Put your questions to Francis Maude

FRANK O'CONNELL

When Labour came to power they took over sound government books.
Throughout Labour tenure in office gradually put our country in one hell of a mess.
If the Tories had retained office do you think we would be any where near this disaster that we now have.
Why doesnt the Tories pursue this path.
Look at Canada they are not in a mess like there near neighbours the US.

David Lindsay

Why did you sign the Maastricht Treaty?

Fairminded Fred

Q: Francis, why are you wearing a tie? I thought they'd been banned?

Hysteria

Hello Francis

when are you going to start opposing the Labour Government?

David Duff

What's the Tory party for?

Anthony

I echo what Hysteria said.
Get off your butts and do something!!

The Dandiprat

Mr Maude

I wonder would you like to help re-distribute some wealth by purchasing one of my photographic landscapes of the North. The framing is done to a high professional standard and - if I say so myself - they are a nice adornment to the wall of any cultured home or workplace.

I appreciate my approach might be seen as rather unorthodox, but you see, this very day I have been given a friendly fore word that my company is looking to 'rationalise its cost base'.....wink wink.

This here sales pitch is I suppose my 'attempt to diversify'.

(I can get you some cheap baccy if that's more your line.)

Gawain

As Coffe House has highlighted Brown is winning the propoganda war with a stream of dodgy statistics, particularly his debt figures and dubious economics. He is getting away with blue murder (pun intended). Is there anything the opposition can do to use Parliament to expose this and to hold the ONS and Brown to account ? If Parliament is no protection for the taxpayer and cannot uphold honesty in public life what is the point of it ?

mitch

Why are you letting Gordon get away with lying about the state of the public finances? I could do a better job on him than your lot.I want rid of labour but why the hell should I vote for you?

Melissa Forward

It is well known that you and Douglas Hurd signed the Maastricht Treaty on behalf of the UK. How would you vote in the referendum on the Lisbon Treaty that your leader has promised (subject to caveats) - for or against?

Dave from Luton

Why have David Cameron and George Osborne failed so abysmally to pin the blame on Brown for the UK's economic woes; and why are they not even trying to do so

teledu

Why can't the Tories GUARANTEE a referendum on the Lisbon constitution even if they take power after it has been signed and sealed? If the people give you power, why the heck aren't you prepared to use it? Are the Tories just another bunch of politicos that think they know better and are above the public?

Rhoda Klapp

Hysteria got there first, that's my question. And a supplementary, after he didges that one or denies it. After 11 years in opposition, why can't you do it right?

euSSR GO HOME

Q. Mr. Maude: Will you work towards - i) our withdrawal from the lisbon treaty ii) administering a referendum that will allow the British People to decide whether we are to withdraw from europe?

Sue Denim

The tories are ignoring their base to chase the votes of the soft centre-left. Disciss.

Sean

Francis,

Don't you guys get it yet? We don't want small tax cuts that are so specifically targeted they don't get it to those who need it, we want income tax cuts that mean something! When will you advocate broad-based tax cuts?

strapworld

Mr Maude, Would your father, Angus, be proud of the Conservative Party today? If so why?

Nick Stonier

Why won't the Tory Party just have some courage & promise the electorate a referendum on withdrawal from the EU?

richard bond

The German government is convinced that international hedge funds have been a major contributor to the collapse of the banks in America and Europe. How difficult is it for political parties in Britain to analysis this subject objectively when they are recipients of funds from these financial operators? What results or outcome would you like to see in the upcoming international meeting in Washington DC on the global financial crisis?

Neil

mitch 7.32pm is absolutely right - why are you allowing Gordon to get away with his lies on the stats.
It appears to me as if DC is either incapable or not inclined for whatever reason to go for the jugular.
Why is this?

James

If Labour manage to win the next general election, where do you think the blame will lie?

Nicholas

New Labour have managed to politicise many elements within the civil service, including the police, the third sector and even the BBC to provide direct and indirect "agencies" for Labour party political propaganda which undermines constitutional and democratic conventions of impartiality. The main outcome of this has been to conceal or misrepresent the appalling reality of Labour's 11 year assault on the British way of life, an assault made under the pretense of centre-left "progress" or "change" but actually infiltrating more and more elements of the extreme authoritarian left into our daily lives.

What are the Conservatives going to do about it, now and when they become the next government?

mac

What Hysteria said.

mo

Why aren't you playing dirty like Gordon?
Why don't you lot stop trying to sound statesman-like and just let rip at Labour? Times have changed - and you lot are still fighting 1997.

Ted Tedford

Dear Mr Maude: Who should be the next Dr Who and why?

Until you lot show some genuine hunger for office, and start working to represent the millions of us sick to the eye teeth with this mendacious and bullying government, I'm reluctant to seek the views of your party on any more substantial matter.

Archie

Mr. Maude: several questions, if I may, most of which have appeared here before and which indeed you may have seen.

Why will your leader not promise a referendum on membership of the EU, while demanding the same from this
government?

Why does your leader refuse to address the major concerns of the electorate in addition to the item above, i.e. mass
immigration and crime?

Do you think that the fact that none of your party's front bench have little or no experience of running a business
other than a consultancy a detriment to understanding how the real world works?

Why is the your leader trying to embrace constiutuenciies which will never, EVER, vote for his party, and in the
process alienating large numbers of his previous core voters?

Why is Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition not opposing tooth and nail?

Dave

Francis, what are you going to do about the stream of left-wing propaganda emanating from the BBC? We are paying for our own brainwashing! If you're not going to do anything, why should any of us vote for you?

Andy Lees

Dear Mr Maude
It is time to fight against Brown and his Government with words that count, please look back at all the disasters of the last 11 years and forecast what future they bring with this Government.
I agree with others that until you show what you have got then the British people will prefer to carry on with the same thing.
Please forget the principles of fighting the good fight and come in with some low punches that tear Brown and his Government apart apart.

DM

Why is Caroline Spelman still chairman?

DM again

Do you accept the BBC is institutionally biased against the Tories?

Rhoda Klapp

So, Peter H, there are only about four real questions here, variously phrased. They are, in my summation, the failure to oppose (incl Brownies and general limpness), The BBC, the referendum and chasing various constituencies while leaving the base to itself.

Just stick to those four, phrased how you like, but DO NOT ACCEPT any stupid prevaricating politicians answers to them. We aren't here in this forum to hear the same answers we could get on Newsnight or Any questions. We aren't asking gotcha question like the Beeb. Straight questions deserve straight answers. If he comes back with a load of pablum like the last time we tried this with some nonentity whose name has slipped my mind, it is simply not worth typing it in.

mac

Rhoda K:

You're right . . .

. . . I too hope that Mr M doesn't merely offer nostrums in the vein of 'the leadership is in close touch with constituency grass-roots, where there's confidence that a steady hand is needed'; 'we mustn't take any false steps'; 'a patient long game is needed'; 'Labour will implode'; 'remember the polling lead', blah-blah-blah.

Of course, political nous will prevent Mr M from being too open, but I am interested to see just how he presents his response to what TGF characterised as the coffeehouse chorus.

If nothing else, the commonality of coffeehousers' dissatisfaction which you encapsulate should convey to Mr M the level of frustration felt towards the continuing limp ring-craft on display.

Chingford Man

For whom do real conservatives vote at the next election?

Philip Knobbs

Do you have any interesting stories involving spoons?

Chris Stacey

Why are you letting the Government get away with lieing about the level of public debt?

Rhoda Klapp

One more thing. In the original post, a number of ten questions is suggested. You might be able to dredge out ten here, but it would be far better to ask just the four, twice each if necessary. It's a lot easier to hide the non-answers in ten than four. Give him no quarter, he and his party are trying to get us to employ them aren't they?

Simon Anstey

Hysteria got it right and so did several others. I no longer live in the UK, thank God. I become less and less proud of the country as there is really no difference between the Conservatives and the Socialists. Incompetence and dishonesty are the common threads running between the two. Labour is useless and the Tories do not even seem to notice. The political class across the board is firmly committed to the idea of the European Federation. It seems to be a career opportunity for the third rate people who try to govern the country. Why is it that none of the member populations agree with them? Do something for Gods sake. Do you have any plans at all to improve things? Guy Fawkes come back - all is forgiven, and do we have a job for you......

Chris Stacey

(I asked a question earlier about public debt but someone has already asked that - can I ask another instead?):

How can Shadow Ministers with second jobs be effective/focussed in attacking the Government?

frank goddard

Mr Maude,I am a pensioner and I am afraid thet the tories will miss out at the next GE,So why not (a)Give the first time buyers (with five years in full time employment)a free £5k to put down on a property.
(b)Cap the banks in their lending to 95%.
(c)Abolish stamp duty up to £350k.
Surely this is cheaper than giving the banks £37 billion ??
It also gives them their first step to ownership,would give the surplus of apartments for sale,and attract the 30 year old to 40 year old voters.

Ruairi

Dear Mr Maude

Do you think a united Ireland is a legitimate political aspiration?

Do you see a united Ireland taking place in your lifetime?

Regards

Ruairi

Alex R

Francis,

Do you think that Conservative Front Benchers should give up outside paid employment for them to remain on the front bench?

Wasn't this a pledge of David Cameron's?

P.s. Peter, when do I get my t-shirt and magazine for having my question to Grieve published?

michael m

MR Maude

I knew your late and respected Father when he was part of the Thatcher winning team

I am fed up like many others of continually hearing on the media- the Today programme this morning being a prime example- of what a wonderful/respected financial expert Mr Brown is.
If Sir John Major and Jeff Randall today can put in a few words the extent of the real disaster Brown has brought us to, then why have the Front Bench failed so miserably? Why are not all the Shadow Cabinet out there putting the record straight- how can the majority of voters believe the Brown/Darling are best to handle the economy? Brown dithered in 2005 when he knew credit was out of control/the Banks' regulation was non- existent and he has only had to act now because he was forced to- why is this not articulated by you lot?

Your late Father and his leader would have had Brown in knots by now.

Hereford

Question 1: Mr Maude, Can you express in numbers to one decimal point Government debt as percentage of GDP, taking into account all committments including PFI and Public Sector Pensions liabilities?

If the answer to Question 1 is Yes, then why the hell aren't your team taking the opportunity to throw this in GB's face 24 hours a day and seven days a week?

simon cardew

Why has the Conservative Party leadership made Kenneth Clarke as irrelevant as possible. Maybe because he is openly pro-European....is that crime in the Conservative Party today?