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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/09/tories-must-avoid-populism-temptation-says-justice-secretary-david-gauke
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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Tories must avoid populism temptation, says justice secretary | Tories must avoid populism temptation, says justice secretary |
| (10 days later) | |
| The justice secretary has accepted that voters will “kick” the Tories in the European elections, but warned the party against populism and “yearning for a mythical” past. | The justice secretary has accepted that voters will “kick” the Tories in the European elections, but warned the party against populism and “yearning for a mythical” past. |
| David Gauke, in a speech to the Conservative thinktank Onward, blamed Brexit supporters for fuelling the frustration of voters by promoting “wishful thinking” and ignoring the difficulties of leaving the European Union. | David Gauke, in a speech to the Conservative thinktank Onward, blamed Brexit supporters for fuelling the frustration of voters by promoting “wishful thinking” and ignoring the difficulties of leaving the European Union. |
| Revealed: populists far more likely to believe in conspiracy theories | Revealed: populists far more likely to believe in conspiracy theories |
| He said: “Over-promising, over-simplifying and failing to deliver will only encourage further disenchantment.” | He said: “Over-promising, over-simplifying and failing to deliver will only encourage further disenchantment.” |
| Gauke, who was interviewed before the speech, predicted that the European elections in two weeks would be difficult for the Conservative party, adding “people see this election as an opportunity to give the established parties a kick”. | Gauke, who was interviewed before the speech, predicted that the European elections in two weeks would be difficult for the Conservative party, adding “people see this election as an opportunity to give the established parties a kick”. |
| Labour and the Liberal Democrats will launch their European election campaigns on Thursday, but the Conservatives were not planning to launch a campaign amid reports the party was not even intending to publish a manifesto. | Labour and the Liberal Democrats will launch their European election campaigns on Thursday, but the Conservatives were not planning to launch a campaign amid reports the party was not even intending to publish a manifesto. |
| Some Tory insiders were said to fear it could poll less than 10% with many members signalling they planned to vote for Nigel Farage’s populist Brexit party. | Some Tory insiders were said to fear it could poll less than 10% with many members signalling they planned to vote for Nigel Farage’s populist Brexit party. |
| But Gauke urged the Conservatives to reject populism. He said: “We have to avoid the temptation to be a populist party. That would narrow our support, narrow our base and result in policies that I don’t think would be good for the United Kingdom.” | But Gauke urged the Conservatives to reject populism. He said: “We have to avoid the temptation to be a populist party. That would narrow our support, narrow our base and result in policies that I don’t think would be good for the United Kingdom.” |
| The UK elects 73 members (MEPs) to the European parliament, which is made up of 751 MEPs elected by the 28 member states of the EU. The UK is split into 12 European electoral regions, and each region is represented by between three and 10 MEPs. | The UK elects 73 members (MEPs) to the European parliament, which is made up of 751 MEPs elected by the 28 member states of the EU. The UK is split into 12 European electoral regions, and each region is represented by between three and 10 MEPs. |
| The constituencies are: | The constituencies are: |
| South East England (10 MEPs) | South East England (10 MEPs) |
| London (8) | London (8) |
| North West England (8) | North West England (8) |
| East of England (7) | East of England (7) |
| West Midlands (7) | West Midlands (7) |
| South West England (including Gibraltar) (6) | South West England (including Gibraltar) (6) |
| Yorkshire and the Humber (6) | Yorkshire and the Humber (6) |
| Scotland (6) | Scotland (6) |
| East Midlands (5) | East Midlands (5) |
| Wales (4) | Wales (4) |
| North East England (3) | North East England (3) |
| Northern Ireland (3) | Northern Ireland (3) |
| You can find out who is standing for election in your area here. | |
| In England, Scotland and Wales, voters can choose to vote for one party or individual. The ballot paper lists the parties standing with the names of their potential MEPs, as well as any individuals who are standing as independent candidates. The D’Hondt method of proportional representation is used to calculate how many seats each party or individual receives. | In England, Scotland and Wales, voters can choose to vote for one party or individual. The ballot paper lists the parties standing with the names of their potential MEPs, as well as any individuals who are standing as independent candidates. The D’Hondt method of proportional representation is used to calculate how many seats each party or individual receives. |
| In Northern Ireland, the single transferable vote method is used, where each voter ranks candidates in order of preference, marking 1 beside their most preferred candidate, 2 beside their second choice, and so on. These votes are then used to allocate Northern Ireland’s three MEPs. | In Northern Ireland, the single transferable vote method is used, where each voter ranks candidates in order of preference, marking 1 beside their most preferred candidate, 2 beside their second choice, and so on. These votes are then used to allocate Northern Ireland’s three MEPs. |
| Those elected as MEPs on 23 May will represent the UK when the new European parliament assembles on 1 July, until such time as the UK ceases to be a member of the European Union. | Those elected as MEPs on 23 May will represent the UK when the new European parliament assembles on 1 July, until such time as the UK ceases to be a member of the European Union. |
| He also cautioned against holding a Tory leadership contest, despite growing calls from MPs for Theresa May to set a date for her departure. | He also cautioned against holding a Tory leadership contest, despite growing calls from MPs for Theresa May to set a date for her departure. |
| Gauke told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: “I think the parliamentary party should back the prime minister because the approach of getting a [withdrawal] deal is, in the end, the best way in which we can hold the country together and deliver on the referendum result without either the economic travails of a no-deal Brexit or all the difficulties and division of a second referendum.” | Gauke told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: “I think the parliamentary party should back the prime minister because the approach of getting a [withdrawal] deal is, in the end, the best way in which we can hold the country together and deliver on the referendum result without either the economic travails of a no-deal Brexit or all the difficulties and division of a second referendum.” |
| In his speech he did not name any of the leadership candidates but his comments would be considered an attack on the frontrunner Boris Johnson and his supporters in the hard Brexit European Research Group. | In his speech he did not name any of the leadership candidates but his comments would be considered an attack on the frontrunner Boris Johnson and his supporters in the hard Brexit European Research Group. |
| How Theresa May's departure from No 10 could play out | How Theresa May's departure from No 10 could play out |
| Gauke said: “Politicians should treat the public as adults and be prepared to set out that we may often face a range of imperfect choices, that most choices have costs as well as benefits. Oversimplifying issues – a tendency of the populist politician – only increases scepticism in our politics when claims turn out to be untrue.” | Gauke said: “Politicians should treat the public as adults and be prepared to set out that we may often face a range of imperfect choices, that most choices have costs as well as benefits. Oversimplifying issues – a tendency of the populist politician – only increases scepticism in our politics when claims turn out to be untrue.” |
| On Brexit he accused some of failing to accept that choices have costs. “This wishful thinking – that we could have the exact same benefits as membership of the EU but with none of the obligations – has not survived the collision with reality,” he said. “But it has left some voters bemused and angry that the simple Brexit they were promised by some has not been delivered. But over-promising, over-simplifying and failing to deliver will only encourage further disenchantment.” | On Brexit he accused some of failing to accept that choices have costs. “This wishful thinking – that we could have the exact same benefits as membership of the EU but with none of the obligations – has not survived the collision with reality,” he said. “But it has left some voters bemused and angry that the simple Brexit they were promised by some has not been delivered. But over-promising, over-simplifying and failing to deliver will only encourage further disenchantment.” |
| He added: “Conservatism should be broad, not narrow; open, not closed; forward-looking, not yearning for a mythical past ... We should seek to unite, not divide. One Nation Conservatism.” | He added: “Conservatism should be broad, not narrow; open, not closed; forward-looking, not yearning for a mythical past ... We should seek to unite, not divide. One Nation Conservatism.” |
| Conservatives | Conservatives |
| European parliamentary elections 2019 | European parliamentary elections 2019 |
| Brexit | Brexit |
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