My MP, David Morris reckons that a Conservative conference is 'a chance to discuss new ideas'. At least that was the headline in my local newspaper, the Morecambe Visitor. Sorry David I watched most of the conference and saw no discussion - unless you count the two retired soldiers who heckled Philip Hammond. However even this is stretching the definition of a discussion as I don't think Philip, and for that matter most of the delegates could hear what the retired soldiers were saying. I know that they were putting the case for the Royal Fusiliers but that is only because I watched the news on television.
Maybe there was discussion of new ideas that I missed on television. Maybe the fringe meetings were where the discussion took place. I carried on reading the article and David 'addressed a fringe event on nuclear power'. Doesn't sound like a discussion to me, but maybe it wasn't just a speech. Maybe there were opposing views that were discussed. It doesn't sound like it. And even if the delegates were allowed to discuss anything they are still delegates. They are told what to say by the people who delegate. Now if they were representatives they would be allowed to think for themselves. All that they would then need would be a motion to vote on.
In this article David gives us no other reason for feeling that any discussion had taken place at the Tory conference. So where does this idea of discussion come from? As for what was seen by the television viewer, we have a Tory Party lurching to the right. If Eric Pickles speaks for the whole party then despite David Cameron telling us how important it is to be in Europe we are about to leave. We will continue to face spending cuts even when they are not necessary to balance the budget.
Whatever the subject, whoever the speaker, David Morris needs to be clear that there are no discussions and no votes at a Tory conference. This blog may have been written because of a sub-editor writing the wrong headline but at least it is clear that discussions don't take place at a Tory conference and the delegates wouldn't be able to give their opinion even if they wanted to!
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What I heard and saw on TV about it, it just seemed to be a platform for them to announce their next steps in making the gap between the higher paid and the rest of the population even greater than it already is. If they can find jobs for the unemployed to be obliged to do, why aren't those jobs available as paid jobs?
ReplyDeleteIt seems that the Tories are now taking credit for the Liberal Democrat policy of raising the tax threshold which gives over £600 to those who need it most - and Labour would point out it also gives £600 to those who don't need it most. However this is exactly like their freeze on energy prices only nowhere near as beneficial to the poorest - and they think they are socialist! I agree about the jobs for the unemployed Sea.The best argument against working for benefits is that they are not proper jobs. Well they could be, even if those who take them up are still actively searching for other work. The argument goes that we can't afford to pay more than benefits to those who work in this scheme - again not a very strong argument. Give them the hours that match their benefits then! Thanks for your comments Sea. You have helped me let off more steam.
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