Francis Maude, the new Tory Chairman, was on Newsnight last night. Jeremy Paxman was grilling him about the Tories' alleged 'nasty party' image. In that context, was it helpful, Paxo asked, for Michael Howard to accuse Tony Blair of being a liar.
An uncomfortable Francis Maude replied:
"I don't know whether it was helpful or not. We'll do some research and find out whether it was helpful or not".
Oh dear. Politicians shouldn't need focus groups or polls to know that playground abuse is not only unhelpful but unattractive. Francis Maude is not the kind of politician to use such ill-mannered language. He was probably using the language of 'doing some research' to avoid having to answer the question. But let's also hope that market research will be used to help us sell our beliefs - not to decide what they should be. I love this quotation from George W Bush's 2000 GOP Convention address:
"I believe great decisions are made with care, made with conviction, not made with polls. I do not need to take your pulse before I know my own mind. I do not reinvent myself at every turn. I am not running in borrowed clothes. When I act, you will know my reasons... When I speak, you will know my heart."
My message to Francis Maude is simple. Your poison has weakened the Conservative Party for too long. You have been treacherous far too often, though not, it seems, towards the present failed leader, whose speeches you and your cohorts have been writing from the very beginning of the coup which brought him the leadership. Now you, he and the other pygmies are establishing another coup as the parting shot of his leadership, one which has been so inimical to true Tories. Mr Maude, we do not want you as Party Chairman and we do not recognise you as such. If you care for the Party at all (though I suspect you do not from the comfort of your chattering class existence), do not split it asunder, as your mad plans undoubtedly will. Resign quietly and join the Liberal Democrats, where I suspect your odd, unrepresentative outlook on life will be more compatible.
Posted by: Colin Ferris | 12 May 2005 at 23:42
There's certainly a massive conflict of interest in Maude holding the Chairmanship if today's Times is to be believed.
Maude will be in charge of the process drawing up new rules for the leadership election, so he should not be acting as rulemaker and kingmaker.
Posted by: James Hellyer | 13 May 2005 at 13:09
On the subject of focus groups, I don't think they should be used a substitute for principled policy making.
When Rover collapsed, I understand the Conservatives held a focus group which included two redundant Rover employees, who were naturally upset. So the Conservatives said nothing.
Really they should have attacked the Government for its role in sabotaging the Moulton rescue deal for the company five years ago. That would have been the right and principled thing to do, and would have shown how Labour's interventionist instincts make problems worse.
Posted by: James Hellyer | 13 May 2005 at 13:38