Even though there’s just two days to go until Christmas, we’re still working hard at Conservative HQ. Whatever else happens in 2010, we know for sure it will be the year that Britain finally gets to pass judgement on this awful Labour government.
But let’s not underestimate the size of the challenge that faces us. As I explain in my latest War Room Briefing video, we will need to win 117 seats for a majority of one – and that’s a big ask of any Party.
Now, with this huge task ahead of us, it’s very important that we all enjoy our festive break. But if all those TV repeats get a bit much, I’ve picked out some things that you might like to check out instead.
With it being Christmas, it’s particularly important to recognise the efforts of our troops out in Afghanistan. If you missed this fascinating Webcameron film documenting David’s fourth trip to the region, I’d recommend giving it a watch.
My Shadow Cabinet chum Greg Clark was in Bangladesh recently, to see for himself the devastating effects of climate change on the vulnerable communities there. He made a video diary of his visit, which you can watch here.
And, if you’ve been enjoying my video messages or following me on Twitter, you might like to have a listen to my first-ever podcast, recorded yesterday for your enjoyment.
But don’t forget – we must come back in 2010 ready to pound those streets, deliver those leaflets and help to spread the Conservative message to voters up and down the country.
Have a really great Christmas and a very happy New Year, and I’ll see you on the campaign trail.
( 122 comments ) Tags: Afghanistan, christmas, climate change, War Room Briefing
Comment by Sally Roberts on December 23, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Merry Christmas Eric and all the hard workers at CCHQ! Have a good rest and recharge the batteries ready for the Massive Fight Ahead.
Comment by Geof Maddox on December 23, 2009 at 5:00 pm
More than happy to help local candidate when Nationally you get an act together. You’ve got to stop immigration when the country is in recession and stop social security payments to those who haven’t made NI contributions andnot wanting to work.( e. g. single parents). This means suspending the Human Rights Act. Otherwise you’re the same as Labour and I might as well l “sit on the fence.”
Comment by Ray Warman on December 23, 2009 at 5:08 pm
I really am sick to death with the way climate change is pushed by you people. You know perfectly well that it is a natural climatic episode, being used by politicians to screw us with more steath taxes. Change your ways and listen to real science instead of tree hugging psuedo idiots and my vote will be secure.
Comment by Kevin Jobson on December 23, 2009 at 5:11 pm
All well said in your email Mr Pickles. I am a Conservative voter because I believe in Conservative principles. But I will only vote Conservative this time around if the Conservative Party has in its manifesto the promise to extract the United Kingdom from the European Union completely. We need to regain our Sovereignty, our assets and national identity. If the Conservativ Party promises to extract us from this EU regime of unelected Bureaucrats, the Conservative Party will have a landslde victory into Government!
Comment by PeteFergie on December 23, 2009 at 5:13 pm
“we will need to win 117 seats for a majority of one”
Now Cameron has shown himself to be just as weak and wet a (non) leader as Brown, the chances of an outright win are looking more and more remote.
EU.. nothing!
Immigration.. nothing!
I suggest you take your War Room out to Afghanistan.
Pathetic!
A huge mistake was made not going with Davis.
Comment by Stuart Smith on December 23, 2009 at 5:15 pm
As a Conservative party member of many, many years standing, the last time I voted was in 1992, I will never vote again until we get a promise to repeal the pistol shooting laws you brought in last time you were in government.
It is pointless voting for you if you are just another left centre, blue labour.
Comment by Mike Thomson on December 23, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Eric – you have to stop all this crap about nation building in countries that we have illegally invaded, who cares what happens in Bangladesh and concentrate on home country issues! GB is NOT a world power any more and we should stop pretending, as does that pocket Palmerston Miliband, that we are! Get real Eric and tell Dave to sort out things at home or a lot of us are going to sit this one out…
Comment by L Randell on December 23, 2009 at 5:16 pm
In total agreement with above statement. DC seems more interested in ‘showboating’ rather than tell us what we’ll get under him. At present he’s not doing so. I live in NE Surrey and unless he comes up with something soon i may well go to UKIP. Why have another new labor in power in all but name.Show you mean it !!! Europe vote and no thinking of yourselves please.
Comment by Dick Schrader on December 23, 2009 at 5:17 pm
You have some suggestions for us, well I have a few suggestions for you. First start listening to us. Second Climate change is a con lets hear you stepping back from this nonsense. Third we are more than fed up with the EU, we want a referendum, prefereably on in or out. Fourth Grammar schools were a way out for bright poor children David Cameron needs to rethink his position on this.
117 seats is a big ask and if you don’t listen you simply won’t get there. We are sick of politicians representing themselves rather than us.
Comment by R J Cook on December 23, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Eric,
We know you are anxious to win the next General Election but for you to do that Team Cameron has GOT to start listening and acting on what we, the silent majority want including:
Immigration stopped and repatriation of all bogus asylum seekers, illegal immigrants and other foreign undesirables.
A reversal of Political Correctness.
Ceasing to recognise the EU’s Human Rights act.
No further overseas aid (we can’t afford it)
A form of referendum on how we deal with the EU in the future.
No further building on green belt land.
No further taxation on the hard pressed motorist.
Cut budgets of Public Services except for the Military.
Dismiss all the Quangos.
Dismiss all Diversity and other types of non jobs around the Country
These are just a few of the issues that are of concern to us and you seem amazingly silent on them which does not give many of us true Conservatives confidence that David Cameron will be any different from Tony Blair/Nu-Labour. So in the New Year, start addressing what we want not what you want and perhaps, just perhaps you will win the next General Election.
Comment by Richard Hewson on December 23, 2009 at 5:26 pm
This means listening to what the electorate are saying and asking for – A REFORENDUM over whether we the English Public wish to remain in the DICTATORSHIP of the EU. As stated by Open Europe, the estimates that the top 100 existing EU laws will cost the UK economy a staggering £184 billion between 2010 and 2020, even in the unlikely event that no new regulations are passed during that time period. They will cost the UK £18 billion in 2010 alone. Costs we just cannot afford.
Otherwise you’re the same as Labour and I might as well l “sit on the fence”, as BNP & UKIP will divide the electorate due The Conservatives not wanting to listen or hear; bottom line will be yet another leibour government, and the public thanking the conservatives.
Comment by L Randell on December 23, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Hear Hear for above.
Comment by Martin Farrant on December 23, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Webcameron film; You reccomend “giving it a watch” – what an awful expression, what’s wrong with “watching it”.
That is unless you were thinking of a presentation of a Rolex or a gold Hunter.
Comment by ken power on December 23, 2009 at 5:33 pm
dave has got no chance.i wont be voting for you.it seems you are all the same ken/
Comment by Paul Biggs on December 23, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Sorry, but I’m totally disillusioned by the Tories embracing carbon-climate alarmist-claptrap and dangerously misguided CO2 emissions targets that aren’t politically feasible or based on sound science. I’ve voted Conservative since 1979, but I’ll be forced to vote for UKIP unless there is a drastic change towards decarbonisation driven by technology rather than CO2 targets and the ultra left-wing ‘committee on climate change’ Quango. I resigned as a Conservative Party member a couple of weeks ago – I joined the 25% of members lost due to being unable to stomach Cameron’s Socialist policies. Still, I don’t know why I’m bothering to write this – my attempted ‘Blue Blog’ posts always seem to be deleted by Tory censors.
Comment by Diane on December 23, 2009 at 5:35 pm
I’ve not voted since 1992 there must be a few of us, so your 117 seats could be a foregone conclusion if you get us on side… and Im only too happy to help the local candidate defeat Mr Straw when you get your act together:
But for goodness sake stop the empty words – commit to something and protect the NHS – don’t privatise it. Stop the erosion of the publics primary care services. Don’t have Secondary Care Consultants telling GP’s how to do their jobs – let those who have the experience decide the future of primary care, and keep our GP’s on your side – don’t alienate them.
And if suspending the Human Rights Act is the only way forward to ensure we’re back on track – for goodness sake show you’ve the backbone for it – don’t dither as leaders and get tough!
Comment by Graham on December 23, 2009 at 5:40 pm
We still don’t have a clear enough message that is distinctively conservative but appealing to the middle ground. Let us start by enunciating a few immutable conservative principles and sticking to them. Right now it’s too like New Labour and Tony Blair for my taste. We need to get this right now!
Comment by Jack on December 23, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Sure Eric, I’ll vote for you. But my vote comes with the following conditions:
1) Totally remove us from the European Union, thereby asserting the sovereignty of the UK, and saving over £100billion a year in ‘membership fees, and costs to UK business.
2) Withdraw the UK’s agreements to the Kyoto protocol, the Copenhagen agreements, and publicly admit that ‘Global warming’ is a vehicle to implement crippling taxation, and socialist global governance.
3) Stop Dave from attending ‘gay pride’ events, and engaging in other PC nonsense.
If you do not meet these three conditions (as a bare minimum), then I, along with thousands of other traditionally Conservative voters will vote for UKIP, and the best you will be able to hope for is a hung parliament.
Comment by Rodi Wout on December 23, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Well Eric, to be honest, i dont care a fig about Bangladesh. I care about here and us!
But, you wont win those vital seats if you dont help yourselves. In my village (Durham) nobody even knows the candidate’s name and she doesnt seem very interested in that fact. You could win here if you worked at it and didnt just expect to win without effort or micro policies that will appeal here
Comment by Jack on December 23, 2009 at 5:45 pm
R J Cook, at 5:22 pm: HEAR HEAR!!
Thousands of traditionally Conservative voters are totally disillusioned. UKIP is the future.
Comment by thescouselander on December 23, 2009 at 5:47 pm
As others have said I’m happy to vote for the conservative candidate once your party has got itself in order. Unfortunately conservative policies seems to be lacking and I have serious concerns about the leadership – specifically David Cameron and Liam Fox who I do not believe are competent to fill the roles to which they aspire.
Also when are the conservatives going to get a decent policy on climate change instead of following the leftist agenda to dismantle western economies?
Comment by Rodi Wout on December 23, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Jack is right. Up here, lack of conservative effort means that the working classes who make up this area are now desperate but will vote BNP if they can or even UKIP. The problem with the working class for conservative candidates is that one has to actually speak to them. Sine qua non chaps! Chapettes!. It’s not so bad. They do wash and have bathrooms these days.
Comment by David Mills on December 23, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Dear Mr Pickles
For you to win the next General Election, read the many comments already made that I entirely agree with – start listening to the people, the voters, stop evavding issues that concern us.
We need a Leader to win the next General Election, not just another Politician only interested in his own views and not the views of the majority of voters.
You as the Conservatives are no more willing to answer the questions that concern the people than are the present Labour Politicians. Having always believed in voting Conservative, I am at a loss as to who vote for in the forthcoming election. Labour should not win, but I am very far from convinced that David Cameron will be any better of any different. Certainly David Cameron has shown no Leadership and no willingness to deal with the issues that the people want answers to. That creates a problem if you cannot vote Labour and cannot vote Conservative, who do you vote for? There is no viable alternative. A very sad state of affairs.
You evade the issue of the EU
You evade the issue of Political Correctness
You evade the issue of Immigration
In fact there is no major issue of importance that any Politician gives a clear definite definitive answer – you all evade contentious issues.
Democracy is supposed to be about the will of the majority, and if the majority of people in the UK do not want to be ruled politically by the EU, why should a small select group of Politicians dictate otherwise? The people may be wrong and if they are wrong they will have to live with the consequences. But no politician has Devine inspiration as to what the future would be as the UK not being part of the EU politically.
Whatever Churchill and Thatcher did that was right or wrong, at least they had the courage to state their position with clarity rather than trying to be all things to all people as does David Cameron without success.
Comment by Linda Welsh on December 23, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Reading through the other comments I am afraid a lot of them are echoing my thoughts. Unless DC and the rest of your part start challenging the Labour party more and become more assertive, I’m afraid Gordon Brown might just win the next election. We don’t want gimmicks, leave that to Labour, lets see some strong leadership, David has been slipping lately.
Comment by David Luscombe Elliot on December 23, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Just opened your email and I return your kind Christmas wishes in spades, Eric.
Andrew Griffiths will tell you how we will help you all next year, after his meeting with us on Jan 15th. Best wishes, as ever, David.
Comment by realist on December 23, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Please do something about ClimateGate which has exposed the hoax of the century.
Where are the calls for an inquiry and prosecutions of the likes of Phil Jones?
Why is there a news blackout on ClimateGate?
Comment by Trisha on December 23, 2009 at 6:25 pm
What about help for all single people who have to exist on one wage and are expected to pay 20% tax on their earnings. People with children get rebates so therefore they do not pay 20%, only single people do. We are treat with utter contempt by all parties.
Comment by miko on December 23, 2009 at 6:28 pm
I wont be voting for the conservatives or anyone else in the so called ‘Parliament’. None of you are worth the time of day, none of you have any clue as to what your real position and duties are with regards to the electorate, and seem more interested in taking the public for all you can get. Bell towers and duck moats, flip flopping second homes, shafting the public on taxes and then blaming them for the recession. No guts to do anything real and positive on climate change other than tax people. I want my money back!
Comment by steven winning on December 23, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Not sure what you really want us to vote for here. Are we to further your personal ambitions and greed(as we know that once you’re in you will just lose touch with the real world and stuff your our wallet, and boost your egotism to an apalling level). Your party seems to dither and u turn almost as embarassingly as labour, so I suspect I will be voting the liberal democrats this year as they have yet to prove themselves as useless and short-sighted.
Comment by Paul Orchard on December 23, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Help you?
You can start by helping us. Help us understand what the hell it means to be a conservative. Tell us something about policy!
Lets hear from David on Immigration and Europe. Two subjects closest to all true tories hearts. And quite frankly ONLY THE BNP have given any indication of policy on that one. Eric, your on to a loser. David has already messed up so much that the tory faithful have lost faith. For you to turn things around would take a monumental effort. Starting with giving us some policy.
Otherwise I wont be helping locally come the election. Not the tories anyway. More likely UKIP. Although even then the knuckleheads at the BNP might still get my vote.
I might not like them but without them there would have been absolutely no debvate on immigration in this country. You cant raise the issue without some Poitically (in) Correct halfwit shouting racism. And you fools at central office are as much to blame as any of them.
So to summarise. Eric, you living in cloud cuckoo land.
Comment by John on December 23, 2009 at 6:44 pm
I’ve watched and listened. My answer is NO NO NO. We are fighting the wrong war in the wrong place in the wrong way. The enemy is within – he is openly walking the streets of Britain. Labour flung opened the door to unrestricted immigration in 1948 and despite numerous opportunities to close it the Conservatives never did. Our forces have been fighting and dying because of Conservative initated defence spending cuts – the so called “Peace dividend”. Conservative cutbacks were the direct cause of the Falklands war. It was the Conservatives who took us into Europe. None of the great philosphers or economists, e.g., Marx or Keynes predicted the effects of mass immigration, but the Conservatives made an outcast of the only man among them who had the wisdom and the bottle to warn of the dangers. Possibly the best Prime Minister that Britain never had.
Until the Conservatives have the wisdom and courage to recognise their mistakes of the past, apologise and vow to rectify them, they will be unworthy of power.
Comment by steven winning on December 23, 2009 at 6:46 pm
thirty years ago we were warned about climate change and the conservatives and labour ignored it then and now they are just rubbing their hands together and getting all excited over how much money they can gather through various taxes, which, I suspect won’t actually go towards anything constructive to solve the problem.. I see that nothing much has happened about cleaning up the ‘hogs in the trough’ MPs, again, I suspect that because they are all(almost) guilty of plundering the coffers, that the only way it will ever get purged is if cromwell walks in and dissolves parliament………now there is a novel idea.
Make the royals work for their money and put them in charge of the various depts…..after all the basic infrastructure functions whosoever is in power. Do we really need MPs? Can we afford royalty AND parliament? I know who I would get rid off! The royal family cost less thats for sure.
Comment by Robin Stock on December 23, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Bangladesh may be suffering bad weather but to blame global warming is a bit rich given our present weather. Let’s all get real about this massive climate con.
Comment by Allan Spivey on December 23, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Sadly i share the same views and opinions of the many who have replied on your blogg,i do not even bother reading Dave,s ,e mails.Until the Conservative Party,starts to get it,s act together,i for one will not be voting Conservative,but maybe you do not care to much.
Comment by Binto Helenbach on December 23, 2009 at 6:57 pm
It looks like the job is bigger than you realise, and I’m not surprised!
Since Cameron arrived there has been nothing but publicity stunts and u-turns. Unfortunately, things like grammar schools and the EU referendum mean quite a lot to some of us. Telling us that a referendum is now pointless is not what we want to here, I want my voice heard on this issue and I would like to know why we should simply accept that Brown has screwed us. If it is not worth arguing about this, why did you bother to oppose it in the first place?
If you are looking for ideas for your manifesto, how about promising to take a shredder to some of the 3,000+ pages of stifling legislation Labour have created since gaining power?
Why have you gone quiet on imigration?
How will you get us out of Afghanistan?
How do you intend fixing Brown’s economy?
How do you intend keeping the lights on as the old power stations start going off line? And please don’t spout on about wind turbines, just keep our lights on please!
Comment by Paul Orchard on December 23, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Global Warming isnt happening.
The world has been warming up and cooling down in a cycle for many a millenium. The sun is currently at its lowest point in a 100 years this is creating a very mild warming sensation that will start to reverse within the next decade. What we now have is a plethora of highly paid people advising governments that climate change is real and we have to act tough. Why? Well what would happen if they told the truth? End of highly paid job. Like race relations in this country….. alot of people getting paid alot of money for nothing usefell.
David Cameron. A waste of space. Vote for change? DO me a favour. What would you change at the top. Only the accent would change. I actually think Gordon is a moron. But I do beleive he is a moron with his heart in the right place. Unfortunately his moral compass is wonky and needs to go back to Halfords. But I honeslty think I would trust Gordon more than David. That to me is not a commendation for Gordon, just a sign of how completly useless as party leader David is.
Comment by Paul Orchard on December 23, 2009 at 7:09 pm
I am not anti green per se. I do understand we need more renewable energy. Our Natural resources are running out. (The sooner the better. They seem to be the second greatest cause of war after religion.)
I am just not blinkered like most greens and can see the truth. And by the way. Being green doesnt stop you washing occasionally.
Comment by grant on December 23, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Wow Eric! With Tory friends like these, who needs Labour enemies?
Comment by Jim Ager on December 23, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Eric
It is great sending out a message to the converted but you need to hit those who are not.
Christmas has been an opportunity lost. Ivan Lewis, my Bury South MP, sent out an impressive Christmas message with his Christmas wishes.
AND I was very impressed, how do you think other constituents would have received it.
No doubt this has occured in other Labour held seats as well
It appears to me central office should endeavour to direct more at local level by providing information to include in local circulars on initially monthly basis and later more frequently in doing this provide direction locally to get the campaign on the road.
Although not a party member I do delivery Conservative circulars
Comment by mike mcfadden on December 23, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Dear Mr Pickles I wish you compliments of the season but get ready for the disappointment that will follow in 2010 because David Cameron is not up to the job and the Tories are not listening! I will still deliver flyers but I won’t be voting for Cameron because it will be a wasted vote.
Comment by Richard on December 23, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Please don’t keep forcing me to aknowledge that “climate change” is the most important issue facing us today, because it’s not……as far as I’m concerned it’s immigration and membership of the EU
Comment by Diddy on December 23, 2009 at 7:49 pm
I am a lifelong Conservative voter, even after the final days of the disgusting John Major government sabotaged by the worst excesses of Toryism. We sold the family silver under Maggie and we have nothing left after the demise of Redcar. I have lost 60% of my final salary pension due to questionable practices by Actuaries and Fund Managers and I still pay Tax on the residue, unlike Private Equity Managers. I see bankers whose unprecidented greed are now paying themselves bonuses “Beyond the dreams of avarice” after ruining our already ailing economy. I am faced with increased taxes, community charges, fuel bills, support of illegal immigrants, threats from trerrorists who we have been allowed without challenge into our midst and am now told that my meagre state pension will rise by two and a half percent but NOT my Serps. I finally see that more and more of our gallant troops in Afghanistan are losing their lives for a pointless campaign. Look back at your history books to our campaign in 1841 when 16000 British Troops, Sepoys and their dependents were slaughtered on the retreat from Kabul.
What on Earth can you possibly promise us. Do not waste any more time on the Global Warming myth which, like Communism, is now a discredited doctrine. I am also disappointed my the use of the “I” in your blog. There is too much “!” and “My” and not enough “Us”. There is no more room for ego. I need convincing that I must vote for the Conservative Party.
Comment by Heather on December 23, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Eric, Why do you address all your messages to my husband and never to me-I am a party member!!!
Comment by mr mauricenicholas martin on December 23, 2009 at 8:03 pm
dear sir as a teneant on greenwich brough council and having no candated on this brough for conservites i would be so glad to stand for you and the party to win over labour as my dad use to helplabour at bermondsey council and as he know sirharlod wilson of the labour party i would liketo stand for you people and as i know how they work and the way they are running the country i think it is diebloockle and bad at the same timeso please let me stand as a conservite on greenwich brough and win it for you
Comment by Richard Hewson on December 23, 2009 at 8:13 pm
As Sarkozy’s statement tells us is that like many of his fellow countrymen, he does not see the European Commission as a commission for the advancement of European interests. He sees it as a commission for the advancement of French interests. So please advise your members, why on earth should we continue to fund his own interest and objectives; for the same amount of money we provide the EU, the UK could abolish its entire budget deficit. Please, Please start to listen to the electorate, that’s if you do really want too see a conservative government within the next 6 months.
Comment by Brian on December 23, 2009 at 8:26 pm
Listen Listen Listen to what the electorate are saying, when you go to Westminster you go as our representatives so listen to what we are saying and act on it , don’t try to dream up policies that you think we want. We have told you what we want and it’s your job to make these things happen.
Comment by Roy Chamberlain on December 23, 2009 at 8:45 pm
I see the spin masters at Conservative GCHQ are still giving their usual useless blurb. If they are so worried about looking for ways to get voters at the next election they might be better reading the replies to their constant drivel and set out some policies the Conservative voters can indentify with. Evry week that goes by make s me more determined to break my 40 year habit of voting conservative.
I would also mention the unbearable garbage that our leaders insist on forcing on to the voters “Global Warming” Perhaps they can describe why we will probably have the coldest December for many years and why we have had serious snow falls akin to the 60′s ? Will they listen NOT A CHANCE. More billions for more fancy cars for African based dictators in the name of “Carbon Reduction”
A total shambles that any decent politician would have none of. Give us some COMMON SENSE policy, not fancy spin.
Comment by Harry Royle on December 23, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Yet again, I write to comment on this Blue Blog. Yet again, I agree with the almost unanimous senttiments of a party and its leader who have lost their way. Yet again, I can assure you that unless you focus on a referendum on Europe – to which I could add: ignore the climate change alarmists, deal firmly with immigration and illegal immigrants, etc. etc. – I SHALL be voting UKIP at the next election.
Comment by cleethorpes pier on December 23, 2009 at 9:03 pm
I have voted Tory all my life but unless they are going to tackle the important issues first like immigration,Quangos,human rights, giving us a say on the EU,stopping the millions of pounds going abroad to allow dictators to live the high life and but guns, whilst the rest starve, then I think its UKIP for me. Sad to say if there is no UKIP it will have to be BNP. I am only going to vote for a party that has some backbone, and is going to represent the people of Britain and not a party that gives Britain what they as MPs think we should have.
Comment by Steve East on December 23, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Much of the way I feel has been covered by previous comments -I am not just disappointed but damned angry that you continue to NOT LISTEN.As a lifetime Conservative voter I will not do so this time until I see the lie that is agw acknowledged and conservation on the agenda,that we are guaranteed a say on EU and stop the PC in imposing women candidates just because they are women! Start listening if you really want to win power – the days of voting against the party we don’t want are gone.
Comment by gary powell on December 23, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Having skipped trough these replies i can only agree with everything said.when is Mr Cameron or yourself going to comment on what we are saying ,we the majoity of want to be tory voters.
Comment by Arnold Whittle on December 23, 2009 at 10:00 pm
If the Conservative Party gain power at the up coming election it will have a mountain of problems to tackle, the massive borrowing of the Labour lot but in my survey of the British public tells me that immigration is top of the agenda you have to do a lot on this area to prove to the British electorate that you are worth your salt other wise you are sunk after your first term.
Comment by Peter Ellis on December 23, 2009 at 10:06 pm
I really, really want to vote Conservative in the forthcoming election, but how can l when there is not a cigarette papers difference between your [non] policies and the outfit we have in power now, who l so desperately want to see confined to history.
Why can’t David Cameron promise to concentrate on saving Great Britain, drastically cut immigration, make the benefits system a safety net instead of a way of life for the workshy.
What l want is someone to be honest and in touch with what the indigenous people of the UK need so badly. When Cameron is on interviewed on television or radio he simply does not encourage me to think that here is the future PM who will make this country great again, l think that David Davis would have done so.
Mr Pickles, l fear that unless David Cameron drastically raises his game we will end up with a hung parliament or worse, stuck with the present incompetent outfit for another five years.
As a Tory voter since 1979, it is with regret that l cannot bring myself to vote for a New Labour clone. Please get your act together and tell me why l should vote Tory and not UKIP.
Don’t throw away this chance of saving us from Brown & Co, you may not get another chance untill the country is a total basket case, please listen to the people.
Comment by malcolm chapman on December 23, 2009 at 10:10 pm
ERIC, THIS IS SERIOUS. EVERYONE KNEW WHAT BUSH WAS LIKE YET HE GOT ANOTHER TERM. ARE WE HEADING THE SAME WAY?
I am not a natural Tory even though I usually vote that way. As a witness to things happening in my lifetime I will always vote against Labour.
I want to remove them but have fear that you are doing the wrong things. You have to show you are listening. You have to do anything that gains more votes than it loses, even if it may seem outrageous. You must be seen to keep your word. If it is a struggle to do so let everyone know how difficult it is but do it.
The European referendum is one example. YOU ASK FOR THESE COMMENTS AND REPLIES YET YOU ARE NOT RECEPTIVE TO THEM. So many are asking for some sort of referendum. You had promised one. and changed circumstances meant it could not be held on thr same premise. Why not have one to find out aspects of the common market and whether we should act upon them. Throwing dead fish back in the sea is a disgrace as is foreign boats fishing in our waters whilst our fishermen are destitute. etc. etc. Select a few other subjects and people can have their say, yet it can be regarded as hitting out at the structure without being anti market at the initial stages.
Take the promise on death duties. That could win an election if retained. Labour thought it was a good idea but have now withdrawn. If people have saved all their lives this is a reward for their families. If the benefits are spent it helps the local economy, if saved it retains national assets. So we are keeping our promises.
THINK ABOUT IT WE WANT TO WIN WITH THE TRUTH AND WANT TO BE HELD TO THAT PROMISE. WE MUST PROMISE IT AND DO IT.
THINK ABOUT IT
Comment by Edward on December 23, 2009 at 10:15 pm
I agree with most of the above.
what the people want is a Referendum on EUROPE IN or OUT then you will win with a LARGE majority. Otherwise you will have blown it. Then the Conservative Party will be out for decades. Hopefully another party with come forth to FIGHT FOR FREEDOM and win.
Comment by Tony Platts on December 23, 2009 at 10:19 pm
Eric,
You don’t look like the ‘listening’ kind.
You look more like an old-style boss who we have to obey, because ‘you know best’.
Many people are getting a teeny bit disillusioned with DC and the Tories,
maybe you’ve only got a short time left to start listening to people before the country gets what it doesn’t need: a hung parliament!
Comment by Robert Bull on December 23, 2009 at 10:24 pm
Only when you give us an alternative to centralised, politically correct, over green nonsense will I pound the streets. What are your alternative policies?
Comment by Neil Rodger on December 23, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Eric I am a true blue and like anyone with a brain know the scale of the task required to turn the fortunes of our country around after another labour shambles. Could you please therefore advise our leader not to give the opposition ammunition by socialising with some dodgy people. Why doesn’t he have tea with the Archbishop of Canterbury instead!
Comment by John Gray on December 23, 2009 at 10:30 pm
Sorry Eric but the answer is a definate no! I’m a Geordie living in Geordieland why would I want to cut my own throat by voting in a bunch of self serving toffee nosed twits. Tell me what a silver spoon born Millionaire knows about my life as an underpaid carer for a disabled wife? Tell me why I should vote in a Tory party that called a bunch of hard working ship yard workers “Moaning Minnies” for wanting to keep their jobs, and tell me honestly why should I vote for a party that doesn’t listen to the voter, exactly like the Labour idiots, and why should I watch my money be used to subsidise foreign roads when the A1 north of Newcastle to the Scottish border desperately needs dualling. Please stop all this nonsense of global warming taxation and lies. It has been proven to be a gigantic con, so lets stop the Tory candidate for Hexham Antoine Tinnion stating that he is going to stop climate change as if he is God! He is making himself a laughing stock! Stop this fussing over foreign country’s and concentrate on paying off the debt we already have and not borrowing to pay others to perpetuate the myth of caring Britain. It is economic madness. I’m a Geordie and wont vote at all unless there is a party that is worth that vote! Currently, and unless you come to Newcastle Upon Tyne and appologise for that woman, you have no policies that make you worth voting for! The answer Eric in the words of Norman Tebbit ‘On yer bike!”
Comment by mary on December 23, 2009 at 10:32 pm
I don’t believe the Tories are listening. I don’t believe Dave is even considering listening.Is anyone out there??? For God’s sake Tory Party wake up or we’ll have another Labour “government”.
Comment by Nick on December 23, 2009 at 10:32 pm
Dear Eric – I hope you read the comments – I’ve been a Tory voter all my voting life, but seriously unless you stop being a politician and start listening the Liberals are going to get your voting share.
1) Stop the climate change rubbish – stop using it as a tax
2) Stop the Political correctness gone mad in this country
3) Stop the ever intrusive march that local government has on our lives and make them focus on what they should be – street lights and refuse collection
4) Stop the march from the men in safety goggles – health and safety in this country has gone mad and costing businesses money and jobs
5) Stop pandering to the EU – strike a better balance in the money we put in and the value we get out
Do this – start listening and you’ll win the seats – but stop trying to promote yourselves as politicians – the average british voter is sick and tired of you lot whinging – do something good for the country and don’t expect thanks – your salary at the end of the month should be more than enough.
Comment by Mr J Wilson on December 23, 2009 at 10:58 pm
Return our national identity and sever our ties with the european union and you have my vote, if this is not in your manifesto then my vote goes to UKIP.
Comment by Jim Geraghty on December 23, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Eric
Again, thanks for your note, but the answer is the same: I will vote Conservative if the party follows through on its promise to hold a referendum on the EU treaty. I know we are legally tied, but I want us to state our preference, so that Europe knows whether or not we were sold out by the Labour scum.
I want the vote I was promised. If I don’t get it I will vote UKIP and despise myself for it. I have always voted and have never voted anything but Conservative, since 1970. This will change things.
Comment by Bertie BR on December 23, 2009 at 11:37 pm
I’ve tried to do my bit and spent three hours on a cold Sunday delivering leaflets through letter boxes, but I’m sure it will be worth it! BBR, 14 years old.
Comment by P.Slater Esq on December 23, 2009 at 11:51 pm
You must be joking mate – I stopped voting years ago. When something comes along worth voting for I might be prepared to wear out a little shoe leather. Do you seriously think that I am going to waste my time voting for Captain Hook or Lord Snooty? I ‘ve seen as much as I want to see of politicians this year – thieves, spongers, little piggies – get a proper job – gritting my road would do for starters, and start buying your own lunches You wouldn’t let a politician run a fish and chip shop so what qualifies you to run a country? I have had up to here with fat cat bankers and smarmy git politicians who needs them?
Comment by Chris Neal on December 23, 2009 at 11:52 pm
Dear Mr Chairman,
You will be aware that we now have Job Clubs springing up in communities all around the country not for political gain as the media would have you believe but because we care for the jobless in our communities. Norman Tebbit in the 80′s told people to get on their bikes to find work; modern Conservatives ride with them. In Job Clubs we have a saying that typifies the apathy of many new members “You can take a horse to water but you can’t make him drink so maybe you need to have a drink with him/her”
We will break down the barriers of opportunity to work for everyone willing to try.
We now have over 100 team members of the Get Britain Working Campaign on myconservatives.com and are to open many new clubs in communities around the country in 2010.
Merry Christmas and every blessing for 2010
Comment by Aey on December 24, 2009 at 12:21 am
After seen that you do care for fathers, l will support you forever because many fathers out there needs this issues to be resolved. great job, wonderfull step
Comment by Sue Lovett on December 24, 2009 at 1:12 am
Merry Xmas to one and all.
Sorry Eric, but I’m still wavering too. I want to vote Tory but am not hearing anything decisive. Too much bowing to the noisy PC brigade and not enough listening to the average voter. We all want to live in a better society but I’m still not convinced you can deliver.
Sadly nobody in the Party seems capable of responding to emails either – at least the Labour Party did that!
Comment by Keith Hughes on December 24, 2009 at 1:27 am
What I have not heard is that a country’s peoples standard of living can only be proportional to the amount of real weath that the country produces. It must therefore be absolutly necessary for any government to understand that wealth creative buisinesses are the only creators of real weath. The sucessful government must contain sufficient buisiness minded people to encourage inovative wealth creation. The present government has pleanty of fine working man’s mentality but no clever buisines man’s mentalities. They know how to tax and take but not how to inovate and make. Quangos abound giving cushy numbers to underenployed busy bodies creating company destroying regulations and killing industry, private enterprise included.
I will vote conservative this time in the hope that they will provide conditions to encourage more badly needed industry into the UK so that we might just be able to produce enough wealth creation to pay for the the incompetence clearly shown by the present government so that we won’t have to ruin the future for ourselves and those who follow later. A good business mentality then or were in deep trouble. All will reap the rewards.
Merry Chistmas
Comment by pat on December 24, 2009 at 2:18 am
tell me why i should vote for any mp be it labour or torries when the only thing they work hard at is linning their own pockets with the working classes money. i worked for the government i.e the NHS it took me fifteen years to earn six pound eighty seven pence an hour. i worked twelve hour shifts. i didnt get expences for food, or travel expenses or housing expenses for my only home never mind a second home. i had to work nights so i could raise my children and also care for a child with disabilities. i was medically retired on a pension of 200 hundred pounds a month. this is taken into account when claiming benifits. i have watched my housing costs reduced to 13 pounds aweek can you tell me were you would get any house,flat or room to rent for this amount. i am losing the home i have sweated blood and sweat to create. i have lost the job i loved through disabilities because some thug decided to attack me. and i have watched every single mp both here in belfast and in the uk mainland. squander mine and every other working class persons tax, and not give a damn not only what they have taken from the british public but what the allowed the banks to take and are still taking in charges. after all you used are money to replace what they took and are still taking. i would also like to remind our so called mps that they made us all get bank accounts to get are benifits paid to us and the banks are taken charges out of those benifts. they also need to look at the mortgage companies who charge high interest even although the most with building society and bank mortgages have benifited from the low interest rates i’m sure there is more home owners out there with the type of mortgage company like mine that have not passed on the interest cuts. i could go on and on so please tell me why i should vote for any party that has shown nothing but contempt for the voters. there is a saying empty vessals make the most noise which to me the only noise you hear from the vessals we the voters have put in place is the money vessals with no bottoms that are bleeding us dry.
Comment by Phil J on December 24, 2009 at 5:00 am
Eighteen months ago David Cameron stated he ” wanted to hear the views of the ‘man on the street’, it was time to listen.” He does not want to listen at all Eric as all I have ever had in reply are ‘bog-standard’ party line replies from our dear Alice-which is infuriating.
They are just ‘waffle’ answers and if that’s all Etonians can muster then it’s a very poor show indeed.
Smoking Ban-reform
Climate Change-sack it
Immigration-stop it
Illegal wars-cease immediately
andonandonandon…….
Comment by Summer on December 24, 2009 at 7:18 am
Dear Sir
It is not for us to help you, it is for you to help us: that is what democracy is about! Dave is not some fifteenth century Noble raising an army to become king: rather he is leader of political party that should be sweeping to power via local candidates representing the will of the shareholders of UK PLC.
And our will is set out by many above, I will not repeat the list, but fully back it. We want out country back, first and foremost. Dave seems to think that it is for him to make the decisions, that his Will goes: IT IS NOT.
As for Bangladesh tell me this. Why should my Government steal my money and make my life harder, in order to give said money to international crooks dealing in carbon-trading schemes (or thin air, and despots in the thrid world seeking cars and weapons, on the basis of a scam promoted by dishonest men with vested interests, who think they can play God with the weather? How does this help Bangladesh?
And anyway, the people of Bangladesh have chosen to live where they do, are independent people, and have seen their population rise enormously in the last couple of decades. They are not children, they are adults who need to act responsibly, control their population, sort out their environment and help themselves !! If our intervention in the Third World was important we should never have given away the governance of the British Empire – not that the politicians and Civil Service of today are competent enough to even clear the snow of the roads in winter, so maybe the people of Bangladesh are much better off without you!!
Comment by Len Hunt on December 24, 2009 at 7:20 am
If the conservatives are going to send yet more people to universities to end up with useless degrees and huge debts I certainly won’t be voting for them.
(By the way, I don’t know Mr. Pickles from Adam and he doesn’t know me so why does he address me by my Christian name?)
Comment by Keith Dunwell on December 24, 2009 at 7:31 am
Hi Eric
Much of what is written above is spot on and should give you a clue.
Whatever you do make it open and honest. I wish you all the luck in the world.
This abysmal lot have got to go!
Comment by GARY on December 24, 2009 at 9:45 am
Eric,
I do not give a hoot for Bangladesh, climate change is a natural occurrence, stop parroting nu Labour or the conservative party is in for a huge surprise come election time, I suggest you focus on issues that really concern the British electorate bellow are just a few.
1) IMMIGRATION
2) EU REFERENDUM
3) OUR DEVASTATED ECONOMY
The more you spout on about “climate change” the further you push us away, we need strong aggressive leadership not hug a hoodie politicians, the days of political manipulation and spin are gone-this country is on its knees, thousands of people losing there houses, jobs and businesses, and you concern yourself with BANGLADESH go ask a British citizen who has just seen his wife and children kicked out of there home before xmas what he thinks about climate change, perhaps ALL politicians should be made to work for three years on minimum wage and see how quick you are then to squander our money. Much more of this nonsense and the support I have given you over many years will be given elsewhere
Comment by David O’Callaghan on December 24, 2009 at 9:57 am
Eric, staff and all like minded friends.
Thank you so much for all the support given to our renewed efforts here in Northern Ireland by all the senior figures who travelled here, spoke at functions, attended supper clubs, and did so much to raise the profile of the Party here.
Particular thanks to Owen Patterson, the Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. His enthusiasm for the project here is truely infectious.
2010 is all about effective fundraising and hard yards knocking doors…we are ready, and hope to deliver a few valuable seats for the next Conservative Government.
Seasons greetings from Northern Ireland
Comment by Julian Pilcher on December 24, 2009 at 10:06 am
I’ve been canvassing in the marginal LibDem constituency of Winchester. The message is strong and consistent. a) A Referendum on our future status in Europe (an EFTA type relationship seems favourite). b) Stronger leadership from David Cameron
Comment by PatrickSussex on December 24, 2009 at 10:21 am
I am just so frustrated! The Tories should be able to romp the election but they are going to lose again and Labour will get back in by default as the Tory vote is split BNP/UKIP.
However I don’t agree with all comments above, we are in the EU and will stay there, a referendum would be a waste of money. Climate change is happening but we want carrots not sticks.
I want to hear policy on the other issues THAT ARE OF MORE CONCERN TO US – immigration, assylum seekers, abolition of governmental non-jobs, end of PC, reform of civil rights law, benefits reform, tackling the national debt, etc…
Where’s the video on all this?
Comment by Charles on December 24, 2009 at 10:46 am
Eric listen to this Merl Haggard song,
Merle Haggard “America First Substitute America for the UK and EU for Iraq
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDoYsBAyFb0&feature=PlayList&p=017EB629A3C7664B&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=43
Everyone should read this.
http://synonblog.dailymail.co.uk/2009/12/how-britain-could-abolish-entire-budget-deficit-abolish-eu-regulations.html
Comment by Derek Buxton on December 24, 2009 at 11:18 am
A lot more sense in the comments than the article. One question needs an answer, Cameron said “we have toi keep the temperature rise to 2 degrees C”, how does he arrive at that? It is nonsense unless he can give an answer!! I also agree with all those whose comment starts with “LISTEN to US”, shouldn’t be hard but he finds it impossible, WHY?
Comment by B.Garvie on December 24, 2009 at 11:25 am
Hi Eric and all the team at HQ:
Thanks for the updates and have a well earned rest over Christmas.
I wish you all a Happy Christmas and a change of Government in the coming year.
Comment by John Gray on December 24, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Hi Eric,
I wonder if you could tell if there is someone in your party HQ who is actually reading these comments and not the usual “your comments have been noted” but actually does something with them and not just laugh and then bin them. Every poitical party is going to struggle we are fed up with you! Stop asking for our help and then feather your own nests get off your fat cat backsides and make our lives better! Listen to the views of the people on your forum if your own supporters can’t support you why should the country? Stop being so smug and show a little humility, or we will humble you at the next election. Help you into Power, I wouldn’t help you to cross the road! Change or go, your choice!
Comment by ian wragg on December 24, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Your not going to win the next election Eric. No policies, subjugation by Europe, no credible policy on repatriation of immigrants or cutting public expenditure. You’ve blown it cock. UKIP is the answer
Comment by Charles Daly on December 24, 2009 at 2:49 pm
It is all very well asking for our support but what we want is more support by the likes of George Osbourne to hit this profligate government where it hurts. The current Channcellor is screwing up this country by his tax policy. Two examples, 1) Google makes £1.4 bn in Europe and pays no tax in the UK. Instead it paid £2.1million to the Irish Exchequerbecasue it is domiciled there. Googles management of the operation however is in London, at Belgrave House, Buckingham Place Road.
The oil trading industry is now in Geneva whereas it used to be in London. Most of the staff are English or Americans. Why is this so; both Ireland and Switzerland worked out that the cost of running an offshore tax haven based operation costs about 12-15% of pre tax profit. Therefore they set their tax rates to attract these companies away from offshore tax havens. Our Channcellor increases taxes then brings out a big stick to say if you use an offshore tax haven you will be sent to jail. Chapeau!(Bravo) as the French say. Who does he think he is kidding. Malta is the latest to offer 15% corp oration and income tax to all who locate there. One does not need an offshore tax haven, these countries are in the EU.
Next we read today that Civil servants are to share £130 million in bonuses, the biggest recipients being in the MOD. If the Government wants to curb the bonus culture why not start at home. This is such hypocrasy and all we hear from the Tories is a pip squeak.
You currently get some financial support from me but if you want me to campaign and get you elected show me that you deserve it first.
Comment by Colin Rowley on December 24, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Same old, same old Eric. You sound more New Labour than even New Labour can muster. Stop barking on about the so called climate change. The climate has been changing for millions of years. Nothing new will happen in the next 50. I sincerely hope that you will come out fighting in the new year on issues that concern GB UK Limited. Take time out to read the comments Eric. This is what we believe should be the agenda for the next election. Why cant you see that Brown is using climate change as a smoke screen for the monumental mess that we are in at home. Europe, Immigration, Law and Order, and the way out of recession is what we need to hear about. Like many other contributors to these blogs, I have voted Tory all my working life. Don’t turn your back on us now.
Comment by Brian Tomkinson on December 24, 2009 at 3:00 pm
I suspect that you don’t really want to win the election after all. Certainly, your performance in opposition has been poor, your prospective cabinet is weak and feeble, and you are frightened of your own shadows. Give me some reason to vote for you let alone work for you. This dreadful Labour government has handed the election to you on a plate but you have done NOTHING to deserve to win it. I doubt if anyone at CCHQ reads these comments but if they do they just ignore them. As your leader likes to say to Brown: ‘Stop treating us like fools’. You haven’t sealed the deal with Conservative voters never mind the others.
Comment by Ken Wood on December 24, 2009 at 3:30 pm
I agree with the above comments particularly those about europe and getting off the world stage and dealing with this countries problems first. Has anyone thought of the benefits taking the lead on a referendun on europe. You may find that the citizens of the other nations use our example to demand a referendum of their own. After all a number of countries have already said NO and would probably repeat this given the chance. One further point on gaining our trust, why not promise to make any manifesto pledge legally binding, after all if it was important enough to include in the manifesto to get us to vote for you then you should commit to its implementation. If the situation changes ie the Lisbon treaty then you should go back to the people to vote on any change. I am sick and tired of broken politicians promises.
Comment by Colin Preece on December 24, 2009 at 4:26 pm
I am urged to inform those who read these messages and indeed, all members of the party to view my website and tell the electorate the whole truth. The we can have real change full employment and a truly sustainable future for our children.
Comment by Peter Hagger on December 24, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Eric,
The above emails tell you andDC how to win 117 plus seats.
A referendum on Europe giving options i.e. Pull out. or Move to an EFTA status. Would fix this issue for once and for all. It would also let the EU know that these niggly little Brits mean business. Maybe it woulkd get the french and Germans thinking if they thought they would have to make up the Euros that would go with our withdrawal.
On Immigration its obvious we cant drift to 70m which current pilicies would allow and its not enough saying we would put on a cap. Every time I have seen this debated the government say that the cap is not solution its the illegal immigration thats forcing numbers up. So state the cap will be current population including illigal immigration AND how you are going to make it happe. With current economis situation our infrastructure cant support anymore. its not a racist statement its just a matter of fact.
Articulate more about what quangos cover. How much each Quango is spending and how we , they, ensure value for money and benefit to BRITISH people.
understand that the Climate Change debate needs better articulation. Its not Flat Earth thinking as Brown says its simply not been articulated clearly either way. Some facts are not in dispute. one its warming regardles of whats causing it, two fossil fuels will run out, thirdly some countries will suffer much more than others. Now move the debate to what are we going to do to reduce dependancy on fossil fuels. How can we engage with the countries that are likely to suffer most to help with immediate problems.
Us applying greeen taxes wont save the world only US and China can do that. We can be pragmatic and seek affordable alternatives to oil and coal.
Can we have a Conservative Principled Common Sense War Room please.
Dont let UKIP and BNP give Brown another 5 years .
Comment by L Randell on December 24, 2009 at 6:43 pm
I have read most of the above statements and thay all say the same thing one way or another (mostly). Eric, can you honestly say that you even take the time to read what we,the people you want us to vote for you, say or even think. The Labor party are the ones who dont want us to think so you’d best think long and hard and have some good answers for us. DC has not given us one clue as to what he intends to do. (oh, he has shown he likes the high life).The Labor Parties fav paper are always geeing up the punters with hyperbole about brown (note lower case) and what he’s done and what he will do and the Party that ive voted for since 1979 do diddley squat and appear to hope that change will come with our disgust with the Govt in power now. You had best get the thinking cap on even if you stuff it wiith lies or else things may not change. Me ? i’ll just leave the country.For the sake of the feds reading this I AM AN ENGLISMAN who still remembers the real ways of life, and Government and freedom of speech.
Comment by Paul Voce on December 25, 2009 at 6:43 am
I for one will not vote for these Conservatives. Until the real Conservatives rise from the ashes of this socialist anti English rump of a party. The Lib-Lab-Tory pact of failure, incompetance and corruption are over. I love my country (ENGLAND), the European Union according to my English dictionary is an act of TREASON. Why do the Lib-Lab-Tory triumphant of failure lavishly support it?
Comment by Peter G Duckworth on December 25, 2009 at 11:33 am
Please represent the CONSERVATIVE voters views, don’t be a Blairite party. I & most people I talk to want action on the EU, Law & Order, Immigration, the Brown overspend, Political Correctness,Human Rights stupidity, Social Security profligacy we cannot afford, & the idle on sink estates.I don’t see much action on any of these & we were promised a vote on the EU which should take place regardless to show the voters attitude to this cabal.
Comment by Mary Young on December 25, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Well done, Eric and the team, for all your hard work and setting up this website.
Soon we will have to prepare for D Day, as a titanic effort is needed to win all the seats necessary. Personally I want to see Labour slaughtered at the polls and that day cannot come too soon.
Happy Christmas and a very Prosperous New Year to everyone at the War Room
Comment by Keith Drury on December 25, 2009 at 3:17 pm
I will be very happy to see Brown and Co go down, but can we really believe in David, who seems to make promises which have no backbone, i.e the Lisbon Treaty, we all know that if you wanted, you could cancel the Brown signature the day after the election, if you won it, all David would have to do is, bring up the human rights act, Gordon Brown denied the human rights of sixty million UK voters by refusing the of the promised referendum, therefore David would have no problem of calling a referendum, and doing what the country wanted, you, the Conservative government and David knows that, promise that, and I am sure David would have NO worries about the 117 seats needed.
Comment by Peter von Roggenhausen on December 25, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Well the wish is a one thing and the reality the second. As long as you perform is OK but never sufficient. What I mean the time is right, and the people I favor for conservative. But You need to show strong program not only propaganda as my colleague at work say. If I be in yours shoes I will provide strong program in the major economy issue. We all learn that the financial institution does bring the reception on all developed country. This is the issue, to reform them. Let say UK may be the first country who reform own financial system so the be no recession in the near future. As a observer I learn that the financial institution provide a service for the companies listed at London Stock exchange, but in stated to deliver the cash to douse listed corporation they do hold the money and protect these system of disruption and consumption. I think it is a easy way to solve the problem which will also protect the market and jobs for the common wealth. This is the issue which the general public await. Moreover, I belief that first mistake you saying is to the fact that there is time for change. We conservative do not like changes. Unless the meaning for changes means return to proven goods and common wealth.
Comment by Ian Bintliff on December 25, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Eric, please dear God, don’t ever call anyone a “chum” ever again!! I know what you mean, and so do most of us, but the Prescotts of this world are waiting for slips like that to exploit! Keep it real and lats bury these buggers once and for all!!
Comment by Leonidas Hadjinikolaou on December 26, 2009 at 10:15 am
Dear Eric, it is time for a radical change. Otherwise, the country will be demoted to a third world triviality. The ranks of the conservative supporters are getting stronger day by day. I feel confident that the Party will win; however, I agree that there is no time for complacency. This battle will need financial support and personal work by whoever still loves and admires the United Kingdom. It is our duty after all.
Comment by Robert on December 26, 2009 at 10:21 am
Being disabled I’m not a fan of labour, but I have to say the Tories have slipped back into the Party of the rich again. You came out of it for a while but again you have gone back to looking after the rich dumping the poor , and in this country now we have a lot of poor.
The choice for me was Tory up until a few months ago when labour came back into play even though for me bing severely disabled the Tories look better, I do not trust you.
I’m not sure whom I will vote for at the next election it will not be labour, it will not be the Lib Dem’s because they are again running around looking for a hung government so they can cry wolf. So come on tell us how I would be better off under a Tory government.
I know you do not want to tell new labour because Brown is desperate to find out what your doing, but in the end it will be down to you to explain to me how my vote will help me.
Comment by David John on December 26, 2009 at 11:06 am
Thanks Eric – we’ll do our best to oust the criminal gang of Nu Laba. Please ask David to stop hanging around with property-owning debt-monkeys like Ross. He’s more Tony Blair’s type really – a very bad advert for us. I put my head in my hands when I saw David with this wide-boy in the papers. Is there ANYONE in the Conservatives media-savvy? Blimey. It’s an uphill struggle and any ‘party for the rich’ imagary (which we know to be false) is a gift to Alastair ’45 minutes’ Campbell. Here’s to a victory for the right-thinking.
Oh, please don’t print any more money or try to shore up the housing market – let the latter collapse as its inflated values are the cause of the whole mess. Thanks!
Comment by Richard Hewson on December 26, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Sarkozy’s as well as brown statement tells us all – just change the flag from stars and strips to the EU flag and this video should sum it all up http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO2eh6f5Go0
Comment by Tim Rice on December 26, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Dear Eric:
I wonder if anyone at Tory HQ ever reads these comments. I’m sure you don’t. They are so overwhelmingly sensible and clear in pointing out where the conservatives have been going wrong, and yet nothing changes at the Tory top. Only the staggering incompetence and dishonesty of the current government has put Dave within a shout of the 117 seats needed for victory.
Read what your disenchanted followers say about climate change, immigration, the EU, “human rights” and taxation for starters. This is your constituency and if you have the guts to listen to them, the 117 seats will be yours. Too many Tory pronouncements these days are votes for UKIP – or worse, for Labour.
Comment by Keith judge on December 26, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Hi Eric Some people seem to be convinced that the Con party will win the next election. I know the candidate for Rugby, unsullied and untainted, I think a lot of Torys as well as Labour are going to be in for a nasty shock. All we have at the moment are shysters and thieves in both parties. Many people will vote UKIP and you will only have yourselves to blaim for a hung parliament. I wrote to David cameron about the Lisbon Treaty and all I got back was a load of waffle about what he would do about it if elected. We all know that he can do nothing without the agreement of the other countries. Wake up and smell the coffee
Comment by Keith judge on December 26, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Sorry about the two spelling mistakes in previous letter.
Comment by George White on December 26, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Cant smoke wont vote
Comment by Peter Gordon on December 26, 2009 at 5:49 pm
It doesn’t matterwho you speak to, the feeling is the same: whilst we must get rid of this disasterous government but will Mr Cameron offer a serious alternative. On the basis of his and Mr Osbornes [who for me lost his credibility when he accepted the hospitality of the Russian oligarch] performance thus far, I have no more confidence for the future under the tories than I have in New Labour.
The front bench seem to be deliberately keeping a low profile. What I want is to hear more of William Hagues funny put downs. He is head and shoulders above any labour minister in terms of intelligence and quick wittedness but he is being kept muzzled.
If anyone at CCO reads the comments made on this web site then why not at least tell us when the tories will be addressing the ‘issues’ [horrible word] which concern us and if the CCO has forgotten they include: Law and Order, IMMIGRATION, the fifth [Islamic] column [which even frightens the yanks], the welfare culture and Education.
Comment by Peter Gordon on December 26, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Oh, I forgot Europe which is one of the biggest problems we face.
Comment by Linda Henry on December 26, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Help spread the Conservative message but what is it? In Afghanistan the UK went into battle without a real mandate for success, I am better than Brown is insufficient.
Don’t go down the USA type of campaign aside from the proposed debate it just will not work here.
Whilst there is strong evidence of global warming some scientists feel we could be reverting to another Ice Age and that carbon emissions are preventing us freezing up. At the present time climate change has become a hysterical religion but ultimately nature will win.
Mr Brown pledged 1 million pounds to the flood victims of Cumbria however he pledged 1and a half billion pounds of overseas aid why are we so nationally sacrificial?
Tony Blair was elected by PR but David Cameron could loose votes with some really cringe making PR stunts. As an example the Adam Boulton interview, freezing weather an open necked shirt with ivy and greenery in the background Adam closed the interview with “now we will leave you to go back to the woods”. The implied green message looked absurd as did the poppy fiasco, and Conference dawning of the age of Aquarius and to top it off Bono Mr Cameron you have really got to stick to the basic issues.
Where is the voice for those who work obey the law pay taxes and take responsibility for themselves. This group appears extinct to politicians and also those who through no fault of their own making are the real needy of this island home.
Comment by Peter Gordon on December 26, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Oh, I forgot! There is also one of the most anti-democratic situations which exist in England and that is the West Lothian Question. Why is this not at the top of Mr Camerons agenda? It seems to be fairly clear that if the scottish MP’s whi sit in the English parliament, were to disappear, the tories would have a majority and we would then be rid of another Fifth-Column!
Comment by escrig3 on December 27, 2009 at 9:27 am
Sorry Eric you need to change your emphasis if you want my vote.
Forget Bangladesh,
Climate Change is a con – stop oppressing road users.
Get out of Afghanistan it has nothing that we want.
Stop Immigration – period.
Stop Political correctness.
Support Britain.
Comment by Nick Anastasi on December 27, 2009 at 9:22 pm
How many Expats will be voting?
I can’t Vote, thereforeI can’t Help!
Comment by Alan Haile on December 28, 2009 at 12:08 pm
You need to promise a referendum on Europe to give yourselves a mandate for future negotiations. You also need to stop spouting this ‘climate change’ nonsense. It is not getting warmer (look out of the window). Bangladesh is not suffering from a rise in sea level, the problem is the way the land is used.
You can win a big majority but only if you promise to do what your natural supporters want. Otherwise we will all vote UKIP.
Comment by Karim on December 28, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Eric..it is amazing….One would think the next election handed on a plate to the conservatives given that you are up against probably the most vilified PM of the last century.
Yet you appear not to be able to clinch the deal so close to an election???
Stop playing politics and start being political. Show some leadership and direction…what on earth do you stand for? There is a lot you can say that labour can’t steal. Start to get it out. There is so much feedback here…I do hope you pull it off and use it.
We want to know what you will do about the high debt in Britain ..not the high seas in foreign lands.
Europe? Immigration? Education? Law and Order? Welfare spending? and so on.
Wake up..you still have time!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Mike Collins on December 29, 2009 at 9:28 am
Eric, please, for goodness sake drop the “War” Room annotation to your campaign. Use something more direct to the cause, not something which is at the heart of the nation portraying death and destruction. As an ex long serving member of HM Forces, a “War Room” is something which is operating at present on a large scale in Afghanistan, not within the Conserative Party.
Comment by Mike Thomson on December 29, 2009 at 5:51 pm
I’ve been overseas for a while now and have therefore had a chance to escape from all the nonsense talked by Brown, Cameron and Clegg. I wonder if any of you politicians realize that many people overseas laugh at the posturing of Cameron and his “Jamie Oliver” approach to Government just picking issues that he has been told by people like you Eric are in season! He then just mixes them all up and throws them together as Tory policy. It may work with cooking Dave / Eric but all you are currently doing is making Gordon “Dogmeat” Brown look re-electable and that means you guys are going to take a bath at the polls…
Comment by Ron Gobell on December 29, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Eric,
All the time you are wasting on churning out the same old tripe your time would be better spent devoted to reading all received comments, analysing, engaging and fully communicating with would be voters on issues raised. Do not cherry pick and comment on non controversial issues. We voters need to see rock solid policies with something stronger than your past “cast iron” promised actions.
Immigration, EU, Suspension of Human Rights legislation, Benefits review, MPs/Lords/MEPs expenses and Blairs War Crimes are a start. Unless the Conservatives get their act together you have no chance of government.
Listen to the people who vote do not avoid the main public issues! At the moment politicians have very little honest integrity and cannot be trusted, this is the hurdle you have to jump over.
Comment by Alasdair on December 31, 2009 at 2:20 am
I would endorse Keith Hughes comment of 24th Dec 1.27 a.m. Lot of good sense.
Comment by Philip Gribble on January 1, 2010 at 5:28 pm
Until the Conservativee Party gets the message loud and clear that central and local government expenditure must be reduced substantially then you are all going no where. As a start reduce the number of MP’s by 300 to show you are serious
Comment by Dougie on January 2, 2010 at 10:42 pm
I will vote Con-Servative Eric. THAT IS A CAST IRON PROMISE.
Comment by Dougie on January 2, 2010 at 10:45 pm
I will vote Con-Servative, Eric. THAT IS A CAST IRON PROMISE.
Comment by Brian on January 3, 2010 at 1:12 pm
The idea to include the leaders of other parties in a “war cabinet” is just a dilution of responsibility for an unwinnable conflict.
David Cameron is already showing an inability to make difficult decisions
Comment by Karl Kramer on March 28, 2010 at 12:15 am
I am a long term tory suporter and am also a long term disabled pentioner. I have beem told by a labour member that the tories will cut DLA is this true and if not what will you do for people like me?
Comment by Elsie on April 29, 2010 at 10:36 pm
Imigration and Unemployment are huge issues in this election.
British tradesman should have plenty of work on the Olymics it is the biggest building site in Europe! Yet only 10% of the workers are British How can this happen? What will you do about?
My brother has just completed a trade qualification and most of the companies only employ eastern europeans.