This post comes from our good friends over at Manchester Metropolitan University CF. It’s written by their Chairman Andy Hartley and the original can be found here.
You’re in the wrong party!
Something I get told on a regular basis by a number of my friends is that I’m a member of the wrong political party.
Granted I come from a single parent family and a socio-economic group of C2, plus my mum is on a low wage (she works in textiles, skilled but low paid). I am also fairly socially liberal and a self confessed wet (although I believe in small government as I will explain later); or to be more contemporary in that context, I’m a believer in One Nation Conservatism.
If I was American then I’d currently be supporting the Democrats, and would have certainly voted for Obama; although I’m more than likely to be a floating voter usually.
I understand the value and usefulness of collectivism, however I’m not a fan of trade unions, or more correctly, certain trade unions.
All that aside though, the major reason for my membership of the conservatives over Labour or any other political party is the ideal of realising an aspiration, without having to jump through hoops or finding there’s a penalty when I get there.
Under today’s Labour government you are penalised for; living with a partner, earning between (about) £5,500 and £18,000 a year, wanting to buy a house costing just over £250,000 (and then the inheritance tax you’ll have to pay to pass it onto your children when you die), buying a car two years ago with average to high CO2 emissions (rather than in the future), and not being very good at filling in forms!
Now I understand the theory behind redistribution of wealth. The idea is a sound one, except in the 21st century it’s very easy to avoid paying so much tax, by moving to another country with a lower tax rate! If the planned increase in income tax (to 45%) for those earning over £150,000 takes place, then what you end up with is some people who earn over £150,000 not paying any UK tax because they’ve become ex-pats. You can’t redistribute wealth that isn’t there. It’s much better to close loopholes for those who pay less tax then their cleaners and chase those that use creative accounting (obviously proper accounting that is perfectly legal and above board isn’t a problem).
Parents don’t need to be told how to raise their children. If they did then everyone would be up a creek that rhymes with Brit. They do need support, advice and guidance, but the nanny state that Labour have created means that parents are expected to raise their children in a pre-set way. You’re not allowed to clip your child around the ear or give them a short sharp slap on the wrist any more. Such a sanitised society means that some children don’t have the discipline or respect that they should.
Why is the state intervening in almost everything we do? Humans learn by making mistakes, but slapping a compliance form on individual tasks is diminishing people’s ability to judge right from wrong. Risk should be judged beforehand and controlled, in the same way the scouts have to before an adventurous activity; in almost all circumstances, the activity should go ahead with the inherent risk accepted. The problem is we are become so risk-averse that children are growing up without the necessary life skills to see that risk for themselves. It’s ridiculous thatadventurous activities aren’t allowed to happen because someone might get hurt; like boys playing rugby at school!
Enough of my whining for the moment, let me talk about collectivism in the context of students unions. It is important when leading, or carrying out the duties of, any union to show a collective front; one message, not a confused message; otherwise you don’t get anywhere. Whilst in the meeting to decide your policy, however, that is the time for you to speak your mind and voice any reservations you have with a proposals. Furthermore, you should make your own mind up rather than vote in a particular way because you’ve been told to by someone else.
Once the decision has been made though, everything changes. Whatever your views beforehand, it’s imperative that you accept the collective responsibility of the policy that has been created. Much like a whip in the House of Commons, you should keep with what your union has agreed; there are only so many rebels an organisation can deal with, and if you are seen to be divided then you won’t be taken seriously. In my role as Vice President (Welfare) of MMUnion next year, this will be my philosophy.
I’m not, however, going to tell students what to do, what to think, or what to say. It is for individual students to make individual choices. If they want to march for free education then I’m not going to stop them joining a demonstration.
Returning to my membership of the Conservative Party; as you can see above, I’ve put myself on the left of the party, more or less the only MP that is further left is Ken Clarke. I believe in compromise and tolerance. I’m open to the idea that the Tories can sometimes get it wrong, and Labour get it right. It was right, for example, that the government took shares in the banks when public money was used to bail them out.
It is these values of social, liberal conservatism that have shaped who I am. I see the strength in unity but reject the authoritarian stance of the Labour party. None of this, however, will affect my role as a student union officer.
JR
Posted by University of Manchester Conservative Future 
