Sunday, October 04, 2009

The Marple Leaf Welcomes the Tories to Manchester

Manchester welcomes the Conservative Party this week. Except there is plenty of evidence that it does not. Tweets and blogs from supposedly intelligent people have complained about the congestion they will cause, etc. Please get over your infantile disorders and tribal instincts.

Wake up. This is the next party of government. And you don't even have to think what the alternative is, look around.

Grow up. This event is good for Manchester. 200,000 visitors alone.

Wise up. Manchester has contributed to new ways of city governance and new ways of public private partnerships. Tory policy on many areas is unformed. Use this opportunity to take part in the debate.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well said Mr T!

Anonymous said...

Labour has failed everyone? Are you over 21? Don't you remember growing up in the 80's?
Nice new leader, same old party. Politics is not about personalities.

Michael Taylor said...

What's your point? Do you actually understand politics? Do you think about effective government, or do you just support a party like you support a football team? The leftish rhetoric that slates the Tories seems blind to what Labour has done over the last 10 years.

And who said it was about personalities?

Stephen Newton said...

Michael, may not have mentioned personality directly, but he did claim the Tories have little by way of policy, so it's fair for anonymous to assume he votes on the basis of personality.

This government has delivered new schools, hospitals, the minimum wage, lifted children out of poverty and much more. Of course, it needs to much more again, which is why it is so important Labour wins again.

And Michael is also wrong when he suggests the Tories are without policy. They are just very good at hiding it; Michael is clearly struggling to understand the politics behind that.

Anonymous said...

And how would you know about what it's like to live next to this circus when you don't live anywhere near the city centre?? I am all for investment into the city I live in but I'm suprised the Tories know where this is, the didn't seem to care about us much in the 80's or has everyone forgot about the 20% interest rate and death of our heavy industries as I remember how grim Manchester was and now look at it!

Anonymous said...

Sure they are welcome, but have labour really failed everyone? Not quite. It is time for Brown to go though... There is a lot of red tape and needless policy that can be culled. Brown is also out of touch.

Personally, I can't wait for Dave to get into power so we can all be reminded what it was like in the eighties.

We can also wave goodbye to the NWDA and other policies which have benefited Manchester. BBC North, for example, would never have happened under 'Dave'. Europe will also be an embarrassment.

I'll also never forgive the Tories for victimising single mothers (like my mum). They have a long way to go to win me over.

Michael Taylor said...

Is the first Anon, the same Anon, I can't tell? No matter.

Don't assume you know how I vote, Stephen.

I don't see how a history lesson is relevant. I'm just really looking forward to hearing the tempo of the debate within the Tory sphere on a number of issues: regional devolution, tax, public transport, business support and defence spending. This is a good opportunity for anyone here in Manchester to take part in a major conference with Britain's major party of opposition, the year before an election. Even if it's just going to a few fringe events, as I will be, it has to be welcomed. I'm going to a Respublica fringe event on Wednesday with a friend of mine who's very active in Manchester politics and a Labour Party member. What's not to look forward to this week?

Anonymous said...

Failed everyone? Not quite. It is time for Brown to go though... There is a lot of red tape and needless policy that can be culled. Brown is also out of touch.

However, I can't wait for Dave to get into power so we can all be reminded what it was like in the eighties. The Tories won't be in power for 12 years that is for sure.

We can also wave goodbye to the NWDA and other policies which have benefited Manchester. BBC North for example. Europe will also be an embarrassment.

I'll also never forgive the Tories for victimising single mothers (like my mum). They have a long way to go to win me around.

Phil Orford said...

Debate is, of course, what we expect from the conference this week. Let's hope the Tories are up for it!

In many respects the shadow cabinet, and junior shadow ministers, are not engaging in a way one might expect from a party seeking power.

For example, polices relating to small business support, stimulation of innovation and the nurturing of entrepreneurship - which are so vital for the economic recovery of our nation - appear to be being developed without much consultation with the wider business community, or employer representation and support groups.

Without policies conceived on authoritative and credible advice, the Tories risk making decisions, as a possible an incoming Government, that will be as damaging to economic regeneration as some of those they have targeted for abolition.

The UK needs to re-balance its economic and industrial base. We all know and accept this fact. If we are to compete internationally, we must invest in new technologies, a low carbon future and leading edge manufacturing. There are huge opportunities in these areas, and more.

So, let’s have the debate, and let's hope they engage. We want to see future polices based upon what's good for the country rather than what drives the Tories politically.

Stephen Newton said...

I didn't assume your voting intention, MT, I inferred it from your blog, in which you reveal yourself as a Sun reader, and your arrogant dismissal of the first anonymous comment.

Given that he Tory frontbench is obsessed with Thatcher -- http://www.theatlanticbridge.com/welcome.php http://www.conwayfor.org.uk/ -- it's worth remembering what she stands for.

I hope you enjoy the fringe, but remember it is only a fringe and that the Conservative Party conference is not a policy making forum.

Michael Taylor said...

Sun reader? You made incorrect assumptions about who I vote for, now what I read.

This obsession with Thatcher and the past was what drove me to encourage people on the left to take part in debates at fringe. No, of course it isn't policy making, but it is dialogue. I've just been to an excellent session on the economy with Philip Hammond.