Andrew
Morrison works as a Chartered Accountant in Lanarkshire, serves as the current
Vice-Chairman of the Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party West of
Scotland Regional Council, and stood for election recently at the Local Authority
elections in May 2012.
Any
party funded by, voted for and populated with people who advance the cause of
industrial and class antagonism cannot ever aspire to ‘One Nation’ politics. Ed
Miliband may have tried because he sees the value of One Nation politics, but
he failed before he even delivered his speech to the Labour Party
Conference. All the silly posturing about
the type of school Ed attended, to artificially create a contrast against the
Prime Minister of rags-to-riches versus privilege, simultaneously misled the
public, created an incorrect impression and thwarted the type of harmony that
One Nation politics seeks to advance.
The
debate on Ed’s education was not around the quality of the school the Leader of
the Opposition attended. For starters it
was amongst the best performing State schools which one tends to find in
catchment areas with very expensive homes, thus debarring ordinary people
access to a greater extent than schools in the independent sector. It should be pointed out Ed attended a
Comprehensive school not because he originated from an ordinary background —
far from it — but rather due to the political dogma of his Marxist father.
One
Nation seeks to bridge the gap between the best and worst performing schools in
our country by raising standards, quality of education and diverting resources
to those who need it most — via the ‘Pupil Premium’, for example.
Labour’s
Two Nation approach tries to subvert the independent school sector by
threatening to restrict their charitable status; it tries to reduce choice as
they stand against more city academies; and let’s remember they put the nail in
the coffin of grant-maintained schools, pushing more and more establishments
towards comprehensive status, then justified it all not by telling parents with
kids at bad schools how good their education would become, but rather by
conjuring up the superior education those at better schools received. Again, Ed speaks of One Nation within the Labour
Party, but I don’t see it.
Compare
One Nation Conservative government in action with the subversive politics the
Labour Party pursues today: a historic Act delivered by Conservatives in 1875
which created legal quality between workers and bosses by making breach of
contract a mere civil offence, rather than criminal – a huge milestone for the
working classes within the setting of the Victorian Era. Compare that to the
closed shop and the bully boy Union Rep tactics Labour turned a blind eye to in
1975 and onward.
Further
legislation in 1875 also protected workers’ groups from accusations of
conspiracy when planning the right to take industrial action, essentially
legalising workplace Trade Union organisation.
One Nation Conservatives recognise moderate Trade Union activity to
ensure capitalism can function with a motivated, healthy, safe and
well-rewarded workforce. Compare that to
collective bargaining activity we see today whereby Trades Unions are
predominantly centred around the public sector only and purposefully strike not
for better working conditions or workplace safety, but to knowingly subvert the
will of the democratically elected Government and indirectly benefit the Labour
Party in opposition.
Labour
think they are a One Nation party because they believe in a one-size-fits-all
approach to public services.
The
Tory-led Coalition is truly One Nation because we are seeking to reform the
public sector to create wider choice, competition and consequently drive up
standards for the majority who rely on them.
We recognise one size does not fit all: people are individuals with
fickle likes and dislikes, have different priorities and place value on
different qualities — and all of these have to be accommodated to truly create
a nation in which people from every circumstance can be happier, more secure,
affluent together and comfortable with one another.
One
Nation Conservatism will build a
nation of united people; people who can empathise with each other’s
difficulties and setbacks, and understand one another’s ambitions and dreams
rather than denigrating those with ability and merit by agitating those with
neither by invoking the politics of greed and the class war.
And
remember, Tony Blair wished to carry out many of the reforms the Coalition is
currently implementing across the public services, but he had to back down because
of MPs such as Ed Miliband, his Chancellor Ed Balls and many others surrounding
the infamous ‘Roadblock to Reform’ Gordon Brown. The Labour Party’s roots are as a Two Nation,
not a One Nation, party.
And
when it comes to the biggest political issue of our lifetime — paying down the
deficit — we are a One Nation government, Labour a two-bit Opposition.
You
see, it is because a bankrupt government lets down the poorest the greatest
that we must hold our course of direction. If Britain went broke, it is
benefits, education and health services which would be cut drastically rather
than moderately (ask a Spaniard or a Greek) and consequentially the poorest
would be hurt most; the rich could either fend for themselves by opting out, or
bailing out of Britain entirely.
We
are One Nation because we are protecting the country’s future for the poorest, not
the richest, in our society. Labour are Two Nation because they point to the
rich and their privileges rather than taking the tough decisions to safeguard
future economic security for the poor.
In
conclusion, our predecessors in the Tory Party banned women and children from
working down the pits, regulated factory working hours, repealed the corn laws
to reduce food prices for all, carried out slum clearances across Victorian
Britain, gave working men the vote, introduced free primary schooling, guaranteed
Britain’s first unemployment benefit and universal old age pension system, gave
women the vote and set in motion a health system which led to the NHS before
the Labour Party was even a Party of Government.
Latterly,
we set about creating the property-owning democracy by substantially increasing
levels of home ownership and share ownership, and by facing down vested
interests to ensure there is a strong working class who can better face down
vested interests themselves — all in the teeth of opposition from the Labour
Party.
When
it comes to One Nation politics, the politics of division, jealously and
dispute stand petty, divisive and old-fashioned when compared with our own. Tony
Blair may have shook our confidence in ourselves as the moderate, One Nation party
of Government for a while but, be assured, Ed Miliband is no Tony Blair and he
certainly no One Nation politician.
Andrew
Morrison works as a Chartered Accountant in Lanarkshire, serves as the current
Vice-Chairman of the Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party West of
Scotland Regional Council, and stood for election recently at the Local Authority
elections in May 2012.
Any
party funded by, voted for and populated with people who advance the cause of
industrial and class antagonism cannot ever aspire to ‘One Nation’ politics. Ed
Miliband may have tried because he sees the value of One Nation politics, but
he failed before he even delivered his speech to the Labour Party
Conference. All the silly posturing about
the type of school Ed attended, to artificially create a contrast against the
Prime Minister of rags-to-riches versus privilege, simultaneously misled the
public, created an incorrect impression and thwarted the type of harmony that
One Nation politics seeks to advance.
The
debate on Ed’s education was not around the quality of the school the Leader of
the Opposition attended. For starters it
was amongst the best performing State schools which one tends to find in
catchment areas with very expensive homes, thus debarring ordinary people
access to a greater extent than schools in the independent sector. It should be pointed out Ed attended a
Comprehensive school not because he originated from an ordinary background —
far from it — but rather due to the political dogma of his Marxist father.
One
Nation seeks to bridge the gap between the best and worst performing schools in
our country by raising standards, quality of education and diverting resources
to those who need it most — via the ‘Pupil Premium’, for example.
Labour’s
Two Nation approach tries to subvert the independent school sector by
threatening to restrict their charitable status; it tries to reduce choice as
they stand against more city academies; and let’s remember they put the nail in
the coffin of grant-maintained schools, pushing more and more establishments
towards comprehensive status, then justified it all not by telling parents with
kids at bad schools how good their education would become, but rather by
conjuring up the superior education those at better schools received. Again, Ed speaks of One Nation within the Labour
Party, but I don’t see it.
Compare
One Nation Conservative government in action with the subversive politics the
Labour Party pursues today: a historic Act delivered by Conservatives in 1875
which created legal quality between workers and bosses by making breach of
contract a mere civil offence, rather than criminal – a huge milestone for the
working classes within the setting of the Victorian Era. Compare that to the
closed shop and the bully boy Union Rep tactics Labour turned a blind eye to in
1975 and onward.
Further
legislation in 1875 also protected workers’ groups from accusations of
conspiracy when planning the right to take industrial action, essentially
legalising workplace Trade Union organisation.
One Nation Conservatives recognise moderate Trade Union activity to
ensure capitalism can function with a motivated, healthy, safe and
well-rewarded workforce. Compare that to
collective bargaining activity we see today whereby Trades Unions are
predominantly centred around the public sector only and purposefully strike not
for better working conditions or workplace safety, but to knowingly subvert the
will of the democratically elected Government and indirectly benefit the Labour
Party in opposition.
Labour
think they are a One Nation party because they believe in a one-size-fits-all
approach to public services.
The
Tory-led Coalition is truly One Nation because we are seeking to reform the
public sector to create wider choice, competition and consequently drive up
standards for the majority who rely on them.
We recognise one size does not fit all: people are individuals with
fickle likes and dislikes, have different priorities and place value on
different qualities — and all of these have to be accommodated to truly create
a nation in which people from every circumstance can be happier, more secure,
affluent together and comfortable with one another.
One
Nation Conservatism will build a
nation of united people; people who can empathise with each other’s
difficulties and setbacks, and understand one another’s ambitions and dreams
rather than denigrating those with ability and merit by agitating those with
neither by invoking the politics of greed and the class war.
And
remember, Tony Blair wished to carry out many of the reforms the Coalition is
currently implementing across the public services, but he had to back down because
of MPs such as Ed Miliband, his Chancellor Ed Balls and many others surrounding
the infamous ‘Roadblock to Reform’ Gordon Brown. The Labour Party’s roots are as a Two Nation,
not a One Nation, party.
And
when it comes to the biggest political issue of our lifetime — paying down the
deficit — we are a One Nation government, Labour a two-bit Opposition.
You
see, it is because a bankrupt government lets down the poorest the greatest
that we must hold our course of direction. If Britain went broke, it is
benefits, education and health services which would be cut drastically rather
than moderately (ask a Spaniard or a Greek) and consequentially the poorest
would be hurt most; the rich could either fend for themselves by opting out, or
bailing out of Britain entirely.
We
are One Nation because we are protecting the country’s future for the poorest, not
the richest, in our society. Labour are Two Nation because they point to the
rich and their privileges rather than taking the tough decisions to safeguard
future economic security for the poor.
In
conclusion, our predecessors in the Tory Party banned women and children from
working down the pits, regulated factory working hours, repealed the corn laws
to reduce food prices for all, carried out slum clearances across Victorian
Britain, gave working men the vote, introduced free primary schooling, guaranteed
Britain’s first unemployment benefit and universal old age pension system, gave
women the vote and set in motion a health system which led to the NHS before
the Labour Party was even a Party of Government.
Latterly,
we set about creating the property-owning democracy by substantially increasing
levels of home ownership and share ownership, and by facing down vested
interests to ensure there is a strong working class who can better face down
vested interests themselves — all in the teeth of opposition from the Labour
Party.
When
it comes to One Nation politics, the politics of division, jealously and
dispute stand petty, divisive and old-fashioned when compared with our own. Tony
Blair may have shook our confidence in ourselves as the moderate, One Nation party
of Government for a while but, be assured, Ed Miliband is no Tony Blair and he
certainly no One Nation politician.