Tom Collier

Hello Christina. Ooach. Very ooach,

On the Heseltine issue, I`ve heard that Teresa Gorman in her eponimous book "********" talks of a certain John Major, before he was PM, being groomed by Heseltine, Clark and other notable Euro sceptics by way of an informal dining circle, to be a Tory leader that could hold onto the euro sceptic wing whilst pursuing the relentless move towards the EU. Hesletine knew he couldn`t keep the party together so was the stalking horse candidate against Thatcher. It seems likely that Cameron has also served this apprenticeship and is rewarding his mentor with a post. Heseltine though has again been too honest about the situation.

Mikeuk

In comparison with what? Your old muckers at the BNP?

Christina I 100% support Chad's decision to leave the Tories. Of course I could say 'I told you so' but I won't

As you are a loyal follower of Progcon I hope to hear that you have also resigned from The Nasty Party. :twisted:

progcon.org

Thanks Mike, I'm back.

Alex McKee

Hello Chad. Adventures in the Tories not quite as envisaged?

progcon.org

Hi Alex,

Not all bad, I have met some great people, and it is good to see there are a lot of conservatives (small c) driven by the core values that are essentially the blueprint of all the small centre-right parties.

However, on the bad side, although I support a lot of the declared agenda, it is becoming clear (I'm still a newbie so apologies if I am a bit slow) that Cameron doesn't actually intend to deliver what he is pledging.

Without delivery on the epp pledge, and with the admirable (but insincere) pledge for localism whilst actually retaining central control on candidate selection I could not play along with the "built to last" charade.

Alex McKee

Well it certainly seems you have principles at least, so good on you. Re-animating ProgCon?

progcon.org

I've always been driven by values, but I may make wrong decisions along the way that may give others slim cause to question me.

Kind of, but my real aim is to try and get the centre right parties to work together. Instead of fighting one another, or stealing the same pool of members, we should leverage our greater combined strength in a Centre-Right Alliance of sorts.

By working together, not standing against one another, instead allowing the candidate most likely to win, we could pool our votes and make a real difference.

If we can work under an umbrella of alliance, would we not be a much more potent force whilst still encouraging diversity?

I'd like me or anyone else to be able to form a small centre-right party, and for it to be welcomed as part of a wider cra, not attacked as an enemy. Now that would be real democracy and cooperation in action.

In short, let's accentuate our similarities, making them the core of our cooperation, but also welcome the wider diversity this approach would encourage.

There are good people with good aims in all the c-r small parties. Let's all work together to create a real political force.

Christina

You can't say 'I told you so' because the accusations were that Chad was recruiting people to the Tories via ProgCon. You never stated that Chad would leave the Tories, but I am used to your imaginings now. :wink:

ProgCon effectively finished as a group in my eyes, when the forum was removed with no communication to any other progcon members. It is a one man band.

It is possible that Chad could unite all the centre-right splinter parties and groups, but IMO, highly improbable. I don't see why he just doesn't join UKIP or New Party or English Democrats and work his way up.

IMO, there is no need for a progressive conservative group because Cameron is progressive conservative anyhow. The aim of influencing the Party in that direction has been done by someone else.

If David Davis or Liam Fox decided to leave the Conservative Party, then I would sit up and take notice. Of course, Davis has spoken out in favour of Cameron this week, and I trust his judgement. He knows much more about what is going on.

ProgCon was the right idea, Chad did well. He was spot on with what needed doing, I just wish he would stay with the Conservatives now and have some patience.

Politics is not an area of life in which we can have everything we want.

I see Cameron starting off in the centre ground, then moving more to the right when things are in place. Tax relief can come at the right time. The organisation of candidates as Chad wants will come when this particular problem has been addressed.

The big flaw in Chad's reasoning is that local associations have had women who have rejected women candidates 'because they should be looking after their husbands.' Chad's approach would not sort that out.

Power corrupts. Whether it is the Euro, the National or the Local level. At local level, there is discrimation going on which would be prosecuted in a Company. It needs sorting out.

Hartlepool

You still with Veritas then Christina?
8)
Or,back with the bnp? :?

Or,with one of those other parties you used to sniff around? :?

CONS will take anyone,they may just take you on for a probationary trial period if you try to be loyal. :wink:

Christina

Hartlepool, the epitome of originality and wit! :roll: