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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/news/commentisfree/2017/aug/12/the-big-issue-right-wing-tories-theresa-may-labour-policies
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| The big issue: rightwing Tories would never let May adopt Labour policies | |
| (9 days later) | |
| I enjoyed Will Tanner’s recommendations for the Tory party to avoid “Jeremy Corbyn’s back to the future socialism [which] would be ruinous for Britain” (“To win again, the Tories must become radical champions of fairness”, Comment). | I enjoyed Will Tanner’s recommendations for the Tory party to avoid “Jeremy Corbyn’s back to the future socialism [which] would be ruinous for Britain” (“To win again, the Tories must become radical champions of fairness”, Comment). |
| The former deputy head of the Downing Street policy unit lists a string of proposals for Theresa May’s government: spend more on the NHS; regulate markets more effectively; build a larger, stronger, more interventionist state; control the rapacious privatised utilities; make universities more socially engaged; devolve whole areas of central government; ease public sector pay restraint; spend less on defence and more on transport and research and development; go for a softer Brexit. | The former deputy head of the Downing Street policy unit lists a string of proposals for Theresa May’s government: spend more on the NHS; regulate markets more effectively; build a larger, stronger, more interventionist state; control the rapacious privatised utilities; make universities more socially engaged; devolve whole areas of central government; ease public sector pay restraint; spend less on defence and more on transport and research and development; go for a softer Brexit. |
| Tanner never suggests how the right wing of the Conservative party might allow May to pursue any of these policies. Nor does he acknowledge that every one of his recommendations featured in the Labour election manifesto. So perhaps he could explain why, if May pursues these policies, they will be good for the country, but if Corbyn does they will be “ruinous”?Daniel VulliamyDriffield, East Yorkshire | Tanner never suggests how the right wing of the Conservative party might allow May to pursue any of these policies. Nor does he acknowledge that every one of his recommendations featured in the Labour election manifesto. So perhaps he could explain why, if May pursues these policies, they will be good for the country, but if Corbyn does they will be “ruinous”?Daniel VulliamyDriffield, East Yorkshire |
| Will Tanner’s ideas on how the Tories can win again were interesting. He says the new Conservatism “should prioritise opportunity for the young and the hard working over security for the old and the undeserving”. Who are this wonderfully Victorian group – the undeserving? | Will Tanner’s ideas on how the Tories can win again were interesting. He says the new Conservatism “should prioritise opportunity for the young and the hard working over security for the old and the undeserving”. Who are this wonderfully Victorian group – the undeserving? |
| I can only guess about the plans for us old people, as I don’t know who the undeserving are. If his proposals turn out to be a real attack on the old (and those mysterious “undeserving”), more Tory votes are likely to be lost. Most old people have families. They won’t like a party that takes away security for the old. | I can only guess about the plans for us old people, as I don’t know who the undeserving are. If his proposals turn out to be a real attack on the old (and those mysterious “undeserving”), more Tory votes are likely to be lost. Most old people have families. They won’t like a party that takes away security for the old. |
| Surely a government should look after all its citizens, even if that proves difficult in practice. Starting with calling some of them “undeserving” has a whiff of Animal Farm.Margot JonesShoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex | Surely a government should look after all its citizens, even if that proves difficult in practice. Starting with calling some of them “undeserving” has a whiff of Animal Farm.Margot JonesShoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex |
| The Tories becoming “radical champions of fairness”? There is more chance of Shergar being found alive. History shows that the Conservative party is based on preserving the wealth, property and benefits enjoyed by the wealthy who, in return, become party donors. Businesses have their regulations reduced by Conservative governments so that they can make more profits and, in return, help to fund the party. | The Tories becoming “radical champions of fairness”? There is more chance of Shergar being found alive. History shows that the Conservative party is based on preserving the wealth, property and benefits enjoyed by the wealthy who, in return, become party donors. Businesses have their regulations reduced by Conservative governments so that they can make more profits and, in return, help to fund the party. |
| Cameron and May might well espouse the need to act on “relative poverty” and help the “just about managing”, but the rhetoric found reality, with austerity measures aimed at the least fortunate. Does Tanner really expect the Tories to tackle “corporate excess”, regulate greedy landlords and increase tax “on unproductive parts of the economy, such as property” when so many Tory MPs and their supporters would be targeted? Bernie EvansLiverpool | Cameron and May might well espouse the need to act on “relative poverty” and help the “just about managing”, but the rhetoric found reality, with austerity measures aimed at the least fortunate. Does Tanner really expect the Tories to tackle “corporate excess”, regulate greedy landlords and increase tax “on unproductive parts of the economy, such as property” when so many Tory MPs and their supporters would be targeted? Bernie EvansLiverpool |
| Higher levels of taxation make many European societies more productive, egalitarian and civilised, including conservative-run Germany. It’s as if Angela Merkel had a “magischer Geldbaum”. Theresa May scoffed at her opponents having a magic money tree, but there was nothing fair about expecting around one in six elderly families to spend all but their last £100,000 paying towards their own care, rather than pooling the risks, as they do on the continent. | Higher levels of taxation make many European societies more productive, egalitarian and civilised, including conservative-run Germany. It’s as if Angela Merkel had a “magischer Geldbaum”. Theresa May scoffed at her opponents having a magic money tree, but there was nothing fair about expecting around one in six elderly families to spend all but their last £100,000 paying towards their own care, rather than pooling the risks, as they do on the continent. |
| In the name of fairness, we could stop mollycoddling tax exiles and trustafarians drawing income from multigenerational, tax-sheltered, family trust funds. Above all, we must end non-domiciled tax status, which no other nation extends to its citizens.David NowellNew Barnet, Hertfordshire | In the name of fairness, we could stop mollycoddling tax exiles and trustafarians drawing income from multigenerational, tax-sheltered, family trust funds. Above all, we must end non-domiciled tax status, which no other nation extends to its citizens.David NowellNew Barnet, Hertfordshire |
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