - rather than for a continued unbalanced strategy based on false choices.

Announcements that reconnected the Party's leadership with its grassroots - and with voters - on crime, immigration, education and tax are what have rescued the Tories from electoral disaster and fostered a new sense of unity and purpose. Having successfully shown Gordon Brown to have been partisan, inept, underhand and lacking courage, the Tories need to learn the lessons of the past 2 years, and in particular the past few months when panic set in. With that in mind, here are my suggestions as to how the Tories can best build on this weekend's momentous events.

1. Continue to campaign on traditional as well as non-traditional conservative themes.

Having successfully decontaminated the "Conservative brand", David Cameron has earned the right to be listened to and trusted by voters. He is self-evidently a decent, well-meaning and compassionate man. It is for this reason that last week's announcements - particularly on Inheritance Tax and Stamp Duty - were not able to be portrayed convincingly by Labour as likely to lead to massive cuts in public services. The same is true for the Party's policies on crime, immigration and education.

2. Remain on the offensive against Gordon Brown.

Brown's position as omnipotent leader is now less secure. Labour MPs, the media and other natural Brown allies will be looking at Brown in a different way after the past week, no longer reverential or intimidated. The Conservative Party needs to keep up the pressure but in such a way as not to provoke Labour to unite against the Tories - it was Brown's intimation of an early election that, of course, successfully reunited the Tories to such dramatic effect this past week.

3. Do not underestimate Gordon Brown again.

Too many people convinced themselves that once Brown became Prime Minister, voters would see he was dour and ineffective and the Tories could coast to victory. They were wrong. While Brown may have decided not to call an early election, he can hardly be discounted as a busted flush. His ruthless streak, honed from his time as Chancellor when all challengers to his eventual succession of Tony Blair fell by the wayside to the "clunking fist", will be back on display as early as Tuesday with some undoubted sweeteners being offered to his backbenchers and to the electorate in the Comprehensive Spending Review. Tories need to remain united and to hold their collective nerve.

4. Stop gratuitously attacking the Tory Right.

Tony Blair successfully led his party to the centre ground by ensuring his party's traditionalists broadly came with him. Project Cameron has hitherto seen an pointless and self-defeating desire to pick fights with the Conservative Party's traditionalists. There is more than enough meat now on the bones for traditionalists to see that a Cameron-led Conservative government - while not perfect - would go a considerable way towards reducing the role of the state in people's lives. So don't pick any more fights with the Right and the Right will stay on side.

5. Learn from the Quentin Davies fiasco.

Those advising David Cameron, and even Cameron himself, need to show more consideration and common courtesy towards their parliamentary colleagues. It's not rocket science. Had the likes of Quentin Davies, John Bercow and Patrick Mercer been made to feel more wanted, Davies' defection and the advisory positions taken by Bercow and Mercer could possibly have been avoided. One new MP mentioned to me last week that the last time David Cameron spoke to him was to ask for his vote in the 2005 leadership election. This is unacceptable. Making all parliamentarians feel part of the Project is essential if future problems are to be avoided.

6. Appoint someone in Team Cameron to handle coalition relations.

As the conservative movement in Britain grows at an impressive rate, Team Cameron likewise need to ensure that the members of the conservative movement, and in particular its leaders, are kept in the loop and feel they have a channel of communication to the Party leadership. The appointment of someone with a role similar to Tim Goeglein at the White House (who is in charge of White House relations with the conservative coalition) will help ensure the broader conservative movement remains if not wholly on side then at least broadly on side, thereby avoiding future misunderstandings and rows.

7. Ensure maximum commitment from the Shadow Cabinet.

While most members of the Shadow Cabinet are pulling their weight and working incredibly hard to help propel the Party back to power, some are rarely in the press, on television, in the country or, frankly, making any impact at all. Alastair Campbell's diaries show the level of discipline, effort and sacrifice necessary if power is to be achieved. Those unable or unwilling to put in the requisite effort should make way for those will.

8. Maximise the perception of change among candidates.

This does not mean reverting to a discriminatory A-list but instead is a call for those candidates, or sitting and restanding MPs, to show a maximum level of commitment to promoting the dynamic message of the Party to voters. While recognising the need for the Party's MPs to comprise a wide spread of ages and experience, those MPs whose best years are behind them (known perhaps unfairly as "bedblockers") should make way for hungry and committed candidates of all ages whose best years are ahead of them.

9. Ensure activists are ready for the fight.

As the largest political party in Britain, the Conservatives ought to be able to count on a vibrant number of committed and well-trained activists. If only. The Party needs to ensure that its activists are energised, motivated and trained. The days of the happy amateur are past. Younger activists are trained by the likes of the Young Britons' Foundation but more seasoned activists too need to be trained on the latest campaigning techniques if victory is to be guaranteed when polling day comes. The fearsome professionalism of the New Labour campaign machine can only be beaten if the Party's activists are on top of their game.

10. Recommit the Party to politics.

Most activists joined the Conservative Party because they are interested in politics. The demise of CPC discussion groups and the sheer lack of political discussion or thought within the Party's base should be addressed. Handling carefully so as not to encourage factionalism or dissent, the reinvigoration of political discussion within the Party will help ensure that activists truly understand the Party's policy platform thereby energising them further for the election itself (whenever that may now be).

Now is not the time for the Party's leadership, or its activists, to indulge in self-congratulation over this weekend's events. It is the time for the Party's leadership, parliamentarians and activists to heave a collective sigh of relief and rededicate themselves to achieving victory. David Cameron was right when he said that a Tory election victory would amount to a victory for Britain. Now the real battle begins.

Comments

[Editor]

An excellent piece, Donal. Proud to have published it.

[Simon Newman]

"Much of the reason for the Tories' success in the past week rests on the fact that, at last, Team Cameron realised that the Party's strategy had been unbalanced. Tim Montgomerie has rightly and repeatedly called for the adoption of "the and theory" - rather than for a continued unbalanced strategy based on false choices. "

Agree 100%. I have not been happy with Cameron, but I have to congtratulate him and his people for what is clearly a major Tory victory. I hope to see them build on this and create a sensible, balanced manifesto that deals with the real issues of concern to the British electorate - the Morrisons/Asda voter (and the Netto/Lidl/Aldis voter!) as well as the Waitrose/M&S voter.

[Chad Noble]

Spot on Donal.

The biggest risk, imho, is your last point, in that activists start getting cocky and believing that victory is now secured, when in fact this will only be a turning point if, as you note, the Cameroons treat the traditionalists with *equal* respect by meeting their needs (and not simply demanding 'loyalty').

The last thing you need is cocky Cameroon 'we were right all along' rubbish, when clearly it has been the move to a balanced agenda that has achieved so much in the past week.

No more 'delusional' or 'dinosaur' insults and surely now is the time to appoint David Davis as deputy leader to cement the balanced agenda?

[Teesbridge]

Sound analysis.

This weekend the Party has pulled off a Dunkirk-class surprise, but it's emphatically not a victory.

[Teck Khong]

Well said, and all the points listed are those that the Conservative Party with an illustrious history and the mantle of responsibility to deliver for the people of Britain yearning for a brighter better future must logically embrace.

Above all the noteworthy policies that received public approbation, the two key elements of the turnaround in Conservative fortunes are undoubtedly unity and David Cameron.

Talking with many floating voters post-Blackpool, I have been encouraged that these points are indeed what they will identify with and that a coherent strategy must now be built up, as Donal Blaney succinctly listed.

Blackpool marked the watershed. Harvesting all the hitherto untapped and unrecognised talents, and developing further policies around unifying factors would consolidate our position.

The future is blue, or blueish green, but unmistakably Conservative!

[Henry Mayhew - Ukipper]

That is possibly the best piece I have ever read on CH.

For crying out loud - do find a way to get Ukippers back on board as part of a wider conservative coalition. We aren't interested in rejoining a pro-EU party but you might be able to con us into a mercy-f***k. Keep going with the pro-referendum stunts and ask us along.

I'll definitely stand at the next election. The question is whether it will be in a Tory marginal. If Cam continues to abuse us with the socialist dialectic of "closet racism", well, I...I'll get very upset!

Finally, the right-wing education divide will cool rapidly with Gove in charge. Looking good. Well done boys. We do all want change, but just will not agree to selling out our democracy any longer. Show us a path of alliance that makes more sense than division.

[Victoria P]

Fantastic and much needed piece Donal. What you say about activism is especially true, and you rightly draw upon American methods (they are so much ahead of us on a lot of things) to help propel the Conservatives to power.
As Teebridge remarked, we have won the battle but not the war. If Cameron were to take heed of advice like this then he will be able to slowly whittle away at Gordon Brown and dismantle him bit by bit.

[HF]

I agree with all of Donal's points but there are 5 others of equal importance.

1. Sustain the improvement in media relations. Mr Coulson has been excellent but he needs support. Last week 3 people let BBC journalists down. (Davis, Osbourne, Lait). Also tackle the Mail, Sun, Times and Telegraph problems with charm. Use the 18 months starting now.

2. Get the Scottish Tories improved. They are disorganised and letting the rest of the party down. They had few candidates for this election!

3. Stop the foot in mouth problems of the serial offenders like Willets and Letwin. e.g. Letwin's "drug dealers are victims" comment.

4. Find a way to utilise the Tory old guard of Tebbit and Co. Some older and wiser heads at CCHQ would also help. Idle hands lead to trouble.

5. Thank Lord Ashcroft and let him continue on the marginals. His team are doing great work.

[Chad Noble]

Henry,

Interestingly, if Brown holds off until 2009 (or later), with the euro elections too, then Cameron will have no choice but to ensure the EPP withdrawal pledge is cemented in his manifesto before we trust him with our vote.

Action speaks so much louder than words.

That could well be the best option for us eu-realists as it will prevent a quiet u-turn later once the votes have been received and will be pivotal in the marginal vote-splitting agenda you describe.

It is time to bring ukippers onside with some warm words of reconciliation and allegiance for a common battle.

There is clearly no room whatsoever for non-delivery of the 2009 EPP withdrawal pledge and early delivery could make all the difference.

[Roger Taylor]

This is indeed only a starting point; the real battles lie ahead. What is needed now is the very clear and coherent development of specific policies. And, please let’s not forget that the latest brand of ‘Cameronism’ is just that so far. He needs to show that he can stick to, and build upon, principles.

I have commented elsewhere that the leadership are already falling into a voluntary and wholly unnecessary trap. By tying themselves into fiscal neutrality on things like IHT (matching tax cuts in one area with notionally offsetting increases elsewhere), they are taking away essential flexibility and providing an obvious target for attack. Labour has built a massive government machine. The Tories should commit to dismantling it. That is the route by which lower taxation is achieved. The core public services need not be adversely affected in any way. This, along with coherence on other basic principles and policies is what is needed now. Much work remains to be done.

[Henry Mayhew - Ukipper]

Chad,

I don't need to tell him what to do in any precise way. Maybe EPP-stuff has too many costly implications in Euro-negotiations.

Let him come up with a gesture he is happy to make. How about a speech on the topic of "ever closer union" and an invitation to work together on some policy and a couple of stunts.

[David Belchamber]

An excellent piece, Donal, and the comments from Chad at 09.52, Henry Mayhew at 11.00 and HF's additional five comments should also be noted.
Gordon Brown deserves our heartfelt thanks for galvanising and uniting the party. We now have a wonderful launching pad for whenever the next GE is actually called, be it next Spring or later.
We must build on this and create the broad church that many of us believe the Conservative Party should be: we should attract the Greens, the Libs and the Ukippers by formulating policies that clearly have the long-term best interests of the nation at heart.

[Erasmus]

Henry Mayhew -- you have just delivered the definitive reason why no true Conservative should ever want to reach out to UKIP

[HF]

Donal's point about the big tent to embrace the centre right is the way to hook in UKIP. An opportunity for common ground is the european referendum and an earlier writer on Con Home recommended that a separate organisation co-ordinate that.

[Malcolm Dunn]

I agree with what you've written Donal particularly points 4 &7.Regarding point 4,it's a two way street, and I hope we no longer see the sort of attacks we've seen from you and many others on the right against our leadership.It benefits no one but our political enemies.

[Henry Mayhew - Ukipper]

'No true conservative should ever want to reach out to UKIP.'

Do you read or perhaps write the fan mail section of Jackie magazine, Erasmus? As in: No true Christina fan should ever listen to Britney. Sweet and normal in a 9 year old young lady.

Thanks for your thoughts David Belchamber, Malcolm Dunn, HF, et al.

[Donal Blaney]

I agree with you Malcolm that it is a two-way street. The right no longer has any particular reason to decry Project Cameron and Project Cameron therefore need not pick unnecessary fights. If the Cameroons remain focussed and the offering to the public and the party remains balanced, unity will be maintained. And victory can be achieved.

Thank you for your kind remarks too, guys.

[Jeremy Jacobs]

I think the only way to get "Ukippers" back on board is to go further that a referendum (what would be the question(s)anyway?. In my view, the European Communities Act 0f 1972 needs to be repealed.

[Scotty]

Like Malcolm, I agree with most of Donal's points. I did find my hackles rising at points 4&5 which I thought a tad unfair, in both cases the criticism can work both ways. Conservative MP's are not, and should not need to be treated like *precious* hot house lillies. We have done enough naval gazing in the last 20 years, lets connect with the people outside the Tory party more.
Just looking at the state of the party two years ago should have warned some of our backbenchers that the job was going to be tough and full time for Cameron and his team.

[The Huntsman]

First class stuff. Concise, to the point and common sense.

A propos offering to repeal the ECA 1972, let us not fall into the trap set by Campbell of widening the debate to that of the principle of membership of the EU. They want to fight on ground of their choosing where they think they can win.

Keep this confined to the present treaty and present referendum and even down to the single issue of the duty to honour the manifesto. Take one fence at a time.

Sadly UKIP have, like a trout to a fly, fallen straight into the trap and have gone for Campbell's wheeze without a second thought. Nothing like being entirely predictable.

Far better to follow the Salmond recipe of 'death by a thousand cuts'. Still, the offer to have referenda each time sovereign power is to be transferred is a good start.

[Laurence Boyce]

Having successfully decontaminated the Conservative brand . . .

I’d say that’s still work in progress.

[Chris Heaton-Harris MEP]

Brilliant piece, bang on the money, as ever!

[Mike Thomas (215cu)]

I can identify with everything Donal has written, it's the essence of modern Conservatism.

However, I would say, implement this next week.

This week, we should rub their noses in it.

The outside announcements, broken promises and threatening to 'grind the Tories into the dust'.

Cameron v Brown PMQ could be incendiary. Cameron needs to show us his ruthless side, Brown is vulnerable, exposed and needs a good showing up in front of the house he has comtempt for. We have show him to be completely the wrong man.

We will not get another chance like this, time to despatch him.

What would Labour do faced with an opportunity like this?

Chilling thought isn't it?

[wakeuphants]

Regarding Donal's point 5, this is really a job for the Whips to keep an eye on the MPs and identify the ones that need more encouragement and a word from Cameron etc.

Elsewhere on this site I have seen praise recently of the Chief Whip which is a mystery when one looks at the evidence.

If anything the evidence is that the Chief Whip either does not have his finger on the right pulses or is failing to communicate that to Cameron.

[Sally Roberts]

11. Do not be complacent or cocky! After all Brown has not ruled out 2008 altogether - he merely said it was "unlikely"!

12. Stay united and on message!

[James Maskell]

There seems to be some confusion over the referendum campaign. Ive received a leaflet calling for a referendum on the TEU, which is incorrect since the TEC is amended as well. Lets not forget the TEU is the Maastrict Treaty and Major didnt have one... Could one of the upper tier please ensure all PPCs and MPs know exactly the wording of the campaign. The referendum is on the Reform Treaty, which amends the TEU and the TEC. Clarity is all important on a single issue campaign like this.

[Yogi]

Donal Blaney as usual is incisive in his analysis and I am sure 99.9% of us would agree with him.

The intellectual argument won by Maggie is still valid and Team Cameron has successfully moved it forward to show that we are the Conservative Party in Disraeli's mould.

Still lot of hard work to do and as any poker player would know, we cannot afford to reveal our hand too soon. Brown and his team are a bunch of morally bankrupt and shameless plagiarisers that we must expect identical policies revealed and announced a dozen times before 2008.

As for you Blaney, you are up there amongst the great thinkers of the Conservative movement

[John Holmes]

So, young Donal Blaney wants to teach his grandmother to suck eggs. To presume to offer advice to an expert like David Cameron in such a manner is to commit the same wrongdoing of that of Patrick Mercer namely that he did undermine his leader. David Cameron, knows that the party's strategy had been unbalanced and because he is working hard to correct it, there simply isn’t time, to chinwag with every Tory MP and make then feel more wanted.

The advisory position taken by Patrick Mercer could not have been avoided many think Mercer’s collaboration was in retaliation for his demotion which was done for the good of the Conservative Party and unavoidable. However, Donal Blaney is correct to say the Tories need to remain united and much of what he says one could deem helpful, but when the advise of one so young is seen to be a necessity and publicly paraded then it only serves to undermine confidence in David Cameron.

The news that Newark Tories turned Cameron’s picture to the wall and that their MP Patrick Mercer gave a two fingers gesture to the question "is David Cameron a man of principle," is indicative of labour propaganda that the Tory party are a house divided against itself which cannot stand.

Henceforth, the Tory party must remain united, for united they stand divided they fall and become what Blair was pleased to call the Lib-Dem.

The party that never is.

[Moral minority]

"Stay united and on message". Is it on or off message to advocate tax cuts, Sally? It was off message until last week. Now it seems to be on message.

The need to ask such a question does not reflect well on Messrs Cameron and Osborne. They should have listened to John Redwood and Lord Forsyth rather than give a lukewarm response, at best, to their excellent reports.

[Grand Yorkie]

KEEP ATTACKING BROWN, HE HAS A HUGH EGO, AND IT HURTS.

[Ken Stevens]

Grand Yorkie | October 12, 19:14
"..HE HAS A HUGH EGO ..."
Wot, as in "GAITSKELL"?