Ten reasons to vote Conservative

Janet Daley, Leo McKinstry, the leader-writers at The Daily Mail and even Cameron-cheerleader Bruce Anderson stand up for the hard-pressed taxpayer this morning and share ConservativeHome's disappointment at the Tory policy on tax.  But we promised to be optimistic this morning and here is a list of ten reminders why, despite the tactic of economic disarmament, a Cameron government is well worth having:

Support for the family.  Strong families aren't just the road to social justice they are also the road to smaller government.  Without stronger families Britain will struggle to overcome the challenges of crime, school failure and economic dependency.  Conservative support for marriage, an end to the couple penalty and a range of other pro-family measures will all make significant contributions to the development of a more pro-family culture.

Compassionate, progressive conservatism.  There are no big ideas that yet sum up David Cameron's compassionate conservatism but there are many hopeful signs (summarised here) and National Citizenship Service is a worthy attempt at a flagship.  Paramount is the prominence that the Tory leader has given to Iain Duncan Smith's social justice efforts.  IDS has proposed a range of measures (with many more to come) that will tackle the poverty that has defied Labour's heavy-handed remedies.  Greg Clark is also working on very interesting ideas on the voluntary sector.  The commitment to poverty at home is also beginning to be twinned with more passion for international justice.  In the last week alone, David Cameron raised the tragedy of Darfur at PMQs and devoted a significant section of his Gateshead speech to international development.  ConservativeHome's Agenda 2008 will be moving on to human rights issues later this week.

Chris Grayling's welfare reforms.  In the first survey of Tory grassroots members after he announced a series of welfare reform measures - including compulsory reassessment of all incapacity benefit claimants and a time limit for claiming jobseekers' allowance - Chris Grayling's rating jumped in the monthly assessment of the shadow cabinet.  Expect much more from Mr Grayling - particularly as the CSJ reports.

Michael Gove's new schools revolution. Freedoms for headteachers to expel disruptive pupils.  Protection of special schools.  Grammar streams.  Expansion of academies.  There were already many solid Tory policies on education but, as Fraser Nelson has noted, the policy of allowing parents to set up new schools - inspired  by Sweden - is most encouraging.

Nick Herbert's rehabilitation revolution.  Two weeks ago we welcomed Nick Herbert's prisons reform agenda. It wasn't just the familiar (and necessary) commitment to increase prison numbers.  The policy also included a welcome emphasis on rehabilitation and compensation for victims.  Key to the policy was a revolution in incentive structures within the prisons system so that the authorities are partly paid according to their success in reducing reoffending.

More direct democracy. Across the party there are a range of ideas that will rebalance power within Britain.  There'll be more power for ordinary voters.  The election of police chiefs - as part of a wider police reform agenda - and the ability to veto large council tax rises stand out.  We also hope that the leadership might embrace the idea of giving voters the power to recall ethically questionable MPs.  27 of the 2005 intake of Conservative MPs suggested such a measure last month.

Jeremy Hunt's ending of the BBC monopoly.  Unfortunately this isn't settled policy yet but it should be.  Jeremy Hunt has proposed that the BBC shouldn't monopolise all of the licence fee's revenues.  We hope it becomes Tory policy soon and we have similar hopes for the suggestion (said to be favoured by George Osborne) of moving public sector job advertising online.  Both measures would curtail the taxpayers' unfair subsidy of left-liberal media.

A new generation of high quality MPs. The quality of the next generation of Conservative MPs is high.  A Parliament with Harriett Baldwin, George Freeman, Robert Halfon, George Freeman, Margot James, Andrea Leadsom and Philippa Stroud as members (to invidiously name just a few) will be so much better than one with crowded Labour benches.  ConservativeHome's own survey of candidates revealed that the new intake are Eurosceptic, hawkish and pragmatic on green issues.

A superior Cabinet.  Risking sounding like a podium speaker at a Tory conference but David Davis rather than Jacqui Smith.  William Hague replacing David Miliband.  George Osborne instead of Alistair Darling.  Liam Fox ousting two jobs Des Browne. The welcome prospect of a Conservative government cannot just be measured in terms of commitments already made.  It must also be measured in terms of much wiser heads running the Whitehall machine and reacting to events yet unknown.

A well-prepared Government. One of the least discussed strengths of the Cameron project is the role that Francis Maude and Nick Boles are undertaking.  Mr Maude isn't just shadowing Ed Miliband, more importantly he is responsible for ensuring that policy ideas are ready to be implemented properly and that shadow ministers are prepared for their roles in Government.  We'll be writing more about this government-in-waiting issue in coming weeks but its importance in restoring competence cannot be understated.

12.45pm: Ten reasons for supporting Project Cameron (April 2006 version).

Comments

[Steve R]

The fact that you cite the BBC as one of 10 reasons to vote Conservative (despite no firm proposal being on the table) just shows this blogs obsession with the BBC.

We're always being told that we need to focus on the things that matter to the public, and forget banging on about our own little pet peeves. The BBC is one of these. Nobody gives a toss, and most folk are quite happy with the current arrangements.

[Veritas]

I am unsure what stuns me more. Dave's vote on abortion. Has he met his own son? Or the fact that the Conservative Party is now not only not advocating tax cuts, but it's going to steal more money from taxpayers through dinging their bonuses on some thin green pretext.

I think I must be in some sort of dream. Where did my Party go?

[David Bodden]

“I just want to pay less tax”. I like to be in a position where the amount of tax I pay was an issue.

I am just one of many tens of thousands that have fallen victim of the home offices ‘leaky’ visa system as documented in to days Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/03/17/cnit117.xml). In my case, it lead to my bankruptcy, homelessness and serious physical and mental health problems. No employer will touch me now for any role no matter how humble. I can’t get proper medical treatment from the NHS nor help getting back to work from the DWP.

What are the Conservatives plans to get people like me (who have plenty of skills and are desperate to work) back into employment. Not everyone that is sick or unemployed is a moronic, lazy, drug abuser. Rather than put me on a chain gang picking up dog mess in the park under Grayling’s idiotic plan, how about repairing the damage done by this corrupt regime?

[Alex Swanson]

The quality of the next generation of Conservative MPs is high. A Parliament with Harriett Baldwin, George Freeman, Robert Halfon, George Freeman, Margot James, Andrea Leadsom and Philippa Stroud as members (to invidiously name just a few)

George Freeman twice as good as anybody else, I take it ;-)

[Alex Swanson]

The BBC is one of these. Nobody gives a toss, and most folk are quite happy with the current arrangements.

The BBC is by far the most influential news organisation in this country, and what it says is taken by many people as gospel. Until the serious problem of its left-wing bias is fixed, proper informed political debate in this country will be impossible.

[Editor]

Sorry Steve but the BBC is an incredibly powerful operator in Britain. The issues it chooses to focus on and the way it reports them have a massive impact on our nation's political climate. I do think reform of the BBC should matter to conservatives. Other points of our ten are, I concede, of more interest to regular voters!

[Letters From A Tory]

I like a lot of these ideas but the Conservatives are still struggling to put these separate ideas under bigger 'themes' that they can sell to the electorate, and some of the more important issues such as crime and justice are still not hitting the headlines.

[James Maskell]

Until the Conservatives recognise and talk publicly about children in care/looked after children, I dont treat family policy as a reason to vote Conservative. It may not matter to many people (I think Im just about the only person who mentions the issue on this site) but to me it matters a lot. These are children whose parent is a bureaucracy and the Party has done very little to highlight the issue. With all due respect to Tim Loughton, a few amendments in the Commons during Committee Stage of the Children and Young Persons Bill isnt the same as actually holding the Government to account over their handling of the system.

I can only agree with the welfare one. Interesting that when the Tories announce incapacity benefit tests, the media go pretty light on them but when the Government announce similar proposals, the media are over them like a rash...

[Tony Makara]

"Support for the family." and "Compassionate, progressive conservatism."

There is nothing compassionate or pro-family about forcing the mothers of primary school children to look for work. Who will look after these young ones during the eleven weeks of the year when school is not in session? It is also unfair to employers to expect them to give a working mum time-off for almost a quater of the year. This is the worst piece of Conservative policy and must be dropped. David Cameron has pledged support for mothers who stay at home, and that is a great pro-familiy move. However that support should not only apply to married women. This is about the children rather than the mother. A child of primary school age needs to have the mother home during the vital formative years.

"A new generation of high quality MPs."

I hope this proves to be true. I'm sick of watching the woeful performances of the many non-entities in parliament. The passive politician, one who follows the party line without question and is only worried about being re-elected. We need a team of tough and demanding backbenchers who will be vocal when needed and will hold the front bench to account.

"Jeremy Hunt's ending of the BBC monopoly."

I'll gladly give 100% support to this one. I hate the BBC and believe it undermines the democratic process in our country. The fact that the BBC could lavish an 18 million pound contract on Jonothan Ross shows the corporation has now become decadent.

"Nick Herbert's rehabilitation revolution."

This is a more important area than most people imagine. I don't want to make excuses for crime but I believe that not enough provision exists to help ex-prisoners back into mainstream society after their release. Ideally they should have accomodation and work waiting for them on release, this could be organized by the state, a 12 month work contract, which they would be expected to accept, would empower ex-convicts financially and give them a base from which to build the rest of their life. Releasing a former prisioner into a life of homelessness and joblessness is asking for trouble.

[David Belchamber]

The most compelling report produced recently by the tories was IDS's "broken society" report and I believe that gives the party the overarching theme they seek "Mending our Broken Society".

I agree with Tony above about not forcing mothers back into work too quickly; as part of the drive to mend our broken society, I would encourage mothers (or fathers) to stay at home to bring up children properly; that is a very worthy job in itself.

I agree with him about the BBC; how this organisation can get away with its selective and biased reporting under its Charter, I do no know.

Where team Cameron is concerned, I agree that Osborne is streets ahead of Alistair Darling as Chancellor - but then I think that I would be as well. That tells us nothing. He is quite simply not chancellor material and but the irritating thing is that we have two or three people already elected MPs who are.

[James Maskell]

I see the Conservatives are going to ask companies to volunteer to cut waste on packaging etc, with the threat of regulation and legislation if they dont.

Last time I checked, it wasnt called volunteering. Sounds like duress to me...

[Richard Calhoun]

You give us 10 good reasons to vote conservative, but those on incomes under £20000 p.a. are just not going to bother voting unless you give them a reason to do so.

We must take these people out of tax and dismantle the benefits system, we are all well aware it can not be done overnight but the Tories have got to spell it out by explaining in detail how they will be able to achieve this.

If we haven't the courage to do this then they won't bother voting for us.

[Malcolm Dunn]

A proper enquiry into the Iraq War as called for by William Hague would be a pretty good 11th reason.

[Richard Calhoun]

I think we have had enough enquiries into the Iraq war, we need to get on with the business of sorting this country out.

[Editor]

Thanks Malcolm. I'm sure there are many other reasons Sam and I have forgotten/ not had space to cover.

[B.Garvie]

Ending the BBC's monopoly is long overdue. They have for some years taken on the responsibility of defending the Labour Party. I object most strongly at my liscence fees being so used. Operating under a Royal Charter they should have maintained a strict code of impartiality. However, they have long since crossed that line and totally agree their favoured position in the media should end. The Governors have only themselves to blame for allowing such a culture of biased reporting to have developed within their ranks.

[Mr Angry]

Very weak and completely lacking in both depth and detail.Sorry.

With the exception of the BBC, which Steve R very much needs to be dealt with, there is little there to persuade me to vote Tory, the differences with Labour are more nuances than anything genuinely conservative or radical.

[Sammy Finn]

Abolishing the Human Rights Act could be reason 12?

[David Bodden]

The arrest, trial, and hopefully execution of B’Liar, el Gordo and the rest of the nuLieBore regime is the only promise that has to be made. That one action will guarantee a landside victory.

[Nadine Dorries MP]

In response to Veritas, (9.20) David Cameron is un-equivocally supporting the reduction in the upper limit from 24 to 20 weeks.

99% of all abortions which take place are for social reasons.

With regards to abortions on the grounds of disability, this issue is far more complex.

Disabilities are detected at various stages of pregnancy, some are incredibly distressing and severe. The decision to abort with such pregnancies is one which needs to take place sensitively between parents, family, doctors and nurses without the interference of politicians or legislation.

Campaigns need to be conducted in order to change hearts and minds with regard to cleft pallet, club foot or hare lip.

Abortion, given the advance of medical science and minimal impairment upon the quality of life, should not be acceptable under any condition for such minor disabilities and should be collectively frowned upon by the whole of society.

[passing leftie]

Have you considered that the BBC might be unbiased and it's your tiny clique of right-wing Tory activists who are wrong?

The BBC is an immensely popular and influential organistation, and the main reason you hate it is because it's not privately owned, and it tells truth to power.
Crippling the BBC might be a reason to vote for the Tories if you are already a Tory.

If you really want direct democracy, then limiting the power of councils to set their own spending is a step in the opposite direction. If you want to limit increases, why not limit decreases? The real way to increase local democracy would be to reduce government subsidies of councils and allow councils to raise more money.

Elected police chiefs are a terrible idea. The last thing we want is a populist short-termism when dealing with crime. Still, at least it fits in with the rest of your philosphy on crime prevention.

I believe Labour has already promised to re-interview incapacity claimaints with a view to asking them what they CAN do rather than what they can't. The big problem here is that no small company wants to employ a person who for example has a history of back pain, nor would you expect them to. It could be very expensive. The only way to deal with that would be to have large employers introduce a quota, much as they do for people of ethnic origin, or women. I can't imagine you'd be in favour of that.

The massive and fundamental difference between the Swedish idea, and the Tory one, is that the Swedish idea works because there is no fee, and there is no selection. So, anyone can set up a school, anyone can apply, but the schools can't select or ask for extra money. Any change to this will completely undermine the point of the system.

"Our shadow ministers are competent" is like saying "our butcher cuts up meat." Of course they should be bloody competent. Not much of a policy, really.

[David Giles]

Like many long-term Conservative Party members, I am cheered by the Conservative Party's impressive opinion poll lead over Labour. However the only poll that matters is the General Election.

I am disappointed by the Conservative Party's timid response to Alistair Drarling's budget which in my view is one of the worst budgets in living memory.

It will do nothing whatsoever to stimulate the economy, create employment and avoid recession. On the contrary it is backward rather than forward looking, regressive, unimaginative, much too complex, inefficient and economically illiterate.

But there again Alistair Darling was a lawyer and Gordon Brown was and is still a historian and neither of them know anything about economics, business or the real economy.Alistair Darling fiddles while Brown broods and worries about his place in history.

What we need now are very serious cuts in public expenditure, a massive downsizing of the bloated public sector, concentration of spending on front-line services, radical reform of Brown’s wasteful and inefficient tax and credit schemes, raising the basic personal allowance for everyone to at least £10,000 a year (like in Ireland) to take the lower paid, pensioners and others out of the tax and benefits dependency traps, abolition of hundreds of quangoes, regional assemblies, advisory bodies and such like, strict control on the hiring of expensive private sector consultants to do the work which should be done by civil servants, reduction of corporation tax for small businesses to 15%, an end to foreign military adventures we cannot afford or sustain and a greater harmonisation of public spending throughout the Disunited Kingdom.

The Conservative Party response so far has been adequate but not radical enough.

It took an American journalist on Sky News this morning to remind us of the Laffer Curve, an economic concept widely accepted in the USA, Ireland and elsewhere which says that if you reduce taxes and give people the freedom to spend and invest their own money, the economy will be stimulated, more jobs will be created, exports will grow, companies will prosper and consequently tax revenues will grow allowing more money to be spent on defence, literacy, numeracy, education, health services, the police, prisons, pensions, infrastructure and the other essential functions of government.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laffer_curve and give George Osborne a copy !

We need to advocate serious public spending costs and tax cuts now as that is what the country needs and wants.

[Sean Fear]

Of course they should be bloody competent. Not much of a policy, really."

Well, it would be a welcome change to the current administration if they did turn out to be competent.

[Hardcore Conservative]

“Support for the family”.

A universal “health visiting service” is promised. It is proposed to “raise the number of health visitors by 4,200” and there will be “At least 2 annual visits for every child between the ages of one and five”.

Oh goody another army of left leaning, PC social worker types getting their hands on the nation’s children and parents, telling parents how to raise and discipline their kids in accordance with left wing academic doctrine. I should know I work alongside enough of them.

Will these “health visits” be compulsory I wonder? It remains to be seen what happens to any parent brave enough to refuse this “assistance”.

With policies like this I am beginning to find reasons not to vote for this party.

[Ken will be seen as a goldern era]

Racist, xeonophiobic, bullying extremists incompotents yes the tories are the choice for you.

[Malcolm Dunn]

'Have you considered that the BBC is unbiased'-Passing Leftie. Yes I 've considered that and then rejected it in the face of one hell of a lot of evidence including that of it's own correspondents (see comments from Jeff Randall, Andrew Marr etc). One overwhelming example would be its coverage of the Iraq War (a war incidentally that I vehemently opposed).
You've got to admit that having a set of competent ministers would be a pretty novel experience for this country after the antics of those who've presided over us for the last 10 years.

[passing leftie]

Racist, xeonophiobic, bullying extremists incompotents yes the tories are the choice for you.

If you are going to be a left-wing troll, please don't let the side down with poor grammar and spelling.

[Adriaan van der Sluijs]

In most countries in the EU all education is totally free, incl nursery.

Private schools don't exist! So much less social devide.

Education is not a financial
problem for parents. Children at age 2,5 years can go to pre-nursery
school. FREE!

Parents can concentrate their efforts on creating a true
FAMILY LIFE;
instead of having to worry all the time about education and the quality and the cost and the distance to school and behavior problems and .. etc.

So start with a total general overhaul of your educational system.

And spend money on it . In Holland the highest budget is for
Ministery of Education.

Much more then for e.g. Defense !!!

[Jon Gale]

And:
- restricting numbers of non-EU immigrants/border police
- scrapping Social Chapter/leaving EPP/Euroscepticism generally
- Raising Inheritance tax threshold to 1m, tax simplification
- Scrapping ID cards
- Bonfire of regulations.
- Independence for NHS

[Kevin Ryan]

Their are two reasons to vote consevative.
Firstly i am selfish, secondly i want to divide my country like every year we were in power throughout the eighties and ninties.
Wake up and smell Camerons Latte, it will take you a lifetime for you to regain power.

[Tony Makara]

"A proper enquiry into the Iraq War as called for by William Hague would be a pretty good 11th reason."

Malcolm Dunn, I agree. This is a most grave matter and the likes of Blair and Alistair Campbell need to be held to account. The point that particularly concerns me is that the house was lied to and many voted for war in good faith based on the questionable evidence presented. We must not allow the deaths of British servicemen and women be swept under the carpet. William Hague must keep chasing this up, he has done a good job so far.

[Alex Swanson]

Have you considered that the BBC might be unbiased and it's your tiny clique of right-wing Tory activists who are wrong?

I could point you at actual statements of alleged fact which are untrue, which I have pointed out to the BBC are untrue, and which the BBC has refused to withdraw.

[Sunlit Uplinks]

I'll answer a few of these points:

Veritas@9:20: 'Has he met his own son?'

David Cameron loves all his children you evil f****r.

Mr Angry@11:26 'more nuances than anything genuinely conservative or radical'

I think Cameron's speech in Gateshead was very radical. We're going to help society heal itself instead of crippling itself by being dependent on obscene levels of taxation at all income levels. The collected money is then so badly used by the government it just papers over the cracks. Labour has promoted such inefficiency in our society, state and economy that our plan cannot come to fruition overnight.

Passé Leftie@11:33 'no small company wants to employ a person who for example has a history of back pain'

UhOh, in a recent newspaper poll a big majority of people responded that they had suffered periods of back pain, i.e. a history.

[Christina Speight]

The family policy is all "Nanny State" stuff, "Compassionate, progressive conservatism" What on earth does that MEAN?
Welfare reform and schools policy are just tinkering with the present mess.
Direct democracy OK as far as it goes.
Prison reform what we need there is for all those who should be in prison actually ARE in prison. The excessive numbers are largely due to excessive uncontrolled immigration.

The BBC is not policy.

Better MPs ??? Not the way they're going right now.

Better cabinet - well prepare government - not on present showing

-puffery

[passing leftie]

You've got to admit that having a set of competent ministers would be a pretty novel experience for this country after the antics of those who've presided over us for the last 10 years.

Posted by: Malcolm Dunn | March 17, 2008 at 11:45

I really walked into that one, didn't I?

[Sunlit Uplinks]

Adriaan van der Sluijs@11:47

'Much more then for e.g. Defense !!!'

Our education budget is bigger than defense. Your point?

Kevin Ryan@11:51

Labour is the divisive party, a rhetoric of hate. Wake up and smell the coffee, we're way ahead in the polls.

[passing leftie]

Passé Leftie@11:33 'no small company wants to employ a person who for example has a history of back pain'

UhOh, in a recent newspaper poll a big majority of people responded that they had suffered periods of back pain, i.e. a history.

I'm glad you've mastered the non-sequitur.

Do they put this issue as one of the bullet points on their CV?

The point is that if a small business discovers that someone has been off work on incapacity benefit for two years with intermittent back pain, for example, they will not wish to take the risk of employing them. This is an issue which should be addressed in any policy which seeks to put people on incapacity benefir back to work. Or do you disagree?

[Sunlit Uplinks]

Depending on the nature of the job it may not be a valid reason for not employing them.
The small business will also be paying them to not work through taxation anyway.
Lets pay people to work rather than pay them not to work (I know us Tories are also guilty).
I think the original Labour movement started with this commendable policy position, what the hell happened? Socialism in this country got hijacked by some complete idiots.

[Veritas]

Thank you, Sunlit, for your very erudite earlier comment. I was merely pointing out the gulf between Cameron's position and hiis own personal experience. As someone who was given up for adoption (and have been very fortunate as a result), I feel strongly about abortion and so feel rather strongly on this.

[Kevin Ryan]

Sunlit Uplinks | March 17, 2008 at 12:15
9% or 16% depending on which poll, those people are all selfish just like you.
Go and do some selfless act today, i guarantee you will feel much better and it may change your political view.

[asquith]

David Giles at 11:34, you've misunderstood the Laffer curve. Yes, a tax rate of 100% will produce no revenue, so will a tax rate of 0%. But, even assuming a smooth curve, we have to determine the rate of tax at which maximum revenue can be raised. If we are on the left-hand side of the curve (as we arguably have been since Thatcher), then cutting taxes is not going to raise revenue.

If savings can be found, the money should go towards servicing debt first, investment second and cutting taxes first. Cameron is groping vaguely towards an awareness of this, why can't you?

Additionally, the model itself can be seen as flawed, because human behaviour is not remotely rational. All ideologically-based governments (communist, fascist and dare I say neoliberal) fail because they don't take this into account.

[passing leftie]

Thank you, Sunlit, for your very erudite earlier comment. I was merely pointing out the gulf between Cameron's position and hiis own personal experience. As someone who was given up for adoption (and have been very fortunate as a result), I feel strongly about abortion and so feel rather strongly on this.

How does being in favour of abortion stop you loving your disabled child? You appear to have confused embryos and people. Do you have the same problem with eggs and chickens? Remind me not to eat one of your cakes.

[Jim Carr]

Passing leftie ("next time you're passing - just f*****g pass!" (c) Bernard Manning) suggests that the BBC is unbiased.
Quod erat demonstrandum

[Sunlit Uplinks]

Sorry Veritas, I was being a bit touchy.

Kevin Ryan @ 13:09 'those people are all selfish just like you'

Slagging off the electorate isn't a very good idea. I know the left are worried but you don't have to show your true nasty party colours quite yet.
You don't know me or my political views. Perhaps you should be less arrogant today, you may feel better.

[Veritas]

Apology, graciously accepted.

I just find it rather striking. But absolutely his personal choice.

[Kevin Ryan]

"Slagging off the electorate isn't a very good idea"
Stating that anyone who is considering voting or will vote tory is selfish is a truism.
You are right, i do not know you but i bet you are a right wing tory and i guarantee you are selfish.

[Conservative Homer]

Well i can think of 350 odd reasons not to vote labour.

[Iain]

Well one reason to note vote Conservative will be that they have no intention of sorting out the Constitutional mess, and not going redress the constituional discrimination Labour have enacted against English people. For its seems a Conservative front bencher has leaked their intentions to the Scottish Herald Newspaper, well why bother to inform English people when Cameron sees them as 'sour faced little Englanders' .

"David Cameron is poised to draw back from proposing to slap an all-out ban on Scottish MPs debating and voting on so-called English-only legislation in a "compromise" move, according to a well-placed senior party source."

http://www.theherald.co.uk/search/display.var.2123880.0.cameron_to_withdraw_from_ban_on_scots_mps_voting_on_englishonly_laws.php

[passing leftie]

Passing leftie ("next time you're passing - just f*****g pass!" (c) Bernard Manning) suggests that the BBC is unbiased.
Quod erat demonstrandum

Yes, the BBC is biased, Bernard Manning is funnny, the EU is a big conspiracy to subvert our heritage, the Scottish have too much power and immigrants are stealing our jobs. It's all true here in little England.

[Kevin Ryan]

"Well i can think of 350 odd reasons not to vote labour".

Name them?

[Alex Swanson]

i do not know you but i bet you are a right wing tory and i guarantee you are selfish.

Erm, you're making that frequent left-wing mistake of confusing lies and abuse with reasoned argument.

Although if by "selfish" you mean "reluctant to support a political ideology which has killed tens of millions of innocent people in the past century" . . .

[Conservative Homer]

"Name them?"

Gordon Brown
Alistair Darling
Ed Balls...

...Im sure you get the idea.

[Sunlit Uplinks]

OK Kevin I now have a tiny inkling you're reading and posting on the wrong site. Have a look around, there are some left wing sites where maybe you can have a constructive discussion about the dictatorship of the proletariat or something.

[asquith]

Kevin Ryan, I don't know what you're trying to achieve but you're not doing anything constructive here. Passing Leftie, Comstock and on a more modest level myself show how someone from an anti point of view can contribute to a Tory debate. But you're doing more harm than good.

[Kevin Ryan]

Please mark this in your diary, if you are over 30 years of age don't bother.
It will take a lifetime for the conservatives to regain power simply because you think of the self first. Until you change that mindset just whistle.

[David Giles]

In reply to Asquith,

Asquith was a Liberal Prime Minister and so therefore I wonder what you are doing on this site ?

Nobody seriously advocates reducing income tax to zero but immediate income tax reductions and benefits reform are needed to stave off recession now. Likewise we need to drastically reduce public expenditute by at least 10%.

The Conservative Party should not need to be reminded how serious the international economic situation now is. But apparently such reminders are needed. The Bear Stearns situation could be repeated in many US and indeed British banks. The Big Bubble may be about to become the Big Bang !

At the moment Conservative economic policies are too timid and left-wing.

We need to come out in favour of public expenditure cuts, tax cuts and radical reform of social security, education and health.

I worry sometimes that those making policy in the Conservative Party now are so young that they do not even remember the seventies or the eighties let alone the twenties or the thirties !

[asquith]

David Giles, I'm very well aware of who Asquith was. I chose the username to reflect my liberal views, which are on display on my own blog one click from my posts. Inasmuch as I have a party, I'm a Lib Dem. I post on various right-wing sites because I enjoy having a debate and think we're all better off if we are kept on our toes by a vigorous exchange of views.

My point in the post you reference is that if money can be saved on spending (and it can; one thinks of ID cards and wars of aggression), it should go towards servicing debt and investing in the future to prevent any more mess like we have now. Cutting tax will indeed cut revenue, and the public finances don't allow for that.

Cameron struck a blow against Brown by stating that his claim to prudence was false, and that he has been irresponsible. The Tories can take the lead in being responsible, if they can balance the budget.

[Alex Swanson]

you think of the self first.

How many times do we have to tell you that isn't true?

Look around you! Who told you this? The same people that are running the country now, the Labour Party and its friends! And who's greedier or more selfish than they are? Look at Tony Blair, Prime Minister for ten years - did he or his pals raise the taxes you've been told are there for the taking, and solve all those problems you (and we!) want solved? No, they didn't. But they themselves haven't ended up poor, have they.

Kevin, you have been lied to. You have been told all your problems can be solved if you only vote socialist. But they can't, and the people who told you it know they can't.

Wake up, and fight the true parasites.

[David Giles]

Asquith

Now that you have declared yourself to be Liberal Democrat then I have no need to continue our dialogue.Many of today's Lib Dems are essentially Socialists who are too opportunistic and dishonest or snobbish to join the Labour Party.

True Liberals like myself joined the Conservatives many years ago.

Like most socialists, you do not appear to understand economics either so I suggest you should have a word with Vince Cable who is one of the few Lib Dems who does. It is interesting to see that even the Lib Dems are moving towards a more liberal, low-tax, smaller state economic policy.

[asquith]

Well, you're really impoverishing yourself if you never talk to people of opposing views.

I agree with Vince Cable's analysis. To a large extent, I agree with what Cameron has to say, especially on the matter of weaning people off the state in the long-term. To the best of my knowledge I've never expressed a socialist view, merely said that immediate tax cuts would not be a good idea.

I won't join the Labour Party because of its authoritarianism, centralism and links to the US government. The Tories don't exactly have an unblemished record here. Plus, as I said, I've never been a socialist.

Perhaps someone else will appreciate my humble contributions.

[David Giles]

Asquith

Glad to hear you are not a socialist. There is indeed hope for you yet !

I think we need massive cuts in government expenditure and tax cuts as soon as possible in order to deal with the very serious economic situation we are in now.

Simply carrying on with Labour's grossly inflated tax and expenditure plans as advocated by Phillip Hammond and George Osborne may have been a good political idea in 2007 but it is not in 2008.

It was never good economic idea for the Conservatives to copy and retain Labour's unsound high tax and high expenditure policies.

Unlike the Lib Dems, I also believe that the UK is lucky to have stayed out of the euro as by doing so we can retain control of interest rates, exchange rates and economic policy as much as possible.

[Matt Wright]

Some of this is okay as far as it goes but menus or lists of policies are not really the answer in themselves. Remember the limitations of the "ten words" of 2005. The development of a theme is important and the party is doing well as it generates the groundwork for this.

[alwood]

Some additional reasons to vote Conservative:

A definite promise to leave the EU and go it alone like Switzerland and Norway.
Until we leave, make sure that the EU books are balanced and root out those Corrupt EU officials and corrupt EU MEP's.
In the meantime, make every effort to regain our rebate, so hard won by Margaret Thatcher.
Call for an enquiry into why our gold was sold off by prudent? Brown causing the country to lose £MILLIONS.
Call for a full enquiry into the reason for invading Iraq and also search for the truth about Dr Kelly's death.
Stop kowtowing to immigrants, in fact end immigration unless from commonwealth countries.
Ensure that all benefit recipients have ID cards, this may reduce benefit fraud.
Insist on full medical checks and clearance before anyone is allowed to enter the country.
Bring back the death penalty for murder, if the crime is backed by full proof or DNA evidence.
Reduce the legal age for allowing the press to print names of young criminals.
Ensure that every City and town above a given size, (to be decided), has a decent Grammar school.
For secondary schools encourage training for apprenticeship schemes in addition to normal studies.

[Ross]

COMMENT OVERWRITTEN.

[John Barstow]

As a Conservative I have that instinctive support for institutions and the BBC exists by Royal Charter. And it works both ways. Some Labour people thinks its biased towards us at times. So where does that leave us?

I just hate the way Labour have undermined istitutions like the House of Lords, because what appears anomolous has that hidden 'rationale' to those who bother to understand them.

As regards local democracy, the solution is to abolish those unwanted regional bodies. I once went to a SEEDA reception and the words 'potesteth too much' come to mind. All the achievemnts it trumpeted could easily have been accomplished by local government or central government. I was pleased to get out of that reception.

As regards the Police lets not go for directly elected police officials. The last thing we want is them having to answer to extreme left wing people with anti-police views. And why do we need to have Police Authoroities? They were brought in by Roy Jenkins when Home Secretary in Wilson's Labour government for anti-police reasons and have often been a waster of time, as the expense of real police work. We need to scrap a lot of the forms that police are obliged to fill in like the 41 forms when someone is arrested. Then we shall have more police out and about nicking criminals and safegrading life and property.

[John Barstow]

As a Conservative I have that instinctive support for institutions and the BBC exists by Royal Charter. And it works both ways. Some Labour people thinks its biased towards us at times. So where does that leave us?

I just hate the way Labour have undermined istitutions like the House of Lords, because what appears anomolous has that hidden 'rationale' to those who bother to understand them.

As regards local democracy, the solution is to abolish those unwanted regional bodies. I once went to a SEEDA reception and the words 'potesteth too much' come to mind. All the achievemnts it trumpeted could easily have been accomplished by local government or central government. I was pleased to get out of that reception.

As regards the Police lets not go for directly elected police officials. The last thing we want is them having to answer to extreme left wing people with anti-police views. And why do we need to have Police Authoroities? They were brought in by Roy Jenkins when Home Secretary in Wilson's Labour government for anti-police reasons and have often been a waster of time, as the expense of real police work. We need to scrap a lot of the forms that police are obliged to fill in like the 41 forms when someone is arrested. Then we shall have more police out and about nicking criminals and safegrading life and property.

[William Humbold Jr]

YES!

Vote already now YES at www.FreeEurope.info

[Jim Carr]

Yes, the BBC is biased, Bernard Manning is funnny, the EU is a big conspiracy to subvert our heritage, the Scottish have too much power and immigrants are stealing our jobs. It's all true here in little England.

You're sounding a tad hysterical, Passing Leftie.
Although I'm not a "little Englander" I would accept that a case can be made for all the things you mention in your splenetic list.
It is a measure of your disconnect from reality that you, presumably, dismiss them.
The one certain thing is that Bernard Manning was funny. Your ilk hated him for his not being PC, nothing to do with "funniness" or lack thereof.
You probably find the ghastly Marcus Brigstocke funny.

[Adriaan van der Sluijs]

Some additional reasons to vote Conservative:

To stop for good all Eurosceptic behavior.

Make the UK is one of the leading countries in the EU.

Aim for better understanding in the UK about everything related to the EU. Make sure that disinformation of the british public - that has gone on for some 35 years - is now brought to an end for good.

The EU is NOT a Superstate in the making. Be honest about this. And say this in Parlement and in public.

Accept the Euro in principle and promise to join in due course - after - of course - doing the necessary tests, etc.

Ensure that the UK will do everything in its power the make sure an ever closer union between the EU and the North American Continent.
Atlantic Alliance/Atlantic Union is
vital. It replaces the special relationship UK/USA.

Promise that never again the UK starts a war on its own without EU
and/or NATO.

Aim that the EU Defense Initiative becomes part of NATO,s overall command.

Finally bring about that the EU Membership is an All-Party subject.

Party politics should not any longer play a role.

Thus "Unite" instead of "Divide".

And last but not least: do away with all these "Opt-Outs", "Opt-Ins", "Red-Lines", etc.

Your are a member or you are not.

Just imagine all 26 EU members having their own special "Opts" - all different - a few or many - etc.

We would need a second "Brussel" to keep order.

[Henryk Sienkiewicz]

I would like to comment on David Bodden's plea to know why people that have become homeless have a problem getting on there feet again, why is it virtualy impossible to get back onto the work and housing ladder. The conservative party should be laying out sensible clear and workable plans to really help people like David. I feel that this would be a vote winner amongs much of society because it would show that conservatives care more than labourites about what is happening to those that have fallen short of labours policies. They (Labour have not solved the problem of these long term unemployed people yet but they keep talking about it) Come on please formulate clear policy on this issue that will work then publish it to the nation. be different.
In my case, it lead to my bankruptcy, homelessness and serious physical and mental health problems. No employer will touch me now for any role no matter how humble. I can’t get proper medical treatment from the NHS nor help getting back to work from the DWP.

What are the Conservatives plans to get people like me (who have plenty of skills and are desperate to work) back into employment. Not everyone that is sick or unemployed is a moronic, lazy, drug abuser. Rather than put me on a chain gang picking up dog mess in the park under Grayling’s idiotic plan, how about repairing the damage done by this corrupt regime?

Posted by: David Bodden | March 17, 2008 at 09:32

[Henryk Sienkiewicz]

It is important to remmember that caring for children improved under Labour in that Tony Blair in his early years as PM high lighted the growing issue that there was a huge number of children in our country that needed careing for by families around the nation. I am talking about the adoption and fostering issue, We adopted two children. taking two out of the system and giving them a more normal enviroment for them to grow up in. It is not the most perfect way to bring up children who have been taken away from there parents because of abuse but it goes a long way. The conservatives need to be seriously addressing this important role that can be carried out by married couples all over the country and making it possible with financial help for couples too adopt. There needs to be a government campaign to high light this issue. I happen to think that Tony Blairs adoption campaign was the only good thing he ever did in office. We have and still are struggling to finance our endeavor, with out government help but there should be help for adoptive parents as there is help for Parents who Foster Children. Henryk Sienkiewicz. London

[Adriaan van der Sluijs]

Since my contribution on Friday the 21 of March (20.45 hrs.) I have not seen any reactions.

Can I therefore take it that you all - including the leadership of the Conservative Party - are in
agreement?

If that is the case I can congratulate you because election
victory is yours.

Or are you lost for words and do not know how to react?

I strongly believe that the European Issue is the equivalent of "Clause Four" for the Conservative Party.

Now is the time to decide - once and for all !!!

[Dan]

One thing I learnt today is generally speaking left-wingers can't spell to save their lives!

Yeah I'm selfish, what does this country do for me? If I had a job waiting for me I wouldn't think twice about leaving the UK.

I need to look out for myself, Labour isn't looking out for me! With so many tax/benefit/VAT cheats costing the rest of us fortunes on top of Iraq, illegal immigrants, petrol and home prices, why should I think of anyone besides my family?

I couldn't really care who is in power; I've never voted, but next general election I will be voting against Labour. Since in my opinion the Tories stand the only chance of a majority win (and of course because their policies are not disagreeable with my selfish nature.) I will have to go Tory.

[Kurt Wylde]

I notice that overturning the ban on foxhunting which 80% of the British public voted for isn't in the top ten list of reasons to vote Conservative. Always the nasty party, nothing ever changes whatsoever.

[rob]

I wish cameron would stop going on about "change". We're not idiots! We're not going to vote for someone because he uses one of the vaguest words in the dictionary. What is he going to change? If he's going to tackle the deficit(which he's right to do) what will he cut?
If he's going to say something it should have some meaning behind it, not some feel good nonsense!

[derek karpinski]

Ten more lies without substance. Vague promises to promote greed. How many of the Conservatives have ever had a job? Or been self employed? I remember the last time they were in power. And it was a disaster for our country, holding us back, while they built up portfolios, cleaning their moats out, claiming for third homes and floating duck homes. Now we hear they want to reintroduce hunting with dogs. What next, some other barbarity like hunting immigrants for sport. Admit it Tories, you are deeply racist. Of course, that's a personal opinion, and I'll be happy to discuss it.