tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post7581932665953171406..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: Tories Are Getting YoungerIain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-90877204984561471902008-10-01T00:52:00.000+01:002008-10-01T00:52:00.000+01:00At the risk of sounding like I'm trying to make ex...At the risk of sounding like I'm trying to make excuses for my typically scruffy appearance (I promise that I really don't give a stuff)It seems that there is a noticeable shift back to suits. When I first attended conference in 1998 I seemed to be the only male of any age not wearing either a suit or a blazer. By the time I last went, a couple of years back it seemed that there were lots of youngish people not wearing suits. This year I seemed to be alone again. (Setting aside Guido's delightful tangerine cords of course.)Pete Wasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07273201618379148597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-23673873061812328332008-09-30T20:20:00.000+01:002008-09-30T20:20:00.000+01:00Well said Londoner.Heartless and now gutless.Well said Londoner.Heartless and now gutless.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-57182248939298614162008-09-30T20:06:00.000+01:002008-09-30T20:06:00.000+01:00Yes, I was there and noticed it too. I must say, a...Yes, I was there and noticed it too. I must say, as someone who attends all three, that the Tories are always ahead on the totty front. Posh Tory totty... yummy!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-76951741416323322052008-09-30T19:44:00.000+01:002008-09-30T19:44:00.000+01:00I went for the first two days this year - first vi...I went for the first two days this year - first visit for ten years and only my second since 1990. Used to go almost every year in the late 70s and 80s.<BR/><BR/>There were a lot more younger people this time, but quite a lot were there for their work, as lobbyists, organising fringe meetings etc. However, the rest of it is probably because it is no longer unfashionable to be a Tory. A couple of people who had been running stands at all (or both) conferences commented to me that the people at ours are much more numerous, much more lively and upbeat.<BR/><BR/>But the biggest change is not the age but the role of the constituency representatives. We are not even representatives any more as any paid up member can apply to go - no distinction between a restricted number per constituency with voting rights, and others as observers. Why? Because there are no votes on anything, no motions and no real speeches from the floor - only a few questions at certain points. In effect every constituency attendee has been reduced to observer status. The whole thing is a top down communication exercise, not bottom up at all. I cannot see how the Shadow Cabinet can get any measure of the party's mood on anything. Although I went to some good fringe meetings in my two days, caught up with a few old friends and acquaintances, and enjoyed one or two speeches (particularly Boris), overall I found the thing totally dispiriting.<BR/><BR/>I think people who have gone every year must, like frogs in gradually boiling water, have not noticed this fundamental change. But when you don't go for 10 years and then come back - boy, has it changed for the worse. Where is the heart and soul the Tory Party now?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-32121182280821378402008-09-30T18:37:00.000+01:002008-09-30T18:37:00.000+01:00ross-this is unfair!The membership have been cryin...ross-this is unfair!<BR/>The membership have been crying out for an old Etonian who understands the man in the street for years.Your just bitter because we got a super wealthy guy who understands media and spin-nothing else matters.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-40692762217203971942008-09-30T17:57:00.000+01:002008-09-30T17:57:00.000+01:00Iain, you assume the changes you've noted are part...Iain, you assume the changes you've noted are partly down to "the Party [having] attracted a lot of new activists". Obviously you've allowed the sight of so many good looking young people cloud your judgement. It appears party membership is nose-diving both quickly and substantially. See: http://www.labourlist.org/daves-decline.pdfAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-62125064093243118942008-09-30T17:24:00.000+01:002008-09-30T17:24:00.000+01:00Surprise, surprise. The BBC are almost entirely z...Surprise, surprise. The BBC are almost entirely zooming in on the older "representatives" in the audience. I know the truth because I was there on Sunday, but the BBC are determined to show otherwise.Martin Curtishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01176326240748841872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-10839217277948336732008-09-30T16:38:00.000+01:002008-09-30T16:38:00.000+01:00Lilico is bang on the money with his dangerous dav...Lilico is bang on the money with his dangerous dave comments (Conhome)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-41959309499988464192008-09-30T16:25:00.000+01:002008-09-30T16:25:00.000+01:00The reason of the shift in age-range is neither to...The reason of the shift in age-range is neither to do with the location or the attraction of younger members to the party. It's merely because for every new person who joins the Party, 50 die.<BR><BR>At the last AGM of my constituency association, the comment under membership was "the biggest reason for the drop in numbers is, by far, death".<BR><BR>Despite the decline in average age of the Conservative front-bench, I'd suggest the average age of members is still hovering around 70.The Sloperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10435035848961531590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-26599796983837968932008-09-30T15:36:00.000+01:002008-09-30T15:36:00.000+01:00The fact there is a "freshers" zone which, everyti...The fact there is a "freshers" zone which, everytime I walked past had quite a few people in attendance speaks volumes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-14117321292122585812008-09-30T13:57:00.000+01:002008-09-30T13:57:00.000+01:00Still a hideously white crowd thoughStill a hideously white crowd thoughAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-60873045448191156592008-09-30T12:52:00.000+01:002008-09-30T12:52:00.000+01:00Have just listened to Dave and now understand what...Have just listened to Dave and now understand what Brown means about "novice".<BR/>How exactly did Carlton in any way prepare him for this?<BR/>No time for financial boy scouts be they Toryboy or Labboy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-75031609608906500072008-09-30T12:46:00.000+01:002008-09-30T12:46:00.000+01:00But how many reps are there in attendance.But how many reps are there in attendance.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-14818179541150855432008-09-30T12:45:00.000+01:002008-09-30T12:45:00.000+01:00The food is much better than Blackpool. And if you...The food is much better than Blackpool. And if you don't mind a free 10 min bus ride you can find a fairly cheap hotel.<BR/><BR/>The reason we don't have so many oldies is quite frankly they are getting too old or have died.<BR/><BR/>We saw a lot of them before because these were the Tories who joined the party in the 50s when membership was 10 times bigger than present membership.<BR/><BR/>Of course there are the 'new' oldies who became active in the 60s and 70s, but they are far less numerous than the previous generation.<BR/><BR/>As someone who is 50, I always used to feel young at conference. In the last 2 years I have started to feel old!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-52980437877599650312008-09-30T12:44:00.000+01:002008-09-30T12:44:00.000+01:00New line forming at the trough?New line forming at the trough?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-72193381548452294422008-09-30T12:43:00.000+01:002008-09-30T12:43:00.000+01:00Boy is Charles moore in for a shock on polling day...Boy is Charles moore in for a shock on polling day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-24599000272797784932008-09-30T12:07:00.000+01:002008-09-30T12:07:00.000+01:00Yes, I heard the Today programme comment on it too...Yes, I heard the Today programme comment on it too. Charles Moore, if I remember correctly, said there was a lot less of the old folk who go for an outing and who really don't do politics.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-63276357876746936792008-09-30T12:02:00.000+01:002008-09-30T12:02:00.000+01:00Young people can't get onto the job market any mor...Young people can't get onto the job market any more so they go to Tory conference instead...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-62649331135665318372008-09-30T12:00:00.000+01:002008-09-30T12:00:00.000+01:00Iain this could be a very shrewd marketing campaig...Iain this could be a very shrewd marketing campaign for the party. Has David Cameron really found the elixir of youth?Old BEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06974090439936326476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-42749864379694023212008-09-30T11:05:00.000+01:002008-09-30T11:05:00.000+01:00p'raps the usual blue rinse brigade are at staying...p'raps the usual blue rinse brigade are at staying home saving their money for this winter's gas bill?marksanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01520830611440112455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-65334751256649901142008-09-30T11:02:00.000+01:002008-09-30T11:02:00.000+01:00Anonymous @ 9:24: If your reason for not going to ...Anonymous @ 9:24: <BR/><BR/>If your reason for not going to the conference was because of the location then you have your priorities skewed. <BR/><BR/>Anyway I was in Birmingham a few weeks ago, and for a big city under London's shadow it seemed pretty decent to me. When was the last time you went?Andyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04609816396383650275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-91232249949934065652008-09-30T10:12:00.000+01:002008-09-30T10:12:00.000+01:00You wouldn't think so if you watched BBC news or i...You wouldn't think so if you watched BBC news or in particular Newsnight! Then that's what we've come to expect from the BBCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-88771567564385302372008-09-30T09:59:00.000+01:002008-09-30T09:59:00.000+01:00Is that the same FCS that had badges saying hang N...Is that the same FCS that had badges saying hang Nelson MandelaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-5461763243998128072008-09-30T09:57:00.000+01:002008-09-30T09:57:00.000+01:00Good to see so many old FCSers hereour day will co...Good to see so many old FCSers here<BR/><BR/>our day will comeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-56748116088019401132008-09-30T09:53:00.000+01:002008-09-30T09:53:00.000+01:00Lots of Jeremy's - in their 20's, in pin strip sui...Lots of Jeremy's - in their 20's, in pin strip suits, talking gardage.<BR/><BR/>Rah rah rah we're going to smash the oiks - anyone for real tennis, daddy sends harks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com