Notes from Nottingham

William Hague's speech: A few weeks ago I wrote for The Guardian's Comment is free and welcomed the more balanced Conservatism of recent months.  The messages of modernisation are being blended with grittier messages on Europe, tax and crime.  'The politics of and' is certainly on show here at the Nottingham Spring Forum with much emphasis on the NHS and crime... on greenery and the importance of the family.  This is what William Hague said earlier today:

"So when some commentators write that the Conservative party should simply stick to its well-worn grooves, I say they're wrong. I say the challenges we face are so great, that party loyalties among younger voters are so weak, and that the failure of Labour across the board is so absolute, that the time has indeed come for us to fight with as much confidence for a cleaner environment and a better health service as we have always fought for strong defence and fairer tax. That our task is to show that social responsibility, bringing out the best in families and communities and not just relying on the state, is the only way to face the great social and environmental crises of our time."

Mr Hague (under a little fire for his outside interests) used his speech to set out five broad principles to guide Conservative foreign policy:

1. The return of Cabinet-style foreign policy decision-making - in contrast with Tony Blair's "decade of sofa-style decision making";
2. For Britain's "permanent friendship" with the USA to be coupled with "honest criticism" but nothing to disrupt the  diplomatic, intelligence and security links between our two nations;
3. Greater investment in relations with the Asia-Pacific region with "much increased attention on the many friendly nations of the Middle East";
4. Reform of multilateral institutions  EU, NATO and the UN;
5. A defence of our basic values across the world - "a strong attachment to human rights, a belief in the rule of law, the defence of political freedom, the promotion of economic liberalism, and humanitarian intervention when it is sensible and practical."

George Osborne's speech: The Shadow Chancellor gave an upbeat assessment of the party's prospects in his address:

"You wouldn't have believed me if I'd said to you, back in the days after our last election defeat, that less than two years later we would be ahead of our opponents, in command of local government, dictating the political pace and, above all, setting the agenda of ideas.  But we are, thanks to you, thanks to our courage to change, and thanks to David Cameron - who has defied the armchair critics, stuck to his guns and put us in a position where we can now win the next General Election."

He called on Gordon Brown to put the NHS at the heart of Wednesday's Budget:

"In every part of this country there are local hospitals facing closure, nurses facing the axe and junior doctors left in limbo.  The chancellor's financial mismanagement has led to ward closures, job losses and patients travelling further for their care.  So Gordon Brown should make Budget Day NHS Day.  He should set out the National Health Service's budget for the next three years, so the health professionals can start to plan for the long term now.  We've already had the three-year budgets for the Home Office, the schools capital budget and the Treasury itself.  So why not the NHS? He must have done the sums. Let's have them."

Liam Fox on defence: The Shadow Defence Secretary spoke to a gathering of Conservative Future about defence policy (at 36 I probably shouldn't have been there).  Dr Fox addressed the issues of energy security, the rise of Russia and the threat of Iran-driven nuclear proliferation.  And, in the best line of Conference so far, he noted that hawks tended to live a lot longer than doves.

Comments

[Paul D]

Liam Fox is right to highlight energy security. I can think of few worse scenarios than being completely dependent on Putin's Russia for our energy supplies

[Richard]

I see Iain Dale has highlighted Hague's attack on Brown's pension raid. If Brown really has cost pension funds £100 billion we should be shouting it from the rooftops.

[Umbrella Man]

What does all this NHS stuff mean from Osborne? The danger is that it looks a lot like Tories saying Labour isn't spending enough.

[Denis Cooper]

"Reform of multilateral institutions EU, NATO and the UN"

NATO could certainly be reformed, but how, with what objective in mind? Reform of the EU is a non-starter, as Hague knows very well - it could only be replaced by a completely new organisation with a new and very different founding treaty. The UN - well, what reform does he have in mind?

[Paul Kennedy]

A clear definition, if that is possible, of a better Health Service, might be a start. Maybe the statement of fact that the NHS never has nor never will provide everything for everybody would be a start, bit of a vote loser, but there you go that's the problem with the truth. ;)

Spring Conference with its associated costs, or deliver the last of my pre-election "In Touch" and then tidy my garden up.....bit of a "no brainer" really.

PS I did think of going over to the Fairfield & Howley Ward to get our paper candidate's nomination paper signed, but somehow I couldn't summon up the courage.....maybe I should get our new PPC to do it when they are announced....shortly, call it a bit of "on the job" training. :D

Anyway I hope the Conference proves worthwhile, and a good time is had by all. I look forward to reading a continuation of the notes.

[malcolm]

I liked Hagues' speech but wonder whether it will lead to more bleating from self pitying American neo cons that his call for 'honest criticism' is another example of the Conservative party adopting 'rampant anti- Americanism'.
Osbornes speech in contrast was a disappointment to me. I thought it lightweight and now more than a year after becoming shadow chancellor I would expect a little meat on the bones of our intended policies.

[PW]

"Greenery"

Ed, I'm not quite sure what you mean here. Its certainly not a very complimentary way to refer to the environment... particularly given its role (and not Liam Fox's hawkishness) in transforming the image of the party.

[Tanuki]

..."Greenery"...

We really do need to back off from the "vote blue get green" eco-nonsense: truth is that in your ordinary discussion lunchtime in the staff restaurant or down the pub in the evening the 'green' stuff never gets mentioned. People just aren't fretting about it. What concerns them are issues like increases in [council] tax, diesel/gas/electricty/heating-oil prices, the local council stopping their weekly rubbish collections, graffiti, aggressive beggars in the local town centre, cutbacks in opening-hours of the local police contact-point...

Until we 'get real' and address the concerns of ordinary voters - specially those in rural areas - we can't in any way trust the supposed lead we have in the opinion-polls to come true at an actual General Election.

[Mark Fulford]

On Wednesday there was a dead hawk outside my door. I kid you not.

[Steve]

Wouldnt it make more sense to highlight the massive cuts in spending that have to follow 10 years binging. Better to show why and how the cuts are needed BEFORE we have to sort it out.

Tanuki - u r spot on, but we SHOULD be more worried about the climate its our fault....... dont worry

[Richard]

"On Wednesday there was a dead hawk outside my door. I kid you not."

Did you cook it?

[Ex candidate]

What grittier messages on Europe, Ed?