Don't Leave Your Vote At Home

Don't leave your vote at home.

This post will remain as a standing link.

Hat tip - Conservatives Abroad.

The Missing Package Red Herring

Alistair Darling is talking about the steps the government is taking to find the missing package. We should be less concerned about this actual known breach than the fact that junior civil servants can access and transmit HMR&C personal data.

Whilst known missing/lost data is important, a far greater risk of fraud relates to deliberate theft of data by HMR&C employees. It's apparent that access to this personal information is insufficiently restricted. The internal security measures to protect this data should resemble Fort Knox.

- Low level staff should not be able to gain access to more than individual records.
- It shouldn't be possible to put this data on to a CD.
- Auditors should visit the site to do their work.

Finding these two CDs isn't the end of the matter. It's a smelly red herring.

Last Day Of Tory Conference 2007

Labour’s Betrayal – Their Promises Mean Nothing

Well before Brown took over, I’d been making the point that because Blair promised to serve a full Parliamentary term, we should have been granted a general election as soon as a new PM took up post. Obviously, Labour betrayed the public both on that promise and on other 2005 manifesto commitments, but they have - in the light of some improved polls - been hyping the idea of an early election.

Natural Instincts Of A Cynical Leader

Brown’s natural instinct would not be to call an election. Can you imagine his fear at being one of the shortest-lived PMs in British history? In addition, he has already signalled that he only has one election in him and having an election would drain much of the power he currently holds over his party and swathes of the civil service like a sword of Damocles. Up until a few days ago, I was pretty sure that the election speculation Labour has been igniting was pure brinkmanship. But under a welter of cynically timed announcements and actual preparations on the ground is it any longer possible for Gordon to step back?

The Case For Labour To Go Now

Don't expect any principled argument here. Having denied us an election on the hand-over of power from Blair to Brown, the arguments around timing are purely psychological and/or party political, not democratic.

Gordon must be acutely aware of the many political landmines that look ready to explode. In the very near distance are striking unions, EU constitution and cattle epidemic issues. When and how other issues on the radar play out such as public sector pay disputes , the West Lothian question and credit crunching is less easy to guess but no less serious.

Moreover, the salient (unintended) consequence of Labour’s games seems to be a sharpening of the Conservative Party’s focus. If war is said to drive technological advances, it seems that the election speculation is proving to be a handy catalyst in the Conservative Party’s quest to get the unity, policies and clarity of message that will be required cometh the polling day. Yet another factor trending in the wrong direction for delay.

Gordon Brown – Well Short Of Being a Statesman

Of course, like any opposition member or supporter I welcome any opportunity to vote for change, but that won’t stop me calling Brown a deceitful opportunist many rungs short of statesman status. Did Thatcher call an election in 1982 at the height of her popularity immediately after the Falklands War? Of course she didn’t, because, unlike Brown, when she said she was getting on with the job she meant it.

Rabbit In Headlights

So the choice for Gordon is to go now and certainly look like a man afraid of what the future has in store for the country or make a humiliating retreat, for which he’ll deserve to be called a big girl’s blouse.

What Brown Stands For

Under Brown and Blair, Labour has embodied drift and deceit. Brown’s taken this further than ever before with an original twist even Blair shied away from - national socialist rhetoric exemplified by the "British jobs for British workers" slogan Gordon recently stole from the BNP.

So What Can Labour Offer?

A snap election would be a mandate election, but what could a Labour party led by Brown offer the country? Whenever there have been difficult decisions, Labour has kicked the issue into the long grass of reports, inquiries and commissions and much of what you’d expect a political party to run on, is tangled in that quagmire.

In Conclusion

In a nutshell, this tired government can not offer any fresh thinking and their promises can not be trusted. Never has the need to beat Labour been more pressing - never have their tactics been more base. We must highlight and oppose the many failings of Labour and espouse the alternatives we shall present with passion and conviction. If Brown names his date, we’re ready.

Cameron Speech Update

Focused on what the Conservatives would do and what they stand for. Strong, consistent message demonstrating sound principles and a desire to change things for the better. Why not give us the election you've been hawking, Mr Brown?

Exit Interview

I said that I would respond to any questions on the final comment thread.

Paul the HalfSwiss asked would you rather have eternal good health but no money or eternal riches and suffer a slow and painful existence?

The former. I try not to be a materialistic person.

Matt Revell asked will I still crop up in the comments on other people's blogs?

Almost certainly. Probably less frequently.

Sam Tarran asked whether I'll still be stalking the grounds of the blogosphere?

I shall be spending more time helping out with The Ghost Cabinet. If I get the itch to post, I might ask other bloggers whether I can do a guest blog.

Ed asked when am I coming back?

Not for a while – unless Brown calls a snap GE.

Mutley the dog asked whether I think some of these lefty types take life a bit too seriously?

Thanks for taking care of the site from time to time, Mutley. 42 of my posts are labelled games, but not everyone has a sense of humour. Maybe the NHS can help.

Unity asked whether those nasty labour bloggers bruised my ego?

In the words of Dr. Seuss "Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind". So that would be a no. ;-)

Tim asked whether I would suggest that there might be a *conspiracy* against me?

I pointed out the coincidence of receiving 4 comments in half an hour one weekday afternoon from 4 blogging buddies. Conspiracies involve deception or subterfuge, so no I wouldn’t call it a conspiracy.

Tim also asked you didn't have anything to do with Grant Shapps’ campaign in Ealing, did you?

Now who’s talking conspiracies.

This post really is the end. You've had your fill. I'm not publishing comments.

Slipping Off The Radar

On 23 July 2006, the Praguetory blog was born. One year on, I've decided that the time has come to put the toy back in the box. I shall continue to use the site as my political dashboard so the blogroll will remain up-to-date.

I'd like to thank commenters, linkers and lurkers. As anyone who has read this blog knows I could chunter on at length in this post, but instead, I'll do a final entry this weekend where I'll answer any questions you leave in the comments to this post.

Update

Matt Wardman, a good blogging friend of mine - has set up a fun poll. Not quite sure what to make of the options he is offering.

Learning From Canadian Tories

James Forsyth at the Spectator is a commentator with whom I frequently disagree (usually because his arguments are fallacious or based on false premises). He is asking whether a party has ever come back from "this far behind" to win an election. For the purpose of his question, I'll set to one side the fact that the swings at Ealing and Sedgefield would make the Tories the largest party nationally if repeated at a GE and that the Tories won the local elections by a landslide and answer the question as is.

I blogged previously on the parallels between Gordon Brown and ex-Canadian PM Paul Martin. Paul Martin called an election in 2006 where his liberal party were showing a 5% to 10% lead in the polls. The Conservatives won easily in the end as shown by the graphic. More narrative here, but the key feature of the Conservative campaign was their "policy a day" initiative that won round the public and the media. The Conservative leader Stephen Harper isn't and wasn't seen as charismatic, but he was certainly seen as authentic and substantial.

Authenticity is the word Tim Montgomerie at Conservative Home has been using to press home what the Tories need to convey to attract new votes. I couldn't agree more. But don't expect anything I say to carry any weight. In fact the opposite will probably happen, as witnessed by my reshuffle advice to the party to retain Willetts and Maude where they are and demote Osborne.

Labour Archiving Services

My last post was my 600th published. So this is my 601st. Another Labour saddo has spent today trawling through all my posts and archiving them on his PC - and I didn't even engage him to do it! Seems like a nice bloke. I'm sure there was a good reason for him to try to get another blogger sacked in the past, so nothing to worry about. Lol.

He's also going to be on Wolverhampton Radio with Paul Uppal later this week where he'll have the opportunity to consider a monologue I have prepared relating to Gordon Brown. I'm sure his counter-arguments will be grounded in logic and reason rather than a prepared ad hominem attack - that approach certainly hasn't worked for Gordon at PMQs! - but then again, if, like Gordon, your capacity to think on your feet is limited, it's worth a try.

I'm getting deja vu.

Bookish Economics

The most commonly cited weakness of Zimbabwe is the democratic problems and I don't deny these deficiencies, but I believe that the left-wing ideology is just as much as a problem. Let's go through the roll call

- lack of legal protection for private property rights
- printing money to tackle inflation
- nationalisation
- price controls
- state control of the media

Meanwhile life expectancy has fallen by about 30 years over the last 10 years. Zimbabwe now has the lowest life expectancy in the world. This is yet another reason why I oppose big government and left-wing ideology wherever I see it. Speaking of which a good post from The Darker Side Of Bridget Jones.

Rapid Rebuttal

I have no special knowledge about how the voters of Ealing vote and we will know soon enough, but I will say that the Tory rebuttal of the "Tony Lit donation" smear was far too weak and was a blemish in an otherwise excellent campaign. As Mark Twain said;

“A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes”

and indeed the lie that Tony Lit was a Labour donor was not rebutted strongly enough. Lit's response that he attends many such events in a business capacity was simply not forceful enough. The media scrum following the revelation was a chance for Tony to really put the knife into Labour. In his shoes I would have been delighted to make the following points to the press on the Sunday ;

1. I was at the function for business purposes. I agree that it is not ideal that Labour organise events like this as a front for fund-raising activities, but from a business perspective it made sense for Sunrise Radio to be in attendance.
2. The payment for the dinner was made by Sunrise Radio Ltd not me. Therefore, my lawyers will be in touch should any journalists continue to libel me by calling me a Labour donor.
3. I understand that Sunrise Radio Ltd are contacting the Labour Party as a matter of urgency in respect of this apparent breach of privacy, copyright and Data Protection.
4. Is it any surprise that the British people have so little trust in Labour when Labour can't even be trusted to keep private business arrangements confidential?

Monday's headlines start looking a bit different if he rebuts in that style. Might have been worth a few votes, but I guess that Tony Lit is new to politics. One thing is crystal though. Tony is a Tory and he has put in a sterling effort for the party. Best of luck.

Good Lord

The legend known as the Irregular Blogger, the linguanaut or plain old Damon Lord is coming to visit Prague next week. In Cardiff Conservative Future circles, Damon is well known for being an eternal student and a fun bloke. His post on how Facebook discriminates against Gay Lords was a particular joy.

Damon tells me that he has a particular interest in Czech culture and history, so I have suggested showing him some historic sights. Attached are a couple of snaps from the Vysehrad Castle area which I am looking forward to introduce to Damon and Angie.

As for this weekend, I am heading back to the UK where I plan to meet a range of Midlands bloggers including some people who could damage their livelihood if caught blogging nasty anonymous bloggers.