Prize Competition: What will follow “Hug a Hoodie?”
July 23rd, 2006
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Can you predict David Cameron’s next amazing policy initiative?
There’s little doubt that “Hug a Hoodie”, like the earlier attack on WH Smith’s for selling Chocolate Oranges, have becoming defining themes for the new Tory leadership.
But what’s going to be next? Clearly it has to be something that is so distant from what you would expect to hear from a Tory leader that it will, at first, appear totally shocking.
Can you use your imaginiation to guess what will be the next David Cameron policy move that will have a similar impact?
There are two prizes on offer - both copies of my book on politics and betting that’s just been commissioned and will be published during 2007.
I’ll choose the first winner this week and announce it next weekend.
In my absolute discretion I will decide which are the winning entries. Only comments posted by 2359 on Tuesday July 25th will be considered. If two or more entrants have the same idea then the first one on the list will be the chosen. You can enter as many times as you wish.
Please write your prediction in the comments thread below remembering to put a valid email address in the box which will not be published.
Mike Smithson
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Redistribution of wealth? Nationalisation of the railways? Abolition of the monarchy? A ban on fishing? Legalisation of Class A drugs? 80% higher rate of income tax (old Etonians exempt)? Compulsory wind turbines on every new property? A ban on McDonalds? Scrapping examinations in schools and allowing pupils to award their own GCSE, A-Level and University grades? Coming out in favour of proportional representation?
That;s his conference speech written.
That´s a good challenge, Mike, so here goes… It has to be something that apparently goes against traditional Tory values and hitherto practices; but at the same time is consistent with Lib Dem values, which Chameron now espouses, supposedly.
So I would opt for the strict application of some form of inheritance tax and with it a speech (lots of passion and apparent promises, of course, but little of practical substance) about hard work, motivating people, initiative, enterprise, etc, in order to encourage the future generations to develop these characteristics. And the iniquity of feather bedding worthless chinless wonders whose only virtue was to go to a public school of some description.
And as a second shot, he would (will) obviously try to distance the Tory Party from sleaze and corruption. So he will declare that the Tory Party will not put forward any nominations whatsoever to the House of Lords, unless a person has served at least ten years as Governor some hitherto semi-forgotten colony or other.
Immediately, Colonel Matlock will be put forward as H.M. Governor of Rockall, where he will serve the stipulated period as governor, with our very own Rik as political adiviser, with Andrea as adviser on Equal Opportunities, and John O, Max, Sean Fear, Sean T, Darren C and that very young county councillor from Suffolk (whose name at present escapes me) as his Court. All communication with the outside world will be prohibited for at least ten years.
And PBC will return to normal, pre-2004, conditions. And everybody will be very happy (esp Roger, Big Mac,N. Palmer and me). And the Tories will storm home to an immaculate victory in 2015 or thereabouts. Which will then make Colonel Matlock and company very happy - well worth the sacrifice, what, eh?
John Jenkins? Surely not the same Cllr John Jenkins who was forced to abandon hopes for a Conservative nomination for a Welsh Assembly seat after David Cameron threatened to publically disown him due to a record of past homophobic statements?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/4810452.stm
Careful you don’t choke on all those sour grapes mate.
Sage I dont know what your hate for/obsession with this Matlock guy is all about but I’m pretty sure the site wasn’t around prior to 2004.
Unilateral disarmament?
Congratulations on the book deal, Mike.
A bit early for original and amusing, but can I suggest PR incorporated in a constitutional review with a fully elected second chamber as the next likely unlikely policy, if you see what I mean.
Only slightly off topic - looked through the on line Sundays (Observer/Telegraph/Times) to see what the Tories were doing - Only story about them seemed to be about the mess they are in on “loans” in the Sunday Times.
Brilliant news about the book Mike - can I order a copy!
The next big one will probably be the amounts of salt and other additives in Breakfast cerials - thats my prediction anyway.
I did once suggest to my (Tory) MP that his Party should promise to have BBC governors elected by postal ballot of licence fee payers - I still think this would be a good idea for Cameron’s Conference speech - it offers something to both traditional Tories (end of leftie bias at Beeb) and to “liberals” - less State control, interference, corrupt patronage, whatever you want to call it. And it would call Murdoch’s bluff - if he thinks the Beeb is unfair competition, he can run candidates and see if he can get them elected.
Mike, can you clear my comment which got stuck in moderation please?
A promise to maintain Labour’s tax and spending plans for the first two years of a Conservative government.
9 “And it would call Murdoch’s bluff” - which is why DC won’t do it. He may be a policy incoherent, but the lad is a PR man.
Congratulations on the book, Mike!
My proposal, perhaps more for prize 1 than 2. I think that ideas for this prize should be funny but have a grain of plausibility…
“Hug New Labour! I recognise that despite our criticisms the Government has also done good things and has talented individuals, and we have few significant differences on policy. I will therefore reserve a third of the positions in my Cabinet for Labour Ministers, preserving continuity and ensuring that Britain gets the best talent from each major party, while benefiting from the flow of fresh ideas which I will be telling you more about at an exciting moment which will come any year now.”
“Hug a hoodie”, has certainly got to the work and pub level.
However when spoken about it is with derision.
So I expect, the next new Cameron initiative, will be not to be mocked or ridiculed.
Therfore a hard line announcement of building more prisons, as prison works, and then telling us of how his ex boss started this,and it should have been followed through.
re 10. Alex - There is no comment from you in the moderation queue. Offending words or combinations of letters are just banned. There’s a list in the link on the right called “banned list”.
A clue?
Compulsory yogic flying to boost the Gross National Happiness (or whatever it’s called)
OK, the shortened version
More on ID cards. I’m sure all the spin from ministers is only to prevent Blair looking silly as they are his answer to practically EVERYTHING, and to give Gordon a few spare billion to spend when they are scrapped on his accession.
More on topic: Tabloid Government
Blue2Win. I imagine you ‘ve been away at Camerons new re-education department. Out with the “nasty” in with the “touchy feely”. BUT surely you must have been taught that a continuous stream of propaganda without breathing space contravenes PR rule number 1. Unless you pause between campaigns it will have the impact of a “365 day SALE”. None!
16 - I don’t think you can enter that Blue2win. I was under the impression that the only things considered for entry would be “policy initiatives” that work against anti-Tory stereotypes (and have an appropriate soundbite that can be used by opponents to largely misrepresent the point that is being made).
PS. For those who skipped past his Sunday Times link. Under the headline “New York Society fetes Cameron” It turn out that according to CAMERON he has been invited to the home of Harold Evans whose wife is Tina Brown (ex-editor of Tattler) for dinner!!!!!
21 - For those who read his Sunday Times link I think he was referring to the plan to teach same ability children from different year groups in the same classes.
22 *for those who didn’t look past the first paragraph…
He declares he is going to re-nationalise Water, Electricity and Gas - thereby completing the transformation of the Tories into Old Labour circa 1983 (anti-European, anti-nuclear, pro-nationalisation).
P.S. Didn’t he say something already about how they shouldn’t have privatised the Railways, and leave re-nationalisation of them open?
24 - they said that they employed a bad model for privatisation.
I think one intiative that Cameron may announce to surprise people and mop up more Lib Dems is PR for Local Elections!
The death penalty for murder?
Castration for rapists?
Sharia Law for the UK?
Withdraw from the EU?
A halt to immigration?
Forcing spongers in socity to get off their rears and work?
27,
Thats more like it goes down better,at the pub.
26 -
tell me that’s your spoof competition entry, isn’t it?
No - not a spoof. I think he might go for it!
29/30 John O/Rik. Just pilfering a good idea from Scotland !!
29. John, for local elections won’t be so dramatic. Many councils are NOC anyway.
Re: 26 - My prediction is he will not make a Conference speech since two weeks earlier he will have received his Liberal Democrat membership card from Sir Menzies Campbell. In his speech to the LD Conference, Cameron goes on to praise his new leader as “the greatest Liberal since Churchill”
The Monarchy to be down-sized and Buckingham Palace to be appropriated for a new Government depatment “dedicated to the advancement of Lesb*ans and Gays”.
Dubbed by Labour spin-doctors “Queens”
34 Roger. From what I understand nobody would be able to tell the difference !!
Scrap trident?
36 alex. I think if Cameron proposed to scrap Trident then Nick Soames would explode …… which would at least give us all a decent idea of the effects of a nuclear detonation in Sussex.
31 - Jack, let’s not reopen the West Harpenden Question just yet
36/7. Cameron on a CND platform with Gorgeous George and Clare Short announcing it?
38. are you afraid to lose your seat with PR? And maybe a loony Green taking it?
40 - Milanissimo, since the tidal wave of love returned this humble servant with almost 2/3 of the vote, I would probably gain the other seat too ;).
38 John O. Why reopen the Harpenden West question at all ?? … the Tory majority over the yellow peril is over 1,200.
41. Thanks to me and Jack, it’ll naturally happen.
At the Euro 2005 with PR Elmbridge voted Con 41%, UKIP 18.5%, LD 14.3%, Lab 11%, Green 8.2%, BNP 1.8%, Respect 0.5%
OT. ConHome via the Sunday Times is reporting that the Cash for Coronets investigation is probing very deep into Tory “soft loans” and that much of the investigation is Tory centred. Little wonder Conservative high command have played a no show hand on Labour troubles on the issue.
Tories prepared to work as junior coalition partners with Labour in Scotland/Wales.
Free prostitutes for elderly and disabled persons?
That other great shagger of the British political scene - Norris, who frankly makes Prezza appear second division, has said that it is unlikely that he will stand as Tory candidate for the London Mayoralty:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5207260.stm
44. Jack, I also noticed that SNP/Plaid have started to turn their fire in Con direction. This week they tabled an EDM to ask Cameron to be open about their loans.
2.” Rik as political adiviser, with Andrea as adviser on Equal Opportunities, and John O, Max, Sean Fear, Sean T, Darren C and that very young county councillor from Suffolk (whose name at present escapes me) as his Court”
why did I end up with all those tories?!!!
46- That happens in Holland I believe for the disabled.
46 My. Interesting idea for some in the Beaconsfield area !!
…… and other areas
Jack W is 103 …… and very lively !
48-You mean Ben from Suffolk?
51. I don’t mean anything…ask to original poster: the always lovely Sage.
* Abolition of money
* Abolition of education
* Free all women prisoners
There won’t be a big policy announcement at all, any more than hug a hoodie was a policy announcement (more a repositioning on social inclusion). In the same vein, there will be a highly publicised section on the NHS in which he praises Bevan and decries New Labour for abandoning its founding principles.
Alternatively, he could finish his speech with:
“ … If we have a fault, it is that unless roused, we tend to let things be. We say “things could be worse” rather then “things should be better”.
And Labour encourages this fault. They thrive on complacency. I say it is time we were roused.
Let us be blunt. Our system of Government has become outdated, our economy has been weakened, our people have been under-educated, our welfare state and public services have been run down and our society has been made more divided than at any time for 100 years, but our politics need not be like this. Our country need not be like this.
Ours is a project of national renewal, renewing our commitment as a nation, as a community of people in order to prepare and provide for ourselves in the new world we face. We must build a nation with pride in itself. A thriving community, rich in economic prosperity, secure in social justice, confident in political change. A land in which our children can bring up their children with a future to look forward to. That is our hope. Not just to promise change - but to achieve it. Our Party. The Conservative Party.”
Politics is full of schadenfreude. When bad economic figures come out, many opposition spokespersons say “Very bad news…” but privately chortle and think “Great; this will help us in the locals / GE.” In short, opposition politicians all too often love seeing the country in a mess under the government as the pursuit of power is more important than the fortune of our nation.
Cameron is the kind of guy who is savvy enough to make capital out of challenging this traditional approach. He could make it look very patriotic, pleasing the traditionalists, and it would also be a rejection of yah-boo politics.
“I want this country to be successful now. I worry about it under this government, because of their policies and their inefficiency. But as my country, and our great people are so dear to me, I take no pleasure in seeing mistakes made, rising crime, worsening public services, and an economy in reverse. I am depressed to see it. In short, I would happy if this government were doing better, and I did not have to say these things.”
OK - the para above consists of my own badly written words, but I think this approach would wrong-foot Labour. However, it would probably need the removal of Osborne, whose millionaire eyes light up with excitement at every negative economic indicator.
Redefining the transatlantic relationship and a call for a softer form of international relations. Make love, not war. Hug a terrorist (but check for wires first).
All Public schools to become Faith Schools. Eton to become Jewish seminary. Known as Mazel-toffs
David Cameron’s Speech to the 2006 Conservative Conference
“I am convinced that the ideas put forward by such innovative thinkers as Tony Benn, Jeremy Corbyn, Denis Skinner and George Galloway have been misunderstood and misrepresented by the traditionally authoritarian British press. It is absolutely clear that their ideas are in line with the best traditions of British Conservative philosophy.
I want to promote some of their ideals into the Conservative Party and will be introduce into our party constitution a revised version of Labour’s Clause Four to be known as Benn’s law. I will change the law so that Mr Galloway always wins every libel case (some might say he does already). In the future Conservative government Denis Skinner will be offered the job of Minister for Free Speech, and Jeremy Corbyn the post of Minister for Foreign Affairs specializing in international relations in Islington.
I am sure my parliamentary colleagues and members in the country will recognise the need to broaden our appeal to those on the far left of British politics in order that we can win crucial seats in South Wales and the North East. I am calling all Conservatives to “love a leftie” and am asking Conservative councillors to find the most left wing councillor on their authority to go up to them , hug them and say “I love you”. This is the only way forward for our party.”
The officially approved drink at all public occasions should be Gordon’s Gin.
Next Comaeron proposal will be a new strategy plan to increase female Tory MPs. The plan will be put in operation by Maude. All MPs will be called for an interview and then stats will be produced on their work (questions asked, attendance record, speeches in the Commons). A ranking will be produced. And the last 60 male MPs will be asked to undergo a sex operation and become women. After the operation the tories will finally have 77 female MPs and Maude will be very satisfied (unless he finishes in the last 60…)
60 - more than that is required. Some MPs will have to undergo racial reallignment. Others will have to have sexuality reallignment, a kind of reverse of the electrodes to the testicles therapy that was used to “cure” homosexuals in the 1950s.
61. 1922 Committee is expressing doubts about a “Michale Jackson” therapy. It can attract several criticism by Diane Abbott on This Week (and she’s now an ally, look at madmacs’s comment at 58).
No need of sexuality reallignment either…a mass outing of the existing ones should be enough.
61 - I’m sure that many of the new female MPs will be l*sbians,and besides that pioneers in the same-sex marriages, which will be one of the new Tory policies to be announced.
63. Mum, spot on! The newly created 60 female MPs will continue to live with their wives.
Gypsies to be the new environmental roll models. All towns and villages to provide parking space for travellers caravans free. Special dedicated parking space for Caravans in HOC car-park. All councils objecting to be fined heavily. Campaign to be known as “Let a Gyp kip”
lol - this is getting silly!!!
Cameron’s next policy?
Men shall be forced to sit down when going to the loo, as standing up is patriarchal and oppressive to women. I belive this policy was proposed in Sweden some years ago. Sweden is very advanced.
O/T. There’s an interesting comment on Guido’s blog this weekend, where someone says that, every morning a year ago, they used to read the newspapers then check the blogs (in that order), now they check the blogs and read the papers.
I have also noticed this evolution. My morning reading of the newspapers is now cursory in the extreme - I quickly scan a headline, maybe the odd news item, perhaps a leader or a leftwing column to get me fired up. Then I chuck the paper and do my proper, serious reading - online (blogs, Google News, bbci, etc).
Newspapers are surely doomed. And I say that with some wistfulness, speaking as a journo.
Judging by the Times piece Cameron wants an investigation into corruption in football. Quite why he should be taking advice from the Barnsley Chairman Peter Risdale considering what happened at Leeds is beyond me.
Perhaps Cameron will change Tory policy on drugs maybe on shooting galleries, declassification of cannibis. More interestingly perhaps he will argue that the age of consent for sex is too high.
Yes 68 I had also thought of suggesting lowering the age of consent. The name of the policy - “Please a Paedophile”
66. Rik, all plausible suggestions, I would say.
BTW Mike - great idea for a thread and even though you are a Gordon-hater best of luck with the book.
Iain Dale’s blog very interesting today. In the comments section, a lot of people think Osborne will be moved / sacked soon. I think the Conservatives are waking up to the fact that Osborne is a weak link.
O/T. We’ve just had a big powercut here in central London, and fire engines are racing up my street. Hmm. Sure it’s nothing. But I still get a tiny bit 7/7ish and jittery when I hear lots of sirens.
72- Really? he would be the strongest link if he were in the Libdems.
a. All cattle will be required to be networked to a central collection tank to reduce carbon emissions
b. Conference.
i. The planning system to be hugely loosened
ii. Measures to force corporate responsibility on big business e.g. supermarket chains will be made responsible for disposing of packaging waste generated by their products.
iii. Radical reform of local taxation to allow councils to raise more money locally and have more control
v. Community groups to be able to bid for much more of the work that councils do and possibly even to raise money to do so.
iv. Democratisation of many apoointed positions (Chief constables, CXs of NHS Trusts etc.)
v. Railtrack & PFIs to be taken onto Government books
some interesting comments by Prezza about Tony’s future
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/5207380.stm
but maybe he was just trying to switch the media attention away from him
A new Osborne inspired campaign slogan to promote a reduction in the age of consent while re-classifying cannibis. “Just do it-But keep off the grass”
A new charity to which we will all have to donate.
Speedos for Pedos.
Every pedophile in the country will be given a pair of Speedos, and obliged to wear them when they visit public swimming baths; this will enable concerned mothers to spot any unpleasantly aroused pedos, and take appopriate action.
I apologise immediately for this suggestion.
Conversion of the tories to extended Home rule?
Home rule for Merseyside, Newcastle, Manchester etc followed by discussion of the West Merseyside Question, the West Manchester Question and the West Newcastle Question.
And if that doesn’t produce a tory majority in the Commons how about home rule for Cornwall and the West Cornwall Question?
Cameron’s new policy will focus on the 2012 olympics and proposals for new sports to be entered, including Snooker, Pool, Darts and the all new olympic croquet tournament, insisting in the process that the British Croquet association immeidiately name John Prescott as Great Britain team captain.
“Eton to become Jewish seminary. Known as Mazel-toffs.”
That might be the funniest joke ever made on PB Roger.
Can we have serious entries? I think DC will announce that under his government all sleaze allegations will be referred to an independent body not a Prime Ministerial lapdog as at present.
82. Commentator. See 75.
I suspect a swing to the right, (sorry about the pun), and “mug a mugger”
Don’t think I am losing my marbles, but on the evidence of the past three to four weeks Campbell comes across as much more statesmanlike than DC. He is probably doing himself some good within the LD’s, do not know if Mike agrees.
Some of my North Western Labour might vote Lib Dem contacts are nodding and say he is doing okay on this.
Maybe events events dear boy has happened or is happening, with the Middle East, where DC seems almost out of it.
Perhaps Rik better have a quick word with him.
Fines on going on holiday abroad as it is a sin, and to help stop global warming.
However due to climate change, and britain having nice summers projected, especially when the conservatives are back in power.
Tax breaks for the British Tourist Industry.
74 - the Tories have some very credible front benchers these days. Osborne looks out of his depth with them. If you disagree with me, then defend him rather than making a cheap joke. Is he defendable? Should Cameron keep him? Can you really see Osborne staying in such a position till the election?
Yes, there are some weak links in the Liberal Democrat team too, but not in as high profile a position.
What Cameron might do:-
1. Undertake to withdraw all his MPs from the Conservative and Unionist party in 2009, with a view to forming a new grouping with the SDP on Neath District Council.
2. Ensure that Tory MPs get good agents so they can appear on chat shows and Hello magazine as bona fide A-list celebrities.
3. Phase out the traditional polished black shoe as a plastic foot garment for MPs, and replace with something more often worn on the beach.
4. Ensure all breakfast cereal boxes contain free pens so detailed policies can be drawn up on the back of the box after use; in a commitment to green values, said policy and box can be recycled together.
However, I suspect these are rather too detailed to be Tory policies.
is this a cynical ploy to turn politicalbetting into a cameroonian think-tank mike?
Sources close to DC himself tell me that the Tory leader is putting the final touches to his speech on the organic movement that will slam those sections of the Women’s Institute and the Church of England that aren’t using organic flowers for their arrangements. He will be proposing that the rules for the distribution of flower arranging prizes be changed to send a strong message that non-organic flower arrangements are not acceptable in modern Britain.
Taken from the Daily Telegraph, the day after David Cameron’s conference speech (in other words my entry):
“David Cameron shocked the Conservative Party to the core yesterday afternoon when he announced the major plank of his policy to overturn Labour’s near decade long rule.
At the heart of the “new” Conservative policy was a statement that “Conservatives should tell it like it is” to show that Labour was not keeping it’s 1997 election manifesto commitments.
This meant (according to a press briefing after the speech) that from now on Conservative party members would state what they really felt about Britain and not cover it up in flowerly language”
67 (and also O/T) - agreed SeanT. I always read Guido, Iain Dale and of course pb.com first thing in the morning, it’s quite exciting to see how this huge evolution in reporting the news is unfolding in front of us.
Policy announcement - I think Dave’s next major initiave will be slightly more comforting to the Tory old guard. His repositioning of the party has been sufficiently extensive as to allow for a foray or two into territory regarded more as ‘right’ than ‘centre’ without being slammed by the centre ground he’s courting. This’ll aid his big tent aspirations by keeping the traditionalists on board, so I’m going for something like a significant bolstering of the family with a restoration of the married couple’s tax allowance way above previous levels.
Put all new draft legislation before a committee of Muslim clerics PRIOR to its introduction on the Floor of the House, so that there is no accidental upset to Islamic sensitivities - working title, “Calm an Imam”.
BREAKING NEWS
David Camerons shock new announcement in full:
“because we believe in the value of meritocracy, that everyone achieves their true potential through ability and not through birthright, we the new Conservatives will abolish the contitutional role of the monarchy and replace the institution with an elected president.”
93 - Followed swiftly by the following statement:
‘I hereby resign my membership of the Conservative Party.
- Alastair Matlock.’
94 - ditto!
Dave Cameron’s latest policy pledge - outlaw all political blog and websites - too many anoraks using this site as a club and posting rubbish all day - they need fresh air and exercise.
96 - Hear, Hear!!
In another Cameron U-turn parents are encouraged to beat their children in what his PR are calling “Flog-a-sprog”
BREAKING NEWS - The Conservative Leader annouces the setting up of a By-Election Truth Commission - similiar to the Parade’s Commission in Northern Ireland. All prospective literature to go to the Truth Commission before it can printed for authorisation. A spin off from this proposal is that not much material will be printed saving the Enviroment. Lib Dems attack the policy as an attack on…………….
wish we had an edit button…………..
BREAKING NEWS - The Conservative Leader annouces the setting up of a By-Election Truth Commission - similiar to the Parade’s Commission in Northern Ireland. All prospective literature to go to the Truth Commission for authorisation before it can printed. A spin off from this proposal is that not much material will be printed saving the Enviroment. Lib Dems attack the policy as an attack on…………….
CONSERVATIVE BREAKING WIND NEWS ……..
Sitting on the throne in his Oxfordshire home, David Cameron announced a new policy on lavaTory style with an enviromental twist and an employment uplift for Ulster. The Tory leader said :
“The next Conservative government mindful of Britains place in the world will make its first priority the compulsory re-design of the nations smallest room and the contribution it makes to global warming. All toilet ornaments and ancillary items are to removed and destroyed by specially trained Irish workmen who will also place a brick or similar item in cisterns to conserve water. Otherwise known as :
Nick Nacks Paddy Whacks … Give The Bog A Stone.
100 - Will that apply also to the Conservative literature, such as the leflets used by Stephen Day in Cheadle?
102 - I think that would be all.
The Liberal appointees to the Commission could be Ben Abbotts and Linda Gorn.
Vote Blue. go green, tackle crime and help the elderly all in one.
A Conservative government will bring back the treadmill. All those hoodies who refuse to be hugged will be required to work for 100 hours on a treadmill, generating free power for elderly people to heat (or increasingly air condition) their homes.
Presses all the right buttons buttons with a touch of firmness.
Postponing a decision on the replacement of Trident would be a perfectly sensible proposal for Cameron to make. There is no reason why the next parliament should decide, and Trident has a good few years in it yet.
He could please the squaddies by spending a fraction of the money saved on new equipment and more recruitment.
I know I now can’t win (d’oh!) but I do think it’ll be some form of PR for local government to ofset the charge for it at Wesminster. Localism is rapidly becoming the Tory charge de jour.
105, 106 - to be serious for once, I think these are very much on the cards. I would also expect ruling out nuclear power is likely. It will avoid an almighty row with Goldsmith.
All three could pave the way for coalition government after the next election(!).
107 - I would rather sit in opposition that rely on your lot for a coalition. I saw allow Labour to limp along with Lib Dem support and then when the inevitable happens, we will destroy you both at the ensuing election.
Antony @ 106
does that “Localism” included allowing unfettered choice of PPCs?
Seriously, what do you mean by “localism”? For some issues local is parish, for others it must be global. Do you also want to have a try at “community”?
Erm, 108 should read ‘I say allow Labour to limp along…’
108 - the last sentence was intended to annoy, I am afraid. You should know better than to rise to my bait. Anyway, Lib Dems prop up NuLab’s police state! Surely you are in jest, too!
108 Hear! Hear!
For the conference speech: return of married couples allowance (or civil partnership allowance) and abolition of GB’s tax credit system?
October 2006. A NEW policy announcement from Mr Cameron.
Today, talking about the EU, DC announced that, under a Tory govt, there would be no more ‘gold-plating’ of their rules by the British civil service. ‘We are going to be like all the other countries,’ he said. ‘We are perfectly happy to sign any conditions the EU likes. But just as in other member countries, we will not enforce those that our not in the interests of UK citizens. For example, we are happy to sign that all sales have to be in metric. But we’d never do anything daft, like taking action against a trader who sold in lbs. Under the tories, we would take a sensible, practical and workmanlike approach to EU rules. We can then have the benefits of EU membership, without the petty downsides, just like all the other member states’.
He was asked if our civil service could cope with optimising the interests of UK citizens, and not be wooden in implementing the rules. ‘Well, all the other countries manage it. Why can’t we?’ He asked, unanswerably.
111 - Was that bait, SBS? If it was, I thank you. I rather enjoyed giving my response, and there were no apostrophes for you to criticise in your pedantic manner this time.
108 - Well, you probably won’t decide on that, and those who will (Cameron & co.) are probably hungry for power enough to sell even the remaining Conservative principles (if they already haven’t, and if there ever have been any) to get in government. If the Tories don’t want to pay the price (PR) to get in coalition with the Lib Dems, they can always form a coalition with Labour…
115 - I don’t know how a Lib Dem, as you obviously are dear lady, would presume to know the Conservative mindset so well, and talk of ‘principles’ from the dustbin party of British politics rings rather hollow, you know.
I have absolute confidence in what I said at 108 and I am certain that this view would prevail upon the leadership of my party were the circumstances ever to arise.
Re: 116 - THIS Lib Dem makes no such presumptions, Mr Matlock, except that it is quite evident given the policy sommersaults I have witnessed from Tory activists in the past year that many in YOUR party will willingly sell their souls (or privatise the whole thing and sell everyone else’s :)) for a sniff of power.
I agree that IF Labour is the largest party and short of a majority in the next Parliament, the Conservatives won’t go into coalition with them. As for the LDs, I’m also sceptical. The fact remains however that we would both need to be in the same lobby if it comes to bringing the Government down and forcing a second election. It depends how much we BOTH want another contest - I suspect we won’t, I suspect your lot won’t either.
Yes, Labour would have lost its majority but it also seems probable under that scenario that the Tories would have made less than wholehearted progress toward its own majority.
We could both sit back and allow Brown to govern with a minority but who’s to say he might not be able to win a second election 18-24 months later ? A lot can happen in that timeframe.
116 AHM. I’m sure the new Con/LibDem coalition will need some new peers Alastair !!
118 - Hmmmmm. Very tempting, Jack, but I’m afraid I must decline if it means doing a deal with the Yellow devil.
119 AHM. You’ll only have to sup with a very long spoon Alastair …. no bar charts, sandals, beard or quiche !!
Stodge How can you witness policy somersaults from a party that you say has no policies?
Cameron’s next policy initiative:
“It is said that compulsory labour is unproductive. This means that the whole socialist economy is doomed to be scrapped, because there is no other way of attaining socialism except through the command allocation of the entire labor force by the economic centre, the allocation of that force in accord with the needs of a nationwide economic plan.”
To the letter
117 - Stodge, of course it is impossible to know exactly what may transpire over the course of a short-lived Labour minority administration, but I’m sure you would agree that it is difficult to envisage Gordon Brown or anyone else going on from that to win a majority mandate after his party had fallen from grace after (by that point) nearly 15 years in office. It is much more probable that that things would continue to deteriorate for them.
Re: 121 - B2W, I don’t think I’ve ever said your party has NO policies. There are plenty of policies - I’m just not sure which of the Cameron policies, Davis policies, Fox policies, Hague policies or Redwood policies are the REAL policies ?
I suspect this is the intention, my friend - if you have five or more policies on every issue, one of them is bound to be popular with someone somewhere
Re: 125 - On that point we do agree, AHM. I think the issue is whether we knock the house of cards down ourselves as in 1979 or wait for the whole thing to collapse by itself as in 1997.
Maybe he could (following tonights Continuing Care costs Panorama) announce free personal care to the elderly and thus encourage even more Lib Dems to defect to the ever strengthening Conservative Party.
Re 108, AHM we just need the orange bookers to join us and accept that Conservatives have always been right. We don’t want a coalition, but we do want to be a broad church party!
126 - We have always been a broad church party, Ben. That is why we have been in power for most of the last century and the Liberals have been out since 1922.
A semi serious suggestion…..
It will be something to appeal (perhaps that should be re-appeal) to the countryside lobby, whilst at the same time ingratiating the Tories with the so-called “leisure industry.” So I forecast that David Cameron’s next policy initiative will be something to do with horseracing - tax breaks for trainers, or some adjustment to betting tax, or something along those lines. It will be inconsequential in economic ternms (like all his other initiatives), but it will generate a lot of press comment. Does the Racing Post have a Politics Correspondent?
Ben Redsell - “conservatives have always been right”. Yes - and socialists have always been left. Until now, if course when David Cameron is left and Blair is right
Reminds me of this.
128 Augustus. Betting tax is nil% ….. is this a Tory tax rise proposal ??
AHM - last century it was your turn, ours the one before. So its our turn again this century. Better get that enoblement in quick …
131 -
Expecting a miracle are you, Tabman?
Not a miracle, but the odds on you taking the ermine were pretty generous.
Tabman your accusation that Blair is a socialist could land you in Belmarsh you know.
Interestingly we had your local member down to us in sunny Suffolk on Friday and he was very on message, reminding the blue rinse brigade that David is the right chap for the job and that we are now ahead for the first time in years, that change is in the right direction and the parliamentary party is a happy place once again. I thought it interesting that the big beasts feel the need to reinforce this message…
132 AHM. In your religious conversion miracles are deemed compulsory aren’t they ??
133 - I agree. Only slightly better than those on the Lib Dems getting into governmment.
135 - They are, Jack, but everybody knows that God is a good Conservative.
137 AHM. And the devil ????
AHM wrote: “I don’t know how a Lib Dem, as you obviously are dear lady, would presume to know the Conservative mindset so well, and talk of ‘principles’ from the dustbin party of British politics rings rather hollow, you know.”
Just a couple days ago, in the thread “What do we make of Newsnight’s Kennedy v Ming poll?” a Tory asked “What is the point of being a LD?” He wrote: “At local level you have the chance to make changes. I see that. At national level you know you do not. You know you will never be a government. You have never made it anywhere close to being the Opposition.”
Doesn’t this actually tell something about the Conservative mindset? This person couldn’t understand the point of being in politics if one doesn’t have an immediate possibility to get into the government. Doesn’t this tell, that the Conservatives (or at least some of them) are hungry for power? And doesn’t it also tell, that the Lib Dems, who can’t expect to get into the power anytime soon, are more idealistic, as they are prepared to work for their principles even though they probably won’t benefit personally by getting posts in the government?
138 - Well, he used to be a Communist, but he probably sports a yellow badge these days….
132 - They’ve no need for a miracle when they’ve got Ming, Alastair. It’s only a matter of time before the great British public realise just how much gravitas he has.
O/T - An interesting article WRT Tory policy in the Times suggesting a variety of tax’s - inheritance, council, CGT - be replaced by a 1% tax on the value of property.
140. who was a Communist, Alastair?
curious at 139. I think what it tells you about the LibDems is that they are much like the media - always happy to have a position that will never need to be practical. It is easy to observe from the outside and come up with proposals but many of these will never be put into practise. Conservatives know that their ideas may actually end up being Government policy one day, that’s why we spend so much time formulating them.
It is always easy to criticise when you don’t have to provide a workable solution.
WRT the point you made about Conservative mindsets, I think what that shows is that we recognise that you have to be prepared to roll up your sleaves and get down and dirty with it in order to get your agenda through. We also recognise that in order to make the changes we feel will make our country better or improve General Well Being we need to actually be in Government.
139 - If the Lib Dems aren’t bent on power, then why are they so determined about a PR arrangement for Westminster that, if implemented, would probably mean continual coalition governments of which the Lib Dems would most often be a part.
Before anyone says ‘Oh, but we believe it would better reflect the democratic will of the British people’ - save it. For anyone who believes that this is the prime motivating factor for the Lib Dems behind PR, could they please drop me a line? I have some swamp land I’d like to sell….
143 - Andrea, I was responding to Jack’s query at 138.
146. Oh I thought you were talking about God.
Btw, I think Thatcher is the reply to Jack’s query
Andrea that’s scandalous. Mind you, some felt she thought she was God…
Calm down Alistair, no need for the smelling salts, I’m sure he didn’t mean it.
147 - Heretic!!!!
148 - Who didn’t mean what?
148. Councillor Ben, I’ve to recover my reputation..earlier at comment number 2 I was put among Tory boys. So I need to stop this smear with anti-Maggie comments!
150 - To be smeared by Sage is a badge of honour indeed, Andrea. Wear it with pride!
149 I was saying I was sure Andrea didn’t mean the anti Maggie slur. However it seems he did mean to say it, even if he didn’t actually believe it.
Andrea, please stop! You’ll give my colleague Tories heart failure and Beaconsfield will never be the same again.
150 At least he remembered your name when smearing you. He just dismissed me as that councillor from Suffolk!
151. Naturally, Alastair
153. Ben, last week he was implying I was sleeping with my professors to get a degree or something similar
154 But Andrea, have you got professors to challenge the member for Rutland?
Oh well, AHM! No chance of a LD / Tory coalition. We shall just have to continue with the informal arrangement of LDs acting as Cameron’s think tank then…
155. Ben, I think I had one who could have challenged him…the rest wasn’t in the same league of the mini-macho from Rutland
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/images/duncanpride.jpg
156 - The Lib Dems as our think tank? Small wonder we’re not further ahead in the polls!
AHM wrote: “Before anyone says ‘Oh, but we believe it would better reflect the democratic will of the British people’ - save it. For anyone who believes that this is the prime motivating factor for the Lib Dems behind PR, could they please drop me a line? I have some swamp land I’d like to sell…”
This cynical attitude, that people could not possibly support a voting system because it is fair, not because it benefits the people in question, only strengthtens my view about Conservatives as power hungry opportunists. If the Lib Dems would think that getting in power as more important than being true to their principles, they would have joined the Conservatives in the first place.
158 - no, not the Conservative party’s think tank. They have their own. I said “Cameron’s think tank.” (never got the hang of smilies, but I’ll try one here ;))
159 - Do you seriously expect anyone to believe that the Lib Dems aren’t as cynical, vicious and opportunistic as any one else?
If you do, you clearly slept through the Bromley by-election and the wonderful tale Mike Smithson regaled us with the other day, concerning a local council by-election in Bedfordshire.
160 - Well, the Labour Party have been using us as their think tank for a decade now, and it has won them three general elections….
162 - very true. But I wouldn’t claim “credit” for everything they’re doing if I were you.
162. Alastair, as a gym boy told us, the Libdems is using Glenda as a think tank to decide election strategies. It can explain the not brilliant performance against the tories last time: she isn’t a counties expert
150-Andrea. Tory boys and girl!
It was a good little grouping which I would have hoped you would have been flattered to have been linked with…
So where is Sage tonight as I’m in the mood for a quick joust before bedtime.
159 - You were happy to join up with Labour in Scotland to get a taste of power. And if this is indicative of the effect your principles would have I reckon I could live