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Principles
We know what the different parties stand for, don’t we? Sometimes we are nearly right – sometimes wildly out. No one can reasonably doubt that the Conservative Party, both locally and nationally, has changed in recent times. This page lays out our beliefs and aims.
Our Vision
We have a clear vision for the future of our country and local community:
Giving people more opportunity and power over their lives
In our open and dynamic world people's horizons are broader; their ambitions are greater, and they expect to be able to make more and more decisions for themselves. Government, politics and public services need to catch up.
Making families stronger and society more responsible
In a world where our economy is richer but our society is poorer, we must recognise that we're all in this together and not allow anyone to be left behind. The speed at which the modern world changes can be exhilarating, but also disconcerting. So it's more important than ever to strengthen the ties that bind society together and provide reassurance and stability: family; community; a sense of responsibility.
Making Britain safer and greener
In a world of new and unpredictable threats, government must ensure new forms of security - whether providing economic stability, dealing with unprecedented levels of international migration, fighting terrorism, or ensuring energy security. An effective modern security agenda must be broad as well as strong. And in a world of global and local environmental threats, we must act now to protect the quality of life today and for future generations.
Our Values
Our Party seeks to cherish freedom, advance opportunity and nurture responsibility. By trusting people, we help individuals grow stronger; by sharing responsibility, we help society grow stronger. We believe that there is such a thing as society, but it is not the same thing as the state.
Our Party stands for a free society and a strong nation state; an opportunity society, not an overpowering state; a responsible society in which each person and every family, regardless of position or power or wealth, is able to make their own choices and to fulfill their potential.
"Only we Conservatives have the new ideas and the long-term policies to give people more opportunity and power over their lives, make families stronger and society more responsible, and make Britain safer and greener. That's why at the next election, whenever it is, people will agree that it's time for change."
David Cameron
Our Aims
1. To encourage enterprise in all its forms – in the economy and in the community – in order to raise living standards and the quality of life for all. We believe that the enterprise of our people is the source of our progress, and that opening up opportunity is the best way to build a dynamic economy that creates wealth, eliminates poverty, and supports the public services and the social action upon which we collectively rely.
2. To fight social injustice and help the most disadvantaged by building a strong society. The test of a strong and just society is how it looks after the least advantaged – but this duty is not reserved for the state alone. It is a shared responsibility: we are all in this together.
3. To meet the great environmental threats of the age, to enhance the environment and to increase general well-being. We believe that there is more to life than money; that the beauty of our surroundings, the quality of our relationships and the sustainability of our environment are central in building a strong and just society.
4. To provide first-class healthcare, education and housing that respond to the needs of each individual. This is not the same thing as the state trying to run our great public services. It is by trusting professionals and giving choice to parents, patients and families that excellence can be engendered through vocation, flexibility and local initiative.
5. To take a lead in ending global poverty. Fighting global poverty is a moral obligation – a priority, not an afterthought. It is also a vital contributor to our long-term security; a necessary counterpart of controlled immigration and an imperative we cannot ignore if we want stronger, more cohesive communities at home and abroad.
6. To protect the country we love: proud of our past; confident in our future. We will never take for granted the security of our people, our institutions or our way of life. We will not flinch from our duty to defend these birthrights in the face of internal and external threats. We will be hard-nosed defenders of freedom.
7. To give power to people and communities, and to recognise the limitations of government. Political power should always be exercised as close to people and communities as possible. We believe in the United Kingdom and in the role of central government as a force for good, but we do not believe that it is through centralised government alone that we can change society for the better.
8. To be an open, meritocratic and forward-looking Party. We will represent all our country in all its diversity. We recognise the need to change when necessary to serve our fellow citizens faithfully.
Our Policies
The following is a brief selection only of the policies recently endorsed at the Conservative Party Conference.
A Conservative Government would…
1. Impose air fuel / pollution tax per flight.
This will cut down the number of flights by discouraging half empty planes. It will suppress the demand for airport expansion. Revenue raised will be used to…
2. Invest properly in alternatives to plane and car travel.
High speed rail links to major domestic cities. Improved commuter capacity locally. Provide alternatives to car and plane that become the choice of preference rather than solely the choice of conscience or necessity.
3. Promote decentralized energy production
Encouraged by the Waste Heat Levy on existing power stations - financing increased “Feed in Tariffs” for those who micro-generate more than they use.
4. Lift the inheritance tax threshold to £1m.
The average household in this borough will not then have to sell the family home in order to pay upwards of £60k to the taxman. Under the Conservatives they would keep the family home.
5. Scrap Stamp Duty on homes under £250k for first time buyers.
So the next generation is assisted in being able to remain in the Borough they grew up in instead of having to look elsewhere.
6. Tax the Super Rich and “non-domiciles”.
The over-seas population, living in this country, would make a financial contribution to it. Tax loopholes for the super rich would be closed by reducing the complexity of the tax system. This will pay for the previous two measures.
7. Remove the tax penalties for staying together.
Through the tax system it should no longer be the case that families are better off if one parent moves out. (2m people pretend to live apart for tax reasons.) We will recognize the importance of marriage in the tax system. Transferable personal allowances will increase family disposable income.
8. Provide for dignity and security in old age.
A “lifeboat” fund for the relief of the victims of Gordon Brown's pension disasters.
9. End the "revolving door" of the benefits system.
If a suitable job offer is refused benefits are withdrawn – this has the triple benefit of reducing the need for more overseas workers, freeing up tax payers’ money to cover some of the previous measures and re-introducing millions of people to the dignity of self sufficiency.
10. Create an NHS which answers to patients and is controlled by doctors. Scrapping top-down targets in the NHS. Retaining District General hospitals. Faster turn around on new drugs. Success measured by outcomes not throughput.
11. Allow voluntary organizations, private companies and churches to set up state schools. Plus per-student school funding. Quite a big plus for the Borough’s Catholic residents who have asked for a Catholic Secondary school for many years. Aim is to bring the standards of the state sector up to or above the private sector.
12. Restore the Head Teachers’ right to exclude disruptive students.
Ending the appeals panels that second guess the head-teachers decision, often at the expense of the rest of the students. Such excluded students to be helped to turn their lives around by people focused on them, while mainstream teachers… teach! National Citizens Service for 16-year-olds as a right of passage to responsible adulthood.
13. Hold a referendum on the EU treaty / constitution.
As promised by all parties at the last election. Put into law that a referendum must always be held before further transfers of power take place. Exit from the “Social Chapter” and replace the Human Rights Act. British laws made in Britain.
14. Impose a ceiling on economic immigration.
…from non-EU states. Such that our infrastructure, school places, hospitals, dentists, housing etc. can keep up with the numbers coming in.
15. Scrap Housing Density Targets and ditch the HIPS.
An end to replacing one property with six or eight flats. Green-Belt status to be given to gardens.
16. Establish a dedicated border police.
While maintaining our international commitments to genuine asylum seekers, the Conservatives will control our boarders to exclude “failed” asylum seekers and other illegal immigrants (currently thought to be around 500,000). Paid for by halting the discredited ID Card scheme.
17. Reduce police form filling.
To put police on the street where they can prevent crime rather than just record it. Making police locally responsible rather than to the Home Office. Zero tolerance of anti social behavior.
18. Put an end to the prisons early release scheme.
Commit to building sufficient prison places to enable sentencing to reflect the crime not the availability of a place.
19. Properly resource and show proper respect for the armed forces.
Honouring the Military Covenant. Decent accommodation, dedicated military wards in hospitals, restoring traditional brigades, developing an army suitable for the task it is set. Change to a National Security Policy suitable for the challenges of the 21st century rather than separate domestic and foreign policies.
20. Share the proceeds of growth…
between tax cuts and increased spending on public services. While economic stability remains paramount, a commitment is given that a Conservative chancellor will approach future budgets looking for tax cuts where possible and not for tax increases as was the practice of the previous Chancellor.
Your Views Matter
The Conservative Party listened.
For a summary of the most recent policy review process and outcomes...
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