Tories target commuters with 'Labour's spent' leaflet

In London (King’s Cross, Victoria, Westminster, Euston, Paddington and Charing Cross) plus Birmingham (New St), Liverpool (Lime St), Newcastle, Manchester (Piccadilly), Leeds and Bristol (Temple Meads) Tory activists will be distributing 20,000 copies of this leaflet to commuters.  Good stuff.  I'm about to arrive at Manchester Piccadilly on my way to the MU v Portsmouth game so I'll look out for them...

Tim Montgomerie

Update:

ToryBear has posted the following pictures of Conservative Future activists handing out the leaflets in Westminster and Newcastle; and there's also a photo from Manchester CF and CF in Leeds 

Comments

[anon]

Surprised there's nothing at the stations around the City and Canary Wharf where these would have far more impact than giving them to a load of SpAds and politicos at Westminster...

[joshuwahwah]

Yes, I had a friend text me to say he had been handed one of these in Leeds. He also stated that there were 100s of them scattered amongst the floor of the station.

You see Leeds is one great Northern city that has benefited from a labour Government the city has been transformed after it was decimated under the Tories.

[Pink Tory]

But anon many more journalists will see them at Westminster.

[Pink Tory]

PS Enjoy the game Tim!

[NorthernMonkey]

Don't know why you're spreading that stuff in the North.

We still remember the colossal damage you did to our economy last time.

[Jsheedycf]

Ah yes the "Northern People" the ones who believe they speak on behalf of the entire North. Actually I'm from Wigan and I'm as staunch a Thatcherite as exists.

My Dad was kept under from starting his business by the disgraceful Labour Government of the 70s, stuck in the social economic background which Callaghan/Wilson ascribed to him.

Under Mrs Thatcher he was able to set up his business due to her cuts in tax to revitalise the economy and is now a massive success.

The only reason people support Labour in the North is because they are bitter that their jobs became obselete. If you had the slightest sense of enterprise or graft about you then you would make something of yourselves as my family have done.

You make me sick pretending that you talk on behalf of the North.

[Aless Bieri]

I don't know what part of the North you're from NM, but my ward had 83% Tory support last year.

Keep it up!

[oldrightie]

Don't know why you're spreading that stuff in the North.

We still remember the colossal damage you did to our economy last time.

Posted by: NorthernMonkey | April 22, 2009 at 17:51

What level of devastation is required before some people realise the sheer scale of incompetence Labour's dreadful period in office has caused? Iraq, a little skirmish? Afghanistan a mere playground sqabble? Trillions of pounds of debt a blip? When oh when will this nightmare end?

[Norm Brainer]

We still remember the colossal damage you did to our economy last time.

How much worse does it have to get before you either see that you're using brown tinted glasses or at least, out of labour/conservative the latter is the least worst.

What's on the back of the leaflet?

[Mr Angry]

leaflets like these are all very well but where is the principled and firm opposition to the 50% tax rate from Osborne or Cameron????

Without that we have nothing.

[Josh]

I'm a Northerner and a diehard Thatcherite too. She didn't cripple the Northern Economy, she set it free, after cleaning up a massive Labour induced mess. Not everyone in the North is a socialist... I hope

[snegchui]

Joshuwawah:

This Leeds:

Financial Capital of the North
Rob Norreys
Chief Executives Department Leeds City Council

Leeds as a financial centre
• Financial and business services has grown to 111,000 jobs in 2005 from 57,000 in 1991
• Sector contributes 33% of the city’s GVA (over £13bn)
• Will account for 80% of job growth in Leeds by 2014 (*(Perhaps no longer true as Labour collapse the Financial Sector in the UK ))

[Cleethorpes Rock]

My Dad was stopped by a union from working overtime on the docks in the late 70s- they used to have the industry by the balls, then Mrs Thatcher came in, gave him the freedom to work as he pleased- he eventually set up his own business and has done very well.

There are plenty of Northern people who have a bit of get up and go and are prepared to graft, rather than sitting oon their arses and blaming Mrs Thatcher for everything.

[RichardJ]

"Surprised there's nothing at the stations around the City and Canary Wharf where these would have far more impact than giving them to a load of SpAds and politicos at Westminster..."

They probably vote Tory anyway.

[Ross Warren]

"There are plenty of Northern people who have a bit of get up and go and are prepared to graft, rather than sitting oon their arses and blaming Mrs Thatcher for everything."

Well at least Brown and Blair will replace Thatcher as the villain of the past. This budget is an absolute disgrace. He has brought out the extra large begging bowl.

"Mrs Thatcher came in, gave him the freedom to work as he pleased- he eventually set up his own business and has done very well."

My father in Law launched his own business about that time...Enterprise allowance is a far better way than encouraging further dependence through new deal.

"Northern people who have a bit of get up and go and are prepared to graft"

English traits not confined to the north, although I do agree that the North breeds a strong English type.

[YMT]

NorthernMonkey, you don't represent the north and you don't get to speak for all of them. You are not that important and that you are generalising a whole region suggests you are an imbecile.

So get that chip of your shoulder and start to engage properly for once, but alas that may be too hard for you to do. Living in the past and living in anger is all Labour supporters appear capable of these days. Anger, envy, spin, rage and mud flinging. It's indicative of your party and indicative of your leader.

Labour have declared war of aspiration, it's as simple as that. People who are the best of the best, those that deliver the most valuable services are being attacked by Labour in a new chapter in the war of envy.

New Labour died today, Tony Blair's legacy died today, The Labour of the 70s is back.

[Jsheedycf]

It makes me feel much better to see so many Northerners supportive of aspiration and the great things Lady Thatcher did to set out country and our economy free.

Always good to see that you're not alone, which can be difficult in a place like the North West at times.

[NorthernMonkey]

I certainly speak for more Northerners than the Thaggie lovers on here.

People in North work hard and they had their lives turned upside down for the worse under your lot. Under Labour, the big cities like Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool have done MUCH, MUCH better. You only have to look at the cranes dotted on the skyline to see that.

Thatcher didn't give a damn about anyone further North than the Watford Gap. Cameron won't be any different.

[Norm Brainer]

Under Labour, the big cities like Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool have done MUCH, MUCH better. You only have to look at the cranes dotted on the skyline to see that.

Enabled by Thatcher but then boosted by Brown's debt.... how many of the cranes still move?

I speak for more northeners than you.

(well, I don't - everyone speaks for themselves, but it was a silly argument.)

[Jsheedycf]

You're an imbecile clearly by your moronic use of the english language but I will not waste my time being angry with you, I'll simply pity your ignorance.

Ignorance towards the fact that Lady Thatcher lowered the income tax for the lowest paid as well as the highest paid.

Ignorance towards the fact that Lady Thatcher introduced the Right To Buy scheme allowing thousands of low earners to have the prider of owning their own property from the council.

Ignorance of the fact that the average income of all income brackets increased under Lady Thatcher's leadership.

Ignorance of the fact that Lady Thatcher finally shut up the unions and stopped them preventing hard-working people to earn a living in search of their pathetic communist agenda.

Ignorance of the fact that Lady Thatcher brought this country out of the seemingly inescapable debt it was placed under by fools like Wilson and Callaghan and it has now been placed back under by Brown and Blair.

Simply put Lady Thatcher saved the north and the working class as much as she saved the rest of the country.

The opinions of morons like you will never matter in the annals of history, hence why she is constantly polled as the greatest Peace-Time Prime Minister in history.

[Paul D]

COME ON PORTSMOUTH

[YMT]

@NorthernMonkey

Just because you worked out how to use a computer doesn't make you a representative of the north. You've acquired Gordon best trait I see, takes observations out of context and try to claim them as demonstrations of the so called almighty power of Labour.

Frankly that you are taking credit for the North on behalf of your party as a self elected "oh so qualified" internet representative is a disservice to the people you claim to represent.

The good changes they have seen has been up to the people of the North, that you claim them as your parties doing is an injustice to them and frankly reeks of self indulgence that characterises your party. Oh look cranes!!!
Go back to you ignorance of blind hate on Labour@home where you can join in with the slagging matches with the rest of your "comrades".

[Scouse tory]

Sorry Monkey, but here in Liverpool there's a Conservative revival afoot: at least four suburban seats are expected to go Tory by my reckoning in the next election. Liverpool's stunning renaissance is driven, in part, by people with energy, ambition and enterprise and they're making a cracking fist of it, too - not sitting on their arses whingeing and harking back to some golden age (that was, in fact, as bankrupt morally and financially as the current mess Labour has got us in to). So, get stuffed: you don't speak for all hard-working Northern folk - just, I suspect, the bone idle and feckless who are draining the country.

[Ruth]

As a northerner myself can I join in? Not all northerners are socialist - although times were bad in the late 1970s - 1980s, the correction was necessary to move us away from moribund industries and working practices. I have had opportunities to better myself as a direct result. I have achieved things my parents could never have dreamed of and I have Margaret Thatcher to thank for that.

I now run my own business, not making much money at present so not paying tax but got increasingly angry when I was employed at the 50%+ of my hard earned cash going to the government through direct and indirect sneaky taxes. They've spent every penny, on nonsense jobs and supporting the work shy.

I saved my money when times were good to invest for my future. This country had good years and the opportunity to put money away for a rainy day. Labour wasted it.

COME ON PORTSMOUTH

Posted by: Paul D | April 22, 2009 at 19:04

I can't see why one would want to. Boris says it's not very attractive.

I quite like Gunwharf Quays 'though. But not quite that much.

[Paul D]

"I can't see why one would want to. Boris says it's not very attractive.

I quite like Gunwharf Quays 'though. But not quite that much"

I'm not a fan of Portsmouth, I just hate Man U

[AJJM]

Would it not be more productive to put leaflets through doors? If someone tries to hand me a leaflet in the street, I either ignore it, or briefly glance at the leaflet before disposing of it in the nearest bin. I can appreciate the hard work that has gone into this, and the hard work activists are putting in - I'm merely an armchair commentator on this, so feel free to call me a hypocrite!

[joshuwahwah]

l'eaflets like these are all very well but where is the principled and firm opposition to the 50% tax rate from Osborne or Cameron???'

Tim,

Can you confirm the Conservative line on this is that they will not repeal this. Ken Clarke said this in an interview on the BBC earlier, however I know he doesn't always follow the party line.

[NW Supporter]

Another Northern Tory here!

[Tom Harrington]

"Under Labour, the big cities like Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool have done MUCH, MUCH better. You only have to look at the cranes dotted on the skyline to see that."

Much of what was considered to be examples of new prosperity is now being revealed for what it really was - an illusion temporarily created by the expansion of money and credit by central banks.

The truth is now being revealed, it's ugly, and there's plenty more yet to come.

[Matt]

Under Labour, the big cities like Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool have done MUCH, MUCH better. You only have to look at the cranes dotted on the skyline to see that - northern monkey.....

.....what cranes would these be? You must know that there are around 2700 new build flats in Leeds ALONE empty in areas such as Clarence Dock / Whitehall Road / David Street that were financed by speculative hot money...you must also be aware that £230m of projects have been cancelled in the past 6 months driving many apprentices / skillled tradesmen onto Browns 2.1m+ dole line.

You do yourself and people in Leeds a great GREAT injustice by painting a false picture of whats happening.

People in the real economy in the north are hurting. Your comments hightlight how out of touch you are and how quick a change in government is required.

[BCG]

Well done to all the activists who took part. I salute you!

[TheYoungConservative]

Back of the leaflet + more pictures:

http://theyoungconservative.wordpress.com/2009/04/22/activists-deliver-20000-budget-rebuttals/

[Will S]

I didn't see you Tim, but you're welcome to use a picture of 8 of our 11 activists that stayed for the photo.

http://umcf.wordpress.com/2009/04/22/umcfs-part-in-the-national-camapign/

[Jimboots]

If David Davis was the leader of the Tory party and Ken Clarke became shadow chancellor then and only then I would help vote them in as next government.C

[Gezmond007]

If the Tories are doing so well in the north and in particular Leeds , why after 11 years of a labour government and all that is going down , have the Tories only got 23 seats out of 99 on Leeds city council and no mp,s out of 8 . Also Manchester where the Tories have 1 Tory councillor out of 75 on the council. The clear majority of People in the north suffered badly under the Tories and do not trust anything they say. Leeds and man hester have done very well under labour and mr cameron hasn't got a hope in help of changing that in the short term .

That's the main problem the Tories face in the north .

[Therese]

It's an open and shut case, m'lud.

The Government is guilty of wasting a golden legacy, of lavishing taxpayers' funds and of raiding the piggy bank of everyone in the country and then some...

If you think the country wants this debt mountain, Gordon, then go to the polls and hear the public verdict.

[MG]

I'm from the North. One side of the family were all miners. Frankly Joshua, Northern Monkey and Gez are talking rubbish. Firstly they don't speak for eveybody in the "North" and never have. Secondly the restrictive working practices in industry in the 70s was unsustainable and any serious Govt that got in would have had to tackle it. Thirdly the shake out in heavy industry occured all over the developed West not just in the UK. Fourthly if it hadn't been for Scargill, who deliberately wanted to takle a Govt down, things would not have been so bad. Fifthly the growth that some of the cities enjoyed arose almost entirely out of the changes that Conservatives set in motion to modernise the economy. Finally Brown is wrecking that progress.

[Martin Marprelate- A Man in the Street!]

I will be £100 better off a year as a result according to the BBC News Calculator.

However, on balance I feel this is NOT what the UK needs at this time and I certainly would not vote Labour as a result of this Budget.

[Gezmond007]

I say again Mg where is the evidence that the people in the northern cities are flocking to the Tories . There is none .

[Harry Palmer]

Gezmond007, the Tories get more votes than either the Lib Dems or Labour in Leeds Council Elections.

Bet you didn't know that fact.

The reason they then get fewer seats than the Libs or Lab is because the seat boundaries are drawn in a transparently rigged fashion.

Just to repeat, the Tories get the MOST votes in Leeds Council elections. So much for Northern Socialist rubbish from retards like 'Northernmonkey'

[StevenAdams]

Yes Gesmond that's right. All is well in the bunker, now batten down the hatches as the British people are about to start throwing things, after that budget.

[Steve Tierney]

@NorthernMonkey

>>Don't know why you're spreading that stuff in the North. We still remember the colossal damage you did to our economy last time.<<

What you 'remember' is the North being decimated by Labour and the Conservatives having to come in and do the dirty work pushing the wreckage into tidy piles.

It's like blaming the cleaner for the after-party vomit. Except, it wasn't even a good party last time.

Labour always do this. You know it. We know it. Deal with it.

[Gezmond007]

Harry the boundaries were redrawn in 2004 supported by the conservative council. The Tories get large majorities in a number of seats in the more affluent parts of the city but they get trounced in the rest of the city . I lived there in the last three years . In three quarters of the city they are hated . If you and Steven Adam want to live in denial that's your choice.

[LeedsLas]

@Joshuwahwah

I was at Leeds handing out leaflets today, and 100s were not on the floor.
P.S. Can I assume that you friend is John Prescott, who graciously accepted the leaflet?

[resident leftie]

Wow, look at those photos! Tory youth hasn't changed much in twenty years. It certainly brings back memories. A young Hague wouldn't look out of place. How they will look back on their years of youthful rebellion with pride.

[George Kaplan]

I spent several years in Liverpool and saw full well the hatred that is reserved for Thatcher and the Conservatives.

The prevailing attitude is that things got worse in the early 1980s and Thatcher was to blame. However, there are many people now saying that (and I quote) 'If you wanted to work under Thatcher, you were alright'. And on a doorstep in Croxteth (birthplace of Wayne Rooney): 'They're unemployed because they don't want to work'.

With politics, and many in the great Northern cities like Liverpool, Leeds and Newcastle blame Thatcher for the 1980s rather than the debt and union slavery of the 1970s under a disasterous Labour government. That is a little like blaming the hangover on the fry-up of the morning rather than the booze of the night before.

These people then tell their children to vote Labour, and Tory activists die out and then the yellow peril comes in to replace a steadily more reviled Labour Party. But as election results show, the Conservatives are slowly coming back. But with a generation blaming the hangover on the fry-up, it will be a while before Labour get the kicking they deserve.

Any fool can see that the credit boom and a bloated public sector is behind so much of the Northern revival, and therefore it is a revival built on sand which will fall apart.

In time people will look back on the great scam that Labour have sold people and realise they have been conned.

All I can say is that the warning came loud and clear in 1997 but was not heeded: New Labour - Same old danger!

[gezmond007]

I spent several years in Liverpool and saw full well the hatred that is reserved for Thatcher and the Conservatives.

The prevailing attitude is that things got worse in the early 1980s and Thatcher was to blame. However, there are many people now saying that (and I quote) 'If you wanted to work under Thatcher, you were alright'. And on a doorstep in Croxteth (birthplace of Wayne Rooney): 'They're unemployed because they don't want to work'.

Posted by: George Kaplan | April 23, 2009 at 09:21

It is posts like this that will ensure that people will carry on hating the Tories. You may have come across a person who said the above statement but to say that people in the city don,t want to work is a disgrace.

It,s not just a prevailing attitude it is a fact , Many places in the north are still suffering with high unemployment.

Thatcher was to blame without any doubt and people in the north will never forget that !

[Dorothy Wilson]

Gezmond007 |

If you look at the electoral map you will find there is a correlation between the amount of public money that is pumped into an area and the number of votes that Labour gets.

[Harry Palmer]

Gezmond007, the Tories got MORE votes than Labour and the Lib Dems in the council elections. Wriggle as much as you like, that's the fact.

And as for you 'knowing' Leeds and how 3/4 of people there hate the Tories. I lived for 24 years there and i know that is just more fantasy rubbish from a deluded fantasist.

Just remember, the Tories get the MOST votes of any party in Leeds. Then, when you get that fact in your tiny cranium, try and explain how that fits with your opinion that 3/4 of people in Leeds hate the Tories.

Wake up to reality, the 'North' is not filled with flat cap wearing trade unionists crushed by the wicked Tories, your fantasies are pathetic.

[Super Blue]

Gezmond,

It isn't a Wednesday - go away and write your posts on next week's PMQs!