Time spent debating with and talking to left wing think tanks, TUC reps and a dizzy whirl of political speed meetings - some of our international brethren called it speed dating (see my later post on this later today) dominated my 3 days in Manchester. Sunday night I spoke at the Low Pay event with the TUC, the resolution Foundation and a full room debating the minimum and living wage, equality, the way to opportunity and so much more.
Monday and Tuesday I spent plenty of time with the boss on Home Office business, although I did a round table on skills and apprenticeships, and met with the Association of Colleges and Red Cross. I spoke at a great debate on local banks with the Salford Rep of Unite and head of the Salford Credit Union - he spoke superbly and we ended up discussing how we can help set up exactly the same institution I am aiming for in Tynedale. Our aims are exactly the same and Peter Jackson, our local group Conservative leader in Northumberland was taking a lot of notes of the debate.
I was pleased to speak at the IPPR event on Tuesday night before a packed audience who fired in multiple questions and comments in a fascinatingly robust debate on the Conservative Party relationship with the North. People spoke with such passion and love for the North, but disagreed both on specific issues and on the way ahead. What impressed me most was the sincerity of feeling. Interestingly, the debate at Labour in Brighton had been entitled "does the Labour Party take the north for granted?"
That could never be said of the hardy souls who venture to suggest there is an alternative way aside from a left wing way. Every day we are making the case that, for example,
- jobs and manufacturing come not from more government but from less government, and helping people set up SMEs and bigger businesses.
- that no country, family or business can last if it does not live within its means, however hard the decisions that follow on from such an acceptance.
- that debt needs to be paid for and that you cannot further borrow your way out of a debt crisis ( still trying to convince Ed Balls on this)
- that the taxes of those that work have to pay for all of those who do not, for whatever reason.
- that central government does not know best how to run a local school, but that local head teachers
and governors are much better placed to be in charge.
I could go on. But one thing is clear. The choice at the next election will be clear. Between a central government, statist control, with a prices and incomes policy to match, and a greater amount of nationalisation, plus businesses being the enemy, not the cure - which is the labour policy - and that set out by the PM and others this week. For years people have argued that all politicians are the same and there are no differences in approach.
This election will be a fight between the radical Left, with the Blairites nowhere to be seen, and the centre right.
