‘We’ve lost so many elections... we have to deserve to win every vote’
The view of the Thames David Cameron sees from his suite of offices overlooking Victoria Embankment was once enjoyed by James VI of Scotland and his ambassadors to the English court before the crowns were united in 1603.
Scotland House as it was known became New Scotland Yard in the late 19th century and today bears the name of Norman Shaw South after Richard Norman Shaw, the Edinburgh architect, who designed it.
At the head of a modern-day court of sorts, the Conservative leader looks relaxed and refreshed in a white open-neck shirt as he lounges on his green Commons sofa. And so he should.
Riding high in the opinion polls, an extra 256 council seats banked in England and Wales, Boris Johnson ensconced in City Hall as London mayor and last night's victory in Crewe and Nantwich - the first Tory Westminster by-election win for 26 years - one could even forgive the Tory leader for looking smug.
But he is adamant: no Conservative chickens are being counted.
Changing landscape
"We have lost so many times, we've lost so many elections, we've been behind so long, it's hard-wired into our souls, that there should be no complacency, that we have to win every vote and deserve to."
Yet even with the merest wink of complacency being banned, the 41-year-old shiny-faced leader acknowledges the political landscape is changing - in two regards.
"One is that people are beginning to feel it's time for change. These people (Labour) have had 11 years. Some good things were done but they've run out of steam, they've run out of ideas, they've run out of our money and they look increasingly desperate."
The second is a bigger sense of change. "People are beginning to see the progress that can be made through big spending, big state intervening, big clunking centralised government is coming to an end and people are ready for something that's more local, more devolved, more socially responsible rather than state-controlled ... There is a sense the tide of ideas is turning away from Labour and towards us."
Progressive ends
Today, when Mr Cameron stands on the conference podium in Ayr in what he hopes will be a victory speech, his mantra will be "Conservative means for progressive ends". The adjective "progressive", of course, an echo from the Blair years.
The Tory leader points to his plans to reform welfare and shave £3bn off the Incapacity Benefit bill.
Pointing out how the Labour policy of just throwing money at the problem does not solve the underlying cause - worklessness - he explains: "Genuine welfare reform is not: Tories get tough on welfare scroungers; it's Tories with progressive means of reducing poverty.
"The reason for involving the private and voluntary sectors and creating new businesses that are about getting people off welfare is not some sort of bizarre Thatcherite privatisation programme. It is recognising the examples from around the world about genuinely compassionate organisations that understand the long-term personal and emotional needs of those people on benefit have been far better than the state organisations at getting them out of welfare and into work."
It is a "brilliant example", he declares, of Conservative means - private sector, voluntary sector, payment by results, looking at each case individually - rather than "big clunking state to deliver the progressive end which is the reduction of poverty".
The Union
No doubt, 400 years ago, the politicking at Scotland House was about Scotland's relationship with England. Remarkably four centuries on, the subject by the river remains the same.
Again the word "progressive" falls from Mr Cameron's lips as he insists that the Tories in Scotland have to be the "strong, centre right, pro-family, pro-enterprise, pro-Union party".
He sees, on the back of the Wendyrendum fiasco, a golden opportunity for the Scottish Conservatives to be the main beneficiaries from the Unionist vote by portraying themselves as the "straightforward party of the Union", who will defend it at all costs in any
referendum.
Gordon Brown, he argues, is "playing games with the Union" by risking a referendum at a time of his deepest unpopularity. "There's a really big opportunity because Labour have completely screwed up on the Union with Bendy Wendy all over the place," he declares.
Yet, Mr Cameron stresses: "It's not enough for Scottish Conservatives or Conservatives more generally to say we support the Union. Our success or failure plays a part in this. If we succeed, we will help the Union succeed, if we fail - and in the past in Scotland we have failed - we let down the Union. There is a real link between making sure we are offering people a modern, successful centre right party, putting forward progressive ideas about the future of our country, and the strength of the United Kingdom."
Solid Goldie
Today, the Tory leader will seek to contrast his favourite political aunt, Annabel Goldie, with her Labour counterpart. "Annabel has proved herself as solid, reliable, someone who delivers, someone whom the Scottish people can look up to and trust. The contrast between solid Goldie and Bendy Wendy is a pretty good one."
But the cosying up of Ms Goldie with Scotland's First Minister is unsettling some Tories as they understand how Alex Salmond believes a Conservative Government in London will be a godsend to his goal of Scottish independence.
Salmond the loser
Mr Cameron bristles. "If Alex Salmond thinks there's some clever game he can play about building on Scottish resentment against a Conservative Government in England to help break up the Union, forget it. I will do everything I can to stop that from happening."
The Conservative leader believes the SNP leader is on a "long-term lose situation" because "for all his brilliance as a politician, great manoeuverer, great communicator, at the end of the day, Alex Salmond is someone who wants to break apart the United Kingdom and the majority of Scottish people do not want that". He stresses: "He may sometimes feel he is in a no-lose situation but in the end his ticket is a losing one."
PM of the UK
At Westminster, there are Tory MPs who feel Scotland is a lost cause for the party, that Mr Cameron should jettison his Unionism and entrench Conservative rule south of the Border. But this is anathema to the would-be premier.
"Some people say we're mad: you've a much better chance of being the Prime Minister of England. Well, I don't want to be the Prime Minister of England, I want to be the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom."
Unionism, he insists, runs very deep in the Conservative soul. "Sometimes I'm not sure everybody understands this, if you stand in a room of Conservatives slap bang in the middle of Nottinghamshire, you might expect there'd be a lot of: "Oh, the Scots are taking our money and they're coming here and voting and telling us what to do.'
But, actually, you just stand on a box in the middle of that room and you say: I want to be the Prime Minister who keeps the United Kingdom together and I don't want to be the Prime Minister of England, I want to be the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom' and they cheer to the echo.
Of course, there are people who are concerned about the Barnett Formula and all of that but there's a very strong sense in the Conservative Party that the United Kingdom is bigger than all of us."
Barnett Formula
On the Barnett Formula, Mr Cameron does not spell out explicitly what he plans to do but the message is clear: its days are numbered. He makes clear: "If we replace the Barnett Formula with a needs-based formula, Scotland has very great needs and Scotland will get very great resources."
Pressed about the formula's future, he insists: "This cannot last forever, the time
is approaching."
But he is cautious. "I don't believe in going out there and whipping people up about this because it's wrong. To me leadership on this occasion is about explaining to English voters that while the Barnett Formula should not go on forever and things will change, there is no pot of gold there; that is leadership rather than appealing to a sense of fake English grievance about this."
Asked if, therefore, he feels the formula is coming to the end of the road, Mr Cameron replies: "Yes, that's right," noting: "I want this to happen in a consensual, sensible, non-inflammatory way and that's why I've been so reticent about it."
Fiscal autonomy
As for giving Scotland more powers, the Tory leader points to the Calman Commission but appears not to be ruling anything in or out.
"My gut feeling is that we mustn't do anything that sets us on a course to separatism and we need to find a comfortable and secure resting place where people feel comfortable that devolution can work and the Union can work."
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Posted by: george alexander, north lanarkshire on 2:44am Fri 23 May 08
Douglas Fraser has sought to excuse the comments blackout employed by the Herald on Scottish matters. His explanation frankly insults the intelligence (blaming abusive posts), he also has another go at the SNP's SFT policy whilst turning a blind eye to PFUI scandals.
Here is the response to his latest blog:
Well Douglas, you didn't disappoint. I am one of your biggest online critics and I believe the evidence supports my view that you are partisan.
I suggested that you would try to excuse the comments blackout and you have. You have completely ignored the fact that the blackout was exclusively on Scottish political issues............go figure.
You and your paper have refused to acknowledge the PFI scandal revealed by The Sunday Herald WHY ?. Where is the front page headline acknowledging Scotland is in surplus to the tune of billions?
You seem to believe that the SNP would be "picking a fight with Westminster" if they highlighted powers that they would wish to have. How then will you be describing the Calman Commission when they finish compiling their list? We know that you won't use the same pejorative language Douglas.......becaus
e you are partisan.
As for the abusive posts, I challenge you to name the posters responsible.........
come on NAME THEM !!!
Douglas Fraser has sought to excuse the comments blackout employed by the Herald on Scottish matters. His explanation frankly insults the intelligence (blaming abusive posts), he also has another go at the SNP's SFT policy whilst turning a blind eye to PFUI scandals.
Here is the response to his latest blog:
Well Douglas, you didn't disappoint. I am one of your biggest online critics and I believe the evidence supports my view that you are partisan.
I suggested that you would try to excuse the comments blackout and you have. You have completely ignored the fact that the blackout was exclusively on Scottish political issues............go figure.
You and your paper have refused to acknowledge the PFI scandal revealed by The Sunday Herald WHY ?. Where is the front page headline acknowledging Scotland is in surplus to the tune of billions?
You seem to believe that the SNP would be "picking a fight with Westminster" if they highlighted powers that they would wish to have. How then will you be describing the Calman Commission when they finish compiling their list? We know that you won't use the same pejorative language Douglas.......becaus
e you are partisan.
As for the abusive posts, I challenge you to name the posters responsible.........
come on NAME THEM !!!
Posted by: george alexander, north lanarkshire on 2:48am Fri 23 May 08
Sorry for that psychotic rant, but my wife left me for a midget last week and my psychiatrist commited suicide because he was sick of the sight of me and to cap it all my dog got run over by an icecream van.
Sorry for that psychotic rant, but my wife left me for a midget last week and my psychiatrist commited suicide because he was sick of the sight of me and to cap it all my dog got run over by an icecream van.
Posted by: Scunnert, Travelling in Nihlon on 3:40am Fri 23 May 08
George, Ah'm sorry tae hear aboot yer dug 'n that. Mah wife yased tae hiv a dug anaw. A right wee b!tch she wiz. Ah've goat fish in an aquarium. Well it's a screen saver really - but they look that real ye widnae ken the difference - an thur nae bother tae look efter. You should mibae git some ae thon - tae keep ye company like.
George, Ah'm sorry tae hear aboot yer dug 'n that. Mah wife yased tae hiv a dug anaw. A right wee b!tch she wiz. Ah've goat fish in an aquarium. Well it's a screen saver really - but they look that real ye widnae ken the difference - an thur nae bother tae look efter. You should mibae git some ae thon - tae keep ye company like.
Posted by: Scott2006, Outside Glasgow on 4:09am Fri 23 May 08
David Cameron has a problem connecting with his potential supporters in Scotland.
Any leader of the Conservative Party would face the difficulty as the Scottish Conservatives in the 70s 80s and 90s lost a large section of the Scottish working class support as they concentrated on policies and promoting an aggressive middle class agenda that offered little encouragement to those not intimately involved with the London metropolis. A generation of wavering Tories moved gradually towards the Liberals/Lib Dems or if feeling less a part of Britian or having much in common with Britishness edged towards the SNP. Conservatives come from 20% of the population in most cases rich and relatively well off if not rich - yet seem to attract only 16% or so in votes.
The Tories after a Westminster career head South as fast as possible, so a sturdy 2nd string look and feel is expected from the Holyrood contingent. The party has a membership profile of older people compared to other political parties. The hard-core of the membership seems to make it hard for the party to reach out beyond the safe set of experiences they can reinforce down at the Golf Club rather than on the difficult streets of parts of urban Scotland.
If the gap between what Conservatives expect to get as a percentage of the vote in England 45% or so compared to Scotland 16%-20%, where a 25% up to 30% difference raises questions of political relevance in practical or on philosophical grounds.
David Cameron needs to be more like Harold MacMillan and less like Margaret Hilda Thatcher if he wants to improve the intangible quality of life in Scotland, should he be fortunate enough to lead his political party to a general election victory.
David Cameron has a problem connecting with his potential supporters in Scotland.
Any leader of the Conservative Party would face the difficulty as the Scottish Conservatives in the 70s 80s and 90s lost a large section of the Scottish working class support as they concentrated on policies and promoting an aggressive middle class agenda that offered little encouragement to those not intimately involved with the London metropolis. A generation of wavering Tories moved gradually towards the Liberals/Lib Dems or if feeling less a part of Britian or having much in common with Britishness edged towards the SNP. Conservatives come from 20% of the population in most cases rich and relatively well off if not rich - yet seem to attract only 16% or so in votes.
The Tories after a Westminster career head South as fast as possible, so a sturdy 2nd string look and feel is expected from the Holyrood contingent. The party has a membership profile of older people compared to other political parties. The hard-core of the membership seems to make it hard for the party to reach out beyond the safe set of experiences they can reinforce down at the Golf Club rather than on the difficult streets of parts of urban Scotland.
If the gap between what Conservatives expect to get as a percentage of the vote in England 45% or so compared to Scotland 16%-20%, where a 25% up to 30% difference raises questions of political relevance in practical or on philosophical grounds.
David Cameron needs to be more like Harold MacMillan and less like Margaret Hilda Thatcher if he wants to improve the intangible quality of life in Scotland, should he be fortunate enough to lead his political party to a general election victory.
Posted by: Donald Anderson, glasgow on 5:18am Fri 23 May 08
It must be difficult for the Onionists, with so many conservative parties to choose from.
It must be difficult for Dougie to wonder why so many readers are deserting his employers and are so "abusive" towards him and his misleading sub headlines.
It must be difficult for the Onionists, with so many conservative parties to choose from.
It must be difficult for Dougie to wonder why so many readers are deserting his employers and are so "abusive" towards him and his misleading sub headlines.
Posted by: Astonished, Inverclyde on 8:11am Fri 23 May 08
Dearie me - Mr Fraser toeing the labour line does not sell papers.
After independence what are you going to say ?
I wrote all that unquestioning pro-labour rubbish because they asked me ? I thought they were telling the truth ? They seemed like nice people ? They promised a job in sunnier climes ?
It'll just not wash - present the facts and then both sides of the argument and then all the criticism in the world will not matter as you will have done your job.
Dearie me - Mr Fraser toeing the labour line does not sell papers.
After independence what are you going to say ?
I wrote all that unquestioning pro-labour rubbish because they asked me ? I thought they were telling the truth ? They seemed like nice people ? They promised a job in sunnier climes ?
It'll just not wash - present the facts and then both sides of the argument and then all the criticism in the world will not matter as you will have done your job.
Posted by: sid the sceptic, renfrewshire on 8:56am Fri 23 May 08
Astonished- After independance? no . grow a spine now Mr Fraser just because this lazy form of journalism is the norm in scotland dose'nt mean it is correct or indeed acceptable. how can anyone show a concensus with such blatant propaganda being spouted from all in the so called free press of scotland. you are all at it on the telly and on the radio even your wife is at it..
Astonished- After independance? no . grow a spine now Mr Fraser just because this lazy form of journalism is the norm in scotland dose'nt mean it is correct or indeed acceptable. how can anyone show a concensus with such blatant propaganda being spouted from all in the so called free press of scotland. you are all at it on the telly and on the radio even your wife is at it..
Posted by: Saul Tyre, Germany on 8:57am Fri 23 May 08
David Cameron says he wants to keep Scotland part of the British state just as successive British governments have said they want to keep Northern Ireland part of the British state. One lie deserves another.
Everybody knows N. Ireland has been a thorn on the sides of British governments for decades. And the Scottish thor is getting more and more prickly every day.
David Cameron will become PM of Britain - and then England. I'm sure that's what he's trying not to tell us.
David Cameron says he wants to keep Scotland part of the British state just as successive British governments have said they want to keep Northern Ireland part of the British state. One lie deserves another.
Everybody knows N. Ireland has been a thorn on the sides of British governments for decades. And the Scottish thor is getting more and more prickly every day.
David Cameron will become PM of Britain - and then England. I'm sure that's what he's trying not to tell us.
Posted by: sid the sceptic, renfrewshire on 9:05am Fri 23 May 08
are the press trying to do the opposition party's in the parliment 's job for them ? because not one of them are doing the job that they are being paid a lot of money for not one of them have actually challenged the rulling party properly or effectively. there latest effort on the doccuments lying in the disused hospital in dundee was pathetic if this was the private sector and not the gravy train a hell of a lot of them would be looking for alternative employment!!!
are the press trying to do the opposition party's in the parliment 's job for them ? because not one of them are doing the job that they are being paid a lot of money for not one of them have actually challenged the rulling party properly or effectively. there latest effort on the doccuments lying in the disused hospital in dundee was pathetic if this was the private sector and not the gravy train a hell of a lot of them would be looking for alternative employment!!!
Posted by: Peter Thomson, Labour - Who Shot the Union? on 9:20am Fri 23 May 08
Good for the folk of Crewe to give the message to Brownovitch and the Nuliebor party in such a way as there is no hint of a silver lining in the result. 52% turn out, 17.6% swing to the Tories, Dunwoodie's girl lobbed into the dunny.
Shame on you, Douglas Fraser, acting like a wee boy who's lost his marbles and claiming the big boy stole them. Douglas see the trend in Scotland it says; NuLiebor is dead, protecting Wendy Ubendy is killing your circulation, printing Nuliebor press releases as fact is making you a laughing stock and even Cameron is using the bloggers term for your heroine - Bendy Wendy! Seems the Conservative Party follow these blogs.
Now Mr Cameron, we do like your Aunty Annabelle as she is keeping her promise to Wee Eck's wife to keep him on the straight and narrow. Alex Fergusson is doing a good job as President given the wobblies Wendy and her team throw but that does not mean all of a sudden the Libdems and Labour (Red Monkey Rosette division) will be voting for the Scottish Conservatives.
Mr Cameron, if you are proposing the end of Barnet, as part of your manifesto, and any other like settlement then you must be proposing full fiscal powers to Holyrood because that is what 80% of Scottish voters want. The compromised Calman Commission can fudge the issue, possibly, but to ignore the growing sense of Holyrood as a true Scottish Parliament, as part of an inclusive tradition of Scottish Politics dating back to 1326, will leave you high and dry.
The traditional, paternalistic, unionist wishes of the Conservative English shires will not wash in Scotland, nor do your claims of the Tories historical support for the Union (Tories voted against the Union treaty).
Here's some suggestions if you really want to save the Union:
1. Come clean on the benefits to the UK of Scottish Sector Oil and gas (We know it is going to be in excess of £23.5 billion this fiscal year)
2. Come clean on how reliant Northern Ireland and the North of England are on Scotland for power
3. Come clean on the fact that with out Scotland's re-newables the UK could not hit its EU or Kyoto targets
4. Come clean that without Scottish coal Drax could not generate cheap power.
5. Come clean that Westminster policy has been to keep Scotland poor since day one of the Union Treaty
6. Apologise for Thatcher's imperialist contempt for the Scots
Then maybe the Scottish Conservatives may have a chance of increasing their vote share.
Good for the folk of Crewe to give the message to Brownovitch and the Nuliebor party in such a way as there is no hint of a silver lining in the result. 52% turn out, 17.6% swing to the Tories, Dunwoodie's girl lobbed into the dunny.
Shame on you, Douglas Fraser, acting like a wee boy who's lost his marbles and claiming the big boy stole them. Douglas see the trend in Scotland it says; NuLiebor is dead, protecting Wendy Ubendy is killing your circulation, printing Nuliebor press releases as fact is making you a laughing stock and even Cameron is using the bloggers term for your heroine - Bendy Wendy! Seems the Conservative Party follow these blogs.
Now Mr Cameron, we do like your Aunty Annabelle as she is keeping her promise to Wee Eck's wife to keep him on the straight and narrow. Alex Fergusson is doing a good job as President given the wobblies Wendy and her team throw but that does not mean all of a sudden the Libdems and Labour (Red Monkey Rosette division) will be voting for the Scottish Conservatives.
Mr Cameron, if you are proposing the end of Barnet, as part of your manifesto, and any other like settlement then you must be proposing full fiscal powers to Holyrood because that is what 80% of Scottish voters want. The compromised Calman Commission can fudge the issue, possibly, but to ignore the growing sense of Holyrood as a true Scottish Parliament, as part of an inclusive tradition of Scottish Politics dating back to 1326, will leave you high and dry.
The traditional, paternalistic, unionist wishes of the Conservative English shires will not wash in Scotland, nor do your claims of the Tories historical support for the Union (Tories voted against the Union treaty).
Here's some suggestions if you really want to save the Union:
1. Come clean on the benefits to the UK of Scottish Sector Oil and gas (We know it is going to be in excess of £23.5 billion this fiscal year)
2. Come clean on how reliant Northern Ireland and the North of England are on Scotland for power
3. Come clean on the fact that with out Scotland's re-newables the UK could not hit its EU or Kyoto targets
4. Come clean that without Scottish coal Drax could not generate cheap power.
5. Come clean that Westminster policy has been to keep Scotland poor since day one of the Union Treaty
6. Apologise for Thatcher's imperialist contempt for the Scots
Then maybe the Scottish Conservatives may have a chance of increasing their vote share.
Posted by: Peter Thomson, Labour - Who Shot the Union? on 9:24am Fri 23 May 08
George sorry about the dog. Just lost our cat and it breaks me up. He was the only one in the family that listened to me. The silence you hear is not loneliness but the the lack of wife its just your ears are not used to it. :-D
George sorry about the dog. Just lost our cat and it breaks me up. He was the only one in the family that listened to me. The silence you hear is not loneliness but the the lack of wife its just your ears are not used to it. :-D
Posted by: Politically-incorrec
t Man, Glasgow on 9:42am Fri 23 May 08
Did you see Hazel Blears on Question Time last night?
A vacuous lump of jelly which when prodded repeated the question and gibbered platitudes. She is typical of NuLabour’s dumbing-down of everything, gets the job because she has tits rather than a brain and then flounders.
Did you see Hazel Blears on Question Time last night?
A vacuous lump of jelly which when prodded repeated the question and gibbered platitudes. She is typical of NuLabour’s dumbing-down of everything, gets the job because she has tits rather than a brain and then flounders.
Posted by: Rab Jones, Glasgow on 10:49am Fri 23 May 08
Hey George, maybe this'll cheer you up.
My sister stayed with me and my wife for a few days last year.
I went out on the town to hopefully celebrate Liverpool beating AC Milan in the Euro final. But we lost so I got trashed anyway.
Getting back home drunk, my bearings weren't exactly great and I stumbled upstairs into the bedroom and climbed into bed trying to wake the missus up (you know what for).
After a few minutes I heard a familiar, yet startled, yelp and realised I had my hands on my Sisters naked breasts.
I was in the wrong room. (obviously)
Breakfast the next morning was not a pleasant experience. And its something that never seems to get mentioned thankfully.
Sorry to hear about your cat.
See ya.T
Hey George, maybe this'll cheer you up.
My sister stayed with me and my wife for a few days last year.
I went out on the town to hopefully celebrate Liverpool beating AC Milan in the Euro final. But we lost so I got trashed anyway.
Getting back home drunk, my bearings weren't exactly great and I stumbled upstairs into the bedroom and climbed into bed trying to wake the missus up (you know what for).
After a few minutes I heard a familiar, yet startled, yelp and realised I had my hands on my Sisters naked breasts.
I was in the wrong room. (obviously)
Breakfast the next morning was not a pleasant experience. And its something that never seems to get mentioned thankfully.
Sorry to hear about your cat.
See ya.T
Posted by: Gregor Addison, Scotland on 11:40am Fri 23 May 08
The Labour party's tactic of dubbing the SNP the party of 'grudge and grievance' seems to be coming apart. We have had headline after headline from the Scotsman telling us the SNP are 'picking fights' with Westminster. If, as the Crewe by-election suggests, we are to have a Tory government at Westminster, how will the Scottish electorate respond to the SNP 'picking fights' with that Tory government? I suspect it will win them more seats and increase their support. Labour's current tactic - like the Scotsman's - has a limited shelf life. That shelf life is getting shorter with every passing day.
The Labour party's tactic of dubbing the SNP the party of 'grudge and grievance' seems to be coming apart. We have had headline after headline from the Scotsman telling us the SNP are 'picking fights' with Westminster. If, as the Crewe by-election suggests, we are to have a Tory government at Westminster, how will the Scottish electorate respond to the SNP 'picking fights' with that Tory government? I suspect it will win them more seats and increase their support. Labour's current tactic - like the Scotsman's - has a limited shelf life. That shelf life is getting shorter with every passing day.
Posted by: Buckpool Loon, Cheshire on 12:04pm Fri 23 May 08
Headline should read -
Old Etonian, pledges to save the Union from the underclass.
Headline should read -
Old Etonian, pledges to save the Union from the underclass.
Posted by: Prof. Wilkins, Institute of Traditional Strategum on 1:23pm Fri 23 May 08
Cameron is right, lazy benefit claimants who scrounge the public purse to feed and clothe themselves have to accept they are lazy and undeserving of money.
Middle class students waiting for their inheritance are NOT lazy. They are the fabric of our society, the underclass, the exploited, the disenfranchised. These people need protected from those incapcitated, depressed, ill-educated who want to take away their hard-earned inheritance. Read Bruce (1993) [italic]Inheritance Payements: God's way of saying "You're great"[/italic] or Ilamov (2001) [italic]Incapacity Benefit Claimants; Why I hate them[/italic]
Cameron is right, a Tory government will be progressive and continue the fine work of the Labour government. They will be tough on crime and tough on benefits. Tony Blair set new precedents in modern British law, continuing Thatcher's great legacy of fighting terror. Cameron will bring in a fresh approach, he will be right-wing, Oxford educated willing to do the right thing for Britain.
Cameron is right, lazy benefit claimants who scrounge the public purse to feed and clothe themselves have to accept they are lazy and undeserving of money.
Middle class students waiting for their inheritance are NOT lazy. They are the fabric of our society, the underclass, the exploited, the disenfranchised. These people need protected from those incapcitated, depressed, ill-educated who want to take away their hard-earned inheritance. Read Bruce (1993)
Inheritance Payements: God's way of saying "You're great" or Ilamov (2001)
Incapacity Benefit Claimants; Why I hate them
Cameron is right, a Tory government will be progressive and continue the fine work of the Labour government. They will be tough on crime and tough on benefits. Tony Blair set new precedents in modern British law, continuing Thatcher's great legacy of fighting terror. Cameron will bring in a fresh approach, he will be right-wing, Oxford educated willing to do the right thing for Britain.
Posted by: fishface, edinburgh on 1:51pm Fri 23 May 08
Well, Herald, you had something when you allowed anyone to comment on political stories. Now you're just Hello Magazine for the official voices of the Union.
Well, Herald, you had something when you allowed anyone to comment on political stories. Now you're just Hello Magazine for the official voices of the Union.
Posted by: Brian Hill, Edinburgh on 2:01pm Fri 23 May 08
QUOTE: Scotland has very great needs........ David Cameron
What an admission after 30 years of Oil and Gas revenues flowing from the North Sea. (cf Norway)
David, Scotland's greatest need is Independence and we are sorting that one out for ourselves.
Thanks for your help though in re-invigorating the Tories to the point where they are demoralising Labour even further and are now likely to win the next General Election. Big help.
QUOTE: Scotland has very great needs........ David Cameron
What an admission after 30 years of Oil and Gas revenues flowing from the North Sea. (cf Norway)
David, Scotland's greatest need is Independence and we are sorting that one out for ourselves.
Thanks for your help though in re-invigorating the Tories to the point where they are demoralising Labour even further and are now likely to win the next General Election. Big help.
Posted by: Terry, England on 2:42pm Fri 23 May 08
Brian, even more interesting is theory that Gordon Brown prevented the Tories from being wiped out in Scotland.
I blogged about it here...
http://cepbuckingham
shire.blogspot.com/
Brian, even more interesting is theory that Gordon Brown prevented the Tories from being wiped out in Scotland.
I blogged about it here...
http://cepbuckingham
shire.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Terry, England on 2:44pm Fri 23 May 08
or rather, here...
http://cepbuckingham
shire.blogspot.com/
or rather, here...
http://cepbuckingham
shire.blogspot.com/
Posted by: arg1272, Glasgow on 4:46pm Fri 23 May 08
Why is it that whenever a Conservative speaks the SNP suporters show thier very best chip on the shoulder/inferiority complex/inverted snobbery/anti-Englis
h brand of "don't call me a Jock" Scottishness which they actually manage to hide when it is Labour doing the talking. It's a wonder it really is.
Why is it that whenever a Conservative speaks the SNP suporters show thier very best chip on the shoulder/inferiority complex/inverted snobbery/anti-Englis
h brand of "don't call me a Jock" Scottishness which they actually manage to hide when it is Labour doing the talking. It's a wonder it really is.
Posted by: allymax, yuk on 4:49pm Fri 23 May 08
Michael Settle said this, "The view of the Thames David Cameron sees from his suite of offices overlooking Victoria Embankment was once enjoyed by James VI of Scotland and his ambassadors to the English court before the crowns were united in 1603."
Mikee-boy, whit the feck r' ye ga'an on aboot?
If you're trying to make a link with Cameron being of Scottish decent, and a royal bloodline as well, you picked a sore analogy with James VI; if I remember correctly, Cameron is from the sister of Mary, Queen of Scots. And if I remember correctly, Mary was the reason for the 'succesion act', you know, keeping the Jacobites aff the throne!
Well, I hope I'm right, if not a'v just made an ers o' ma'sel.
Nevermind, I'm aff fir a bevvy; 'Alkie', fancy a beer?
Michael Settle said this, "The view of the Thames David Cameron sees from his suite of offices overlooking Victoria Embankment was once enjoyed by James VI of Scotland and his ambassadors to the English court before the crowns were united in 1603."
Mikee-boy, whit the feck r' ye ga'an on aboot?
If you're trying to make a link with Cameron being of Scottish decent, and a royal bloodline as well, you picked a sore analogy with James VI; if I remember correctly, Cameron is from the sister of Mary, Queen of Scots. And if I remember correctly, Mary was the reason for the 'succesion act', you know, keeping the Jacobites aff the throne!
Well, I hope I'm right, if not a'v just made an ers o' ma'sel.
Nevermind, I'm aff fir a bevvy; 'Alkie', fancy a beer?
Posted by: paul holmes, fife on 5:07pm Fri 23 May 08
CAMERON; "[italic]My gut feeling is that we mustn't do anything that sets us on a course to separatism and we need to find a comfortable and secure resting place where people feel comfortable that devolution can work and the Union can work[/italic] ."
To me, this kinda sums how the Brittish think on the issue.
[bold]Why would the 'thing' that they do lead to separation[/bold] ?
It would surely involve more powers for Scotland- and he seems to think this would be a problem. [bold]I can only think that this means he sees us doing a better job with these powers than Westminster. This is good for the people but bad for the union because the English would moan even more and the Scots would want more. Therefor what the unionist secretly want is something that works, but that dosen't work TOO well.[/bold]
CAMERON; "
My gut feeling is that we mustn't do anything that sets us on a course to separatism and we need to find a comfortable and secure resting place where people feel comfortable that devolution can work and the Union can work ."
To me, this kinda sums how the Brittish think on the issue.
Why would the 'thing' that they do lead to separation ?
It would surely involve more powers for Scotland- and he seems to think this would be a problem.
I can only think that this means he sees us doing a better job with these powers than Westminster. This is good for the people but bad for the union because the English would moan even more and the Scots would want more. Therefor what the unionist secretly want is something that works, but that dosen't work TOO well. Posted by: Traquir, Alba on 6:48pm Fri 23 May 08
"we have to win every vote and DESERVE to"
Westminster and the Union are just a gentleman's
game for Labour and the
Conservatives where each takes a turn at the helm and once
they have been there too long their arch-enemy deserves
a shot. Basically these people would rather have their
arch-enemy in charge of Westminster than have Scotland
become a free nation. As Gordon Brown
said recently he will do anything and everything to
secure their precious Union.
The esteemed Lord Foulkes states the rules of
the games very simply and no doubt all the major
players are in agreement :
"the introduction of proportional representation in Scotland
has been an absolute tragedy. We have seen chaos,
confusion and cuts.Will my noble friend assure us that,
because of this experience, we will stick to the tried
and tested system of first past the post, which has
given us stability in this country for decades."
see - tinyurl.com/378suf
Of course the "STABILITY" to which Foulkes refers is the stability
of the Union. The cost on Scotland of having Thatcher
having her turn at the helm was a cost worth paying since
she clearly DESERVED her turn at the helm. Cameron
now DESERVES his turn at the helm and no doubt in another
suitable period at the helm another member of this
private club will be anointed - an Alexander perhaps, either
way Scotland will have no say in the running
of this exclusive gentleman's club.
This continual drivel of putting the Union on some
high pedestal way above Scotland's best interests
is becoming increasing nauseating. Scotland
needs her independence at the soonest possible
opportunity.
Saor Alba
"we have to win every vote and DESERVE to"
Westminster and the Union are just a gentleman's
game for Labour and the
Conservatives where each takes a turn at the helm and once
they have been there too long their arch-enemy deserves
a shot. Basically these people would rather have their
arch-enemy in charge of Westminster than have Scotland
become a free nation. As Gordon Brown
said recently he will do anything and everything to
secure their precious Union.
The esteemed Lord Foulkes states the rules of
the games very simply and no doubt all the major
players are in agreement :
"the introduction of proportional representation in Scotland
has been an absolute tragedy. We have seen chaos,
confusion and cuts.Will my noble friend assure us that,
because of this experience, we will stick to the tried
and tested system of first past the post, which has
given us stability in this country for decades."
see - tinyurl.com/378suf
Of course the "STABILITY" to which Foulkes refers is the stability
of the Union. The cost on Scotland of having Thatcher
having her turn at the helm was a cost worth paying since
she clearly DESERVED her turn at the helm. Cameron
now DESERVES his turn at the helm and no doubt in another
suitable period at the helm another member of this
private club will be anointed - an Alexander perhaps, either
way Scotland will have no say in the running
of this exclusive gentleman's club.
This continual drivel of putting the Union on some
high pedestal way above Scotland's best interests
is becoming increasing nauseating. Scotland
needs her independence at the soonest possible
opportunity.
Saor Alba
Posted by: johndavis, inverclyde on 7:02pm Fri 23 May 08
That was a great result last night!Rangers and Celtic?NO--Crewe and Nantwich-Ach-I did n't know they were playing
That was a great result last night!Rangers and Celtic?NO--Crewe and Nantwich-Ach-I did n't know they were playing
Posted by: Jack Gray on 7:56pm Fri 23 May 08
This is just to let David Cameron know that if he attempts to threaten vulnerable claimants that we will move against him so fast that he'll wish he was joining the Labour party!
We can make life very difficult for Mr Cameron, and the Conservatives, and generate a lot of very nasty publicity for his next general election campaign so if he wants to create this sort of scenario then we're ready to take him.
No, Mr Cameron we will not have an American-style welfare system in this country not now not **** ever!! Perhaps Mr Cameron should be reminded that there is an EC Directive on the right to Social Security, and legal action will be started.
Make no mistake, David Cameron's welfare policies will be extremely dangerous, and will result in lives being put at risk, We've had good dialogue with Work And Pensions Secretary, James Purnell, and if the Labour party want to win back voters' trust they could start by exposing David Cameron's welfare plans.
They are harmful to our most vulnerable citizens, the sick, and disabled.
We will not be held to ransom by Tory scum.
J Gray
National Autistic Society
This is just to let David Cameron know that if he attempts to threaten vulnerable claimants that we will move against him so fast that he'll wish he was joining the Labour party!
We can make life very difficult for Mr Cameron, and the Conservatives, and generate a lot of very nasty publicity for his next general election campaign so if he wants to create this sort of scenario then we're ready to take him.
No, Mr Cameron we will not have an American-style welfare system in this country not now not **** ever!! Perhaps Mr Cameron should be reminded that there is an EC Directive on the right to Social Security, and legal action will be started.
Make no mistake, David Cameron's welfare policies will be extremely dangerous, and will result in lives being put at risk, We've had good dialogue with Work And Pensions Secretary, James Purnell, and if the Labour party want to win back voters' trust they could start by exposing David Cameron's welfare plans.
They are harmful to our most vulnerable citizens, the sick, and disabled.
We will not be held to ransom by Tory scum.
J Gray
National Autistic Society
Posted by: nostress, grangemouth on 12:22am Sat 24 May 08
Traquir, Alba at 6.48pm Fri - absolutely spot on with your post there!
The sad fact is that all three unionist parties would sooner sell out Scotland's interests and prop each other up at every turn - they should be renamed ASP - the Anti-Scotland Party - truly poisonous!
Traquir, Alba at 6.48pm Fri - absolutely spot on with your post there!
The sad fact is that all three unionist parties would sooner sell out Scotland's interests and prop each other up at every turn - they should be renamed ASP - the Anti-Scotland Party - truly poisonous!
Posted by: Morag, Peeblesshire on 1:03am Sat 24 May 08
[quote]Westminster and the Union are just a gentleman's game for Labour and the Conservatives where each takes a turn at the helm and once they have been there too long their arch-enemy deserves a shot. Basically these people would rather have their arch-enemy in charge of Westminster than have Scotland become a free nation. As Gordon Brown said recently he will do anything and everything to secure their precious Union.[/quote]This is what I totally didn't understand in the 1990s. I thought that Labour would eventually tire of "one more push" to oust the Tories and would recognise that independence was the way to change Scotland for the better.
How wrong can you get?
But they were much less open in their unionism then. Remember Lorraine Mann, and the "embarrassing" question of what would Robertson's second preference vote be? (That was when we were being promised the chance to vote for independence in a three-way referendum, fat chance that was.) He errred and ummed, and never answered, and Mrs. Mann was accused of being an SNP plant, which she was not.
He could have openly praised the union dividend - but he didn't. He could have explained that while he supported devolution, he would rather continue with Westminster rule in the hope of eventually achieving devolution than opt for a more extreme solution - but he didn't. Evidently, admitting that Westminster rule was his second choice, above independence, was too embarrassing to express.
This open "preserve the union at all costs" is a relatively new thing from Labour. I'm surprised we've seen no press discussion of the matter. Even more, that we've seen no serious discussion of the thinking behind such statements. What are "all costs"? What are the reasons for this extreme adherence to the union? What about the democratic will of the Scottish people? Even Maggie Thatcher acknowledged that if the Scots voted for independence they had the right to it. Has that now gone out of the window?
In the 1970s the union was preserved by barefaced lying (McCrone report etc.). This was however all covered up and simply not discussed by the press. Is the current no-holds-barred defence of the union to be achieved by more of the same? Or even less democratic means? How far are Brown and Cameron prepared to go to frustrate the democratic will of the Scots, should that will choose independence?
I would have expected an open and searching discussion of these matters from the Scottish press.
On second thoughts, no I don't expect it. I'm not surprised we're not getting it. Hope is one thing, but expectation is something else. I wonder how Alf Young and Douglas Fraser sleep at night, knowing the depths of the deception they facilitate.
Westminster and the Union are just a gentleman's game for Labour and the Conservatives where each takes a turn at the helm and once they have been there too long their arch-enemy deserves a shot. Basically these people would rather have their arch-enemy in charge of Westminster than have Scotland become a free nation. As Gordon Brown said recently he will do anything and everything to secure their precious Union.
This is what I totally didn't understand in the 1990s. I thought that Labour would eventually tire of "one more push" to oust the Tories and would recognise that independence was the way to change Scotland for the better.
How wrong can you get?
But they were much less open in their unionism then. Remember Lorraine Mann, and the "embarrassing" question of what would Robertson's second preference vote be? (That was when we were being promised the chance to vote for independence in a three-way referendum, fat chance that was.) He errred and ummed, and never answered, and Mrs. Mann was accused of being an SNP plant, which she was not.
He could have openly praised the union dividend - but he didn't. He could have explained that while he supported devolution, he would rather continue with Westminster rule in the hope of eventually achieving devolution than opt for a more extreme solution - but he didn't. Evidently, admitting that Westminster rule was his second choice, above independence, was too embarrassing to express.
This open "preserve the union at all costs" is a relatively new thing from Labour. I'm surprised we've seen no press discussion of the matter. Even more, that we've seen no serious discussion of the thinking behind such statements. What are "all costs"? What are the reasons for this extreme adherence to the union? What about the democratic will of the Scottish people? Even Maggie Thatcher acknowledged that if the Scots voted for independence they had the right to it. Has that now gone out of the window?
In the 1970s the union was preserved by barefaced lying (McCrone report etc.). This was however all covered up and simply not discussed by the press. Is the current no-holds-barred defence of the union to be achieved by more of the same? Or even less democratic means? How far are Brown and Cameron prepared to go to frustrate the democratic will of the Scots, should that will choose independence?
I would have expected an open and searching discussion of these matters from the Scottish press.
On second thoughts, no I don't expect it. I'm not surprised we're not getting it. Hope is one thing, but expectation is something else. I wonder how Alf Young and Douglas Fraser sleep at night, knowing the depths of the deception they facilitate.
Posted by: Gordon Girvan, Los Angeles on 2:26am Sat 24 May 08
I cannot wait for the Referendum to be held. It's going to be simple, the question will be; SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE. YES or NO??
We all know that it will be a RESOUNDING YES!! Then london can decide her own future instead of meddling in other countries affairs, and leave us all alone.
I cannot wait for the Referendum to be held. It's going to be simple, the question will be; SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE. YES or NO??
We all know that it will be a RESOUNDING YES!! Then london can decide her own future instead of meddling in other countries affairs, and leave us all alone.
Posted by: Peter Thomson, Cameron - no better than Labour on 10:24am Sat 24 May 08
How did Ian Bell's essay, today, get past Alf and Doug?
It is a virtual heresy in the Herald to say that Wee Eck is in a win-win position, doing well and by agreeing that the vote for independence is now finely balanced (wot no only 23% for?).
Has Crewe woken Doug and Alf up to the realisation that this is not a Labour blip and they are on the slippery slope to opposition both north and south of the border?
How can Cameron fiddle the Scottish Block Grant with the Scots knowing they generate a £4.4 billion surplus minimum for the Treasury and Westminster have been robbing them blind for years?
I have respect for Aunty Annabelle as a Scottish Conservative but not as yet another potential Westminster glove puppet she gets too close to Cameron at her own peril.
Will Purcell and others who control the real grass root power in the West of Scotland Labour Party have the guts to say Brown - UDI for Scottish Labour and leave the Labour MP's to decide on which side their bread is buttered? Purcell is clearly moving to change the view of Glasgow City Council as one of behind doors stitch ups especially with the mess Wendy has left him over the breaches of EU rules in the GHA bill.
Cathy Jamieson's incompetency has also come to light with the £1.8 million vat bill that could have been avoided if she had listened to the civil servants. Andy Kerr's has his Hiarmyres' PFI disaster to face up to, Jackie the Hutt is simply a joke and Magrat Curant is as popular as duff chalk on a blackboard. Where does a new independent Scottish Labour Party come from? Is there anyone in the party with a vision for Scotland? Clearly McCleish doesn't as he manoeuvres for Wendy's 'job' and sounds as Brown nosing as she does. Where is Labour in Scotland's 21st century Keir Hardy or John MacClean with a vision for Labour in Scotland that is not tied to Westminster and Millbank's policy wonks?
How did Ian Bell's essay, today, get past Alf and Doug?
It is a virtual heresy in the Herald to say that Wee Eck is in a win-win position, doing well and by agreeing that the vote for independence is now finely balanced (wot no only 23% for?).
Has Crewe woken Doug and Alf up to the realisation that this is not a Labour blip and they are on the slippery slope to opposition both north and south of the border?
How can Cameron fiddle the Scottish Block Grant with the Scots knowing they generate a £4.4 billion surplus minimum for the Treasury and Westminster have been robbing them blind for years?
I have respect for Aunty Annabelle as a Scottish Conservative but not as yet another potential Westminster glove puppet she gets too close to Cameron at her own peril.
Will Purcell and others who control the real grass root power in the West of Scotland Labour Party have the guts to say Brown - UDI for Scottish Labour and leave the Labour MP's to decide on which side their bread is buttered? Purcell is clearly moving to change the view of Glasgow City Council as one of behind doors stitch ups especially with the mess Wendy has left him over the breaches of EU rules in the GHA bill.
Cathy Jamieson's incompetency has also come to light with the £1.8 million vat bill that could have been avoided if she had listened to the civil servants. Andy Kerr's has his Hiarmyres' PFI disaster to face up to, Jackie the Hutt is simply a joke and Magrat Curant is as popular as duff chalk on a blackboard. Where does a new independent Scottish Labour Party come from? Is there anyone in the party with a vision for Scotland? Clearly McCleish doesn't as he manoeuvres for Wendy's 'job' and sounds as Brown nosing as she does. Where is Labour in Scotland's 21st century Keir Hardy or John MacClean with a vision for Labour in Scotland that is not tied to Westminster and Millbank's policy wonks?
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