It’s enough to make you feel sorry for David Cameron. The Telegraph report gives the highlights:
Conservative MPs launch attempt to bring back death penalty, privatise the BBC and ban burka
Conservative MPs have drawn up an “Alternative Queen’s Speech” with radical policies such as bringing back the death penalty, privatising the BBC and banning the burka in public spaces.
The 42 bills also include legislation to scrap wind farm subsidies, end the ringfence for foreign aid spending and rename the late August Bank Holiday “Margaret Thatcher Day”. Britain’s relationship with Europe features prominently in the action plan, with draft laws setting out how the UK would leave the European Union and a Bill to prevent Bulgarians and Romanians winning new rights to work, live and claim benefits here from next year.All of the proposals were laid before the House of Commons last night after the Tory backbenchers hijacked an obscure Parliamentary procedure by camping out in Westminster for four successive nights.
Many of the less controversial policies – including legislating for a transferable tax allowance for married couples and making the Coalition’s introduction of same-sex marriage subject to referendum – are known to be very popular amongst Conservative MPs. Those MPs behind the alternative legislative programme say it is a “genuine attempt” to show what policies a future Conservative government could deliver.
Yes, that’s right: this is a very “genuine attempt” by Tory rebels to demonstrate once again to David Cameron why he’d much rather have to deal with the Lib Dems than be held perpetual hostage by the substantial number of fruitcakes and loonies on his own party’s hardline right-wing.
One of the architects of the plans, Peter Bone (for it is he), says “This is serious attempt to deliver policies that the British public really want. There are ideas here that could form the basis of a future Conservative manifesto.”
Let’s hope so. After all, they’re the kind of ideas that worked so triumphantly for the Tories in 2001 and 2005. And I love this comment:
When asked what he thought David Cameron would make of the policies, Mr Bone: “I think the Prime Minister will be pretty relaxed about this.”
That’s ‘relaxed’ in a stung-out-in-despair-god-do-I-really-have-to-put-up-with-these-idiots kind of way. It all reminds me of a certain Daily Mail headline:
* Stephen was Editor (and Co-Editor) of Liberal Democrat Voice from 2007 to 2015, and writes at The Collected Stephen Tall.
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21 Comments
‘Margaret Thatcher’s Day’ should be April 1st.
Well done, Steven.
A very clever wind-up.
I’m not entirely sure how this shows how the Lib Dems are vital to Cameron? If you weren’t in Coalition then the Tories would have a minority and none of these policies would stand a chance of becoming law. Nor for that matter would many other Coalition policies.
Unless you meant that the Lib Dems are vital to Cameron in allowing him to pursue Tory led policies despite not having a majority?
In which case, I suppose they are, but it’s not really something to shout about…
“Conservative MPs launch attempt to bring back death penalty,…….and ban burka”
Those measure are a bit harsh on CallmeDave. And I didn’t know he even wore a burkah. Not even when he’s dealing with matters of state before breakfast. 😉
@g
“If you weren’t in Coalition then the Tories would have a minority and none of these policies would stand a chance of becoming law. ”
Assuming at least one more Opposition MP turns up and votes against it. It’s also not unheard of for the conservatives within Labour and Conservatives to vote the same way. If it were a minority Conservative government I’d imagine more right-wing and/or authoritarian legislation would get through via Labour abstentions or support than the current situation with the Lib Dems to reinforce the more… ‘nicer’ Tories.
I am tired of this government, I can’t get the help I need from the Lib Dem MP, I have. There is no input into the All Party Group on Child Abduction.
My MP is not interested. When MP’s campaign for the right to serve others not themselves, we should ask, what they won’t do.
I feel that a vote for the Lib Dems is a wasted vote after 21 years, I have discovered. I have just changed my support and it wont be UKIP or the Lib Dems, I did ring Nick Cleggs office this morning, I doubt if this will make any changes. Why should anyone listen? In a few months the reasons will start to become clear, again.
I’m sorry to hear that Helen. I hope your concerns are taken seriously.
G, if we werent in government, the Tories would have held a second General election which they might have won outright.
@Eddie Salmon, no they are not.
Children suffer badly, and this is a serious crime, The ex school teacher received up to 7 years just days ago for child abduction. You are just as guilty to run with your own child.
Check to see how many MP’s for this Party are in the All Party Group on International Child Abduction. None! I wont comment further.
I give up with my MP now, and I have to leave the area, there is no housing as a pensioner, not happy with either of these. Life as a pensioner is not easy under this Government.
I was a member of the Lib Dems for over 21 years, disgusted with the bedroom tax, and the arrogance of how these issues are handled.
G, if we werent in government, the Tories might have held a second General election, which they might have won outright. Or they might have lost it of course. Or they might have muddled along taking one parliamentary vote at a time because they didn’t dare face the voters again. Or they might have formed a grand coalition with Labour. Or….
But we put them into government and gave them the power to rule for five years. That’s the actuality. That’s what the public will remember. That’s what the public will judge us for. Not very highly, as things stand.
“if we werent in government, the Tories would have held a second General election which they might have won outright.”
Instead of making appeals to alternative realities, why don’t you try and justify the current actions of the lib dems in government? If you can’t do that, then you should really be asking yourselves what on earth are you doing in government.
Richard Shaw, do you really think a number of Labour MPs would vote for the following :
“legislation to scrap wind farm subsidies, end the ringfence for foreign aid spending and rename the late August Bank Holiday “Margaret Thatcher Day”. Britain’s relationship with Europe features prominently in the action plan, with draft laws setting out how the UK would leave the European Union and a Bill to prevent Bulgarians and Romanians winning new rights to work, live and claim benefits here from next year.”?
“…..But we put them into government and gave them the power to rule for five years. That’s the actuality. That’s what the public will remember. That’s what the public will judge us for. Not very highly, as things stand.” David Allen
20-20 hindsight is great. But NC has to find a way out of this mess – it is killing us for yet another generation. I am becoming – after 50 years+ membership VERY disillusioned.
Google the Reunite International web page.
A matter of post code lottery with your MP’s , read some of the articles on the this site. Also, take a look at the Facebook page.
How so you think people feel when they have lost their children in child abduction? it takes nothing to help and write a letter, It does for some of your MP’s.
Helen Who is your MP ? Have they got back to you yet ?
If the right wing Tories want to re-name August bank holiday ‘Margaret Thatcher Day’. Then perhaps we should demand that any proposed Autumn Bank Hol (first Monday in November is best) is named ‘Grand old Gladstone’ day.
No he has not. I was at a meeting last Saturday in London on the subject ,
I am not prepared to say who my MP is , he knows I have made contact with the office of Nick Clegg, just a few days ago.
All I will say is, unless we have the help we need, this remains a problem for years. It appears not to be one of the most important subjects, within your Party.
I suspect one of the right-wing MPs who supported the ‘Alternative Queen’s Speech’ might be our MP for Peterborough. On the issue of Housing Benefit changes, and particularly ‘bedroom tax’ he might be on thin ice. He lives in a 4+ bedroom house with swimming pool in a prime location which cost £475,000 when he was first elected in 2005, for which the mortgage is paid out of public funds. A 3-bed detached in a ‘good’ area of the City at that time cost about 2/3 of that. I understand our MP has one child.
The allowance is claimed as the MP’s 2nd home, necessarily in the Constituency. The MP also owns a house in London which is currently rented out. The MP came to public prominence when the Daily Telegraph revealed he had claimed £300+ for maintenance of his swimming pool. the Telegraph also revealed he had claimed, inter alia, £3,000 for a 100% wool Berber carpet. He is now disputing a demand by Commons authorities that he repay £54,000 in capital gains he has made on the value of his publicly-funded home to the extent they have issued a High Court summons against him.
Last week some 4,500 people had to attend court in this City to answer summonses over non-payment of Council Tax now that their benefits have been reduced. One has to ask who is the biggest ‘benefits scrounger’ in these circumstances.
As I commented before, with a large pay rise coming, the attitude of SOME of the MP’s, and the need to shout to make yourself heard.
My MP, is always busy he says, well sorry to bother you, is the answer.
I think that changes will be in the offing during the next election, if not sooner. No one should be treated, as if they don’t matter.
With the bedroom tax, like the poll tax, it could be the death nail of those in power. Knock the less well off, keep on about mansion tax. Our NHS is far from what it should be, large pot holes in the road, no housing,
I have just been completing my own international law forms for a family matter abroad. It is a good thing that for many years I have been reading law, not for those who don’t.
I am having to redo the whole lot, it got lost in the post. Next time, I get on the train and take to where it should go.
The talking shop that is going on this weekend, is good for those who wish or need to talk. I prefer to do, rather than talk.
The Burka should be banned, It is simply a way to oppress women.
How can you ban something that is meaningful to a religious way of life?
As I stated, MP’s can do and say what they think is correct, but they were elected to serve those who put them there, that is something forgotten.
Somethings are acceptable, somethings are not. I most certainly will consider what I wish in the future, not an MP who feels he has the right to dictate his views.
VERY pleased “Sir Eddy”, my MP, is not one of those that would be the right wing Tory “tail” with undue influence on a minority Conservative “dog” government.
If Dave wants to blame us for the Government being more pro-Europe or for equal rights than a Conservative Government would be I have no problems with that.