Cornerstone fires localist versus A-list debate

Today sees the latest publication from the Cornerstone Group of socially conservative Tory MPs (the membership of which now equals about forty).  Previous publication topics have included higher education and exiting the EPP.

David Burrowes is the author of 'Pick 'em local and Pick 'em early' - a timely contribution to the debate on candidate selection currently raging within the Conservative Party and something of a challenge to the approach enshrined in the party's A-list.

At the last election David defeated Stephen Twigg with a swing of 8.7%.  The Enfield Southgate seat was low down on the list of Tory targets (number 114) but David took the seat - once held by Michael Portillo - with the biggest swing of any victorious Conservative candidate.  David is in a good position to recommend how to achieve a good election result. 

'Pick 'em local and Pick 'em early' reflects David's own experiences and an analysis of the common factors in the performance of Tory MPs who "achieved at least double the national average swing".   Those common factors are summarised in the blue graphic on the right.

Local candidates and strong commitment to the locality are the big themes in David Burrowes' analysis.  He makes a strong case for radical localisation of power as a principal way in which to address the sense of powerlessness that is driving voter apathy.  He uses the example of local phone masts to illustrate how the people of his own constituency have come to feel disempowered:

"Many constituents are frustrated that the first wave of masts was built with comparatively little public consultation or consideration for their local health or environmental concerns. Their protests have grown louder with the third generation phone upgrade which has ushered in another wave of mast building more densely spread than the first. Phone masts appearing on constituents’ doorsteps has vividly brought home their lack of control over their local area."

David Burrowes believes that compassionate, values-based local activism is a big part of the response to the reduction in voter turnout from 77% in 1992 to just 62% last year.  He also thinks that it is the way to elect more Conservative MPs.

David Burrowes believes he was able to repeat the same success that saw Andrew Rosindell achieve 2001's standout Tory result (in Romford):

"In 2001 one of our best results was in Romford where Andrew Rosindell bucked the national trend and regained the seat from Labour. Andrew’s success was no doubt formed from a proven track record over a number of years as a local champion. I recognised this point and similarly was able to lean on my position as a local councillor of 11 years in Enfield Southgate. I was well placed to voice constituents’ concerns about their locality and act as a focal point for campaigns on highly localised issues."

Summary of David's strengths:

• Local commitment.  David has not only served on the council.  He's a local solicitor.  He worships at a local church.  His five young children use local schools or playgroups.  He's involved with local youth groups.
• Positivity.  He hit hard at Stephen Twigg's connections with the unpopular Tony Blair during last year's election but fought a primarily positive campaign.
• Values-based.  He was straightforward about his traditional values - highlighting his support for families and his Christian commitment (I should note that David Burrowes and I co-founded the Conservative Christian Fellowship whilst at Exeter University in 1990).
• Compassionate conservatism.  He didn't just campaign in the leafiest parts of the constituency but in the harder-pressed areas where Labour's failures have bitten deepest.

Cornerstone Chairman John Hayes MP, using words that were certain to end up in the newspapers (and have and have), said:

“The idea that we can parachute insubstantial and untested candidates with little knowledge of the local scene into key seats to win the confidence of people they seek to represent is the bizarre theory of people who spend too much time with the pseuds and posers of London’s chichi set and not enough time in normal Britain.  David Burrowes, like other Cornerstoners that captured their seats at the last election, has proved that standing up for what you believe in, sticking up for vulnerable people and stoically campaigning all year round on local issues are what counts with voters. That’s why I’m so pleased that David Cameron has decided to encourage early selection in target seats.”

* Download a PDF summary of Were you up for Twigg?

Related links: Most A-listers achieved below average results, A-listers turn their backs on tougher seats and Association Chairmen give green light to A-list.

Comments

[Will]

“The idea that we can parachute insubstantial and untested candidates with little knowledge of the local scene into key seats to win the confidence of people they seek to represent is the bizarre theory of people who spend too much time with the pseuds and posers of London’s chichi set and not enough time in normal Britain. "

I agree with Tombstone, a sad day for me :-)

David Burrowes has it right - The A-List does nothing to maximise our chances of success. Candidates with a connection to the seats they stand in is a must outside cities.

[Alexander Drake]

I've not read David's article, Tim, but on the basis of your article, I completely agree with his analysis, 100%.

However, John Hayes' choice of fairly emotive language to equate supporting David's excellent points with a blast at "pseuds and posers of London’s chichi set" as opposed to "normal Britain" was probably not an approach I would have used. : )

[William]

Maude talks in generalities and does not convince. Parties trying to pick winners is like Governments trying to pick winners. It's a farce.

Burrowes talks specifics and does convince. The market knows best, and if you listen and react to the market, you succeed.

John Hayes is using flowery language to ensure he gets his soundbite - echoing the 'mincing metrosexuals'. 'Pseuds and posers of London's chichi set' is quite mild stuff compared to the other terms I've heard used for them!

[Serf]

He didn't just campaign in the leafiest parts of the constituency but in the harder-pressed areas where Labour's failures have bitten deepest.

Possibly the single biggest factor. We need to force our opponents to fight for the votes of their "captive electorate". To do this choosing early is essential.

[James Burdett]

I agree with the point of picking early and then working hard to tie down the opposing parties. However if you go down the route of local candidates then, any aspiring candidate from a Tory part of the world with a clutch of MP's who still have a shelf life are going to be pretty much passed over. A good local candidate is proabably to be preferred but if you can't get a local candidate then just get a good candidate, if you pick them early enough the non-local factor will not matter that much because they will have been active so long in the area that to the electorate the individual will 'feel' local!

[James Cleverly]

Just a cautionary note, in the rush to embrace localism let us spare a thought for those talented Conservatives who happen to be local to areas where we do not have much hope of returning a Conservative MP in the foreseeable future.

We do not have any councillors or MPs in Manchester, no MPs in large parts of Wales, Scotland and the North East but there are, I am sure, plenty of good campaigners there who deserve a crack at the whip. Being local is not the same as thinking locally, the former is desirable but the latter is essential.

[Mike Christie]

"We do not have any councillors or MPs in Manchester"

A little out of context of the thread I'm afraid, but can people please stop saying this, and spreading the BBC propaganda. Whilst we do not have any councillors on Manchester City Council we do have councillors in other areas of Greater Manchester, including the councils of Trafford and Salford (Britain's forgotten city).

[malcolm]

I would also be inclined to agree with David Burrowes analysis.However I wish that this document had sent to Cameron and Maude privately.Let's make clear our opposition to the Alist but let's not lose our discipline and gift our enemies with headlines about the 'chichi set'.

[Sally Roberts]

I agree with you wholeheartedly, Malcolm! Just when we are moving ahead in the polls and people are beginning to engage with us again we make this kind of public relations "boo boo" which is a gift to our opponents!! Having said that, I totally agree with the guidelines set out for a successful candidate. Our MP in Hammersmith & Fulham, Greg Hands, fits the description in every way and consequently we achieved success both in his election in 2005 and in taking control of the Council this year.

[torylady]

What planet is John Hayes MP living on? Most of the people on the A-list have run for parliament once or twice, and are considered excellent candidates, e.g. Conor Burns. Why should we force someone like him to run again in Eastleigh after Chris Huhne has upped his profile? Are we to throw people like him away?

Too much emphasis is put on this "local" issue.

We should spare a thought for all those local associations run by cliques who've lived in an area of decades, and feel that people who've only been there for a couple of years aren't "local".

There are so many people unable to do anything useful because their local association is nothing more than a glorified bridge club, and find themselves drifting to other surrounding areas or giving up activism completely.

We have a lot of 2nd and 3rd-rate councillors from associations like this who do nothing but grate and irritate. Yet they win seats over and over again for reasons that have nothing to do with their personal attributes. According to many commentators here, such people deserve safe seats because they've sat on a council for X number of years.. why have we thrown ration out the window?

[eugene]

David Burrowes - Conservative hero. I still feelespecially good and excited 13 months after the event of him taking THAT seat back. To me it was the turning point for our Party.

[James Cleverly]

Mike,

Point noted about Manchester.

I stand by my point that we need to select people who can become local, that may be easier in some places than others but we shouldn't go down the "must work here/live here/ be born here" to stand here mindset.

[Ted]

What is it with some MPs that they have to create controversy which then hides the good advice being put forward? Pehaps Mr Hayes felt he hadn't had his name in the newspapers recently?

The things highlighted- early selection, long term campaign, living in constituency etc - do not IMHO say that only local candidates can be selected but that a candidate must make the long term commiitment to an area to succeed. There are the plum seats where the brightest & best can be parachuted in (but even there they must quickly put down roots & become local) but to win the next election we need to take over 125 seats.

That means that targeting in excess of that number- probably closer to 200 targets. So 200 people (and their families) must make the committment to, if necessary, up sticks and move. They must put in the hours, develop their local presence etc. They probably have (on current polls) about a 50% chance of success. Understanderble that some A listers don't want to apply for the more distant seats but we need those 200 dedicated people and we need them in place this year.

[Andrew Woodman]

I think being regionally local would qualify James. e.g If you are from Manchester, then you have all the outer Manchester marginals such as Bury, Bolton ect where you could easily go down as local.

I've found myself agreeing with Cornerstone on many of the documents they've realised lately. Although they have a headbanger perception, they do talk a lot of sense it would seem.

[Henry Whitmarsh]

But parliamentary politics isn't local. The local MP can do sweet F A about most local issues. The only reason most people do is probably the same reason why the turnout for local council elections is so much lower than the generals.

Also, who are these "Cornerstone"rs ? Are they a new political party?

[Derek]

An excellent article, full of practical commonsense. If only the leadership would read and act on it. Select early and select well. Of course not every association has a David Burrowes or a Greg Hands waiting to be selected, in which case we need to find someone who is prepared to move in to the area early and become local, and they must be selected really early.

Sadly our system is far too slow, and centrally controlled, such that associations are not allowed to select until they are told, which in most cases is far too late. Why not liberate the local associations to set their own timetables?

[Mike Christie]

"According to many commentators here, such people deserve safe seats because they've sat on a council for X number of years.. "

I don't think anyone is advocating local candidates getting preferance regardless of ability.

Surely though a excellent local candidate is the ideal, and it depends on the constituency whether an excellent candidate with no connection to the area is more likely to win than a seemingly less-able local candidate. Some parts of the country are quite parochial, others are used to 'outsiders'.

For me, the main point is that associations must be have the right and responsibility to choose the candidate best suited to win that seat.

The problem, of course, lies where the consistuency association is so unrepresentative of the constituency as a whole, through being disproportionately drawn from one social and age group, that their notion of an ideal candidate does not tally with that of the electorate as a whole.

[Andrew Woodman]

Open primaries then Mike??

[Chris]

Being local to a constituency indeed does help, as we've seen in various seats over the last few years. My favourite example is of Grant Shapps, in Welwyn Hatfield, who managed to get his picture in the paper almost every edition for about 5 years before being elected in May last year.

The true question is though, what do you consider local? Is it someone who has lived in the constituency for the past 3 years or someone who's lived there life, or someone who was born there, moved away and just moved back? Some areas are more fussy about the local definition than others, though I feel in a lot of cases, if people from the A-List were assigned their constituencies now, and moved to them immediately, that 3 years involved in local politics should be enough for most candidates to be considered "local".

[Henry Whitmarsh]

that should read "The only reason why most people think they can control the weather ect." It should also be mentioned that most people don't know the name of anyone on their local council, whereas most people know who their MP is.

The entire article begs the question. This is what is wrong. Luckily, the solution is also my personal agenda. Oh, and a few swipes at the A list, Cameron, and these winebar CINO's who are running the show (for now.)

It shouldn't really be wondered at. After all, these are the people who gave us Hague, IDS and three electoral lynchings. What's the solution? Localism? Sure. That's really the kind of denial an electable Conservative party needs.

[Andrew Woodman]

I think someone who is able fit in with a constituency Chris. That might be more regional than anything. A metropolitan lawyer parachuted in will not be considered local in a constituency such as mine, but someone bought up in Derbyshire or the neighbouring counties could blend in more easily. Everywhere is different and it's not a one size fits all.

[Henry Whitmarsh]

You're electing someone to a legislature for crying out loud. You're also electing someone on a party ticket, so you're voting for national policies, which you'd have to do anyway because the local mp has precisely no direct involvement with local issues.

[Mike Christie]

"Open primaries then Mike??"

They are one possibility. I don't pretend to have a one-size-fits-all answer. The real dilemma is how the centre can try and exert some genuinely needed influence on candidate selection, without disenfranchising local activists. I don't envy Francis Maude one little bit.

[Andrew Woodman]

Henry, why do people go to MPs with local problems then, why do they bring up local issues at PMQs. MPs are a constituencies representative. It is not a national PR system. Burrowes and Rosindell did not get elected on a national ticket. It will not just be having David Cameron as leader which gets us to power. It will be the grassroots local campiagns.

[G-MaN]

No No No No and No. Whats wrong with Tombstone? They quite clearly still dont get it, and probably never will. Although we may not like the A-List it is a necerssary tool in the rebranding excersize that we have undertaken. John Hayes is my local MP and im afraid to say is seriously misguided on this issue if he thinks choosng the same old church going tories will broaden our appeal and actually make us look different on Those Benches. And his attitude towards Cameron in his comments is atrocious.

This report is well timed, some of us may get complaincent and think we dont need to go further in rebranding but need policies. This is wrong. We need to go much further.
I note the Cornerstone Group has all of one female member. Justine Greening one of our newest MPs, and even she had no comment for The Times.

[Mike Christie]

"the local mp has precisely no direct involvement with local issues."

Really? Could you come and explain that to my local (labour) MP. She regularly gets in the paper campaigning against the local hospital being shut, or against a wind farm development or whatever the issue de jour happens to be, or maybe she wasn't involved directly in local issues when she was involved in a Westminster Hall debate on the future of primary education in the area...

[Cllr Francis Lankester]

Whatever the rights and wrongs of the article, the Party simply does not encourage and welcome local candidates or those with a public sector background-or rather, it seems actively hostile to these people.

[SimonNewman]

A good quality candidate who's lived in the area for 3 years or so is plenty 'local' enough for most places, but the centre of any party needs to respect the local constituencies. The main thing is to find the very best candidates, local or not. That also means not overlooking local talent.

[Sean Fear]

On the contrary, Henry Whitmarsh, people increasingly expect involvement in local concerns from their MPs. It's why so many Lib Dems are so hard to dislodge once they get in.

G-Man - what most of us want are good candidates. Whether they fit in with some rebranding exercise or not is frankly irrelevant.

[Graeme Archer]

Sort of struggling with the whole tombstone thing. I guess we're not supposed to be ad hominem (homini? can't remember dative masc. plural, sorry, I'm sure most Tombstone MPs can though, probably from first time round), but since something called John Hayes MP has decided to deride what he calls London's poser-ing chichi set, I'm not going to bother with restraint. This will be the JOhn Hayes who has achieved what? exactly? other than generating negative headlines. I'm sure all his little pin-striped friends will enjoy themselves, shaking their impotent fists in rage against Modern Britain, and then tomorrow we can all get back to beating Labour.

Please invite Hayes onto interview, so we can ask him to define explicitly what he's referring to by chichi? One thing makes me angry with propaganda is the way it usually shies off from being explicit about its target. Peter Mandelson's "endorsement" of John Prescott was a good example, and you see the same weasel evasions in the Tombstone press release. They can't actually bring themselves to say specifically what it is they don't like about metropolitan Tories' bed-fellows (called "urban voters" here in Zone 2) so they take refuge in a cowardly mood music to define their targets. Pathetic.

What does the Enfield MP make of this propaganda coup overtaking his no doubt thoughtful analysis of what makes a good candidate?

And enough of this local drivel already. Some local people are good. Some local people are crap. Eric Forth, of course, was famously non-local. Presumably Cornershop Group would have campaigned furiously against his selection?

[Chad]

Exactly Graeme and Simon.

The main thing is to find the very best candidates, local or not. That also means not overlooking local talent.

When asked, "how do you think we should deal with Iran?" for example the following answers are not particularly helpful:

* Um, well I am (am not) a local lad.
* Um, well I am a woman/man.
* Um, I am (am not) from an ethnic minority
etc etc.

Does the party really think that a set of candidates who are black, white, yellow, green, abled, disabled, local, martian, male, female etc but who all 100% agree with David Cameron in terms of how they think will be offering any diversity or representation of Britain at all?

Sure, their backgrounds etc helped shaped their views, but it is the end result, their views, that are important.

Representation, is about ideas, views, and values, not about quirks of birth.

[Cllr Iain Lindley]

It isn't necessarily local candidates, but locally committed candidates.

[comstock]

"the keys to being a big swinger"

Whatever turns you on I guess!

;)

[Cllr Iain Lindley]

I doubt Cornerstone approve of swinging!

[Mike Christie]

"It isn't necessarily local candidates, but locally committed candidates."

You're not from round here are you ;-)

[Ted]

Surely only a chichi MP would use the expression chichi - not something I'd expect from a south Londoner turned Notts lad....

[G-MaN]

Sean I know we all do. But we can have good woman and ethnic candidates, whom otherwise would not have been chosen in safe Tory seats.

I think primary contests between prospectus candidtaes might be a good idea so we can all see what we are getting.

[Annabel Herriott]

I am just SO appalled at the way John Hayes has derided the conservative party. A JOY to all left wing commentators. I pray that his stupid outburst will not affect our rising poll ratings and acceptability. It would be nice if he could observe a period of silence now, or even better, a sincere retraction. We need people like him like the proverbial hole in the head.

[YorkshireLad]

I think you're right Annabel.

David Burrowes' article makes perfect sense, but it is totally unjustifiable for John Hayes to use it as an excuse to have a go at the leadership. In particular, I'm fed up at people constantly feeling the need to have a go at Francis Maude.

Now that we're finally moving in the right direction we need to present a united front.

[Andrew Woodman]

I would agree that John Hayes statement is not helpful but like Yorkshire Lad, I agree with Burrowes report.

[Old Hack]

The priority list is failing for the same reasons that the candidates list fails:

It raises barriers to applying for a constituency, but fails to provide variety and mix of suitably qualified candidates. In the past there were too few women applying (note - applying) because there were too few women on the list. Now there is not sufficient access for locals who in the past were given a fairer crack of the whip.

It's time for a little bit of lateral thinking.

Scrap the list, make the whole process of selection as inclusive and open as possible, but maintain an effective vetting process to prevent unsuitable applicants from progressing too far.

[Cllr Iain Lindley]

You're not from round here are you ;-)

Nope, I'm the "chap from t'other side of Bury". ;-)

[Richard]

"You're electing someone to a legislature for crying out loud. You're also electing someone on a party ticket, so you're voting for national policies, which you'd have to do anyway because the local mp has precisely no direct involvement with local issues."

That doesn't change the fact that in many places constituents prefer local candidates. You could argue that this is irrational but it won't stop people thinking like that.

While I can understand where Hayes is coming from I think it would have been better if he'd informed Cameron of his opinions rather than allow himself to be quoted by the papers. I'm sure he would dissaprove when the "modernisers" or pro-Euro Tories speak out of turn.

"Also, who are these "Cornerstone"rs ? Are they a new political party?"

http://www.cornerstonegroup.org.uk/

"The Cornerstone Group of Conservative MPs is working to make the case for a Conservatism founded on patriotism, shared values and social justice. A Conservatism that contrasts the quality of life with soulless utility and community with selfish individualism."

Despite being categorised as right-wingers this statement sounds somewhat leftish.

[Mike Christie]

"maintain an effective vetting process to prevent unsuitable applicants from progressing too far.

Something like interviewing and testing them and keeping note of all the suitable ones?

Surely it is just the criteria used to determine who gets on the list that might need attention rather than scrapping the whole system.

[James Maskell]

The Cornerstone group was a group which this site took a lot of interest in at the Leadership election, as they caries a fair number of votes in that election. If I remember correctly they liked the cut of Liam Fox's jib. I wouldnt call them headbangers, but some of their stuff has been a little right wing for my tastes. Its pretty solid stuff on the whole though.

[Graeme Archer]

They only had one hit, with Brimful of Asha. It was a good hit though.

[comstock]

Also, who are these "Cornerstone"rs ? Are they a new political party?"

http://www.cornerstonegroup.org.uk/

"The Cornerstone Group of Conservative MPs is working to make the case for a Conservatism founded on patriotism, shared values and social justice. A Conservatism that contrasts the quality of life with soulless utility and community with selfish individualism."

Despite being categorised as right-wingers this statement sounds somewhat leftish.

Don't be fooled, they are a nasty, right wing group. Edward Leigh is a prominent member- anti gay, anti immigrant, heck even anti contraception.

Mind you he has got 6 kids, so he must practice what he preaches LOL :D

[Mike Christie]

'heck even anti contraception'
Just like every good Catholic, more left wing 'tolerance' there I see...

Aren't people allowed to have different values any more? Abstention and fidelity, what's wrong with that?

[Serf]

Don't be fooled, they are a nasty, right wing group. Edward Leigh is a prominent member- anti gay, anti immigrant, heck even anti contraception.

Mind you he has got 6 kids, so he must practice what he preaches LOL :D

Unlike prominent anti gay Simon Hughes I suppose..... ;)

[Serf]

Sorry, I didn't close the bold tag

Try this.

[comstock]

Aren't people allowed to have different values any more? Abstention and fidelity, what's wrong with that?

For a minute there I though you were seriously sugg.......

Hey I'm missing a trick here aren't I?

Nothing wrong with it at all. I think it's a excellant idea. It should be it the next Conservative manifesto.

Listen to Cornerstone, people, listen to them always. They in touch with modern Britian and will win you lots of general elections. Honest!

[Chad]

Bold Off.

[Mike Christie]

If being in touch with modern Britain means encouraging attitudes that lead to ever-rising rates of teen pregnancy, increased incidences of STIs and all the other symptoms of our dysfunctional society then I'm quite happy to be out of touch.

[Graeme Archer]

Of course, Mike, you could reduce all those things to zero by introducing a police state and forbidding any relationship not sanctioned by Big Brother -- I know you're not suggesting that, I'm just pointing out that wanting those outcomes isn't a good reason for supporting any one particular view of the world. I think the Cornershop agenda is dreadful to be honest though not so much as cornstock does! It's more an aesthetic thing for me; I don't like being lectured to by such unpleasant looking people. There! Chichi to my core!

[torylady]

No doubt if John Hayes & co had to risk carrying a 9-month pregnancy and all the associated hassle every single time they had sex, they wouldn't be so anti-contraception.

It's alot easier to condemn contraception or abortion if you never have to bear the burden of pregnancy anyway.

[Editor]

We're now getting off subject.

I'll turn the bold off. Only I or Sam can. For the record you can't repair the damage done on a previous comment by someone who has incorrectly programmed html - even if it's your own html. If have used html in a comment please click the preview button before clicking the post button to check you've done it correctly.

[Mike Christie]

Grahame, I'm not advocating any such thing, to be sure. However the sanctimonious mockery of anyone who does not conform to the liberal agenda is every bit as bad as po-faced lecturing from self-righteous social conservatives.

[Mike Christie]

torylady, the Catholic position is quite breathtakingly simple, sex is for making babies, if you don't want to make babies don't have sex. There is no hassle there.

If you do not subscribe to that viewpoint, that is your decision, but leave the mockery and condemnation out of it.

[Graeme Archer]

Mike, if I am mocking today it's because of the sneering contempt of Hayes' press release. I couldn't care less what someone like that thinks about those of us blessed enough to live in London but I'm sick of them preaching at us about how would should reconnect with the voters by being more judgemental of their "chichi" lives; every signal that Cornershop give off is what made our brand so toxic in the first place.

[Mike Christie]

Graeme, I've not followed a great deal of Hayes' output in the past.

However, this press release only follows on from Maude's comment about 'mincing metrosexuals'. It is not an attack on everybody who lives in London, but a comment on a group of influential party figures. It makes the perfectly reasonable comment (albiet in rather extravagent language) that a small group of wealthy, priviliged and somewhat cloistered individuals should not make the mistake (in direct contrast to many of our policies and principles) of assuming that they know better than local associations when it comes to choosing candidates best suited to win.

[Graeme Archer]

Mike, why on earth should a Catholic view of the purpose of intercourse be elevated beyond (good natured) mockery? Isn't that the problem with certain other religions, or at least, the problem with how the power-brokers in some religious communities choose to tell the rest of us their religion has to be interpreted?

[Richard]

"Isn't that the problem with certain other religions, or at least, the problem with how the power-brokers in some religious communities choose to tell the rest of us their religion has to be interpreted?"

I suppose the problem is that nowadays "traditional morality" is mocked a great deal in the media whereas those who partake in destructive behaviour (churning out babies while aged 16) are defended. Thankfully Little Britain has started to change this!

[Editor]

Let's return to the subject of the thread purleeaaaaasssseeeee.

[Mike Christie]

"Mike, why on earth should a Catholic view of the purpose of intercourse be elevated beyond (good natured) mockery?"

Why should the beliefs of a billion or so people be given a little respect? There is a difference between poking a little fun (a la Monty Python's 'Every Sperm is Sacred' which always has me in stitches) and the offhand dismissal of cornstock that implies that anyone holding souch a belief is morally deficient in some way.

I'm not trying to force that belief on anyone, I'm a very lapsed Catholic and not a hypocrite. I don't follow those teaching, and don't expect others to.

However it always gets my goat when so-called liberals start mocking the beliefs of decent people.

Tolerance only stretches to people who don't disagree with the liberal mafia it seems.

[Mike Christie]

"Let's return to the subject of the thread purleeaaaaasssseeeee"

Sorry Editor! A-List, bah humbug! Is that better? ;-)

[Graeme Archer]

Check the Editor's chichi language!

OK seriously. Pick a good candidate as early as possible and work them into the very veins of your constituency's community groups. Am I missing anything obvious?

[Andrew Woodman]

Like Mike says, there are many people in the north, midlands, south west that don't wish to be dictated to from London and know better the type of person best placed to win their particular seat. I would also say however that having an open primary may will be best best way of localising a candidate.

[johnC]

'Let's return to the subject of the thread 'l

The subject of the thread is winning elections. George Bush owes a good deal of his electoral success to his ability to capture the Catholic vote, particularly among Hispanics, due partly to his support for traditional moral values. I think this is actually quite a relevant point. Metrosexual liberalism is a good deal less popular in the country as a whole than in the media.

[Le Nerd]

The important thing isn't 'local' candidates, it's, candidates who are: A] selected locally & who then, B]campaign locally. The problem with the A List is that: A] the obviously restricted choice Maude offers makes a mockery out of an Association's right to pick ("any colour of candidate you like, as long as it's Cameroon") & B] the sort of people who are on the A List, with so many of them having NO 'form' inside the Party means that we can have no realistic idea what sort of campaigners they are going to make. The A List was a device to get Dave's mates into safe seats. It deserves to fail.

[SimonNewman]

johnC:
"The subject of the thread is winning elections. George Bush owes a good deal of his electoral success to his ability to capture the Catholic vote, particularly among Hispanics, due partly to his support for traditional moral values."

Not really - Bush didn't get a significant % of the Hispanic vote, which was only 6% of the vote in 2004. He did however get a significant portion of the Irish and other 'white' Catholic vote, important in midwestern swing states. This was aided greatly by the Catholic church's criticism of Kerry.

"Metrosexual liberalism is a good deal less popular in the country as a whole than in the media."

I wouldn't be quite so sure of that - unlike in the USA, long-term cohabiting without marriage, even when there's children, seems to be the default arrangement for the lower-middle & middle classes these days, at least in the public sector. And there's no right-wing broadcast media allowed in the UK, so people are constantly told that 'metrosexual liberalism' is the only acceptable lifetsyle choice.

[malcolm]

Iain Dale writes about this subject on his blog today.I agree with every word.

[South East Blogger]

We have a young lady locally who would be a superb Parliamentary candidate and MP. She has shown her worth and a Councillor and Cabinet member.

Parliamentary selection panels with a 'traditional' Tory outlook however would not even select her for interview, (female, young, left school at 16, 'university of life').

She has made it to the A List to the great credit of those that made these selections.

She now has a chance through the A List of being selected for interview in 3 local seats, two target marginals and one Conservative held seat.

Without the A List she simply would not have a chance - good luck to her and others like her.

Stop whinging about the A List and look at the positive aspects like this. As long as 'non A List' local candidates can sit alongside the A Listers for selection by the local Associations there is nothing for most of us to complain about.

Unless you are a non-A List candidate, of course, but that would be a personal 'grudge against the system.

We need to reflect the country as a whole and sadly without this kind of 'encouragment' I cannot see the necessary changes to the candidate profile being made.

[Patsy Sergeant]

I quite agree with Annabel @ 12.46, and the more the silly phrase is mentioned on here the more likely it is to be picked up by flippant interviewers in the media, who are as anxious to be thought of as 'clever' as the people who made the original remarks. It seems to me that these 'remark' people have such a desire to be noticed that it obscures common sense, and I am afraid women come into this category as well, as we all know!

[Henry Whitmarsh]

Don't be fooled, they are a nasty, right wing group. Edward Leigh is a prominent member- anti gay, anti immigrant, heck even anti contraception.

Thanks, I was already well aware of that.

Important information for Tombstoners/Tory Taliban...

1. There are gay people. Deal with it.
2. Some immigration is good for the economy.
3. Women. They vote. Might want to see The Handmaids Tale as more a warning than a blueprint.

I see we also have another attack on a womans right to choose on the site. That's the way to do it!

[matt wright]

On balance I agree with David Burrowes on this one although I am not a Cornerstone supporter. His points are practical and realistic and more importantly would bring b electoral success,

Matt

[Chris D]

Southeastblogger, totally agree with your post. The problem is that anything that David Cameron does that might actually take us out of the "box" marked Nasty Party doesn't tend to go down well with certain elements within the conservative party.
There are some excellent candidates on the A list who are being continually undermined by this constant criticism.
Local associations are not being made to accept only A list candidates and are free to chose someone local. If you are not on the A list you can still be selected as a PPC so what is the problem?
Something tells me that if CCO had tried tell constituency associations that they could only chose a "local candidate" we would be having the same argument only the other way round!
The latest demand by David Cameron's critics is that he must prove he can make the tories relevant in Scotland, Wales and Northern England , give him a fair chance to appeal to more than his core vote and remove the ball and chain that is Europe, taxes , law and order and the A list.

[Philip]

Henry Whitmarsh, yes there are gay people, but to "deal with it" doesn't mean we all have to agree with the 'liberal' agenda on this! (If this is what you mean?) We must be allowed to have alternative views without being subject to liberal intolerance!

Back to the subject! Excellent stuff from David Burrowes! An example of connecting with people and their concerns and aspirations without ditching the Conservative and traditional values - values that people identify with anyway. It is only Conservatives, who believe in a smaller 'state', less central prescription and control whether from Whitehall or Brussels, who can combat feelings of powerlessness and make politics seem relevant to people again. David points to the answer rather than 'PR' (anything more anti-democratic and likely to remove power from voters??), reducing the voting age, postal voting, or any other such gimmick.

But I agree not all candidates need be local in order to be successful. My constituency had an excellent candidate in 2005 who made an impact but who did not live locally, and ran the best campaign here, although unfortunately he did not make it that time as Labour had a bigger majority to be overturned.

[Richard]

"I see we also have another attack on a womans right to choose on the site. That's the way to do it!"

Support for lessening abortion term limits are very popular amongst women, more so than men.

[Richard]

"Don't be fooled, they are a nasty, right wing group."

Having socially conservative views doesn't automatically make someone nasty. At university I knew some socially conservative people in the Christian Union who were amongst some of the nicest people I'd met. Most of the WWII generation were socially conservative - are we to describe our grandparents as nasty? That is not to deny, of course, that there are many people with socially conservative opinions who can be obnoxious and offensive in the way that they promote their views. Such people are in a small discontented minority though.

[James Maskell]

I agree with Cornerstone here, which I dont always do. We need candidates, preferably local, ready now. We need the very best on that A-List, irrelevant of demographics. If Adam Rickitt is one of the top 100 candidates then fine, have him on the List. But if he has been put in for a primary reason other than qualifications and dedication to the cause, then why in the hell is he there?

By the end of the year, due to boundary changes, I will be living in Thanet South. I want to see a candidate selected by then, campaigning. I will support that candidate and help with campaigning. But the system must have integrity, something which is currently missing.

I predict this system will be completely different by the end of the year. Brooks Newmark cant defend it on TV and he is one of the Co-Chairs of Women2Win, who had a defining role in the creation of this system. Cameron even uses their own language. If those who created this system cant really defend it, whats the chance of it surviving? Its dividing the Party. Stop the split now, Cameron.

[Sean Fear]

"I see we also have another attack on a womans right to choose on the site. That's the way to do it!"

Support for lessening abortion term limits are very popular amongst women, more so than men"

In fact, there is a very persistent gender gap on this subject. On average, women hold more socially conservative views on abortion than men do.

[SimonNewman]

South East Blogger:
"As long as 'non A List' local candidates can sit alongside the A Listers for selection by the local Associations there is nothing for most of us to complain about."

Agree 100% with this. The A-list is now being presented as a selection aid, rather than compulsory. IMO that can only be a good thing. Many of those on the list are very good candidates and deserve to be selected, while not all local parties have fantastic local candidates waiting to be selected. Put the two together and everyone wins.

[Chad]

"Put the two together and everyone wins."

Not when the associations then go ahead and pick a load of white men.

That was the whole point, that associations were preventing diversity.

It was just that Cameron picked the wrong solution of trying to manage it centrally that has backfired, rather than letting the communities themselves get involved to let really divserity flourish.

[SimonNewman]

"Not when the associations then go ahead and pick a load of white men."

If the white men are the best candidates - the most electable and the best MPs - I'm fine with that.

"rather than letting the communities themselves get involved to let really divserity flourish"

As I've said I'm sceptical that open primaries would necessarily result in a more 'diverse' selection. A big problem in Britain is that our appalling state education system does not inculcate confidence and self-belief in those who've been through it. This gives the public-school educated a big initial advantage when seeking selection, and open primaries wouldn't change that.

[Chad]

Hi Simon,
For me, diversity is the diversity of ideas, not sex, colour etc.

Diversity of ideas, representative of the range of views of Britons cannot be achieved through central-selection by CCHQ nor the associations as they will always favour someone likely to be 'onside' (whatever colour etc) or 'loyal ' ie picked out of self-interest of the picker.

Open Primaries, will ensure that the elected representatives relate to the views of their communities and thus bring that real diversity, the diversity of thought.

[Chad]

This gives the public-school educated a big initial advantage when seeking selection, and open primaries wouldn't change that.
So why don't the public schoolers win Big Brother?

People, communities will be more likely to pick peoplelike themselves than a confident public schooler.

[malcolm]

I can only speak for the associations I've been a member of (5 in 20 years) but I really do wonder if it's actually the associations who always choose 'a load of white men'.In my albeit limited experience the reason so many are chosen is they apply in far greater numbers than other people.I would be very interested to know if the party has ever revealed what percentage of women or ethnic minorities have actually applied to be MPs and have failed to become a PPC against the percentage of white men who have applied and also failed.I suspect there are some urban myths being peddled here.

[Chad]

Hi Malcolm,
Cameron devised the a-list as his solution to this 'urban myth' of associations not picking enough women etc.

Do you think, based on your experience, he just got the wrong end of the stick and it was as you suggested, that the party simply does not appeal to many women etc?

[SimonNewman]

Chad - Diversity of ideas:
"Diversity of ideas, representative of the range of views of Britons cannot be achieved through central-selection by CCHQ nor the associations"

Well, I think that people are attracted to the Conservative party because they believe in Conservative ideas such as Liberty under Law. Obviously the full range of ideas of Britons includes plenty that are incompatible with Conservatism, such as (IMO) Marxism - admittedly US "Neo-Conservatism" is heavily influenced by Marxism, but I view Neo-Conservatism as a profoundly harmful ideology and I'm glad it seems to have little purchase here other than in the Labour party, its natural home.
Conservatism is a broad church but it needs to retain a core (overlapping) set of values and the ability to say "this is not Conservatism".

[malcolm]

No Chad,the party does appeal to women,when we've been electorally successful greater percentages of women have usually voted Conservative than men.However I do wonder if many women actually want to be MPs.In my limited experience we have had very few applications from women and my point is that the reason we have so few women MPs may be more due to the paucity of applications rather than from any misogyny from the associations.Of course I may be completely wrong about this as no association I've been a member of have been run by retired majors,colonels ,Air Commodores or even the dreaded blue rinse brigade!

[SimonNewman]

Chad:
"Do you think, based on your experience, he just got the wrong end of the stick and it was as you suggested, that the party simply does not appeal to many women etc?"

Traditionally the Conservatives have appealed _more_ to women than men (as malcolm points out)! It's not that the party doesn't appeal to 'women etc', it's that many capable 'women etc' have lacked the confidence to apply to be PPCs.

[Chad]

Sorry, Malcolm, I was ambigious, I meant in terms of those seeking to become MP's not in terms of voters.

The support from women in voting terms has clearly gone up recently.

However, Cameron did propose the a-list to address this imbalance, so if you are right, he has misunderstood the reason for the imbalance.

[malcolm]

Perhaps he has.It would be interesting to see the figures wouldn't it?

[Chad]

:-) Well, it won't be comfortable reading for Cameron if your experience translates across the country.

What is the point in alienating support of the associations if they are not (on the whole) the blame? Perhaps that 'clause 4' fight perhaps.

[Mike Christie]

"So why don't the public schoolers win Big Brother?"

Because it is a freak show, people vote to be entertained by the oddest people.

I hope you aren't suggesting we employ similar selection criteria for candidates.

[Chad]

No, what I am saying is that a silky smooth public school patter is not necessarily an edge over someone who says the right things but is less polished or stumbles over their words a bit. Just look at the current US president!

[Mike Christie]

"I would be very interested to know if the party has ever revealed what percentage of women or ethnic minorities have actually applied to be MPs and have failed to become a PPC against the percentage of white men who have applied and also failed"

Here's a scary thought, what if its nothing to do with the party at all.... what if women are simply much less likely to want to be an MP. What if it is a job that simply appeals far more to men than women! We must ensure a level playing field, and encourage able and interested women to apply. However there is every possibility that women will only ever make up a less than proportionate number of MPs because the nature of the job simply doesn't appeal to women.

How many of our lady contributors have considered or would seriously consider a parliamentary career?

[Mike Christie]

"Just look at the current US president!"

That would be the Harvard educated, son of a former President, member of one of the most influential families in the country president...

[malcolm]

Be interesting 'though Mike!A competition to find the oddest person in each of the parties would attract a strong field of applicants I think!Any ideas?

[Mike Christie]

"A competition to find the oddest person in each of the parties would attract a strong field of applicants I think"

Not sure about that, but I'd love to see Boris in some sort of confined proximity with Prescott.