What is happening to the Conservative party?

Rhoda Klapp

And how many of the CCHQ PR chancers went for the membership interview, and failed?

TrevorsDen

Klapped out.

I forget where but I have read comments like this elsewhere. Associations in a nice comfort zone, not wanting anyone to stir the pot.

George Laird

Dear All

They probably thought that the person wasn’t the right sort.

I mean ‘working class’ and not rich enough.

And they probably thought that there is only so much room at the trough and a Tory needs ‘elbow room’.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

Ron Lewis

I cannot answer what is up with them, but I can tell you that I am disillusioned with their incompetence in government. I have voted Tory all my life except for the 1997 general election where I abstained (wrote "none of the above" on my ballot paper) due to the sleaze. There was no way I could vote for Blair, as I had him down as a con man right from the start. I am considering voting UKIP from now on, and would like to ask anyone who can help - "why would I vote UKIP rather than Tory?". Is there any neutral comparative material out there that anyone can recommend? To any mickey takers who think that UKIP are a bunch of amateurs - you think that this governement does NOT look amateur?

Maggie

It seems fairly obvious that the local associations smelled a rat and acted accordingly.

Vulture

I think that the 'inexorable decline' in Tory party membership may have something to do with the fact that the current party leader and his clique are not Conservatives and have repeatedly made it clear that they despise those who are.

Archbishop Cranmer

As His Grace said when this story emerged:

We have not been given the precise methodology of the survey or the details of the results: one should be wary of appeals to confidentiality in research. Notwithstanding, His Grace has a few issues with both the data as presented and the (hasty) conclusion that something is rotten in the localised Conservative Party.

Essentially, we know that out of 300+ associations, 150+ did not respond; a 'handful' referred to a membership interview; and 15 (or fewer, depending on what they mean by 'over half'), said they were 'closed to new members'.

We are left to assume that around 150 associations responded properly and professionally to this survey. Considering the dire and impoverished state of some and the complete non-existence of others, that is laudable statistic.

Since association officers receive no training, and even fewer are supported by a professional agent, it is unsurprising that a small number are unaware of basic procedures like admitting new members. While 'closed to new members' is a bizarre response, one wonders what phrase precisely was used, or whether this was some sort of impression gained by someone at CCHQ. It is highly unlikely that 15 independent associations responded with that precise phrase, and it may be that weak associations (where there is no agent or officers, let alone an executive) simply have no administrative mechanism for dealing with new members.

It would be a great pity if this survey were to be used by anyone as justification for diminishing the independence or standing of local associations, for clearly a very great many are doing an excellent job. Before he became Prime Minister, David Cameron called for a ‘radical decentralisation’ which does not constitute some romantic attachment to the past, but one which is designed to revive civic pride by initiating ‘a massive, sweeping, radical redistribution of power: from the state to citizens; from the government to parliament; from Whitehall to communities. From Brussels to Britain; from judges to the people; from bureaucracy to democracy’.

Decentralisation is contiguous with subsidiarity, which should not involve a centralised power-base determining what freedoms and competences it thinks appropriate to devolve to the lower levels: it should be ‘bottom up’, that is, the communities should decide which powers to grant to the centre. The Conservative Party might here draw on Burke’s most famous dictum:

"To be attached to the subdivision, to love the little platoon we belong to in society, is the first principle (the germ as it were) of public affections. It is the first link in the series by which we proceed towards a love to our country, and to mankind."

And yet we observe the centralising tendencies of CCHQ on a number of levels. At the same time as the Prime Minister is talking of devolution, decentralisation and localism, it may be observed that he has done more than any Conservative leader since the nineteenth century to centralise the internal workings of his own party: many of the powers which used to be held by local associations are now exercised centrally by a ruling élite.

So, before this survey is used be that élite to diminish the independence of local associations or to denigrate the efforts of the majority by tarnishing their professionalism with the failings of a few, consideration might be given to the fact that the Party has over 100 outstanding associations; membership might be in decline because the Party in government is not pursuing policies which inspire new members; and the Party has removed so many members' rights, there is no longer any point in joining.

Cjamesk

Meet Blue Labour just like Red Labour.

Paul Nizinskyj

it wouldn't even be that bad if they hadn't stopped you from being able to sign up nationally

Andrewjk

Perhaps that's why their grassroots membership is a bit to the Right of the voter??!

Verity

The Associations are probably in a snit because Dave was rammed down their necks, and he then proceeded to ram ethnics and women down the necks of the Associations rather than following the standard procedure of the Associations selecting the candidates.

They also probably don't want to be associated with Karma Chameleon Cameron and are corresponding in mufti.

Tim R

I joined the Tories years ago for one year. I had no contact at all from the local party and let my membership lapse. I continued to receive (and still do) e mails from Conservative HQ. Several times I wrote back about my experiences with the party; who could I contact etc etc.

Answers - there were none. They couldn't give a toss.

Joined UKIP this year. Read their website for policies - sounds like a proper Conservative Party - the sort members would actually want the real tory party to be.

Oh and read Rod Liddle when he wrote his comparison with the BNP and UKIP. I think even Rodders would admit that all he did was to make UKIP look incredibly attractive to annoyed natural tories. His list of policies for UKIP was a great primer and I remember most of the comments went along the lines of : sounds great, where do I join!

A J Scott

Good to see "George Laird" surfacing again. Been in hibernation?
But these local Conservative Associations need a damn good kicking. Put away the old school ties, knitting balaclavas and golf/Masonic Lodge networking stuff and get stuck in. It is our way of life which is at stake. And the oldies should have the sense to see that if they don't, there won't be anything for their next generation. Written as a 77 year old life long Conservative, by the way.

Victor Southern

Ron Lewis

There some active and competent local Conservative Associations - quite a lot of them and certainly more competent than anything you are likely to encounter in UKIP. We do things, all sorts of projects - Kippers mostly only fulminate and echo each other.

GDT

is it not just a symptom of being back in power?

Deep Snoozer

Ron Lewis

So you're upset that we have an incompetent government? Take a bow, it sounds like you had a hand in it!!

David Leishman

I emailed the Stirling Conservative Association a few years back asking for information on how to join. They never replied. Quite surprising especially given the lack of Tories in Scotland.

I'm secretly glad now, I only class myself as a Tory on the grounds of expediency. And to get in to arguments at work or in the pub.

frosty the polar bear

As a mere bear, i do find some things most puzzling.
conservative, suggests to me, a person who conserves, conserves are also known as jams,
the tory party are now in a jam.
very circular, and very puzzling to a poor old bear.

Extranea

incompetence even at the grass roots then

Athesius the Facilitator

RON lEWIS-I am pretty much in agreement with your sentiments and am well hacked off. My only problem is the dreaded Labour party will get back in if the UKIPs split the vote. The other thing is of course is that our own right of centre MPs have not got the balls to front up to Cameron and tell him to sort this euro business out. And one more thing; Cameron, Osborne and one or two others are doing a pretty good job with the economy and are showing some nerve against a hostile press and a "Bandwaggon" Opposition.

tomdaylight

They could start by sorting out central memberships. I never received any acknowledgement that I joined the party, no membership card or anything. And at £25 (whereas Labour is currently offering membership for 1p!!!) it's so expensive, with so little return, I haven't bothered renewing - not that I was asked to anyway. Who'd bother being a member of the Conservative Party anyway?

Rosscoe

Ive joined the party twice, once in 1995 and again in 2006, my membership both times has lapsed without a reminder or a request to renew despite the fact that in 1997 (whilst technically not a member) I was chair of the local branch of yc's and have never left the party or not paid a bill or even rejected a direct debit request(none having been requested)

I seem to remember that when Ken Clarke was chancellor it emerged that he hadn't been a member for some time as he'd never been asked and not thought about it, central office needs to get a grip if not in a central database then on individual associations.

Cogito Ergosum

My story is a bit different. I had been attending conservative-ish functions for a while; then the Chairman at the time cornered me and asked me to cough up.

cpt

As someone involved in an association, the decline in membership is very simple. What is the benefit in being a member? With open primaries taking away the right to vote and more powers being removed, associations are increasingly being populated by councilors and an ageing population of historical members, many of whom have little political interest.

It is no surprise that membership in groups like Conservative Way Forward are showing an increase in numbers. Grass roots members need to have a positive outlet for their concerns

Marcher Baron

While I have never actively joined the Conservative party, I have helped deliver leaflets, etc to aid their campaign (in order to oust an anti-hunting Labour MP). Since repealing the useless Hunting Act appears to be another of Cameron's back-tracks, I shan't be doing it again.

Archie

Did it occur to you Mr. Blackburn, that the Associations might be at loggerheads with CCHQ over policy?

Ian Walker

Cor, the Labour trolls seem to have upped their game with the "I voted Tory but I can't believe their incompetence" schtick. Very well coordinated, with the initial post and then the "I agree" follow ups.

I think younger people especially are quite reluctant to identify with a party to the extent of joining it as a member. I'm not sure this is actually a problem anyway; I think we'll slowly creep towards a more individualistic politics over the next century. For the majority of things that an MP does, I'd rather have a local person representing local views than a party stooge.

Remittance Man

What did Andrew actualy write?

Dear Mr Local party Chairman,

I really really love what Dave is doing and want to sign up so I can help him keep on doing all these great things.

Love and hugs,

A former Liberal

Given the reported dislike of Cameroonism at grassroots level I'm guessing such a letter wouldn't get much shrift in many local party offices.

Bill Brinsmead

Folk in my Association and its branches don't want more members - they want more helpers at election time but that is a separate issue.

And why not? More competition for office, likely challenges to ways of doing and thinking, dilution of the Rotary lite social mix. I despair.

URAllPigs

They must have smelled a rat - who would join the Conservatives now? Come on, really - if you weren't a signed up blue-nose before you would hardly declare yourself one now knowing what they are doing to the UK.

strapworld

Cogito Ergosum

The Chairman was a doctor then?

P C C

2 and a 1/2 months after joining the Conservative party, I received an email from my local Conservative Association which informed me that they had not made any previous contact, because members who joined online at their details sent to an old email address.

Occasional Ostrich

Do they really want members who are so "tech-unsavvy" as to be unable to use the ConservativeHome website to find out all they need to know?

Ron Lewis

Thanks to those who answered me specifically. I was interested in some of the other comments also re. joining the Tories. I also have joined twice - well, I think I have as I sent membership fee and filled in the form online the second time in December 2008. Since then I have just had the circular emails from Dave and Daft Warsi. No acknowledgement, no reminder to renew in December 2009, 2010. They just seem to be incompetent. I do not want to deliver leaflets, have a pint at the "Con Club", etc etc. I just want my country to be run properly and not to be taxed to death. I retired early and will be 62 soon, so will probably only vote another 3 times in general elections. I will NEVER vote conservative whilst it is run by the current cabal or their ilk. I will always vote, even if I spoil my ballot, because so many people gave their lives for me to have this privelige, but the choice of clowns we have now in the Conservative Party (or Labour, if you are of a left wing persuasion) is very depressing. Ah, well, off to the UKIP website for a good read!

George Laird

Dear A J Scott

You said:

“Good to see "George Laird" surfacing again. Been in hibernation?”

Thank you very much, I feel like I have been missed on here with your reply.

I have been trying to push a political boulder uphill trying to get the SNP to get fully behind a single Scottish National Police force.

I proposed it on the 4th September 2010 at the SNP National Assembly!

Four and a half months before the Scottish Government made their statement on the 12th of January regarding Police reform.

I got no credit for it.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University