Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Sorry Michael, I should have told you earlier.
Who would join the Conservative party? Who would vote *for* them rather than against Labour? There was a chance once, perhaps there still is, that the Conservatives could become radical rather than reactionary, could dictate the debate. If they came out for free trade, low taxation, small government, personal freedoms – gay rights, anti-racism, liberalization of drug laws, all those things that distort the market – then they would attract new support. A commitment to efficiency and equity (of opportunity if not outcome) across the board would mean constitutional and market reform. They would have ideas – or one big idea – and people who would never vote Conservative now might find that they make sense; no need to worry about the old Tories, they're not picking anyone else apart from UKIP, and can be written off. Quietly drop the nostalgia and “common sense” and they could actually progress.
Isn’t it obvious?
Article here by Simon Jenkins and what the Tories could/should have done.
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