Bridget Jones Test

If individual policies do not contribute to a better, clearer Tory Party identity - they fail 'The Bridget Jones Test'.

In ‘The Edge of Reason’, diarist Bridget Jones discovers – to her horror – that her boyfriend is thinking of voting Tory. He lists the policies that predispose him to the Conservatives. She replies:

“The point is you are supposed to vote for the principle of the thing, not the itsy-bitsy detail about this per cent and that per cent. And it is perfectly obvious that Labour stands for the principle of sharing, kindness, gays, single mothers and Nelson Mandela as opposed to braying bossy men having affairs with everyone shag-shag-shag left, right and centre and going to the Ritz in Paris and telling all the presenters off on the Today programme”.

Tony Blair has always been careful to protect the New Labour brand – finding policies that confirm the more market-friendly, tough-on-crime, but still socially-progressive identity that he has so carefully crafted. Tories are often good at launching ingenious policies but they are very bad at knitting them together into a memorable and compelling pattern.

In the absence of the Tory leadership defining their brand, others will do it for them. Tough core policies on crime, immigration and Europe will be used to paint the Conservatives as mean-spirited or selfish. Every policy initiative should have to pass a Tory equivalent of the ‘Bridget Jones Test’. Does this policy enhance or damage the Tory brand?

Comments

[jane]

I think this is a brilliant idea, though I can't imagine the Editor has read 'The Edge of Reason' ;-)

[Simon Holmes]

The quote is a little dated. Can we not replace "as opposed to" with "and" ? In a socialist politician hypocrisy is the gravest sin - it's not our "brand" that is polluted beyond repair.

[アイフォン4s ケース]

Fed up with the men headlines? I am here just for you!!