Hello Iain,
I am a long time reader of your blog and today I am joining the Conservative Party. I am 33 and although I have always been very interested in politics I have never been a member of a party before or got personally involved in any way. At university I was far more interested in everything else going on.
I have always believed in a small state and empowering individuals which suggests I am a natural Conservative. I have always been pretty sceptical of claims made by the left. I know that when the Labour Party say progressive they mean left wing. I know that when they talk about reducing child poverty they are really talking about redistribution of wealth. In the past however, I considered Tories to be ‘nasty’ along the lines of Theresa May’s comments and so not for me.
Your obvious decency has made it clear to me that this is not true of everybody in the party. Your energy and sense of fun has convinced me that there could be a place for me in the party. In fact, you have encouraged me to get involved locally in my home town of xxxxx.
Yours sincerely,
Well done him. If any other readers out there have got the urge, why don't you get involved in active politics too? It can actually be really good fun, you know!
68 comments:
Signed by Peter Andre???!
Yes I would like to get involved in active politics - with a baseball bat!
On a serious note I would like to stand as an "Independent" candidate in the next GE, but there aint a lot of help out there.
How about all the monies our present MPs are repying being put into a foundation fund for independent candidates?
Your correspondent should know that Iain Dale is completely atypical and wholly unrepresentative of the Conservative party - ancient or ‘modern’.
With that level of naivete about politics, I'd suggest your correspondent might be more at home in the Lib Dems.
I would love to be involved in politics but I have more skeletons in closets than the Royal College of Anatomy.
Unfortunately too many people just read the headlines concerning which party to vote/support, not enough look behind the headlines spouted out by the leaders or news headlines. I know of so many voters mainly of the Labour Party but of others too who only vote for their particular party because there parents have done so.
This man has obviously thought it out, looked into what the parties really stand for and made his decision. And not been put off by the current shame of the expenses row, which says a lot about his character.
AS you say 'well done him'.
That is a great e-mail!
I joined the Conservatives as a member during the 42 day debacle.
I haven't got involved with the local party (yet), despite the invitations.
There is one thing that I have wondered:
I have professional knowledge, which I think would be useful to the Conservatives in a specific policy area. Is there a way of providing professional assistance, or do they only require help 'leafleting' and money raising?
Excellent news !
But what puts me off is knowing that despite all the Cameron re-branding and effort to turn the party around, it is OLIVER LETWIN that is writing the next manifesto. So what's the point ?
To the writer of the original e-mail.
If you are truely interested in a small state and empowering people then you have joined the wrong party I'm afraid.
You should have joined the Libertarian Party UK.
http://lpuk.org/
Better luck next time!
And what's more, if you get good enough at active politics, you can live the life of Riley at taxpayers' expense!
Join the overclass and fiddle, junket and trough away to your heart's content.
You don't even have to make it to MP level - there are some very nice sinecures to be had at city and county councils up and down the country where cabinet members can make a very nice living!
A well deserved plaudit for you
Here here.
I was in a similar position to your correspondent until a year or so ago when I joined the Lib Dems and I haven't looked back. I hope he gets as much out of it as I have an would certainly encourage others to do the same.
In fact I have just sent an article to LDV on my experiences in this area for publication today coincidentally.
Iain
Good for your fan to join up. If I thought the rest of the party thought like you I might too.
Now David Cameron has made a good first step by apologising and an even better second one by starting to pay back the excessive claims. But how about an explanation of why a party that wishes to govern only took action after they were exposed through an FOI request?
My kids apologised when they were caught behaving badly but since they have become adults they have done the right thing. Should we not be able to expect adult behaviour from our leaders?
Any Mouse
How much did you pay him Iain?
He's just signed up so he can get his fair share of the booty too!
So which one was the clincher to get him to sign?
1. interest on his mortgage paid
2. offer of installing a moat or tennis court
3.A stamp duty tax holiday on future house purchses(must be cleared with my darling first)
Well we all like a bit of humour don't we?
Ofcourse, he could start a blog as well. I'm sure there are a lot of people who want action, but don't know where to start. That is one problem I see with politics. They don't know how to get involved as there is not much information out there visible.
http://www.plenty2say.com
Dear Iain,
Your blog has likewise inspired me to become politically active. Having watched the spectacle unfold over the last several days I have for the first time joined up to a local party in order to bring some respectability back to British politics.
I've already become heavily involved in constituency admin
Thank you for the inspiration
Declan McBrain
Chair
Hildenborough Branch
Ton Ton Macuote
Whilst I enjoy your Blog Ian, I have come to a rather different conclusion.
First of all I loathe everything about Labour! I do not waste time even thinking about The Liberals, or whatever they currently call themselves.
I was a Conservative for most of my adult life.
However, since the FMD debacle of 2001 (I live in Cumbria), since learning that my MP (D. Maclean), who sits on an extremely large majority, had worked overtime in trying to stop the public having access to MP`s expenses via FOI, having seen Hessaltine bully Maggie out of office without even consulting the electorate, having realised that Heath led the treason and sedition that resulted in us joining The Common Market (all the evidence is available in the public domain and was released under the 30 year rule. If anyone would like a copy of the data I can point them to a Download site) and having recently watched the scandal of MP`s expenses unravel, with pathetic responses from all sides of the House (you were caught red handed you damn thieves!), I have decided that I will NEVER vote for any of the three major political parties again! I just couldn`t!
Thank you to Norman Tebbitt for his support in this Matter!
David Cameron's performance yesterday has made me do the same thing. It might be catching...
I agree with your correspondent that not all Conservatives are 'nasty,' your good self included, however, many still are.
There is evidence that a majority of the prospective candidates so far selected for winnable Tory seats are opposed, for example, to such 'progressive' ideas as equal gay rights.
Iain
I was a member of the tory party but resigned when Dave C won over Dave D.
I am 62 and have never missed a single election whether it be local or national since I got the franchise at 21 as it was in the old days. I continue to support the tories as like your earlier poster I believe in freedom of choice and private enterprise.
There are people out in the big wide world who care about their country, I hope more than those who are slaves to europe and dog in a manger attitude which socialism embraces. They just need to read your blog, along with Guido's.
Regards
M Jones
Corby
I used to live in xxxx. It is the porn capital of the world.
Speaking of which some old fashioned Etonian S&M from David Cameron.
Why don't I join the Conservative Party? Because I DO believe in the redistribution of wealth, that wealthy people pay a fair share as against getting tax accountants to help them avoid their obligations. How is Ashcroft these days?
It can be fun, true. But it's also about passion, rage, care for one's fellow man - and justice, decency and honour. But these ideals seem somehow to have been crushed in recent years.
Time for the common man to show his anger and contempt for these monsters. It's a pity that so many MPs seem to have forgotten their principles in pursuit of their careers and rewards.
The question is; which political party does stand for these noble ideals?
Oh bugger those who hark back to Thatcher et al.
She was perfect for her time but out lived it.
I decided to leaflet for the Tories after seeing Sue Lawley and Norman Tebbit on Nationwide back in 198X.
My local Tories in Speaker Wetherill's constituency were lying golf-club shits and he was a great bloke.
25yrs on I am still nervous about the old Party sorts as my hardwork was used and abused - as you can see, I can bear a chronic loyalty grudge.
The left dominated media would have everyone believe that the Tories are still a nasty party. Did anyone see Jon Snow's apoplectic rant at Theresa May on C4 News last night, claiming that the Tories are still nasty because of some of the grandees expenses? The Tory party is a mainstream party with mass appeal and it doesn't need to win over the angry residents of Islington - people will continue to join despite the media bias. I am gay and work in tv and my colleagues think I am out of my mind being a Tory i.e I am a victim so therefore should vote for a lefty party. I enjoy winding them up and pretending to be more right wing than I am!
Somebody said:
"I have professional knowledge, which I think would be useful to the Conservatives in a specific policy area. Is there a way of providing professional assistance, or do they only require help 'leafleting' and money raising?"
Write to your MP (or Conservative PPC) and he will be able to tell you whether there is a need for your expertise either locally or at CCHQ.
Most associations need as many footsoldiers as they can get for leafleting and fund raising, but they also need a strong team to help at producing leaflets, newletters, selecting and developing candidates (not just PPC's) and managing election campaigns.
That's a nice letter, Iain. And it is that kind of letter that does make it worth while.
I was involved in politics. I was chairman of a Ecology Party Branch for a while when the name of the party was -illegally- changed to The Green Party. I was cured of wanting to be active in politics!
Isn't it time Theresa May was taken down the knacker's yard? That individual has done more, and longer lasting, damage to the reputation of the Conservative Party than anyone in living memory.
Voted 3 times for Maggie. Never voted since. What's the bloody point - we keep on getting the same bloody crap over and over again. I will not vote again, EVER!
Iain,
Different subject, but thought worth posting this video link of David Davies Conservative MP for Monmouth defending himself on the expenses issue.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newsvideo/?bcpid=4464161001&bctid=22982603001
That is on very genuine man - and I feel sorry that he has been dragged into this by the unscrupulous.
Good Luck to the young man who has made a commitment at last.However as the Conservatives gain one they lose one. I, like one of the posters above resigned from the Party when Cameron (Ex Eton)beat Davis(Ex Comprehensive)and since then have become active in an anti United States of Europe party.Brown's suggestion that the greedy swine in the HOC should be paid an attendance allowance smacks of the scheme currently used and abused in Brussels and is known as SISO,(Sign in Sod off)
Signed
Norman Tebbit
You get nasty e-mails because you write a blog? Some people clearly don't have anything to do with their lives.
As for me, the Tory Party would need to become a more libertarian leaning party than it is at the moment for me to consider joining it. I'd never say never, though.
I was fortunate enough to have dinner with Philip Hollobone about 10 years ago, via a mutual friend. (It was a services thing, not politics).
I found him to be a thoroughly decent, honest, ethical all round good bloke, and he put the spark back into politics for me. A great leader and I hope a future key player.
I would have got more actively involved and pitched in my support, but my past is tarnished with excess and glorious self destructive hedonism. I wouldn't want any shitty scummy reporter bringing it up as "Guy who hands out leaflets for Hollobone once had threesome while drunk".
Even if it is almost true.
Reminds me of the quote by Francois Guisot (1787-1874): "Not to be a republican at twenty is proof of want of heart; to be one at thirty is proof of want of head."
I'm up with you there Wrinkled Weasel. I'd last all of 30 seconds before the skeletons got loose!
Anonymous:
you're worried about Oliver Letwin writing the manifesto...with a hat tip to Trixy at "There must be more to life than shoes",
"In the court case brought against him for breach of contract over a referendum on the EU Constitution, Brown's personal barrister has just told the court that "manifesto pledges are not subject to legitimate expectation".
In other words, manifestoes (manifesti?) are meaningless rubbish anyway and should be treated with cynicism and contempt.
Post-progressive man?
I'm trying to work out whether I'm waiting for a new party to form – now I'm heartily sick of the irrational PC/multicultural ideology of Labour – or whether I just opt for the Tories, as I've done recently (though this is so uncool, I've not dared tell any of my friends).
But creating a new - non-PC - yet progressive party, sounds like much more fun!
This may - at the moment - sound very counter-intuitive but I think many of the Guardian/BBC types would desert that ideology if they actually started to think deeply about the issues, and stopped unquestioningly accepting the same old off-the-shelf worthy policies and PC truisms.
But I guess most people just don't ask that many questions...
I think we need to help people to ask those questions - whether they end up as Tories, or just free-thinking, free-floating individuals - a sort of 'Post-progressive man (and woman)'.
Update of Labour isn't working Picture:
http://delivernothinglabourparty.blogspot.com/
I joined up when David C made his speech for the leadership and looking around the socialist wasteland I live in I came to the conclusion no-one else was going to step up for me.
Campaigning in extreme marginals and unwinnables like Stockton South and Middlesbrough South is great fun. Such seats attract less of the power hungey tossers and consists mainly of real idealists.
Plus it's amazing how much you can REALLY upset Labour campaigning in what they regard as home turf.
Democracy isn't free, parties need money and leaflets need delivering you've just got to get on with it.
Well done that man. Just like him, I'm 33, always been interested in politics, but never joined a party before. At Uni (I was a student nurse), there was a very socialist undertone. Everyone i the NHS & particularly in education seemed to think they deserved more money, but never dreamt that you have to work hard for it.
I decided to join up to the conservative party last week. A main part of persuading me to join was these blogs. They have encouraged & fuelled my passion for politics, & show a much more in-depth view than we'd ever get from the BBC or Channel 4. Well done Iain, your pulling us in!
I daresay you have inspired a lot of people Iain , you were certainly one of the things that accelerated my interest a few years ago.
Its funny , I often say nasty things about people on blogs but I would never send a nasty e mail. I regard blogs as fun and a place for posturing .
A personally abusive e mail...I would not dream of it. How pointless apart from anything else .
Dear Iain,
As I have posted before it is not as easy to get involved as you think.
I have huge business experience and have time to offer my services. As you will be aware I am witty, intelligent and reasonably charismatic, I speak well in public and can argue a case.
I was told in no uncertain terms that my services were not required because I was not female nor a BME (Black, Minority, Ethnic).
I visit conference and spring forum and see the incredible amount of arse licking that seems to be required and it fills me with horror. The place is full of PPC's who cant string two sentences together because they are too young and inexperienced in the ways of the world.
SO I have given up hope and will remain on the fringes, another untapped source of talent falling by the wayside.
I am the same age as you by the way!!
A small point - on the tabloidisation of the Telegraph.
They are running a headline and a story (if you have the inclination to delve into the story) about libdem MP for Argyle and Bute and how he is staying in hotels in his constituency (£1500).
Now this man may be a shyster of the highest order ... however ...
I have been on a number of occasions to Dunoon to Lochgilphed and other places in Argyle and Bute and it is a very widespread remote constituency with lots of ferry journeys - run at inconvenient times.
The need to stay in B&Bs sometimes does not seem too extreme.
If I point out holes in alleged tory wrongdoings I think I ought to point out the flaws in this story.
The truth is bad enough. But I for one am unhappy how the Telegraph is managing the exposing of the truth.
Most amazingly MPs seem content to keep secret facts which the Telegraph is publishing in its own self serving manner. The best way to spike the Telegraphs guns would have been to publish (and be damned) immediately - thereby putting all newspapers on an equal footing and leaving the Telegraph to pay for a non scoop.
As it is MPs are merly feeding the desire to look up OrderOrder.com and print money for their bete-noire, Guido.
Daft.
Is it just me or do all the other Conservative members get a tingling thrill every time a swivel eyed anti-everything Tory leaves the party for UKIP?
Poor old Nigel Farage,hostage to his own party.
For the record I'm not keen on the EU - quite pleased Merkel was making coded threats to Cameron on his lack of Europhillia.
Only joking!
Barnacle Bill. STAND! You dont need help, You should start knocking on doors NOW.
Tell them you will not waste their time with literature, for them to throw away. Nor can you afford posters.
BUT if they want an honest man..vote for you!
You can hire a loudspeaker and fit it to your car, get someone to give the message. Park in the High Street and talk to people through it!
Drive around the constituency and ask for people's trust.
You can do it. You do not need big money GO FOR IT!
Iain,
Sorry to spoil the mood music:
http://hitchensblog.mailonsunday.co.uk/2009/05/the-media-flock-try-with-all-their-might-to-save-the-tories-ever-wondered-why.html
Goodness, Mr Gardner, how wide and deep is your knowledge of individual Conservatives that you can make such a typically sweeping judgement?
Do you believe that every Labour politician/voter is as stupid and venal as Speaker Martin? I don't, despite being a Conservative.
Just watched Chris Huhne on Sky being questioned about the trouser press.
He refused to answer with a yes or no if he had paid the money back because (a) he was wrong to claim it or(b) he was embarrassed.
What could be simpler. In my book it's both.
Surely at this of all moments he could give a straight answer. Evidently not! Seems that politicians are hard wired never to answer a question.
Why don't you run a poll Iain?
All say, aaahhhh, sweet:-)
I have Smith at the Police Federation and Sk's ad featuring Michael Martin. For some reason they seem to be incredibly popular: The Daily Politics
Odd definition of conservative, especially given the anti-individual empowerment, jingoistic origins of the party...
More a definition of liberal.
Then again, we all know that Iain is really a liberal whose got a bit lost.
Must be a good chance he will discover UKIP by the time he is 34.
"I have always believed in a small state and empowering individuals which suggests I am a natural Conservative."
Hehe. BZZZZZZZ!
I don't think even Iain would try to suggest that that side of his nature is the Conservative side.
You do seem decent Iain. As does David Cameron.
It's many of your commentators who scare the bejesus out of me.
@ Ollie Cromwell
"I used to live in xxxx. It is the porn capital of the world."
Would that be Redditch, by any chance?
Oh bless... He's young. He'll learn.
The sickening revelations of the last five days have made me think about buying a white suit and standing as an independent. But my proven gifts are for ankle-biting so I think I'll go on doing that.
Captain Haddock
I to believe very strongly in the redistribution of wealth.
There is a really cool mechanism to do it entirely based on merit.
It's called W O R K.
Your party don't like it which is why they tax it, through a payroll tax and then cause 2.5 million and growing fast to lose their jobs.
Vote Tory you know it makes sense
@ Trevorsden
Fair comment. But the Telegraph is not in the business of fairly assessing each and every claim that it publishes. It's merely reporting the content of the claims. Thus the bald facts stand - without further explanation.
I suppose the Telegraph regards it as the MP's responsibility to provide the context - witness the 'clarifications' over the past few days. In the end, the relationships between individual MPs and their electorates are what count.
Local newspapers should be revelling in this potential boost to their circulations.
I've got the urge - but maybe not the commitment!
As a boy from a mining community with a family that worked underground, in the steelworks and on the railways, I'm not a natural "Tory", but given Labour's performance in the 60's, 70's and since 1997, I'm not a natural Labour man either.
Floating voters decide the result of elections - not the party faithful. Pontificate all you like, one way or the other - but we'll decide. Tell us why ?
Iain at least you can look at both sides - maybe ?
if a tongue slipped that far up my arse i'd have sat on a snake! I'm with you all the way Iain but that was not a freshly converted genuine political aspirant, fodder for leaflet dropping more like.
I've stuck my neck out now and joined the Tories. Cameron's performance today at PMQs was the clincher. Either he really believes in the need for widespread reform of the tarnished and debased institution of Parliament, or he is a bloody good actor.
I became politically active in 2000, due to the growing democratic deficit for England in the UK. The internet has been magnificent as both a research and campaigning tool.
Due to the enormous amount of research on all the parties, their leaders during that time and speeches/ comments made outside England, I now hold all Parties in equal contempt.
However a few glimmering lights have shone through. Dave Davis [42 days speech], Michael Howard's lecture to Blair's spin doctor, Iain Dale's blog and Conservative Home. I do look at the Labour blogs too, but for some reason the Tory ones are much better. Often the Labour blogs are extremely abusive in disagreements and controlling. Private Labour blogs which try to be like Iain Dales', are moderated to a huge extent and don't allow posts which disagree with the blogger. They don't like free speech and their blogs are all the more boring for it. Plus, they never disagree with their Master and give any opinions which aren't their own.
Cameron should be proud of Tory bloggers. They're the best by far.
This letter reads like it was written by an expert spinner.
I live in Edinburgh, and would love to join the Conservative party and meet other Conservatives in the area, join the association, pay money, help out, maybe even meet Conservative MPs, shadow cabinet etc. But as I understand it, you can't join The Conservative Party and support David Cameron: you have to support The *Scottish* Conservative Party and support Annabel Goldie, a person I find completely offputting. If I want to join my local association, it's just this:
http://www.scottishconservatives.com/edinburgh/home.aspx
i.e. a 1970s (or earlier) photo of the City Chambers, and nothing else. There is nothing on this web page saying who to contact, how to give money, what the local association does, who the candidate is: there is literally nothing except an old 1970s photo.
I really feel disenfranchised, wanting to join and become involved, but not able to because the Scottish part of the Conservative Party seems to be hived off as something separate, with a non-existent local association. Please tell me it is not really like this, and that there really is a party and a local association north of the border!
I have Smith at the Police Federation and Sk's ad featuring Michael Martin. For some reason they seem to be incredibly popula
I have Smith at the Police Federation and Sk's ad featuring Michael Martin. For some reason they seem to be incredibly popular
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