No Dogs, Pale Faces or Blokes

If true Conservatism is about anything it is about 'meritocracy' - the principle that, notwithstanding your background, you display the necessary qualities to rise to the top.  If I had been living in Windsor, I would have definitely voted for the Tory candidate, Adam Afriyie.  His background in the Conservatives demonstrated impeccable credentials which boosted his candidature.  I hope he continues to have the support of the people of Windsor in the years ahead and be re-elected in 2009/10.

Turning to the socialist-lite imposition of candidate lists by 'Call me Dave' in an effort to gain more women and ethnic minorities in the party, I feel positively bilious.  My local MP is a white female.  It wouldn't have made any difference if she had been a hirsute 6ft bloke, as black as Newgate's knocker, or blessed with three heads.  She wouldn't have got my vote due to her history of Left-wing activism - period!! 

The point I am making is that the principles are more important than outward appearances.  In the Mail on Sunday, we had a snapshot of at least two of the candidates favoured by the 'Call me Dave' groupies.  One was an Asian female who had a history of tackling 'racism' (oh hell, not that hoary old spectre again!!!) in the Conservative Party.  The other appeared to glory in the fact that she was a lesbian.  How touching. 

Is this the future for the PC Tories?  Candidates who have a curriculum vitae in constant self-obsessed ethnic victimhood, and women who indulge the public with their history of titillating female nether regions!!?  What about the proper catalysts for forging ahead as a prospective MP?  Qualities such as political acumen, a knowledge of parliamentary life, a history of excellent duty to one's local party and constituents, the ability to work unceasingly on behalf of those who elected you????  Do these not count?  Has the base fundamental of Conservative candidate choice simply come down to the possession of breasts, sexual inclination and/or the amount of pigmentation in one's skin?  What a tragic future for a once great movement!!!

Comments

[Henry94]

Democracy has traditionally been government by those who are good at winning elections. That might sound cynical but it works quite well.

In the constituency bear-pit a canditate or sitting MP develops a fine tuned sense of what the issues are within the party and in the public mind. It heads off trouble.

If an MP is choosen on a different basis they may lose that sense.

[Andrew McCann]

Then it says much about the sorry state of this country.

[Colm]

Andrew

The 2 MPs you highlight might also actually posess all the attribute you rightly list for being a worthy holder of office in addition to the those elements that the press chose to highlight.

[Allan@Aberdeen]

Joan Collins should run, although she's got more savvy than any of the Tory front bench and might show them up. Her column in the Spectator is usually spot-on, and very witty.

Margot James probably would make an effective MP.

Priti Patel, OTOH, seems to detect racism where others wouldn't. A few months ago, she gave an interview with the FT in which she complained that racism in the Conservative Party was stopping her being selected for a winnable seat - the "evidence" for this was that one party member had worn a union jack tie to a selection meeting.

Given that Priti Patel campaigned for the Referendum Party in 1997, I'd say she's been treated with considerable generosity by the Conservative Party.

[Colm]

My comment above should read "the 2 would be MP's" - as they haven't been elected yet.

[dangerouslysubversivedad]

Great title...all I can say is that Dear Old Dave might finally do what Kilroy-Silk once said UKIP could do if they tried. He said it really well - I should know - I was there...bloody good speech as well, great shame he blew it on Frost the morning after.

"Kill the Tory Party."

Here's hoping...because they cant use the Howard excuse that this leader was imposed on them. The MEMBERSHIP did this to themselves. 2 to 1. Never forget it.

The Tory Party is finished.

[DumbJon]

The Margon is back ? Why wasn't I told ?

But wait....I thought Margo James, who is a lesbian, was a political genius, sort of like Tony Blair but better at handling the media. How come we didn't see any news articles about the abnormally high swing she managed in the election ? Could it be that the lesbian Margo James actually managed a swing less than the national average....nooooo, that's just crazy talk.

[John Hustings]

I think this needs to be protested and resisted with as much force as can be given. Cameron might back down (or at least water down his ideas) if he thinks he'd have civil war on his hands.

[dangerouslysubversivedad]

Why would Cameron back down? The desperate morons who voted for him have proven that they will do ANYTHING for a chance at getting back into 'power' (whatever that means when the EU can override the few Laws that Westminster is still permitted to make at will. I know I wont be shopping at M&S ever again...).

Cameron is having a laugh. He really is. He's like a kid with an anthill, knowing that whatever he does to those little Constituency Ants they will simply keep scurrying around behaving the same way they've always done.

Until Tuesday before last I at least felt some sympathy for the Ants. Not any more. Now I find it hard to feel anything but contempt.

[John Hustings]

Well, I'm sorry, but I happen to think those ants are just about the only decent people left in this country.