Tory membership up 16,000 under Cameron

Today's Telegraph reports that party membership is up 16,000 in the last month.  This "leap," the newspaper says, "is believed to be one of the biggest in any single month on record and was particularly striking as it occurred over the normally quiet Christmas and New Year period":

"Conservative Party membership now stands at around 290,000. Labour's has slumped from more than 400,000 at the peak of Tony Blair's appeal to under 200,000 while the Liberal Democrats have around 70,000 members."

This 290,000 figure suggests nearly 40,000 more than were eligible to vote in the leadership election - suggesting that the contest itself may have helped grow the party membership.

Michael Howard also claimed a big boost in membership when he was first elected.  On the 13th February 2004 Central Office suggested that the previous October’s change of Party leader had produced 20,000 new party members and new donations of £4 million.

David Cameron's increase in membership partly reflects a million letters that CCHQ mailed out to pledged and other households on the night of David Cameron's election.  Many more of those targeted people have also chosen to 'register' with the Conservatives - a step short of membership but an important first step towards a deeper connection with the Conservative Party's mission.

The 'good' news on membership contrasts with the 'gloomy' tunes that David Cameron has downloaded onto his iPod.  Interviewed on Radio 1 yesterday he said:

"Because I'm 39, there's The Smiths, Radiohead, Pulp, Blur - all that quite gloomy music... I'm a big Bob Dylan fan - there's a lot of Bob Dylan - but I'm not a Tom Waits fan."

The new Tory leader also revealed his secret for preparing for PMQs - a cup of tea with ten sugars.  This disgusting-sounding drink was recommended by William Hague.  Apparently it "coats the larynx" and stops the voice drying up.

Comments

[Jonathan Sheppard]

Pulp - A good choice. Who would have thought that Jarvis Cockers mum was a Tory - and helped in my election campaign in May. Not sure what Jarvis thinks of that!

[Chris Palmer]

Yet another sign of a Conservative resurgence.

[Henry Whitmarsh]

It would be nice to have a breakdown of the membership in terms of age. The party is always being criticised for being a party with a majority of much older members whereas Labour and the Lib Dems make much of their student/younger adult suppport.

[Howard Stevenson]

Ten sugars in a cup of tea but no chocolate oranges at the checkouts?

[Mike Smith]

I wonder how many will stay the course when they come face to face with the 'undead' who now make up much of the Tory grassroots.

When I was Vice-Chairman of Wessex Young Conservatives one of our YC branches alone (Beaconsfield) had 1000+ members, so pardon me if I don't fall over backwards at the news of this 'Tory revival'

[Chris Palmer]

Mike, you're not a Conservative party any more? Correct? When did you leave the party?

[Chris Palmer]

Sorry, I meant Mike, you're not a Conservative party member anymore? Correct?

[Mike Smith]

I finally left about four years ago.

Did I miss something?

"Because I'm 39, there's The Smiths, Radiohead, Pulp, Blur - all that quite gloomy music... I'm a big Bob Dylan fan - there's a lot of Bob Dylan - but I'm not a Tom Waits fan."

Nice to know that Mr Cameron is upholding the great tradition of Tory philistinism.

I wonder if he ever listens to music?

[wasp]

This increase makes up 22% of the whole Lib Dem membership, props to Cameron but also to the associations doing their bit.

[Graeme Archer]

Jarvis Cocker lives in Hoxton next door to the pub (the George and Vulture) we used as campaign HQ in May last year ... he's extremely polite and always said hello nicely when he had to step over the tired and emotional Tories on his doorstep.

[Daniel Vince-Archer]

"Ten sugars in a cup of tea but no chocolate oranges at the checkouts?"

Well spotted Howard.

[Graeme Archer]

Hang on a minute though ... no Belle and Sebastian on the leaders iPod? Not nearly touchy-feely enough for me ... I'm off.

[James Hellyer]

"Ten sugars in a cup of tea but no chocolate oranges at the checkouts?"

What about the irresponsible retailer who sell Dave cigarettes?

[Chris Palmer]

"Ten sugars in a cup of tea but no chocolate oranges at the checkouts?"

The difference being that it was his conscious choice, rather than subconscious choice induced by marketing and product placement.

[EU Serf]

I am not always overwhelmed by DC's policy choices but I love his music.

Pulp, Common People is a song he must enjoy listening to.

......I wanna live like common people, I wanna do whatever common people do.....

[James Hellyer]

I prefer the William Shatner cover version.

[Peter C Glover]

So is brain-deadness among the Party faithful...so what's your point?

How about coming clean and changing the Party name to The New Liberals? A little honesty goes a long way.

[Bishop Hill]

"The difference being that it was his conscious choice, rather than subconscious choice induced by marketing and product placement."

This is the kind of pathetic attitude that is supposed to be the preserve of the left. Whatever happened to personal responsibility? If you don't want your children to have sweeties try saying no - don't expect the nanny state to do your parenting for you.

[Selsdon Man]

Neo-conservatives is more appropriate.

[Antony Little]

Is this 16,000 just the people who have joined via CCHQ or does it include those recruited by local associations? Here in Norwich South our membership jumped by nearly 20% after we did our own mailout after Dec 6. Culd the figure thus be higher?

[Howard Stevenson]

Thanks DVA.

I do think is musical choice a little dull. Pulp are good. So them live in Leeds at the larger music festival.

On the checkout thing, I have a conscious choice not to buy it for my son or myself.

[James Maskell]

When he went to do a Radio interview he was asked which of the Girls Aloud group he would like to share his "Cameron love" with...He darent say of course because he would lose his balls if he said the wrong thing. He eventually and according to reports rather bashfully picked Cheryl because she looked most like Samantha. Good choice David! He should still have said no comment...

[John Hustings]

Doesn't anyone else squirm when politicians talk about this stuff?

I remember Nicholas Soames stuttering and murmuring before revealing the last CD he bought was by "Dido", as if he were having to recollect what he was told to say.

But, you may say, Cameron is younger and trendier than that. But he is also likely to become a self-parody very likely.

[malcolm]

This about the rise in membership is excellent news.Now let's hope that the Conservative Party does something/anything to make these people feel appreciated and encourages them to become active supporters rather than just potential donors.Well,I can dream.....!

[Mike Smith]

But, you may say, Cameron is younger and trendier than that. But he is also likely to become a self-parody very likely.

Has it occurred to people that Napoleon Bonaparte had won all his great victories before he reached Cameron's age, Pitt the Younger had served as Prime Minister for 15 years, and Jesus Christ had died (and possibly even ascended into heaven) when he was six years younger than Cameron.

The only thing 'young' about 'Eton Dave' is his utter lack of experience of politics, life, or just about anything else you can name.

[Frank Young]

Probably a more legitimate accusation against Cameron is that he has too much experience in politics and too little in, say, non Westminster jobs.

This, though is a tendency were likely to see across party lines.

David Cameron spent years working for both the party in a research capacity and working for the Cabinet. During this time he gained experience of political activity at the very highest levels of government and not, as Blair and Brown had to settle for, opposition.

He’s also young by any standard to be a leader of a political party.

[malcolm]

Mike,for someone with such contempt for our leader and our party members you do spend a lot of time on a website designed to further its interests.What do you believe in?

[Mike Smith]

I'm a traditional Tory, Malcolm, who now supports UKIP.

I didn't leave the Tory party. It left me.

I like David Davis and I thought he was the sort of guy people like us could work with, so obviously I'm not pleased about Cameron's seizure of power.

I had a £150 bet (with very good odds)on a Davis victory also, so it gets personal.

[Cllr Iain Lindley]

Mike, are you the same Mike Smith whose CDA website states that "some of what the BNP stands for is exactly the sort of thing which the average Tory once (and still does) believe in"?

I'd suggest that any right-thinking Conservative members avoid debating with this extremely disagreeable chap.

[Mike Smith]

No Iain. I have never said anything of the sort.

If the comment has been made by some other person maybe you would direct me to it's location.

[Frank Young]

Quite so.

[Frank Young]

That was "quite so" to Iain's comment not Mike's.

Any association with the CDA ought to perk our ears to extremism as with the now discredited Monday Club

[Cllr Iain Lindley]

Some more quotes from the front page only of Mike Smith's CDA website:

Yes, there he [Michael Howard] was, the "Conservative" leader, surrounded by Asian community workers and leftish-looking whites (no doubt also community workers!) in the BNP heartland of the North of England - tearing into the far-Right and repositioning the Tories as a liberal-left party.

"Nick Griffin's modest band of councillors"

"Indeed, the present Tory leadership will say and do ANYTHING to be seen as "nice", vaguely "gay", very liberal, and completely "inclusive"."

"some of what the BNP stands for is exactly the sort of thing which the average Tory once (and still does) believe in"

I've not even bothered to dig further. I'm sure there's plenty more.

[Frank Young]

Iain was talking, i presume, about this comment:

"Yet what is so ironic is the fact that some of what the BNP stands for is exactly the sort of thing which the average Tory once (and still does) believe in!"

which is found at http://www.conservativedemocrats.20m.com/index.html

[Cllr Iain Lindley]

Some more quotes from the front page only of Mike Smith's CDA website:

Yes, there he [Michael Howard] was, the "Conservative" leader, surrounded by Asian community workers and leftish-looking whites (no doubt also community workers!) in the BNP heartland of the North of England - tearing into the far-Right and repositioning the Tories as a liberal-left party.

"Nick Griffin's modest band of councillors"

"Indeed, the present Tory leadership will say and do ANYTHING to be seen as "nice", vaguely "gay", very liberal, and completely "inclusive"."

"some of what the BNP stands for is exactly the sort of thing which the average Tory once (and still does) believe in"

I've not even bothered to dig further. I'm sure there's plenty more.

[Mike Smith]

Well Frank, if you find it hard to debate a case on the facts, I suppose chucking around ad hominem accusations offers an easy alternative.

However I would tread carefully if I were you. Last year I issued two libel writs, one of which was recently settled at a total cost to the defendant of just under £30,000.

He got a nice new mortgage for Christmas.

FYI, the 'now discredited Monday Club' has recently released the most grovellingly brown-nosed eulogy to Cameron it would be possible to imagine.

Nice company you keep.

[Cllr Iain Lindley]

Mike, two questions -

Are you the same Mike Smith who is connected with the Conservative Democratic Alliance?

Are you connected to the website of the same name, from which I have taken the above quotes?

[Mike Smith]

I am Chairman of CDA, Iain.

I have looked up the passage you quote. It represents the personal view of the author of the piece, and indeed you will find a number of other personal essays on the site, all with names attached.

I would not express my own opinion in those terms, although I do certainly take the view that the BNP has in the past successfully lured ex-Tories with quasi-Powellite policies.

I think that is a matter of fact, don't you?

[Mark Fulford]

Anybody who bandies threats of libel suits on a blog is just not worth listening to.

[Mike Smith]

Not a threat, Mark, simply a statement of fact.

And since both the Monday Club and CCO have also in the past been on the losing end of High Court writs issued on behalf of moi you may gather that I am rather more even-handed than some may suppose.

Please bear in mind that people don't lose unless they are in the wrong and in the High Court (though sadly not the County Court) I have a 100% record of success.

I even once personally prosecuted someone in the Magistrates Court, and guess what?

He was a Tory councillor...

[Cllr Iain Lindley]

A proud record of support for the Conservative Party, then.

[James Maskell]

Mike, you are bandying around threats. No one is impressed. Play the board, not the player.

[Mike Smith]

Sorry James, I was under the impression that somebody else started the 'playing the player' lark. Clearly age is dimming my faculties.

No Iain, in case you have not quite grasped the fact, I do not support the Conservative Party. I was a UKIP parliamentary candidate in the last General Election.

Even when I did support the Tories, I was very much part of one of the then-active factions (a curious alliance between the authoritarian right and a wide range of libertarians) then battling for the 'soul' of the party.

That soul is long dead, indeed perhaps it never existed in the first place.

[Cllr Iain Lindley]

I am aware you no longer support the Conservative Party, Mike, and anyone debating with you on this forum is entitled to know that you do not have the interests of the Party at heart.

[Mike Smith]

Of course they are Iain. I wasn't aware that I had concealed the fact that I am profoundly alienated from today's party.

The last leader I supported was Hague. I had some time for Howard and utter contempt for IDS and now Cameron.

That however does not prevent me from discussing ideas with people who claim they have a worthwhile vision of the future.

There are some very worthwhile contributors on this site, one or two of whom I know personally and others - such as James Maskell - whom I know from other internet sites.

I will reserve my judgement on your goodself. It is always possible to get off to a bad start with people and regret it afterwards.

[Michael McGowan]

Iain, I don't share what appear to be Mike Smith's views on a number of issues. I also suspect that you and I see eye to eye on a lot. However, I too no longer support the Conservative Party. That is because I regard the interests of the public, especially those who have been failed for generations by the likes of T. Blair and D. Cameron, as much more important than the narrow factional interests of the Conservative Party.

Mike Smith, just one point about our medieval libel laws: people can lose under them when they are not in the wrong because the burden of proof in defamation cases is on the defendant not the plaintiff. It is notoriously hard to prove a negative.

[Chris Palmer]

"I am aware you no longer support the Conservative Party, Mike, and anyone debating with you on this forum is entitled to know that you do not have the interests of the Party at heart." - Cllr Ian Lindley

I expect many other readers had guessed this already Ian - but thank you for highlighting what Mike Smith truly believes (though he denies it I'm sure.)

I don't think we need worry too much though - especially where law suits are concerned. According to Mike he has "issued two libel writs, one of which was recently settled at a total cost to the defendant of just under £30,000." Why then is his website hosted as a .20m.com website rather than a true .com or .co.uk site? Is it because he is some cheap and useless twit or because he is blatantly lying? I have my suspicions that it's probably the latter.

[James Maskell]

Mike Smith, I dont recognise your name so Im not sure which site you are refering to.

[Chris Palmer]

I wonder whether this is the same "Mike Smith" bragging about his lawsuits on another website: http://www.quicktopic.com/15/H/MXAuLdqjxNY

[Jaz]

This has got to be one of the dumbest threads I've read in a long while.

However, good news for DC's success, I'm sure his attracting will be much longer than Howards.

[Mark Fulford]

Mike Smith was UKIP candidate for Portsmouth North. The 2.1% of votes he gathered shows exactly how much support there is for his "heart and soul" ideas, but was sufficient to swing the win from Conservative (Penny Mordaunt, a fine candidate) to Labour. Was a Labour MP really what you want to serve you Mike?

[Mark Fulford]

Sorry, a correction... Mike Smith got 3.6% of votes, up by 2.1%.

[Mike Smith]

I'm flattered by all this interest. Perhaps the thread should be renamed.

Yes the 20m website is cheap (actually free) and nasty. We're planning a better one this year.

No, that doesn't mean I can't afford to sue people. Ask Theresa May, who qua Tory Chairman received a writ from me a couple of years ago.

James, you will recall me as mikeukpo53ex from a number of Yahoo sites in company with the likes of Charles Watson Roberts, Vicky Sharkey, 'Gosforth' and 'Sceptred Isle'

It was the latter pair who received writs after falsely alleging on a Yahoo site that my wife, my late mother and I were joint proprietors of a disorderly house.

You read one of these posts and expressed your disgust, for which I thank you.

[Jaz]

Mike if it is true that you deserted to UKIP (as I can't really ybe bothered to read all the way and recap all the posts). Why are you on these boards?

I personally think UKIP, just as with the BNP are a bunch of extremists.. In this regard an obsession with Europe..which despite their interference in UK trade and especially the labour market...Seems to have had little or no negative effect econmically on the UK. I can however think of millions of reasons why withdrawal from the EU would be catastrophic Britain, and distabilize a project that has brought alot of stabilit to the region over 50 years.

[James Maskell]

Ah yes, that would be back in 2001-2. In fact myself along with a number of other members were basically hounded out by those on the far right.

[Richard Allen]

Well getting back on topic 16,000 new members is a great headline figure but how many of them will remain committed to the party and how many memberships might lapse this year and next as more and more members find that their party no longer reflects their beliefs.

[John Hustings]

"I can however think of millions of reasons why withdrawal from the EU would be catastrophic Britain, and distabilize a project that has brought alot of stabilit to the region over 50 years."

Just name a few of them please.

[Beware]

I wondered how long it would take the odious Mike Smith to start hanging around this successful and popular website. His own CDA site is clearly in decline and, like a acne-ridden saddo with halitosis at the party, he lumbers over to a happy group chatting in the corner - to the dismay of all.

Mike. No offence mate but you're not a member or even a supporter of the Tory Party. You're obviously consumed with bitterness (as your recent posts prove) and, like William Macy in The Cooler, you have a negative effect on people.

Is it really too much to ask you to leave us all alone? Or is perverse satisfaction at the distress you cause the only pleasure left to you?

[James Hellyer]

The only serious one I've seen was based on the loss of Foreign Direct Investment, and the consequent loss of 0.05% of GDP. But that was based on various economist's "assumptions" about what HMG would do following withdrawal.

[John Hustings]

"The only serious one I've seen was based on the loss of Foreign Direct Investment, and the consequent loss of 0.05% of GDP."

But wouldn't that be balanced by no longer contributing towards the EU budget?

[Jaz]

Improving mobility for consumers and labourers, its fairly easy for me to migrate to spain, france, italy (which I might add MANY of British people do). It brings flexibility and increased protection over the ctiizens of the europe anywhere in the EU.
The EU is a much more effective force against US protectionism than individual countries.

Though the majority of reasons are from the single-market I think nautral progression and effectiveness would increase with more union (socially and culturally). I do agree that the EU parliament is actually useless...and frankly the who system is foul and needs major, major reform with the people in charge being directly accountable.

[James Hellyer]

"But wouldn't that be balanced by no longer contributing towards the EU budget?"

I really can't remember. I'll have to dig through the barrage of press releases that went between Civitas and BIE after the former published A Cost Too Far. But I think BIE claimed it would be a net loss.

[Daniel Vince-Archer]

"I can however think of millions of reasons why withdrawal from the EU would be catastrophic Britain."

Norway (#1 in UNHDI), Iceland (#2), Australia (#3), Canada (#5), Switzerland (#7), USA (#10), Japan (#11), New Zealand (#19), Hong Kong (#22), Israel (#23), Singapore (#25) and several unlisted places not in the EU (Andorra, San Marino, Monaco, Liechtenstein, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands...) aren't doing too badly for themselves. So please try to desist from hyperbolic prophecies of doom about EU withdrawal until you can back it up.

[Jaz]

"

"I can however think of millions of reasons why withdrawal from the EU would be catastrophic Britain."

Norway (#1 in UNHDI), Iceland (#2), Australia (#3), Canada (#5), Switzerland (#7), USA (#10), Japan (#11), New Zealand (#19), Hong Kong (#22), Israel (#23), Singapore (#25) and several unlisted places not in the EU (Andorra, San Marino, Monaco, Liechtenstein, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands...) aren't doing too badly for themselves. So please try to desist from hyperbolic prophecies of doom about EU withdrawal until you can back it up."

This is an an unfounded example and you know it is. As those countries are outside the EU, they have not built the relationships and infastructure that the EU provides. EU law frankly protects many of the right we take for granted.

Being part of the EU (or the common market) means we evade the the complicated migration laws that americans suffer, is the only hope for British industry (which is dying) and avoid excessive tariffs to export the mainland Europe. It will be economic doom, destructure of UK-Europe mainland trade links, dimish our position to take necessary action against other economic powers. Many right-wing tories and UKIP people only think in one-dimension terms..the EU budget.

The impact of an EU withdrawl means disaster...This is why no major UK party says it will do so. No one is willing to destroy a union which has been made with good-will.

I'm sure the right-wingers will come with some absurd list of the things the EU is cooking..But frankly, I only think of my well being, and as the EU lets me go where I want, do what I want, protects some liberties ensures some employee protections... There is no reason to withdraw from the EU. We can stop its progression into becoming a state, but its extremist to demand withdrawal.

[James Hellyer]

"EU law frankly protects many of the right we take for granted."

Such as?

"Being part of the EU (or the common market) means we evade the the complicated migration laws that americans suffer..."

So we lose control of our borders. And this is a good thing, how?

"...is the only hope for British industry (which is dying) and avoid excessive tariffs to export the mainland Europe."

We wouldn't face "excessive" tariffs anyway - the WTO would see to that. Moreover the balance of trade means that the EU has more to lose by shutting out UK markets.

[Chris Palmer]

"But wouldn't that be balanced by no longer contributing towards the EU budget?" - John Hustings

Slightly off this point: It has always struck me as rather strange that Britain has a rebate. If Britain pays for example £10bn per year and then is given a rebate of £3bn - why not just pay £7bn in the first place? Obviously that might be too simple and nowhere near bureaucratic enough for the EU.

[Daniel Vince-Archer]

"As those countries are outside the EU, they have not built the relationships and infastructure that the EU provides."

They also aren't having their economies strangled by unnecessary over-regulation.

"EU law frankly protects many of the right [sic] we take for granted."

EU law frankly protects many of the spurious 'rights' that less desirable elements of society take for granted.

"Being part of the EU (or the common market) means we evade the the complicated migration laws that americans suffer, is the only hope for British industry (which is dying) and avoid excessive tariffs to export the mainland Europe."

Being part of the EU means we suffer migration law that leads/will lead to an influx of immigrants from less prosperous parts of the EU and beyond, adding to the burden on our increasingly strained economy and public services and often denying the places they've come from of a key ingredient in helping their own economies to grow and their own public services to prosper. Being part of the EU has led to a constant stream of needless bureaucracy, red tape and over-regulation for British industry (which is dying as a result). Being part of the EU means we have to cough up excessive subsidies to support mainland Europe (and are complicit in forcing non-EU countries to pay excessive tariffs to export to mainland Europe).

"It will be economic doom, destructure of UK-Europe mainland trade links, dimish our position to take necessary action against other economic powers."

Oh look, another baseless, hyperbolic prophecy of doom. Yawn.

"Many right-wing tories and UKIP people only think in one-dimension terms..the EU budget."

I daresay they do. I don't consider myself a right-wing Tory or UKIP person (ill-judged dabbling at the 2004 European elections aside) and forgive my Hefferesque (damn, nearly managed a whole day without mentioning him) pomposity but I studied European politics extensively at university (my two highest module marks were achieved in this area), and although I'm a little rusty, I don't think in one-dimension terms revolving only around the EU budget.

"The impact of an EU withdrawl means disaster..."

More baseless doom-mongery.

"This is why no major UK party says it will do so."

Not quite. Labour and the Liberal Demoprats love the EU because it is a socialist's wet dream and the Conservatives refuse to advocate withdrawal because of political cowardice.

"No one is willing to destroy a union which has been made with good-will."

Well quite. What's that got to do with the EU though?

"But frankly, I only think of my well being, and as the EU lets me go where I want, do what I want, protects some liberties ensures some employee protections..."

Ah, utter selfishness as well as ardent Europhilia - have you thought about becoming Britain's next European Commissioner?

[Chris Palmer]

I'd have to agree with you Daniel, expect that British industry would be in much the same state even without the EU. Labour is too expensive in Britain pushing up manufacturing costs. EU bureaucracy is just another nail in the coffin, so to speak.

[Brian Jenner]

This is good, but are they attracting personable young women who want to come along to events?

I recently went to a Conservative Party celebration of over 20 people and I rather think there was only one sexually active female in the room. (I know some 70 year olds have a sex life - but I prefer not to believe it.)

Julian Critchley remembers in his biography when he would go to Young Conservative Party events and he was overwhelmed by the hoards of nubile young women who turned up.

When smart, presentable women feel at ease at local Tory buffets held in trendy surroundings, the recovery will have truly begun.

[James Hellyer]

"If Britain pays for example £10bn per year and then is given a rebate of £3bn - why not just pay £7bn in the first place? Obviously that might be too simple and nowhere near bureaucratic enough for the EU."

Mrs Thatcher was interested in winning the rebate, but not the mechanism for its collection. That was designed by the EU. I think it was designed to deliberately foster resentment by making the other countries think they were subsidising us - the way it works is that Brussels collects everyone's money, pays it out... and then asks other countries for some money back for Britain.

[John Hustings]

One thing I would note is that eurosceptics are often painted as being anti-EU for reasons of irrational prejudice, as if it is mere hatred for foreigners that is motivating them; but actually, I think the *real* irrational prejudice comes from the europhiles, whose profound hatred of Britain fuels their loves of all things which originate from Brussels.

Europhiles can't ever argue this subject without resorting to emotionalism of one sort or another.

[Jaz]

"I think the *real* irrational prejudice comes from the europhiles, whose profound hatred of Britain fuels their loves of all things which originate from Brussels."

You'll find that distrinctly wrong, I'm a true believer in the monarchy, our parliamentary system, the countryside.. Heck I think the commonwealth is a good idea. But I am one of those people who believes that we should unite rather than divide. I've also got an eye on history and honour, I think we europeans will loose the chance to challege the USA, India and China as a global power like we once did...

I agree that the EU is a wasteful system, it needs urgent, reform, some loser in Brussels/Strassburg is thinking up of even more wasteful ideas. It would be much better if the EU did put to gether a simplified system of governance..parliamentary supremecy (no not the nation state) over federal matters. This is why the constiution failed..It didn't help..it made things even more complicated than they were.

There has to be a new constitution..Which effectively rewrites, reformulates the EU again. Its gone way out of hand, its a system thats mutated of the years and now hemorrhaging.

"Europhiles can't ever argue this subject without resorting to emotionalism of one sort or another."

We are not robots, I am aware that some conservatives have try not to have feelings...

[Alexander Drake]

Brian Jenner is spot on. PJ O'Rourke made a similar point in his great book "Parliament of Wh*res".

[Sean Fear]

But if one's into meeting men, Brian, there's no better place to go than one's local Conserative Association.

[Mike Smith]

Is it really too much to ask you to leave us all alone? Or is perverse satisfaction at the distress you cause the only pleasure left to you?

So sorry 'Beware' but your stunning 'handle' has failed to frighten me off.

Seems I missed a few more fragrant compliments last night, not to mention the rather more intriguing exposure of the Eurofanatic underbelly of the Tory party.

That, perhaps, is where the soul of today's party really lies. Beware, indeed!

Sadly, while others remained wedded to their PCs, I was in the pub.

Now to Brian Jenner's post, which mirrors his earlier substantial essay. I have been pointing out for years that one of the main reasons for the Tory Party's overall decline has been the neglect and resulting total degradation of its once-vibrant 'social dimension'

If the party he describes was held in his local Tory heartland of Christchurch/Bournemouth, then the situation is grim indeed.

One does not have to be as dead as Julian Critchley to recall the fantastic times we had in the Young Conservatives as late as the 1970s.

As I have pointed out before, when I was a regional officer in Wessex Area, one branch alone had over 1000 members.

In those days the national as well as the regional YC conferences were frequently held in Bournemouth and there was no shortage of attractive and willing female talent among the 1000+ delegates.

One year I was one of the judges in the Miss YC contest. While we did not get to enjoy the customary perks of that job, there was plenty of alternative consolation on hand.

I, my two best friends (now both Nulabour supporters)and many, many more met their wives through the YCs. Now the whole thing has gone down the toilet, although I daresay the current male-dominated milieu sits well with the Tory Party's new-found commitment to gay rights.

Perhaps some of the more vociferous posters on this forum would care to tell us why they believe the social life of the Conservative Party has changed for the better since they appeared on the scene?

[Oberon Houston]

Getting back to the Conservative party, which is what interests me on this site. Let us just think for a moment what this new membership means:

1. 16,000 more folks, that have not only thrown their support behind our Party, but have joined up, underlining their commitment to a Conservative Party and ultimately Government lead by David Cameron.

2. 16,000 more potential activists to help spread the word, deliver leaflets and grace associations with their fresh faces and ideas. Reversing a 25 year trend.

3. 16,000 more members in one month, meaning that we are potentially at the beginning of a greater movement towards our Party here. Why not 100,000 more in 2006?

4. 16,000 more souls that endorse the direction the Party has taken, underlining that the silent majority is telling us something about the decisions we have taken over the last 6 months.

I think its fantastic news. Its great for the Party, great for where we are going and great, ultimately, for the Country as a whole. Well done everyone!

[Mike Smith]

16,000 more souls that endorse the direction the Party has taken, underlining that the silent majority is telling us something about the decisions we have taken over the last 6 months.

Err...'silent majority', Oberon?

At the last count I believe there were around 60 million 'souls' (as you so quaintly call them) in the UK.

But then as King of the Fairies you are doubtlessly living in an alternative universe.

I think it's called Cloud Nine.

[Oberon Houston]

Mike,

Following an objective stance is usually the best way to convey your message. Resorting to childish behavior, aggressive language, or insults will only serve to undermine your point.

[Reasonable]

Mike Smith states he is the Chairman of CDA.

CDA gives web space to racist, sexist essays on its front page.

http://conservativedemocrats.20m.com/

Mike Smith has not condemned this, nor has he resigned from CDA in disgust as any decent human being would do.

I appeal to conservatives not to engage with this man and his revolting organisation any more than they would give time to a member of the BNP or any other organization of racists.

There is no place for the Mike Smiths of this world in the Conservative party. It is now immaterial how or why he left. His chairmanship of CDA, an organization that publishes hate on its front page, would mean that would have been expelled had he not already gone.

[Mike Smith]

Sorry Oberon. With which of my points did you actually disagree, and why?

Am I not right in assuming that your parents named you after the famed Fairy King so justly celebrated by Shakespeare, Weber and others.

Here's a tip. If you're looking for a safe
Tory seat be a wise lad and use your second name instead.

[Reasonable]

Oberon, you are absolutely right. 16k new members is fantastic. By the end of the year it could be 100k. We will gain the support of many decent right of center Lib Dems and NewLab voters.

[Mike Smith]

Hi Reasonable

There is no place for the Mike Smiths of this world in the Conservative party.

I've got news for you. I'm not a member of the Conservative Party.

Thank you for your interest in my site. If you believe it contains illegal posts I suggest you email me with a formal complaint using your real name instead of a rather weak alias.

Otherwise I recommend you to keep to the topic of this thread which is Tory membership up 16,000 under Cameron

Allegedly.

[Phil J]

And how many of those 16,000 have yet been informed of their membership? I resigned from the Party in the mid 1990s (over the Bosnia fiasco), but three years ago discovered Cuthbertson’s and Murray’s excellent blogs and decided there was still life in the Conservatives after all. I rejoined in early 2003 - via the central website - and then:

1. waited over three weeks before an odd little letter arrived ‘welcoming’ me the Party and warning me not to affiliate to any other political grouping (who did they have in mind I wonder?/sarcasm off).
2. after another three weeks I got in touch with the local Association who had never heard of me; I had to join the Association separately, though the welcoming letter had said I was automatically a member;
3. I then contacted the local Association chairman and told him I was keen to get involved and asked for an informal chat at his convenience. He promised to get back to me (“very busy at the moment”) and did not;
4. I e-mailed the chairman later with the same request as at 3. and received no response;
5. I told the one Tory canvasser I’ve seen on my doorstep that I was more than willing to join the canvassing team - “Will get back to you” and did not.

It’s true I get occasional letters inviting me to formal dinners and the like but these are not my scene. I rejoined the party to be an activist and I expected the social life to spin ‘naturally’ out of that kind of commitment. People do not join a Party simply to have their name entered on a CCHQ database 150 miles away.

Brian Jenner’s post and Mike Smith’s comments above are both spot on: to be successful the party must reinvent itself as a socially active force throughout the country.

[Cllr Iain Lindley]

There are problems with the local/national membership distinctions. The 21st Century Party document proposed a new, single membership system to rectify this, but of course there was very little sensible discussion of the recommendations outside of the proposals for leadership voting.

[Frank Young]

Any well run association, with a lively leadership team should NEVER let an offer of help on the door step go un-actioned.

[Mike Smith]

Hmm

I might add the tale of another loyal Tory,of 30+ years standing, namely Mrs Smith.

She is still a member of the Tory executive in our old constituency and for a number of reasons decided to transfer to the one in which we now live (which shall remain nameless)

A fax sent to the local Tories produced no response, nor did a hand-posted letter. She then went onto the snazzy new 'Cameron's Conservatives' site and posted an email to David Cameron no less, asking him to put a bomb under the local Tories.

Two weeks later she received the following email:

Dear Judy

Thank you for your email. Please find attached an application form for membership to the Conservative Party. I would be very grateful if you could send it back to me so that I can process your application.

Kind regards
Flossy Keelson-Anfu
Membership Department

Well the Tories are really going places.

[Cllr Iain Lindley]

All parties have moribund associations, unfortunately. They are slowly being weeded out.

[Frank Young]

Moribund associations are only so because of a lack of professional leadership. Those leadership teams in active and best practice constituency associations should mentor new associations and provide added impetus where possible.

[Biodun]

Well, I am one of the 16,000 people who joined after Cameron became leader, although I meant to do so long before.

I wanted to join the local association in the Mitcham & Morden constituency but we haven't got one, so I had to go through CCO.
Being a Londoner, this hasn't been a problem for me and I think it's worked out for the better, actually.

I'd expect the fact that we have a labour MP with a 13,000 majority, would be a good enough reason to get a local association going!

I went for a Conservative Future Xmas Party in London last month, and the ratio of men to women was higher than that on my degree course at university.
(Considering I studied Engineering, that's saying a lot).

My female friends(all under 30), were very interested in coming along for more events, once they heard this. Conversely, the male ones didn't think it would be "their thing". I guess you can't win 'em all.

But I find with most organisations, you get what you put into it. Waiting for someone else to create an association with a lively social scene for you just isn't going to happen. You have to be part of the solution too.

[James Hellyer]

"There are problems with the local/national membership distinctions."

There is no distinction - the only difference lies in who collects your money in the first place and whether they're competent enough to inform your CA or CCO.

[Beware]

Mike Smith's website has been the forum for some horrific extremist, racist tripe. It continues to be so. I'm sure both the Board of Deputies of British Jews and CCHQ could supply details if requested.

The Editor should seriously consider banning this toxic individual. He may occasionally post something inoffensive but, in the main, he's all about bile, abuse and negativity. The sort of person who can single-handedly wreck a good discussion forum.

[Beware]

Mike Smith's website has been the forum for some horrific extremist, racist tripe. It continues to be so. I'm sure both the Board of Deputies of British Jews and CCHQ could supply details if requested.

The Editor should seriously consider banning this toxic individual. He may occasionally post something inoffensive but, in the main, he's all about bile, abuse and negativity. The sort of person who can single-handedly wreck a good discussion forum.

[Phil J]

You have to be part of the solution too.

You're right of course, Biodun, and, sure, in retrospect there was plenty of other things I could have done to crack the local closed shop. But bear in mind that I probably made more effort than most new members would, and that many of those new 16,000 will have been swept up by the leadership election attention of the last few months; few of them will be - at this point, anyway - committed politicos. They have been 'hooked' but they have not been reeled in.

The Party needs to disseminate a 'Portal Policy' (of recommended best practice for welcoming new members) to Associations asap.

[Phil J]

…he's all about bile, abuse and negativity. The sort of person who can single-handedly wreck a good discussion forum.

You’re doing a pretty good job of this yourself. Please calm down.

Personally I couldn’t care less what Mike Smith is alleged to have said elsewhere. At this site he is guilty only of some gentle needling of the party’s ‘new broom’. Nothing offensive and nothing to demand a ban for.

[Derek]

The 16,000 would be the total increase. Associations send in figures every month to CCHQ. It is a very encouraging sign, particularly coming at Christmas when most people have other priorities. Our association decided not to send out a letter inviting new mwembers to join until after New Year for that reason, and I would imagine others will have delayed too. So we could have another good set of figures for January.

I agree that we need to follow up our new members and see what they might be willing/able to do, though not all members are active, and those who simply pay a subscription are also making a valuable contribution.

To those who are joining this site but not yet committed, please don't be put off. Yes there are inactive constituencies, but if you are enthusiastic you can make a real difference.

Let's be clear most Conservatives do not agree with every policy adopted by the Party, but if we prefer Conservative values over all then why not join and campaign from within to change the things we don't like. It's a lot easier to do that than to join a minor party like UKIP and wait for it to form a government.

[Biodun]

------------------------------------
At this site he is guilty only of some gentle needling of the party’s ‘new broom’. Nothing offensive and nothing to demand a ban for. At this site he is guilty only of some gentle needling of the party’s ‘new broom’. Nothing offensive and nothing to demand a ban for.
-------------------------------------
If you read the thread of Progressive Conservatism on this website
http://conservativehome.blogs.com/platform/2006/01/chad_noble_prog.html
you might see a bit more that he is guilty of.

He delights in making personal attacks. One of the characteristics I like about ConservativeHome compared to other forums is that arguments do not degenerate into 'flame wars'.

No matter how much I disagree with someviews I read, I still have a sense that the poster is a 'decent person'. I don't get that with Mr. Smith, perhaps its just my perception.

After his response to the comment I left on that thread, I realised he's the sort of person that silence is the best answer for.

[Derek]

Surely the internet should be a place where we must avoid censorship if at all possible, other than to comply with the law. We ought to be able to argue a point without descending into personal abuse.

[Cllr Iain Lindley]

The 16,000 would be the total increase. Associations send in figures every month to CCHQ.

Actually, I doubt that many Associations sent in a monthly update over Christmas, especially as the new registers are being introduced onto systems. I suspect by the beginning of February you will probably find that that 16000 has increased even further.

[Cllr Iain Lindley]

As an aside, did anyone else read Simon Heffer's cringeworthy attempt to rubbish Cameron based on the music on his iPod. In fact, he tried to rubbish Cameron purely for owning an iPod. Oh dear.

[Daniel Vince-Archer]

Have you got a link to that, Iain? I can't find it in today's Telegraph online.