Tory government would be ‘more Thatcherite than before' says Carlisle councillor
Last updated at 12:56, Tuesday, 20 October 2009
A leading light in Carlisle Conservatives says that a future Tory government would be “more Thatcherite than ever before”.
Gareth Ellis, a city councillor for Belah and a member of the council’s ruling executive, made the comments on a political website on Saturday.
Labour and the Liberal Democrats have seized on the remarks as evidence that David Cameron’s “modern Conservatism” is a sham.
Mr Ellis wrote: “Wait until we get back into power.....we are more right wing and more Thatcherite then ever before.
“Thatcherism is not dead. It isn’t even resting. It is preparing to lift off and go to levels it has never gone before.
“We are about to [get] back in power and the Thatcherites are the ones who will be in charge of the economy.”
Mr Ellis was responding to the latest opinion polls, showing a Conservative lead, on www.politicalbetting.com.
He told the News & Star he had been trying to “wind-up” another poster.
His comments should be seen in that context.
He said: “It was probably wishful thinking on my part. If you had to place David Cameron on the political spectrum, he’s just slightly to the right of centre.”
Mr Ellis hopes, however, that a Conservative government would lessen state interference in people’s lives.
He added: “Thatcherism isn’t just about the economy, it’s about freedom of the individual. David Cameron has made a commitment to cancel the ID card project.”
Michael Boaden, leader of the city council’s Labour group and a contender to be parliamentary candidate, argues that Mr Ellis has “let the cat out of the bag”.
He said: “It demonstrates what the Tory Party is about. They present themselves one way but underneath is a right-wing dogmatic approach.
“My biggest worry is that people forget Tory policies in the 1980s when we had record levels of unemployment and public services run down.”
Liberal Democrat city councillor and former parliamentary candidate Steven Tweedie takes a similar view.
He said: “If Gareth Ellis has given us a taste of what is to come, then heaven help us. I am a liberal but not an economic liberal. Previous Tory governments have shown economic liberalism isn’t good for the people.”
Mr Ellis is no stranger to controversy.
He told a meeting in 2004 that Carlisle City Council might as well pack in because it was responsible only for “booze, bins and benefits”.
But John Stevenson, a fellow city councillor and the prospective Conservative parliamentary candidate for Carlisle, was unfazed by Mr Ellis’s latest remarks.
He said: “The reality is that politics is fought in the centre. David Cameron has demonstrated that and I myself am very much a one-nation Conservative.”
First published at 11:37, Tuesday, 20 October 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk
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It is blatant that Britain's fiscal mess is Augean. Voters know that spending cuts are inevitable. Labour held back a document, for six months, showing that cuts of 10% are needed. Interestingly these were very close to David Cameron's predictions. Now the cat is out of the bag, the big 'C' word is no longer taboo.
George Osborne's speech to Conservative Party Conference, whilst risky was bold and morally correct. The electorate are not being deceived. The budget deficit is £175 billion in the financial year to March (12.4% of GDP.)) It is now payback time. Whoever is in power has to face this harsh fact. I believe voters will appreciate this straight talking. This is not a return to the politics of the 'nasty party' or Thatcherism. What is disturbing is that Labour are promising everything people want to hear, in the full knowledge that they will not be required to deliver. Expensive projects are being rushed through and contracts signed in a panic. What is worrying is that when it comes to the crunch the money will not be in the kitty to deliver on these obligations. Simultaneously Labour MPs are now only concerned with saving as many seats in Parliament, as possible, because they fear for their careers. Maximising the number who will be content to sit on the opposition benches and jeer. David Cameron will have his work cut out for him. He is fully committed to progressive caring and compassionate Conservatism. The party is pledged to deliver essential front-line services through the NHS and Schools, whilst cutting back unnecessary bureaucracy. There will be a rolling back of the state. It is sadly true that some jobs will go in the bureaucracy and QUANGO's will be abolished. The move towards service sharing between local authorities and acceleration of a process already in motion to encourage more partnership working is likely to occur. I am confident that David Cameron's version of Conservatism will not be ruthless or consist of cross the board cuts without any thought for the social repercussions. Conservatism with a social conscience can go hand in hand with the tradition of minimising state intervention and intrusion into people's lives. There will be a return to personal responsibility, involving an immense cultural shift from what has occurred since 1997. This is the price of freedom.View all comments on this article
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"MORE THATCHERITE THAN BEFORE" what that really means is the tories will be more ruthless than they were last time they were in government, the nast bully im alright jack party.
Posted by Andrew on 22 October 2009 at 16:39