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David Cameron to use Queen's speech to reach out to Ukip voters David Cameron to use Queen's speech to reach out to Ukip voters
(5 months later)
David Cameron will try to reach out to former Tory voters who defected to Ukip in the local elections by characterising next week's Queen's speech as a concerted attempt to address their concerns over immigration and welfare.David Cameron will try to reach out to former Tory voters who defected to Ukip in the local elections by characterising next week's Queen's speech as a concerted attempt to address their concerns over immigration and welfare.
As Tory MPs on the right of the party called for tougher action on Europe and immigration, Downing Street was preparing to launch a media blitz over the weekend to show the government is taking action in key areas highlighted by Ukip.As Tory MPs on the right of the party called for tougher action on Europe and immigration, Downing Street was preparing to launch a media blitz over the weekend to show the government is taking action in key areas highlighted by Ukip.
The Queen's speech on Wednesday will contain measures to limit benefits to some immigrants with a particular focus on placing restrictions on access to the NHS. This is designed to show the government is taking action ahead of the lifting of transitional controls on citizens from Romania and Bulgaria, who will have full rights to work in the EU from next year.The Queen's speech on Wednesday will contain measures to limit benefits to some immigrants with a particular focus on placing restrictions on access to the NHS. This is designed to show the government is taking action ahead of the lifting of transitional controls on citizens from Romania and Bulgaria, who will have full rights to work in the EU from next year.
Downing Street is also indicating to Tory MPs that the prime minister is prepared to back a private members' bill in the new session of parliament that would legislate for an in/out referendum on Britain's EU membership after the next election.Downing Street is also indicating to Tory MPs that the prime minister is prepared to back a private members' bill in the new session of parliament that would legislate for an in/out referendum on Britain's EU membership after the next election.
No 10 acknowledged that it could not introduce any bill authorising an EU referendum as a government measure in the face of Liberal Democrat opposition. "It is impractical to bring it in as a government measure," one source said.No 10 acknowledged that it could not introduce any bill authorising an EU referendum as a government measure in the face of Liberal Democrat opposition. "It is impractical to bring it in as a government measure," one source said.
Downing Street regarded the results in the English local elections as a mixed blessing. The Tories suffered the loss of 335 seats, comfortably within the range predicted by psephologists who said the party was bound to suffer on the grounds that the seats were last contested in 2009 when Cameron was riding on a high the year before the general election.Downing Street regarded the results in the English local elections as a mixed blessing. The Tories suffered the loss of 335 seats, comfortably within the range predicted by psephologists who said the party was bound to suffer on the grounds that the seats were last contested in 2009 when Cameron was riding on a high the year before the general election.
But on the downside, many Tory voters defected to Ukip, ensuring the Tories lost control of bastions in Lincolnshire and Norfolk. They had more success elsewhere as they held on in counties such as Hertfordshire and Somerset. The BBC predicted the Tories would come second with 25% of the overall national share of the vote. Labour was predicted to be on 29% with Ukip on 23% and the Liberal Democrats on 14%.But on the downside, many Tory voters defected to Ukip, ensuring the Tories lost control of bastions in Lincolnshire and Norfolk. They had more success elsewhere as they held on in counties such as Hertfordshire and Somerset. The BBC predicted the Tories would come second with 25% of the overall national share of the vote. Labour was predicted to be on 29% with Ukip on 23% and the Liberal Democrats on 14%.
John Curtice, of Strathclyde University, told the BBC: "The Conservatives suffered about as bad a reverse as we might have anticipated – in effect confirmation that the Conservative end of the coalition is no longer retaining that popularity it had in its first two years of office and that indeed probably things are now more difficult than even 12 months ago."John Curtice, of Strathclyde University, told the BBC: "The Conservatives suffered about as bad a reverse as we might have anticipated – in effect confirmation that the Conservative end of the coalition is no longer retaining that popularity it had in its first two years of office and that indeed probably things are now more difficult than even 12 months ago."
The signals from No 10 came as Tories on the right called on Cameron to acknowledge the way in which Ukip is resonating. Sir Gerald Howarth, the Thatcherite former defence minister, lamented the loss of a Conservative councillor in Hampshire and then added in a tweet: "We need to take tougher action on serious concerns of the public on immigration and Europe."The signals from No 10 came as Tories on the right called on Cameron to acknowledge the way in which Ukip is resonating. Sir Gerald Howarth, the Thatcherite former defence minister, lamented the loss of a Conservative councillor in Hampshire and then added in a tweet: "We need to take tougher action on serious concerns of the public on immigration and Europe."
John Baron, the Tory MP for Basildon and Billericay, who is demanding legislation during this parliament for an in/out EU referendum, said Ukip should no longer be seen as a protest party. "When you see Ukip, certainly in Essex, taking a quarter of the share of the vote, our message to the Conservative leadership is we have got to stop looking at Ukip simply as a protest party," Baron told the Today programme. "Some of its members have genuine concerns about the EU which we need to address," he said.John Baron, the Tory MP for Basildon and Billericay, who is demanding legislation during this parliament for an in/out EU referendum, said Ukip should no longer be seen as a protest party. "When you see Ukip, certainly in Essex, taking a quarter of the share of the vote, our message to the Conservative leadership is we have got to stop looking at Ukip simply as a protest party," Baron told the Today programme. "Some of its members have genuine concerns about the EU which we need to address," he said.
Michael Gove, the education secretary, cautioned that there would be no lurch to the right. "There is no – and I don't think there should be – fundamental change," he told Radio 4's The World at One.Michael Gove, the education secretary, cautioned that there would be no lurch to the right. "There is no – and I don't think there should be – fundamental change," he told Radio 4's The World at One.
But Gove, who said the government has taken action in many areas highlighted by Ukip, acknowledged it was taking time for changes to be noticed on the ground. He said: "When it comes to the concerns that voters have who didn't vote Conservative – some of whom voted Ukip, some of whom didn't vote at all – I think there has been a gap between the decisions we have taken and the implementation on the ground which, naturally, will cause some people to say to this government: we need to see results.But Gove, who said the government has taken action in many areas highlighted by Ukip, acknowledged it was taking time for changes to be noticed on the ground. He said: "When it comes to the concerns that voters have who didn't vote Conservative – some of whom voted Ukip, some of whom didn't vote at all – I think there has been a gap between the decisions we have taken and the implementation on the ground which, naturally, will cause some people to say to this government: we need to see results.
"We are seeing results. There was hard parliamentary pounding in order to make sure we could change the welfare system so that once more we had an approach to benefits which rewarded and incentivised work. It is only this week that the universal credit is being rolled out.""We are seeing results. There was hard parliamentary pounding in order to make sure we could change the welfare system so that once more we had an approach to benefits which rewarded and incentivised work. It is only this week that the universal credit is being rolled out."
Gove also warned it would be "bonkeroony" to attempt to overthrow the prime minister after some defeated councillors questioned his leadership. "I think that any of my colleagues who want to indulge in leadership speculation should spend the weekend reading the history books and consider if leadership speculation has ever helped any political party to enhance its position with the voters. The idea of changing the leader is bonkeroony."Gove also warned it would be "bonkeroony" to attempt to overthrow the prime minister after some defeated councillors questioned his leadership. "I think that any of my colleagues who want to indulge in leadership speculation should spend the weekend reading the history books and consider if leadership speculation has ever helped any political party to enhance its position with the voters. The idea of changing the leader is bonkeroony."
Gove spoke out after Graham Marsh, who lost his seat in Lincolnshire after a Ukip surge, told The World at One that his "rockbed supporters" were angry about the "half promise" of an EU referendum and the time spent on legalising equal marriage. Asked how long Cameron should have to make changes, Marsh said: "I think he has had long enough."Gove spoke out after Graham Marsh, who lost his seat in Lincolnshire after a Ukip surge, told The World at One that his "rockbed supporters" were angry about the "half promise" of an EU referendum and the time spent on legalising equal marriage. Asked how long Cameron should have to make changes, Marsh said: "I think he has had long enough."
Senior Tory MPs cautioned that Cameron should act with care as he responds to Ukip. One MP said: "I suspect the prime minister's head will tell him it is no good chasing after Ukip, which is basically feeding crocodiles. If we could wave a magic wand and put an EU referendum bill in the Queen's speech would it have a magical effect? I doubt it. We need to concentrate on bread-and-butter issues.Senior Tory MPs cautioned that Cameron should act with care as he responds to Ukip. One MP said: "I suspect the prime minister's head will tell him it is no good chasing after Ukip, which is basically feeding crocodiles. If we could wave a magic wand and put an EU referendum bill in the Queen's speech would it have a magical effect? I doubt it. We need to concentrate on bread-and-butter issues.
"It is entirely self-defeating to go after David Cameron. The Conservative party often veers between complacency and panic. Colleagues are in the process of absorbing what has happened. There will no doubt be a lot of chatter behind the scenes over the weekend.""It is entirely self-defeating to go after David Cameron. The Conservative party often veers between complacency and panic. Colleagues are in the process of absorbing what has happened. There will no doubt be a lot of chatter behind the scenes over the weekend."
Tim Farron, the Lib Dem president, said the party had been "obliterated" in the South Shields byelection, where it came seventh. But the party said it performed well in certain areas, such as Cheltenham, where it has MPs and a large number of councillors.Tim Farron, the Lib Dem president, said the party had been "obliterated" in the South Shields byelection, where it came seventh. But the party said it performed well in certain areas, such as Cheltenham, where it has MPs and a large number of councillors.
Nick Clegg said: "It is not good to lose hard-working councillors, as we have done in these elections. The Liberal Democrats are on a journey from a party of protest to a party of government. Actually the pattern that has emerged shows very clearly that where we have MPs, where we have Liberal Democrats out on the doorstep setting out our side to the story, we are holding our own and in some areas actually making gains."Nick Clegg said: "It is not good to lose hard-working councillors, as we have done in these elections. The Liberal Democrats are on a journey from a party of protest to a party of government. Actually the pattern that has emerged shows very clearly that where we have MPs, where we have Liberal Democrats out on the doorstep setting out our side to the story, we are holding our own and in some areas actually making gains."
The Lib Dems saw their vote fall on average by 12 points. Curtice, professor of politics at the University of Strathclyde, said the loss of just 124 seats "flattered to deceive" because Lib Dems were mostly fighting Tories whose vote share also fell.The Lib Dems saw their vote fall on average by 12 points. Curtice, professor of politics at the University of Strathclyde, said the loss of just 124 seats "flattered to deceive" because Lib Dems were mostly fighting Tories whose vote share also fell.
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