A New Year Message

Although the pre-election tit-for-tat is now well under way, The Selby & Ainsty with Elmet and Rothwell CPF group met in December to put together our five key points for the election campaign.  This is what we said to our respective MPs in a New Year message:

"This New Year's greeting records the principle concerns of our group and those we hope to see in a manifesto which looks to the long-term good of the country rather than short-term electoral advantage.  We recognise and expect that our views will not, necessarily, coincide with those at Party HQ who, it seems to us, are constantly engaged in scrutinising every poll and survey for any nuance of factional advantage.  We offer, instead, an authentic Conservative voice which we believe provides the bedrock of the support in your constituency. 

Our fear is that, in order to gain the maximum number of seats next May, the manifesto may compromise what needs to be done - in essence achieving a smaller state that lives within its means.  Whilst hoping for the best, a hung parliament and the political paralysis that would follow seems a possibility.  In these circumstances, it seems to us, it will be vital for Conservatives to hold their nerve and be consistent in our electoral message. Voters will see straight through a party who promises one thing at the election in May 2015 and then another when forced to compromise by coalition or face the electorate again at a re-run (if constitutionally possible).

We have selected 5 issues that concern us most:

• Firstly, we need to deal with the deficit and live within our means. We should not shirk from honesty about how this could be achieved.

•  Secondly, we need to show that we have a practicable long term plan to deal with the issue of immigration. A population growth plan showing what level and quality of immigration the UK economy and culture will be able to absorb, together with a credible plan to control our borders.

•  Thirdly, we must show that defence of the United Kingdom, a government's primary responsibility, is in safe hands. A commitment to spend at least 2% of GDP on defence, funded from the aid budget if necessary.

•  Fourthly, we must send a clear statement of intent about the forthcoming negotiations with the EU.  What, exactly, are we setting out to achieve and how shall we measure success or failure.  It is vital that the electorate understand the ground-rules before the debate commences.

•  Finally, we are very worried that the genie is out of the bottle as far as regional empowerment is concerned. We have said before that a clear statement on English Votes for English Laws, separate from the non sequitur of regional empowerment, is a sure-fire vote winner.  In the timescale, it is inconceivable that a cross-party consensus could be achieved and this should be recognised in the manifesto."