Asked on this morning’s Today programme about Sir Malcolm Rifkind’s incendiary criticism of the Tories’ last eight years Michael Howard politely said that he always wanted the Conservative Party to have a vigorous debate about its future [click here for discussion of Mr Howard’s British dream article of today]. Michael Ancram, who has been Chairman or Deputy Leader for three-quarters of the last eight years, is willing to be openly critical of Sir Malcolm’s remarks, however. In an article for today’s Independent Michael Ancram suggests that “the rather regrettable Tory blame-games of the last few days” are turning people off politics. Sir Malcolm was, perhaps, not the only person in Michael Ancram’s sights. Francis Maude also criticised the Tory brand in a Monday interview.
The main purpose of Mr Ancram’s article is to complain about the growing gap between the political class and the people. He cites passionate opposition to the Iraq war and to the ban on the hunting, plus mass activism in favour of greater development expenditure, as proof that people still care about small ‘p’ politics. The problem, he thinks, is with a political class that talks to itself and ignores Britain’s real problems. Mr Ancram, one of The Telegraph Ten, thinks that the Conservative parliamentary party’s attempt to grab monopoly control of the leadership election is only going to widen this gap. It is notable that the two ‘blame-gamers’ – Maude and Rifkind – support the rollback of democracy. Michael Ancram writes:
"If the Conservative Party in the 21st century is to show that we actually stand for real principles which are rooted in the natural instincts of the British people, we first must show that we are no longer a part of that political class. We need to show that we are talking to people leading real lives in the real world and not just to ourselves. We need to show that we trust people more than we trust political systems. We failed to do so at the last election, just as we had failed to do so in 1997 and 2001. We must do so now. Regrettably that cause is not advanced by a party which, when it should be broadening its appeal and its franchise to attract a wider potential membership, seeks to disenfranchise its members, leaving core party decisions to its MPs regardless of the fact that in opposition they are hardly geographically or socially representative of the country as a whole. That is not breaking out of the political class; it is reinforcing it."
Towards the end of the article Mr Ancram also rejects the idea that a more consensual approach to government will restore the public’s faith in politics. He says that European forms of coalition government and “cohabitation” are “increasingly seen by the public as synonymous with the sort of cosy self-serving political freemasonry they suspect and instinctively mistrust.” The Conservative Party must not diminish political choice, he warns, but instead offer a vision of a low tax, freer, less nannying and more neighbourly Britain.
One notable thing about Michael Ancram's article, and earlier Summer Address to Politea, is how upbeat and confident it is in discussing "core" Conservative issues. Rather than portraying Conservastism as somehow being a failed brand that's irrelevant to modern life, Ancram asserts that this is untrue. It's not our ideals that are at fault, it's our inability to true to them and be positive about them has meant nobody is persuaded by them.
Posted by: James Hellyer | 17 August 2005 at 13:07
Well done Ancers! I may even have to buy a copy of the Independent to see his words of wisdom in full. Or at least stop in the newsagent at Kings X on the way home.
Posted by: Simon C | 17 August 2005 at 13:30
It is true that although a brand has no direct material worth, it can represent tremendous value. Coca Cola, the Nike ‘swish’ are all reputed to be worth the majority of the company’s net worth. And brand values go down as well as up, for example the ‘MG’ brand is now virtually worthless, trashed by the Phoenix Four with a big helping hand from our friend Byers. Oh, I know, we could have an impromptu Mid-August Blogging Festival discussing that flawed and vindictive clown, but alas, back to the issue of the ‘brand’.
I think we are wading around in sophistry on this particular debate. Malcolm Rifkind was critical of the performance of the party in the last eight years, and his lack of involvement has probably made criticism easier to hand out and more difficult to receive by those that have been in opposition. Most impartial observers however would agree that our particular stock has closely tracked the performance of Marconi i.e. freefall, followed by a dazed wander in the foothills. I do believe there is a bright future for Conservatives however, but lets not kid ourselves into thinking we are in the business of protecting our brand, we are in the business of making it.
Anyway, I’m off to the Edinburgh Festival, but looking forward to reading your contributions next week.
Posted by: Oberon Houston | 17 August 2005 at 13:55
Simon, the article is linked above and you don't need a subscription to read it.
Posted by: James Hellyer | 17 August 2005 at 14:15
Thank you James.
Posted by: Simon C | 17 August 2005 at 14:31
I've always thought of Michael Ancram as a very sensible man, and his article re-inforces that view. He would have made an excellent leader in the days before we needed a super star to win over the TV obsessed voters. Come to think of it doesn't he play the guitar and sing?
Posted by: Derek | 17 August 2005 at 16:08
Mr Ancram's comments are robust, sound and timely. The Conservative leadership contest needs only postive debate. Personal jibes and mud slinging only devalues the "brand". The Party is bigger than any individual's ambitions or ego.
Posted by: Kenneth Irvine | 17 August 2005 at 18:14
Derek , why the rumours that Michael will whip his guitar out and sing at the drop of a hat are correct.
I remember hearing a pretty good version of The Boxer at a recent party conference.
Perhaps we should put him up for the X factor - what do you think?
Posted by: Jonathan Sheppard | 17 August 2005 at 21:13
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