ConservativeHome's ToryDiary

Don't risk it, Australia

This is the latest election video from downunder.  It warns that a vote for Labor's Kevin Rudd will endanger all of the economic achievements of the Howard years.  Ahead of the 1997 election we attempted to frighten voters in to not voting for Tony Blair by painting him as a red-eyed monster.  It wasn't credible (at least not then!).  It wouldn't have saved the election but I thought that we would have been more sensible to make the reasonable suggestion that Blair was a risk.  On the 1997 campaign trail I didn't meet a voter who thought Blair was devilish.  I met many who thought him untried and inexperienced.  Our devil eyes posters said more about us at the time than Labour.

The best part of this well-made video is the bit where the Australian voter eats his ear wax - a not-too-subtle reminder of the Labour leader's disgusting personal habit.

Watch PlayPolitical's collection of other Australian election ads.

New Tory broadcast presents the team that will deliver real change for Britain

An excellent Tory broadcast will air tonight on BBC2 (5.55pm), BBC1 (6.55pm) and ITV1 (6.55pm).  Try and cajole a family member to watch it!

You can watch it now:

It does all of the right things: (1) It shows that there's a good team behind David Cameron (George Osborne, William Hague, Caroline Spelman, David Davis, Sayeeda Warsi and Liam Fox are all featured); (2) that the party is developing a real policy alternative; and (3) Cameron identifies incompetence as the Government's defining characteristic.

Tony Benn: MPs are only lent powers and they must return them undiminished

A few big points from this must-watch ten minute video (not verbatim) produced by UKIP TV:

• You cannot only be in favour of holding referendums when you think you can win them!
• Members of Parliament are lent powers by the electorate, the former Labour minister says, and they must return them undiminished. It is not for MPs to give away powers. Those powers do not belong to them.
• Power in Europe is increasingly concentrated in the hands of unelected people we can't get rid of.
• Peter Mandelson is a powerful figure - he wasn't even elected by the Commons but appointed by Tony Blair.  He doesn't have to listen to anyone.
• We're told that this EU Treaty is a tidying up exercise.  It's a funny form of tidying up that involves tearing up the British Constitution!
• We don't even vote for MEPs directly - we have to vote for a party.  It is the party which decides the candidates.
• If all this goes through Gordon Brown won't be Prime Minister of Britain.  He'll be the Mayor of the Greater British Authority - like Ken Livingstone.  There's a destruction of British democracy taking place - not just a creation of an undemocratic Europe.

The video gets a bit socialistic at the end but otherwise great stuff.

'Change required' video

This video was shown to Party Conference before yesterday's speech by William Hague.  It's a great summary of some of the changes that a Conservative Government would deliver. Click on the little black box to the left of the volume button to watch it in full screen mode.

David Cameron in Rwanda

Yesterday Stephen Crabb MP wrote about why David Cameron was right to press ahead with his visit to Rwanda. In this video, posted on WebCameron, David Cameron explains why it was important for him to go:

Cameron as a classroom assistant

David Cameron spent Monday and Tuesday working as a classroom assistant at a school in Hull. It did not get off to a good start:

"The day starts badly, for me at least. Helping register a class of 13 year olds, no-one – and I mean literally no one – has even heard of the Conservative Party. Using “hangman” on the smart new interactive whiteboard we get to “Conser_ati_e party” before any one gets it."

I know we have been in opposition for ten years but it is a bit worrying when a class of 13 year olds can't name the Conservative party when "Conser_ati_e party" is written in front of them!

During his time at the school David helped with the English and history classes as well as supervising lunch and playground duty. He says his visit was to observe and learn rather than the usual “here's a visiting politician” thing but unfortunately when you watch the videos (see below) it does look like the usual "visiting politician" thing: asking questions of the children and the teachers, being interviewed by students. Not the life of your everyday classroom assistant!

However the visit did impress on him the problems that teachers face when attempting to maintain order. He spoke to teachers and pupils who talked of the impact that behavioural problems in a small number of children can have on the whole school. Two of the teachers he spoke to favoured a zero tolerance approach to poor behaviour and bad language. He dismisses the current system which means that schools are fined if they exclude pupils and says:

"Change in our society – big, long term, substantial cultural change - is needed. And we should start by making every school head the absolute captain of their ship, able to maintain discipline and exclude poorly behaving pupils without being second-guessed or penalised for doing it."

When David Cameron so clearly recognises the urgency of combating growing behavioural problems in schools, something supported by the vast majority of teachers, parents and pupils it's a shame our education policy seems dominated by opposition to grammar schools.

Andrew Burkinshaw

I want to join Eastbourne's Tories

This is a great video from Eastbourne's Conservatives fronted by the charismatic leader of the council, Ian Lucas.  All of the candidates appear energised and the kind of people you'd be happy to enjoy a drink with.  CCHQ will also be pleased that they're also all on message with commitments to recycling, building community and tackling anti-social behaviour.  When I see videos like this I feel very optimistic about the Conservative Party.  It's not just the party at HQ that is 'in touch' but at the grassroots level we're attracting quality candidates with a passion for their communities.

Related link: South Norfolk Tories launch their green manifesto on YouTube

Labour opens a YouTube channel

An uncomfortable-looking Tony Blair kicks off Labour's YouTube channel.  The clips I'm looking forward to seeing are the 'video responses' posted by YouTubers. The LibDems' channel is more established, as is WebCameron's which is used more than the Conservative Party's.

South Norfolk Tories launch their green manifesto on YouTube

Congratulations to South Norfolk Conservatives for this YouTube video about their hopes to turn their council into one of the greenest in the country.

Cllr John Fuller, Leader of the Conservative group in South Norfolk issued the following statement:

"South Norfolk Conservatives have three candidates in their twenties and nine under forty. Our radical program will put our environment first in everything we do. With better planning, a focus on cleaner streets, boosting recycling and reducing energy use we’ll put our environment first for today and tomorrow.  We want to clean-up South Norfolk so we'll be tough on grime, tough on the causes of grime with our new environmental crimes team that tackles fly-tipping, grafitti and abandoned cars.  With our YouTube manifesto launch and the emphasis on new campaign media, we're bringing local politics to the MySpace generation whilst holding true to traditional Conservative principles of value for money and professionalism."

A World Without America

As already featured on Fox News' flagship political programme and produced in association with BritainAndAmerica.com, 18 Doughty Street has launched its fourth internet-based advert.  It discusses a world without the USA.  Tune into 18DoughtyStreet.com at 7.45pm tonight for a 45 minute discussion of the ideas behind the ad.

Interview with Alan Duncan

Michael Ehioze-Ediae of 18DoughtyStreet.com talks to Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Alan Duncan about whether he's enjoying his politics; whether Catholic adoption charities should be able to turn away gay couples who want to adopt children; trust in politics; and 18DoughtyStreet's attack ad against Ken Livingstone.

You can download a pdf of Alan Duncan's speech to the CPS here.

Ken Livingstone under fire: 18DoughtyStreet.com launches a gloves off attack ad against London's Mayor

18DoughtyStreet.com has launched its third weekly attack ad this morning and it's the hardest-hitting so far.  Watch it here and then please forward the link to friends.

4pm update from today's London Evening Standard:

18DoughtyStreet.com launches second attack ad - against taxpayer funding of political parties

Watch it here... and then please forward it to your friends.  We don't have the budgets of the mainstream media but you have your email lists!

The day after the next General Election?

To coincide with a poll of Tory members showing widespead opposition to a Tory-LibDem pact... the 18DoughtyStreet.com team has produced a tongue-in-cheek video report of the day after the 2009 General Election.  Watch it here.

David Cameron has another go at explaining his big idea: Social responsibility

Writing in The Guardian Jonathan Freedland lists some objections to the Tory leader's social responsibility mission.  Comparing Britain with America he worries that there is little culture of philanthropy or Christian-inspired volunteering that gives America's social sector its strength.  Mr Freedland is undoubtedly right about the sources of America's vigour but he betrays the leftish mindset that something has to be huge and comprehensive in order to be worthwhile.  It may be that the capacity of the social sector remains very limited for a number of years but we should welcome the possibility that tens of thousands of extra people might be freed from drugs, given basic life skills or are helped from rough sleeping into work.  David Cameron is right to want to reward more voluntary sector activity because again and again it offers superior care and rehabilitation - particularly when offered by the community-rooted or faith-based groups that haven't adopted the statist mentality that infects so many of Britain's bigger voluntary sector organisations.  Voucherisation of funding and a new willingness by church and other leaders to remind people of their responsibilities to neighbours in need will both be essential underpinnings of a voluntary sector revival.

No more Bush-Merkel back-rubs

From today's Australian:

"US President George W. Bush, who raised eyebrows with an impromptu neck massage of German Chancellor Angela Merkel last year, promised today not to repeat it. "No back rubs," he told her with a smile at the end of a joint news conference after White House talks. The German chancellor smiled sheepishly in response. Ms Merkel had raised her shoulders in surprise last July at a Group of Eight summit in St Petersburg when Mr Bush, in a gesture of friendliness, approached her from behind and put his hands on her shoulders and squeezed. Videotape of the massage was posted on websites around the world."

You can see the original YouTube below.

Saturday addition: Comedy Central on the back-rub

Sexy Cameron

Hat tip to Graeme Archer for discovering this on Webcameron.

David Cameron indicates that he won't compromise on donations cap

I went to David Cameron's CCHQ press conference earlier today and took my 18 Doughty Street camcorder.  The above video clip is of the Tory leader's remarks on political funding - in response to a question from The Guardian's Will Woodward.  Mr Cameron appeared to indicate that he would be willing to play hardball with Labour on the donations cap - a cap he has suggested should be set at £50,000.  Labour want an exception for trade unions and the Tories are resisting that.  Mr Cameron must know that extra state funding of political parties is incredibly unpopular with grassroots Tories and most voters.  The Tories may not be able to afford 'no deal on state funding' but Labour's financial plight is more serious.  The negotiations could get interesting...

Melanie Phillips on David Cameron's first year

I had lunch with Daily Mail columnist Melanie Phillips yesterday and she recorded this five minute assessment of David Cameron's first year as 'Blue Labour leader' for 18 Doughty Street Talk TV.

Cameron in Darfur

The Telegraph reports on David Cameron's Darfur visit here.  Click on the WebCameron video below to watch David Cameron and Andrew Mitchell describe what they learnt from their visit.

David Cameron is in Darfur

This is why...

>>> See report on the visit of David Cameron and Andrew Mitchell on conservatives.com.

Related links: Andrew Mitchell MP explains why 'Britain must lead the international community in getting tough with Khartoum' and David Cameron questioned on Darfur.

Gwlad, gwlad, pleidiol wyf i'm gwlad

Remember John Redwood trying to sing the Welsh national anthem...

Poor Mr Redwood.  Shadow Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan (and leading member of the parliamentary choir) tried to put all that behind the Conservative Party today when she gave a perfect rendition of Hen Wlad fy Nhadau (Land of my Fathers) on BBC Radio Wales.  In the process she raised £460 for today's Children In Need appeal.  Well done, Cheryl.

The Spectator's Parliamentarian Awards

Yesterday I attended The Spectator/ Threadneedle Investments Parliamentary Awards lunch.  The great and good of the political and media establishments were there to enjoy excellent food and wine.  Martha Kearney sat next to George Osborne.  Andrew Neil to David Cameron.  Matthew d’Ancona to John Reid.  Nick Robinson to Michael Howard.  Somehow I got an invitation.  I sat between Lord Lawson and David Heathcoat-Amory.  I’m not sure if I’ll be invited back next year.  After camcordering the film of ‘Dave’ that you can watch below I was given a telling off by one of the stewards and asked to put my camera away.  There were BBC cameras rolling but my £200 Sanyo from 18 Doughty Street was ruled out of order. 

The proceedings began with Spectator Editor Matthew d’Ancona paying tribute to the splendidly decorated room of the Claridges dining room.  It had been decorated with more attention than Greg Barker’s sitting room, he joked.  Naughty.

• LibDem MP Julia Goldsworthy won the Newcomer award for being willing to speak up against the failings of Charles Kennedy’s leadership.
• Lord Tebbit was declared Peer of the Year for, among other things, his opposition to Labour’s Religious Hatred legislation.  Some wit urged Mr Cameron to hug-a-polecat as the Tory leader presented the Chingford Skinhead with his award.
• Andy Burnham is Minister to Watch apparently.  Before Mr Burnham gets too excited he should note that very recent winners included Estelle Morris and Christopher Leslie.
• Tom Watson was deemed to have made the Resignation of the Year but Mr Blair’s lead assassin didn’t show up to receive his award.  Bob Marshall-Andrews accepted the award on his behalf and complained that he had never been given a post in the New Labour frontbench from which he could resign.
• Stephen Pound’s Commons tirade against the smoking ban won the Ealing Labour MP speech of the year.
• Labour deputy leadership candidate Jon Cruddas won the Campaigner award for his campaign against the BNP and for reminding the political parties that swing voters in marginal seats were not the only people that should matter to politicians.  Looking around the splendid Claridges surroundings as he accepted his pewter dish he noted the old socialist adage that the struggle can take many forms.
• Richard Bacon deservedly won Parliamentarian of the Year and gave almost exactly the same speech that he used to accept his Outstanding Parliamentarian award from ConservativeHome.com on Monday.
• On the day when Yates of the Yard signalled faster-than-expected progress of his loans-for-peerages investigation it was very appropriate that the SNP’s Angus MacNeil should be recognised as Inquisitor of the Year.  His acceptance speech: ‘I’ve always wanted a political award… Who do I pay?’

Politician of the Year was John Reid who accepted his award from David Cameron before looking at the Tory leader and telling him that he was the future once.  The Home Secretary took great pleasure in telling his audience that it was five years since the top Speccie award had gone to someone other than a party leader.  ‘What could it mean?’ he teased!

The funniest moment of the lunch came when Labour’s security supreme told his captivated audience that his remarks had been prepared by Lord Tebbit. The former Tory Chairman pretended to carry a speech to the lecturn. The speech will be more than left-wing than normal, Mr Reid apologised.

"Sometimes infuriating but always good value" - David Cameron 'endorsing' ConservativeHome

This is David Cameron's videoed acceptance of his 'Environmental Champion' award - first shown at Monday night's ConservativeHome Awards Evening.

Censorship on YouTube?

There's some pretty offensive stuff on YouTube as well as some great stuff but how much longer will YouTube allow conservatives to publish edgy material?

I ask the question because Michele Malkin's 'First, they came for...' video about the dangers of Islamic extremists has been banned by YouTube.  This has happened at the same time that YouTube has been hosting videos of US troops under attack in Iraq.

It's easy for conservatives to be conspiratorial/ paranoid about this.  It might simply be the case that MM's video essay was banned because "YouTube pulls videos if enough users flag them as inappropriate [and] lots of it people who can't stand Malkin flagged it, and it was automatically removed" (Blue Bayou).

There is a long-term trend here that should worry conservatives and it's spotlighted by Robert Cox in The Examiner:

"According to USA Today, 98 percent of the money donated to political parties by Google employees — “Google Millionaires” — went to Democrats.  But it’s not just Google’s media and financial muscle that benefits the left. Liberals run the leading blog search engine — Technorati. They run the leading blog software manufacturer — Six Apart [who host ConservativeHome]. They invented two of the most important blogging technologies — Podcasting and RSS. The list goes on and on... Malkin may have been the first casualty in the coming information war but she certainly will not be the last. Yet online conservative elites seem not to care. They fail to realize that voters are increasingly accessing news and information from these new media sources and that these sources are using their editorial discretion to publish and promote a liberal — not conservative — agenda."

Food for thought.  In the meantime (at least until the censor strikes...) 18 Doughty Street Talk TV has its own YouTube page.