Theresa May MP's view (1)

Arrived at conference in the pouring rain but at least I didn't have to queue for a pass. The press would have you believe that all the talk here is about tax but the hot topic is accreditation and who still hasn't got their pass.  Everyone has a story to tell about themselves or someone they know who's had to wait days for their pass. Despite that there are more people here than last year and a noticably different age profile which bodes well for the future.

I was buoyed up by the 'meet-the-candidates' session today with six priority candidates pitching policies to conference. They ranged from changing the age of majority through getting politics out of the NHS to helping the homeless. The winner was one to make all new build houses self generating in energy by use of renewables. Good to see the green agenda supported by conference.

Outside the conference platform we all roamed the corridors moving from one reception to another. The mood was consistently upbeat and positive.

Best for me was our women2win reception held jointly with the Bow Group. The room was heaving and women2win is less than a year old. The job of ending discrimination against women in candidate selection and ensuring a level playing field is not easy but we must do it not only to show we represent Britain today but also to ensure fairness and opportunity for all. And what could be more Conservative than that?

Comments

[Richard Weatherill]

"but also to ensure fairness and opportunity for all"

and the A-list does that exactly how, Teresa?

[John Coles]

I wonder how you can believe that you have any place in Conservative politics after you impaled the party with your "Nasty Party" comment. Please go.

[James Maskell]

Anyone in the women2win group like discrimination as long as its not against women. Shes lost the moral high ground along with anyone else who has supported this ridiculous and spiteful candidate selection process. This is a sham.

[Jon Gale]

The "nasty" party comment did so much damage because it neatly expressed what people thought, just as Cherie's "thats a lie" expressed what everyone thought about Browns speech.

[elrafa]

Be careful what you wish for. Positive discrimination enables talentless women such as May become members of the shadow cabinet.

[Alison Anne Smith]

Most famous for your shoes. Mrs Pankhurst would be so "proud"

[malcolm]

Where are your manners people? You may not agree with her but there is no need to be so rude.

[elrafa]

Why is that Malcolm? Was she not rude when she told us we were all nasty?

She is a liability, who is over-promoted simply because she is female.

She has been instrumental in the development of prejudice politics, of a particularly ribald nature.

[David Walker]

How this woman has the brass neck to post on here amazes me. Alan Clark described her as the party's "bete noire" in his diaries. Personally I wouldn't be so charitable.

[Daniel Vince-Archer]

The above comments in response to Mrs May's post, with the honourable exception of Malcolm, are a disgrace.

A senior politician like Theresa May deserves respect and should be applauded for engaging with us by sharing her views on this blog.

The rudeness of some of the responses above beggars belief and is hardly likely to encourage other senior politicians to follow in Mrs May's footsteps by embracing this new media forum for engaging with the grassroots.

I accept that some of you have an issue with the 'nasty party' remark (which I happened to agree with, and which some of you have demonstrated so well today) and also the priority list but that does not warrant such shameful conduct.

Thank you for posting your views, Mrs May.

[John Coles]

If you really believe, Mr Vince-Archer, that :""A senior politician like Theresa May deserves respect"", then you are living in remote and unhealthily deferential age. Mrs May needs to be told of the difficulty and offence she caused. Jeremy Paxman took he remarks and threw them back time and again at Tory politicians trying to respond during an interview. Others have made hay of the chiming sounds of NAZI and nasty. The label was a terrible wound. Alistair Campbell would have been proud to have coined the phrase.
So, Mrs May, in the robust nature of those of us who Blog, welcome to the community and, for my part, I hope that you and the Conservative Party soon part company.

[anon]

Mrs May, also welcome to the community from those who read this site and others who think you were TOTALLY RIGHT to highlight that people saw us as the 'nasty party'

In fact, every day, when I read some of the venomous comments posted on this site I agree with you more and more.

Yes, it hurt, Yes it is STILL TRUE.

[Alison Anne Smith]

"I accept that some of you have an issue with the 'nasty party' remark "

Daniel, I have more issues with her constant references to her footwear. During her "female candidate fest" at the conference the other day the BBC cameras zoomed in on her shoes. Doesn't she realse what that does to her credability ?

[John Coles]

Pity you don't have the courage to post under your own name. Anon. Probably a troll.

[Robert McIlveen]

I wasn't a member when Theresa made the infamous nasty party remark - and I probably wouldn't be today if I didn't believe that there is the will to change from those dark days. She was right!

[Robert McIlveen]

I wasn't a member when Theresa made the infamous nasty party remark - and I probably wouldn't be today if I didn't believe that there is the will to change from those dark days. She was right!

[Editor]

I share Daniel's disappointment at the remarks on this thread. Let us not forget that Theresa was one of the earliest and most passionate defenders of the right of members to keep their vote in last year's and future leadership elections. I'll always be grateful to her for that.