A Vision for Visionaries- Has politics become too short term?

         

Following a 7 hour stint with Daniel I thought I might kill myself, however I thought I might blog about one of the conversations we had. Has politics now become tame and short term?

Daniel suggested that we have lost the long sighted politics that created the NHS and other radical developments. I tended to agree. We can take Birmingham as an example. Under the leadership of Joseph Chamberlain the city under went a renaissance. This was the man who municipalised private industry to keep the profits for the council. With this money he built our magnificent Council House, he founded our university and over saw the creation of better health and education facilities. These were long term plans to improve Birmingham.

Our debate moved to architecture and civil engineering. On building Corporation Street- Birmingham’s own attempt at a continental boulevard- Chamberlain demolished a massive area to create a beautiful street. Today we seem unable to build major projects, take Cross rail as one example, and take our inability to develop New Street as another. With our ever growing population we need to not shy away from major projects especially regarding transport where we need huge structural investment to improve mobility whist reducing carbon. On a national level we can take the Severn Barrier Project which has been an on going plan for decades. It is time that politicians looked into the future and assess future needs. We need to start designing buildings streets and transport networks so they are able to cope with increasing congestion.

 

Britain has the potential to lead the world in the next Green Industrial revolution, but the question is can we find that enterprising drive that we once had. Can we find the excitement and enthusiasm for technology that the Victorians had. If our economy is to survive then we really need to.

 

Do you really think labour is the party of our future? No, we’re all visionaries, we can see the day when we come back to power and this country can get back on its economic feet.

Heffing hell..

    

Simon Heffer really goes for it today in the Telegraph. Immigrants, the out of work, the looking for work, the can’t works, truents, lesbians, road humps, drug addicts, Jack Straw, Ed Balls and his wife. He continues…. 

“Then, of course, you have the lack of seriousness with which our governing class addresses the cancer of drug abuse, perhaps because many of them used to do it themselves — and, indeed, to judge from the grasp of reality some of them have, possibly still are…”

“…the Government would rather spend our money on lesbian outreach workers, road humps and first-class travel for bureaucrats and their wives.”

Read full rant in all it’s glory here.

Gaffes, indiscretions and worse…

        

In time for Christmas (I love Christmas), Matthew Parris has just completed his latest book, Mission Acomplished, Things Politicians wish they hadn’t said. The Times has published some extracts. I thought these were rather good…

“Our priority is to create jobs. This is not just an economic priority but also a social and moral one”
Conservative Manifesto (1997) page 9

“Governments cannot create jobs.” page 10

“Instead of wasting hundreds of millions of pounds on compulsory ID cards as the Tory Right demand, let that money provide thousands more police officers on the beat in our local communities.”
Tony Blair, leader of the opposition (1995)

“Through the identity cards Bill, we will pave the way for a British identity card –at first voluntary, and then in time, compulsory . . . identity cards, in my judgment, are long overdue.”
Tony Blair, Prime Minister (2004)

“We will reduce and probably eliminate the homeless by 2008″
John Prescott (2002)

“It’s not a day for soundbites, really, we can leave those at home. But I feel the hand of history on our shoulder.”
Tony Blair, Good Friday peace negotiations (1998)

“Can I have a pot of that nice avocado mousse.”
Peter Mandelson, remarks in a fish and chip shop, pointing to the pushy peas. 

More Here.
It’s on the shelves from the 7th of Novemeber, retailing at £12.99. A perfect stocking filler.

Who says the BBC wastes money!?

Have a look at this link, I am glad our Licence Fee is spent on such quality broadcasting.

Time to go home: Prisons in crisis

It has been revealed today that a massive 11,000 inmates in out prison system are foreign nationals. thats is 1/8 prisoners are not British. this is a shocking statistic and shows us that this government really has no control over immigration.

i see no reason why if these people come from stable countries why they should not be deported immediately on conviction to be kept at their own country’s expense. i obviously do not advocate sending Zimbaweans back for example, but how many are from country’s with acceptable human rights that could be sent back?

 when we have a prison system that is full these extra spaces are chonically needed to deal with our own native criminals. so if this isnt the answer what is the answer of the labour government? EARLY RELEASE what a jolly good plan we don’t have any space to meet our election promise to be tough on crime so we’ll let them go. well this has not worked at all with a 30% rise in crimes committed by people on probation.

another issue that has emerged today is that our mental health service for those in prison is woefully inadequate, so if we deported these people we could redirect the funds on providing a good standard of service to those who are in great need. in an age of massive population movement the state needs to keep up, we should not pay to detain those people who are not native to this country (born here or hold valid citizenship)

 some people may think this sounds like a right wing rant, but as those who know me know i am a liberal at heart but on this issue i cannot see how it is justifiable that 1/8 people in our prisons potentially could be sent home.

 HMPS is here to protect us we pay for it to do so, under labour we are releasing people early and paying to keep foreign criminals in. it is time for a change.

Good fiscal management? we want that back!

 

So in the infinate wisdom of the labour party and its ideology of micromanagement of our public services has decided it would be a good idea to punish well run schools who have budget supluses. these surpluses stand at around 1.7 Billion pounds, a hefty amount fo money. i see the point that public money should be redistributed to improve educational standards but this policy is flawed.

 it makes no sense to impose this claw back on Headmasters. the surpluses they accru will  be plowed back into education, in their own schools. often this money is needed for new buildings, school trips, extra curricular events and staff bonuses. why shouldn’t the leader of an organisation have freedom over its spending policy?

i am pleased to say DC has lambasted this policy and asked GB why he thought he knew better than teachers how to spend money non education. thank goodness he did. we need reform in our schools which allow headmasters genuine freedom over management and budgets. whilst the proposal will only ttake 5% that is a significant chunk over time and will disadvantage those schools that run themselves well.

 the solution to this problem is not to punksh those who do well but to encourage those who are failing to balance the books to behave better. if the government would actually do somethignt oa ddress the lack of good management in alot of schools ie the chronic shortage of headmasters then perhaps we would see more schools in surplus.

 this is another example of this government imposing more red tape, increasing their control over public servants and micromanagement all which are underpinned by the commplete lack of trust in professionals to do a good job. now is the time to release our public service leaders from the dogmas of central government.

Another Shadow Cabinet Member to visit BUCF

It is only week three of the term yet, BUCF is proud to present Theresa May, Shadow Leader House will be visiting the University on Wednesday.

 Theresa May was elected as an Member of Parliament in 1997, and has spent virtually all of her time of the front bench since being elected. Her portfolios have included, Shadow Spokesman for Schools, Disabled People and Women, Shadow Education and Employment Secretary, Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and Regions, Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

 She has also held the posistion of Chairman of the Party.

Theresa will be answering our questions between 1:30-2:30. The venue will be the Gunbarrells pub on Bristol Road.

Theresa has written a fascinating number of weekly blogs for ConservativeHome. Including just yesterday picking her Westminster Fantasy Rugby Team.

You can access the rest of Theresa’s columns from these links as well.

 All are welcome and let’s hope it will be enjoyable as the Andrew Mitchell event on Thursday.

Blair’s fatal legacy?

      

Former Prime Ministers are massive, great loose cannons. Blair is no different. Gordon Brown must be relieved that his predecessor is in the Middle East, away from awkward media questions.

John Major was less fortunate. Margaret Thatcher’s departure from Number Ten was unexpected. There was no time to arrange something for her to do, and any suggestions seemed inappropriate. Instead her looming presence helped to keep the Conservatives out of power.

After comments from ‘Blair’s people’ hit the Sunday papers, I was wondering if Tony Blair could have the same fatal legacy?

He probably could. He could criticise directly, or more damaging, he could let Blairites do it for him. That said, Labour members assure me that their party doesn’t do infighting. Whereas Conservatives are self-involved, self-interested careerists, who were shameless enough to knife Margaret Thatcher, Labour members are the opposite.

Nevertheless, Blairite comments last weekend were well timed for the Conservatives. Only a few days after Cameron had told the Commons that Brown has no vision, Blair’s people claimed that the former PM was worried about Brown’s lack of direction.

It’s improbable, but just as Blair created New Labour he could destroy it. Equally, just as he sent Conservatism into crisis he could save it. Think of that.

THURSDAY 18th OCTOBER

This Thursday Andrew Mitchell MP, shadow secretary of state for International Development is coming to meet University of Birmingham Conservative future and will discuss the Conservative Party trip to Rwanda this year.  We will be meeting in Red Peppers in the Mailbox from 7pm all our welcome, for any help as usual contact chair@bucf.org

Glamour over experience.

Well it would seem that Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ming Campbell has finally realised that his age was a barrier impossible to overcome. Whilst I think it is a great shame that nower days we demand that our leaders be younger I am glad that he has finally realised what a hindrance his leadership was to the party.

We should take this as a warning, we may be facing an invigorated Liberal party at the next election and we have to be prepared, especially in the southwest where it is always a battle between the liberals and us.

Ming is a fantastic statesman and would have made an excellent foreign secretary for a Government. His heart was undeniably in all of his policies and he had an admirable and genuine care for those poorest in our society. He strove hard to make Britain fairer and I admire him for this.

However he could never escape his Achilles heel, and many in his party felt it too, he did not appeal to voters. He did not look like a string leader, but a frail follower. He put in a grand effort art conference but no change in the polls. He has been dogged by poor election results further emphasising his lack of modern appeal.

I think the liberals are stronger for having such a political heavy weight as a member but were weakened under his leadership. he was a true aristotelean tragic hero, his downfall on just one fault.

Watch out guys the liberals could seriously challenge a lot of our seats if the now get their act together under a new vibrant leader.

Ties together perfectly:

Accurate prediction from a few months back?

Who can argue with this?

  

Courtesy from Shane Greer’s blog, Excecutive Director of the Young Briton’s Foundation.

Election 2007..

For those of you who caught any of Prime Minister’s Questions last week, you would probably remember that Gordon Brown cited a petition on the downing street website as an indication as the lack of public demand for a general election.At the time the number of people who had signed was 26, since then (the last time I had checked) it was at 12,570..

If anyone is interested in signing the petition it can be found here – http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Election-year/

On another note, Labour have again stolen a Conservative policy – Cabinet Minister Andy Burnham has suggested that the tax system should recognise marriage.

PUBLIC DEBATE

This evening the University of Birmingham Debating Society are hosting a debate:

 ’This House believes Britain should leave the EU’

Proposing the motion is Nigel Farage, Leader of UKIP and Patrick Eston, Leader of Veritas.

 Opposing is Peter Luff, Conservative MP for Mid Worcestershire and Chairman of European Movement and Richard Corbett MEP, Vice President of Labour Movement for Europe.

 The debate is at 6:30pm in the Guild Council Chamber, above the Spar.

 Debates are free to attend and everyone is welcome. There will be a chance for audience speeches, with bottles of wine for the best :-)

 It should be a fascinating debate, say what you like about Mr. Farage, there is no doubt he is a great orator, and passionately believes what he is saying. I wonder whether it will be possible for him to get a quote on his son’s defection to the Exeter University Conservative Future.

Meeting Mr. Watson

On Tuesday evening, I had the displeasure of meeting Mr. Tom Watson. For those of you that do not know, Tom is a Labour MP for ‘West Bromwich East’ (who said this Government doesn’t know where it’s going?).

 I promised to blogroll Tomand I hope he reciprocates, he is one of the better ‘Left Wing’ bloggers, and one of the few I actually enjoying reading. I would also regard it as one the best MP blogs around.

Finally you should perhaps read this section of his website most of all, if Tom is not on the Down Low, with the teens I have no idea who is!!! 

It was great to meet you Tom, and finally . . . respect. 

Where is the Radicalism?

Under DC the party has undergone huge ideological changes, and thank goodness too. As we can see this new liberal modern conservatism has seen us rise in the polls and now it I even becoming cool to say you’re a Tory. However sometimes I despair at party politics because it sometimes does not deliver the changes we need.

Both sides of the house propose new policies within the same ideological framework, nothing really breaks the mould. On education reform the key sound bite from DC’s speech was the party’ support for streaming in schools. I agree I think this is an important move but it isn’t a radical solution to our education problems. Furthermore I went to a comprehensive school that already streamed its students so in some cases it isn’t even a solution. Labour’s educational policy has been to throw money at it, weaken the authority of exams, add in more and more nothing lessons and this has resulted in 1 million young people not in work or education. Where is the radical vision?

Politicians seem to have lost the ability to take risks with policies, this is partly due to the need for a strong majority in the house of commons and a united backbench to vote them through. Without these though; radical visions that could offer huge benefits if taken are lost. For example why are no parties discussing the creation of practical skill schools, where perhaps at 14 the child can choose whether to have a bookish or hands on education. I’ve not though through any of the practicalities but from my experience many people would have benefited from learning maths through learning about engines rather than through books. In education we need to inspire children and this isn’t happening for some in our feminised books based system.

On anti social behaviour we have said to hug a hoodie and labour has created a Tsar, both do not offer the radical solutions needed for this huge problem. For example why are none of the parties talking about having a radical approach to youth offending, perhaps prisons that have a hard shell and a soft centre, so on arrival the child is broken so that they can be remoulded correctly and given the support they need. this could be done at a boot camps style institution (though I would emphasis the importance of the support and educational opportunities here as well as the strict regime)

David Cameron has suggested policies that are good and will help to sort out some of our problems, but it seems democracy simply cannot support a more risky political radicalism that would perhaps give us better solutions. Ultimalty however I would have to agree with Winston Churchill when he said:

“Democracy is the worst form of government except for all those others that have been tried.”

Pay Up Tom

If you get time please have a look at this website launched by Dizzy Thinks and Guido Fawkes, I think it is fantastic and should be a reminder to all bloggers, that blogging is just a bit of fun!

 http://payuptom.blogspot.com/ 

Was that it? The Great Election (anti)-climax

Well it seems that our conference went too well and it has knocked the puff out of Brown as today he announced that he would not be calling an autumn election. After weeks of speculation this almost feels like a U-turn.

Gordon Brown wants to set out his vision for Britain before he calls for an election. Well I think we know what his vision for Britain is and it is more of the same. Why does he fear getting a mandate so much? Perhaps it is he has some close allays in marginal and wants to keep them; perhaps it is because he scared, or perhaps it is because he knows he risks a hung parliament.

Perhaps then we can say this is a savvy decision by the PM self-preservation. However I think he has a democratic and moral obligation to call an election. We don’t get many coronations in politics, and the one we just had was not good. Now I know officially we elect a party to lead and not a leader as such, but nower days because the personality has become so important I think we should have had an election.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing for us though. With more time we can highlight further the errors in New New Labour aka Labour’s ideology of centre driven politics. We can campaign further that Gordon Brown is out of touch, like on the EU Treaty issue and that under Gordon you will not get anything new.

The problems the country faces now are a result of Gordon Brown and we deserve change, we deserve innovation and we deserve to be listened to. Its time for Brown to go it is in my opinion time for an election, but perhaps this time delay will allow us to gain further seats. Perhaps even DC wanted this to happen, we look strong without having to be tested yet, so we can continue to gain.

It is to be a bit cheesy time for change.

Conference Diary

Apologies for the lack of blogging over the summer, I thought I’d start this term with a brief diary of conference.

As some of you may be aware Ryan, Jimmy and myself attended this years Conservative Party conference. 

Day One (Sunday)

Unfortunately Ryan and I arrived late and therefore missed most of the days events including the speeches from William Hague, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Michael Bloomberg.  However once we arrived we managed to catch up on the covergage and were very impressed with Hagues performance.  In the evening we attended the Chairman’s media reception which had guests such as Jon Snow and Amanda Platell.  We had some very interesting conversations and then moved onto the main hotel bar.  Made it to bed by 2 and we were up early the next day for breakfast.

 Day Two (Monday)

Today we started off doing our own thing, I decided to attend George Osbourne’s speech and his announcements were greeted with a raptuous applause especially the proposal for inheritence tax being raised to £1million.  After the speech I headed over to the 2012 Olympic Fringe event, it was an interesting event with Lord Coe in attendence who we managed to have a couple of words with afterwards regarding the University.

In the evening we attended the Chairman’s reception which was sponsored by bloomberg, we then headed over to the CF reception where we met other members of CF from across the country.

 Day Three (Tuesday)

After a very late evening we woke up a little later on,  I went to the main auditorium today with local Chairman David Fazakerley, watched the speeches from David Davis, Iain Duncan Smith and Ken Clarke.  By far one of the most moving speeches was IDS’ especially if the standing ovation was anything to go by!!

In the evening we attended the international office reception where we met the ambassador to Korea and the High Commissioner of the Cayman islands as well as Jeremy Hunt MP.  We then moved onto the business enterprise reception sponsored by Microsoft and we met Caroline Spelman MP along the way.

 Day Four (Wednesday)

Today was the big day, you could sense the buzz in the atmosphere.  Everyone was anticipating what the speech was going to be like and loads of rumors were going around.  After having breakfast twice!!!  We met up with someone we had met earlier who had asked us to help the press office during the speech.  We managed to watch the speech backstage while helping out and the reaction’s were all very possitive.

We left the conference later the day and we all came to the conclusion on the journey home that the conference couldn’t have gone much better which, the recent polls have also confirmed (dropping Labour’s lead to within 3 points!!)

It was definitely an amazing experience and we would recommend it to anyone. 

 And if anyone ever does find themselves in Blackpool we strongly recommend the Beachcomber hotel run by two lovely Italian sisters..

Fresher Drinks Event

In true tory style we are going for drinks! horah!

this will take place in the less stylish but amazing GUN BARRELS PUB- which if u arn’t already is called the GUNNIES.

this will be taking place on sunday 7th starting at 7:00 most of the committee will be there to welcome and look after you.

we have the PPC for edgbaston Deidre Alden, Constituency Chair David Vazakerly and local councillor Gareth Compton so if you want to you can get up to date with local politics.

this is a relaxed session where you can come and see if you like us (why wouldn’t you) anyone is welcome. there will be membership forms there too if you are persuaded.

Please come along and do not worry about having no one to talk to or not knowing anyone, we’re all nice people, we’re tories!

for those who havent found the gunnies yet it is the pub at the bottom of edgbaston park road, the one the guild is on. and it is opposite a fire station on the bristol road.

We look forward to seeing you there.