Labour’s new militant tendency

Comment by Kirkby Stephen on March 16, 2010 at 6:46 pm

Why do you not run the BBC Panorama programme “Brent Schools: Hard Left Rules” as a party political broadcast? It won an award.

Comment by Scott on March 16, 2010 at 6:49 pm

How on Earth has the Labour Party been allowed ‘NOT’ to show us the state of the economy (The Books) until after the election?

Why? Because the public are Taxpayers, basically shareholders in the Country, we are choosing who runs it for US! So why can’t we see the books?

Comment by PJ Statham on March 16, 2010 at 6:58 pm

Why is it that nobody is commenting on the stranglehold that Unite seemingly has over the airports, particularly Heathrow? I took a taxi and had to pay £2.20 passenger levy and a further £2; when I questioned the driver, he said it was a levy by the union(UNITE) and they had to pay it to ply their trade at the airport. This must be almost blackmail or a type of protection racket

Comment by Anne Price on March 16, 2010 at 6:59 pm

Something has to be done to stop the unions bringing the country to a standstill. They are far to powerful. Labour wont as they are ruled by the unions. We need someone like MAGGIE to kick them into touch. It needs to be done NOW before before they do anymore harm.

Comment by Gordon File on March 16, 2010 at 7:03 pm

I agree wholeheartedly that labour are now back to the bad old days that I remember so well from the past. The days of political envy where the unions all but destroyed industry with their excessive demands whilst a government in chains caved in to every ludicrous demand with no thought as to how the bills would be paid. Sounds familiar doesn’t it with Gordon Brown now destroying everything decent in this country for his own twisted political ends running up bills that even my grandchildrens children will be paying back unless he and his government are stopped at the next election.
Without even mentioning the ‘look over your shoulder’ society that used to be associated with East European Communist countries of the past that has insinuated into our lives.
A country run by a twice disgraced man who stands behind Brown pulling his strings who’s lips pour out vitriol at all who dare to oppose him. Yes Mr Mandleson we are not as stupid as you think Your fingerprints are all over the nasty side of Labour

Comment by Charles L Daly on March 16, 2010 at 7:06 pm

The labour Government does not seem to understand that the only generators of tax income in this country are the producers of goods and services. Their latest tax proposal are to increase NI contributions and a tax band of 50% for those earning over £150,000. These are taxes that will discourage the creation of wealth and therefore more tax income. The rest of the country just recycle the same tax money.
The only fair tax is a tax on consumption, aka VAT, where the rich will pay proportionately more. The poor will be relieved of paying too much since food and children s clothes are exempt . If you agree with this principle, then come out and say so. We might then beleive you and actually vote for you.

Comment by Geoff on March 16, 2010 at 7:09 pm

I don’t have much sympathy with the unions but I do wish you would use some balance and comment on the intransigence of the management. It appears in the BA dispute that Walsh removed an offer at the last minute – I wonder why!

Comment by alleycat on March 16, 2010 at 7:11 pm

Go get um! Stop pussy footing around! Do you want to win or not? there is a plethra of evidence against this gang, use it! Get angry and get even. Get the attack dogs defeating the Labour militants> Also offer a home to the Blairites (they will be dispensed with if Labour under Brown gets in. darling & Milliband know that!

Comment by BrownIsBust on March 16, 2010 at 7:15 pm

Good point, we both know this, but do you think you can get the average labour fan-boy to know this. Sorry, the real problem is the media brainwashing the public into somehow thinking labour stand for good. Not the communist we both know they are.

It is the media who are to blame, and that is whom you need to convince.

Comment by Joan on March 16, 2010 at 7:15 pm

Referring to Michael Goves speech re ‘Militant Tendancy’ Does anyone know if Derek Hattan
is a candidate. He was even on ‘Daily Politics’ this morning. ?? Is he coming back

Comment by Peter Jackson on March 16, 2010 at 7:16 pm

As one of the few intelligent MP’s around, you should know that knocking the opposition is a sign of weakness. Please concentrate on communicating policy as clearly as you possibly can.

Comment by David COLEMAN on March 16, 2010 at 7:16 pm

Thank you Michael for all you are doing to win the election for us. Please also do your best to keep Boris off programmes like ‘ Question Time’ or votes will certainly be lost.The thought of a Labour win frightens me.

Comment by paul cocks on March 16, 2010 at 7:21 pm

Such a brilliant speech I find it hard to believe you really made it. For months I have despaired of the over-polite campaign being fouhgt by the tories; this labour government is grotesquely dishonest and incompetent and it is time the gloves came off. The British public are not fools, but they want to see some courage from the Tories, and they want to be told the truth. Keep it up, there are votes in it!

Comment by Terry Middleton on March 16, 2010 at 7:24 pm

A very important speech, covering very important topics. Well done, Michael.

This country must not sleep walk into an extremist left wing Hell.

Comment by Conway on March 16, 2010 at 7:24 pm

Labour hasn’t changed in my opinion and your letter appears to be a bit tame. How about high-lighting all the stealth tax Brown has manipulated out of our pockets, all the bloated fat cat wages in the public sector, demonstrate how taxes have risen across the board as an example should get people interested. Obviously along with all other important issues, immigration, mismanaged NHS, benefit fraud, over taxation owing to waste. Let’s clear the national debt first, then give as all a tax break.

Comment by Nigel Walker on March 16, 2010 at 7:24 pm

I agree entirely . It’s up to you to drive the message home. I have to say that so far , the Conservative spokespeople, notably George Osborne ( nice guy ….too nice ? ) seem to have missed some golden opportunities to exploit Labour’s weaknesses. We need strong talk in this age of hard-Left mantras . Gentlemanly responses , however laudable , appear weakness in this age of the hard-Left ( dare I say ‘ era of Marxism -by-stealth ‘ ) as in Ed Balls , Milliband brothers, Yvette Cooper et al )The proposed strike by British Airways cabin staff , however unwelcome , should be viewed as ‘manna from heaven’ and exploited to the maximum as Labour did with Lord Ashcroft. The anticipated hike in petrol prices to £1.20 per litre , again , should be exploited as a Labour failing . These are nasty times , promulgated by a Labour Prime Minister whose obsessive hunger for power renders him dysfunctional. So please , no ‘ pistols at dawn ‘ approach . The electorate want more fighting talk , I’m sure of that.

Comment by Sam on March 16, 2010 at 7:26 pm

On our return to power after 6th May one of our first items of legislation should be to require that all trade union members must actively opt IN to the political levy rather than as of now having to opt OUT.

Comment by lester ralph on March 16, 2010 at 7:30 pm

Michael truer words have never been spoken, be prepared for more dirt from the master of black arts Mandelson.
I must admit after all of these years of up and downs in politics, I never thought for one moment , the country would end up bankrupt.
Perhaps you can also advise us how many properties per annum are going to Browns imported friends, this in effect have forced up market prices and caused shortages of
properties for u k citizens, this information will be well hidden by the man who saved the world, good old Gordy.
The worrying part is that if we believe the polls most people still believe the c–p coming out of browns mouth, you are not going to stop this man with Cameron’s soft words, you need to fight fire with fire, he is still making you look like a bunch of under developed s school kids .
Good luck anyway.

Comment by Dave Lamin & Val Skinner on March 16, 2010 at 7:31 pm

Gordon Brown
While not a card-carrying member, Brown’s choice of subject for his PhD at Glasgow University gives some clues as to his true political leanings. Brown wrote his thesis, and later a biography of James Maxton, an Independent Labour Party MP, a man Brown has admitted to being “fascinated” by. As well as being a conscientious objector who was sent to prison during WWI, Maxton was an extreme-left winger who even went as far as to pen a glowing biography of the man who had provided the inspiration and influence for Maxton’s own political viewpoints; Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov. Better known to posterity as Lenin.

Charlie Whelan
Gordon Brown’s spin doctor cum political enforcer of choice and Unite union boss. A Champagne Socialist who went to a public school in Surrey, Whelan was a long serving member of the Communist Party, only leaving it in 1990 as he tried to establish a career within the Labour Party.

Jack Straw
Former Foreign Secretary and current Secretary of State for Justice, a proud and vocal communist during his formative years.
Alan Johnson
The Home Secretary is considered by many to be a future leader of the Labour Party. A former militant leader of the postal workers’ union, Johnson joined the Labour Party. But he made no secret of his true political affiliations: “I was more CPGB [Communist Party of Great Britain]. I did consider myself to be a Marxist.

David Miliband
Milband’s father Ralph was a leading Marxist theoretician who had entered Britain illegally with his father Samuel Miliband, a former Red Army soldier, in 1940. A leading figure of the Communist left in Britain, Ralph Miliband is buried in Highgate Cemetery close to his idol, Karl Marx.

Comment by Jude on March 16, 2010 at 7:38 pm

The choice people make in the forthcoming General Election will shape the country for decades to come

Comment by The Big Dog on March 16, 2010 at 7:51 pm

We should be hammering these lunatics. Get stuck in and start fighting fire with fire.

Comment by Andrew Fairhead on March 16, 2010 at 7:52 pm

UNITE????
DIS- Unite…….
getting all the dis on UNITE
UNTIE their schemes…..

Comment by Alexander Nekrassov on March 16, 2010 at 7:57 pm

You should hit Labour where it hurts on education: they have deprived millions of poor kids of a better life by dumping selection.

Comment by Penny on March 16, 2010 at 7:58 pm

Stop talking and DOOOOOOOOOOOO! If not we are all doomed to listen to that Scottish idiot who no one voted for. Some democracy this is. Get rid of him and all his colleagues who steal from taxpayers on a daily basis,gives money to anyone who doesn’t want to work. Yes we should see the books but I’m sure they would have two sets. It’s time for a big change. Is there anyone in the Conservative who has the guts to do it? It’s time to show your true character

Comment by Louise Jolson on March 16, 2010 at 8:06 pm

I think it’s imperitive that attention is drawn to how labour is being bankrolled by big unions, such as “Unite” the union leading strike action at BA. In the light of that, Brown’s mild scoldings of the strikers at BA are completely meaningless and just appear to be lip-service so as not to “bite the hand that feeds them”.
Attention should also be strongly drawn to Brown’s refusal to say before the election what cuts he will make to recover some of the “deficit” in the next couple of years. Does the PM not have a duty to inform the public what his recovery plans are? This is yet another abuse of power that should be strongly condemned by the conservatives.

Comment by Peter Bayley on March 16, 2010 at 8:13 pm

More, please! And more widely distributed and reported!

Comment by David Thomson on March 16, 2010 at 8:17 pm

I never thought that New Labour exsisted. Now there showing true colours. The masses must be informed. The Tories must win, or were doomed.

Comment by Elizabeth on March 16, 2010 at 8:18 pm

I sent the following to the Telegraph blog re. your comments – of course there is a “bigger picture” – you truly must think we conservative voters are stupid.

Mr. Gove should understand that those are fine words – however, those words were used as a confidence trick on the British public by Mandelson, Blair et al. The New Labour project was a con to get them elected – it was a catch all project – ask anyone if they want “recognition of values and enterprise and aspiration fused with social justice and fairness” – as they edge towards the door they will nod vehemently – I mean who is going to answer that question with a “No”.
Most people simply want decent government – law enforcement – safety nets for the vulnerable – punishment and isolation for those that threaten our safety – etc. etc. I want to be consulted when whichever lot is in power, is thinking of asset stripping this country or handing our heritage to other countries.
I despise those corrupt politicians and they have further corrupted the House of Lords by stuffing it with those discredited and tribal labour MPs – (Speaker Martin anyone, Mandelson ?)
All MPs seem to think we are no longer angry.
I have just a) paid my tax b) received an astronomical council tax bill c) received an astronomical gas and electricity bill – and it occurs to me that if I were an MP this would not matter one jot – because the taxpayers would settle their bills and indeed their luxurious retirements.
Social justice and fairness my ass.

Comment by Malcolm Gaskell on March 16, 2010 at 8:19 pm

This is not a suprise ,LAbour owe 25 million pounds to the Coo-op Bank ,so how are they to run theit election campaign other go back to previous bedfellows.
The most alarming thing is how much more militant the unions are now,I don”t think they would stop at anything ,they take on opposition by first smearing their good names ,reminds me of Soviet Russia .
If we expected a clean fight we now know that is not going to be .
The Conservative must publish all the rotton
things Labour has done in the last 13 years,
Blair was bad but not as bad as Brown.
We will win ,because to lose is unthinkable

Comment by Oldun on March 16, 2010 at 8:23 pm

Clearly the existing Labour Party leaders have lost their way and are totally out of their depth in how to contend with the current economic crisis. They realise that they will lose the next election and are running a scorched earth policy, knowing that the Conservatives will get the blame for the hard measures that must be taken to save Britain from becoming part of the financial Third World.

Comment by DAVID GRINHAM on March 16, 2010 at 8:23 pm

Dear Michael,

I would really enjoy a conservative party win in the forthcoming election – However, please please please explain to whoever is rsponsible for party strategy, attacking the other parties – particularly labour – is not going to win the confidence of voters – we all know what a mess the Labour government has caused / fuelled since 1997 – look forward -concentrate on the strengths of the conservative party and what can be acheived by REUNITING THE NATION.

It seems to me that almost every time recently anyone from the conservative party “opens their mouth” they appear to damage the prospect of a conservative victory – I urge you and the conservative top team to rethink any planned speaches in the next few weeks. Posi tive campaigning is required to engage the dissolusioned voters of this once proud nation. In summary my message is simply shut up unless you have a positive message – to continue otherwise is only digging a bigger hole into whic we will ALL fall ! Good luck

Comment by Michael Albury on March 16, 2010 at 8:25 pm

OVERVIEW

Winning the next general election appears to be of doubtful merit as far as the Conservatives are concerned. So much financial data has been hidden that if Cameron were to win, he and the party are going to savaged by the electorate.
Start seeing how you can lose – just, with lots of dignity.
I do not give Brown more than 2 years before the structure collapses. The nature of this collapse is open to debate, but be sure it will happen. Then strike when there is no poisoned chalice on offer. Start saying you cannot comment until the financial situation is known.
Thank goodness Cameron is younger than Brown.
Very good fortune.

Comment by Paul on March 16, 2010 at 8:27 pm

The UNITE fight with BA has probably been orchestrated for Gordon Brown to go in at the 11th hour and solve the problem, thereby boosting his standing as the GE approaches. Last week’s offer by BA was rejected by UNITE, and now the union want it back on the table. UNITE want this dispute to gain legs in the run up to the GE. Whelan is probably deeply involved in this strategy.

Comment by paul dineen on March 16, 2010 at 8:31 pm

Just keep being honest, politics has not been honest since the last Conservative Goverment, the heart needs changing, its like the non bussiness owners have taken over running the business, no real commercial sense, if UK PLC was a real business the receiver would be called in by now. Let there be workers rights but do not let the workers take over, that is what Labour have done by letting the unions buy their attention

Comment by Mike Cross on March 16, 2010 at 8:41 pm

I have been a frontline manager in Chemical companies for 35 years. In the 1970s on merseysude we had to deal with the militant tendency who were most destructive of companies and jobs, They used safety as an excuse to slow or stop work as they worked to rule, They forced us to pay dirt, danger and gas money whilst I tried to eliminate the dirt, danger and gas. They resisted all new tools and practices and ran overtime scams to generate additional pay for nothing. They went on strike at the drop of a hat and I watched them destroy the Liverpool docks and the Cities reputation as they forced the shipping to the UK East coast and Rotterdam. We then had the winter of discontent and the 3 day week when we tried to keep a continuous high energy process going with weekly power cuts. It is deja vu as they try to destroy BA and their leader is another loud mouthed scouser. I was also a founder member of the ASTMS union to support our supervisors and make our arrogant senior management recognise their importance so I know both sides of the argument. The PCS public service Union leader is a leading light in Marxist International so WE are in for several years of discontent and strikes and like Mrs Thatcher we must prevail for the future of the UK.

Comment by Tim Line (HeartBrokenDad) on March 16, 2010 at 8:43 pm

Michael, I have one huge problem with the Conservatives at the moment. Yes the issues surrounding what Labour has done to this country are important and need addressing – BUT there are also huge injustices going on in our Family Courts, with well over 100,000 children separated from their fathers since this government came to power.

Yes – I will grant that you and other key members of the party are listening to the issues and indeed agree that things must change – BUT and this is a very big BUT, not one of you has made any commitment to DO anything about it. As a father who has unjustly not seen his 3 daughters for nearly 1000 days, I find this deeply troubling.

David Cameron has gone through the terrible pain of losing a child he loved dearly, but at least he can grieve. My pain (and 1000′s of other fathers like me) has not diminished one iota since day 1.

Try to imagine what that feels like and then PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE make a pledge to actually do something about it once you are elected.

Comment by Cpt Anthony cummins on March 16, 2010 at 8:48 pm

Help us help you!
23,000 Brit expats cut off from the BBC who have withdrawn services to Italy.
see facebook group, BRING BACK BBC ENTERTAINMENT TO SKY ITALIA.

Comment by richard bullman on March 16, 2010 at 8:51 pm

Well done, Michael;, “dish the real dirt” on these subversive, malicious, socialist, semi-commie traitors.

If I’m a little bit critical,……who heard your speech? With the resources of the State set against you, might I suggest your think more like a freedon fighter and be more creative, outrageous even, in getting out “The Message”.

Comment by Charlie Hull on March 16, 2010 at 8:51 pm

At Last! An email from a key, high profile member of David Cameron’s team, rather than yet another weekly one from the leader himself.

People like Michael Gove, William Hague, Ken Clarke, Sayida Warsi and, from the PPCs Shaun Bailey and Louise Fancourt, need to have much higher profile during the forthcoming campaign, so great to see an email from Mr. Gove in my inbox.

In 1997, most of the general public had heard of Blunkett, Straw, Short, Cook, Mandelson and Mowlam.

We activists need to make it the same for the names I’ve mentioned already, and more besides, for May 2010!

Comment by Arnold Whittle on March 16, 2010 at 9:16 pm

This so called Government has destroyed this land in 13 years, me and my countrymen and women count for nothing in Britain today, my ancestors fought for this country to make it great, in many battles down the ages, and worked hard to build a fine nation along with million of others of my fellow countrymen and women, I will tell you that I hate this Government greatly for what it has done to my country, and the land of my ancestor

Comment by Alex G Briggs on March 16, 2010 at 9:29 pm

Michael.
On an earlier reply here I said the Tory Team must tell ALL not just the registered Tories that Whelan,Campbell and Mandelson or previously discredited are running Browns campaign.The Tory Team must do as George Osborne says -”We are ALL in it together”
The media especially the BBC must be told every time .They with Unite will do there best to keep the weakest Iron Fist in situ.

13 years of failure and now they tell us what they are doing.
Good example is years of war in Afghanistan,now they say we are properly tooled up.Chinooks and other equipment came or coming years later.

Comment by David Chamberlin on March 16, 2010 at 9:30 pm

I am with you all the way. Have today supported Maria Hutchings( PPC for Eastleigh) vs Chris Huhne at Hustings against a local issue i.e. 6000 houses on our doorstep, courtesy of Hazel Blears! Lib Dem Council suggested designated area originally; now that they can see they will lose votes, they have changed their tune and are opposing the scheme! Have confronted Chris Huhne who has passed it back to local council, after declaring his opposition in parliament. We have been hoodwinked by the Lib/Dems here.

Comment by Chris Bedford on March 16, 2010 at 9:59 pm

Dear Michael,

How right you are, but wee have to get this message out as agressively as possible. I have lived through 3 disasterous Labour administrations; I never want to see another!

Comment by Ainsley Mitchell on March 16, 2010 at 10:09 pm

Well done Michael, a very vibrant and relevant speach delivered on main issues. Keep up the good work.

Comment by Ingram on March 16, 2010 at 10:26 pm

You really need to forget all this complex and devisive fringe stuff. It’s not really very important in the big scheme.

The only thing that is important is that this election is about one thing and one thing only, THE ECONOMY, its total mismanagement under Brown and Labour, and what you the Conservatives are going to do to stop the rot. There are no other real issues. All spending policies and taxation policies will be, by necessity, directly proportional to the future ecomonic tide, there being no further room to borrow.

Comment by Nigel on March 16, 2010 at 11:00 pm

At long last. A real vote winning issue that differentiates the Conservatives from Labour. Well done.

Comment by Mike Reynolds on March 16, 2010 at 11:21 pm

Excellent speech that shows Labour for what they are but unfortunatley not enough people see them this way. More of this and hard policies during the run up to the election might just convince the electorate that a Conservative government is what thye need, at present they are sceptical. We mustn’t have another 5 years of Brown I for one will seriously think about emigrating.

Comment by Mike Heeneman on March 17, 2010 at 1:03 am

Hi Michael,
your mail was so fair to recieve in so many ways. I will go into only one, your recent conference. I have never seen a conference with a bunch of yobs outside trying to ruin a democratic meeting. But sure to form Labour 2010 were screaming abuse and heckling top tories and trying to break through the doors just to stop Our message having a platform. I’m proud of you and your team for standing up against what could be tyranny, but after what I hope will be your election win, rather their lost power corrupted nonsense,

best with everything,

Mike.

Comment by Phil Bottomley on March 17, 2010 at 1:25 am

Thank you Mr Gove for your pearls of wisdom, can Central Office not make more of the fact that we are constantly being conned by non elected crooked liars, of the likes of Brown, Mandelson, Whelan and Campbell! I do not believe anything that anyone in the Labour Party says, in fact when I see them canvassing out in the street I stand there and shout LIAR, LIAR. I suggest that more people do this and then perhaaps the message will get through.

Comment by Andrew Norris on March 17, 2010 at 5:03 am

The trade unions, and the Labour Party in general, are movements which started out with the best intentions, but now, as it is plain for all to see, they are doing more harm than good. Extreme as this sounds, if I had my way, I would take up the suggestion made by the late Denis Thatcher and abolish trade unions altogether.

Comment by Chris Knight on March 17, 2010 at 7:06 am

Gordon Brown was the worst chancellor this country has ever had and now he is the worst prime minister. Why is he being allowed to play the ‘competency card’ when he is so clearly incompetent? He appears to be so deranged and blinded by some kind or old socialist dream that he actually believes that he is right, despite everything he touches turning to dust. Why don’t you set Ken Clarke on him – give Ken the task of unmasking the fool? Whilst standard wisdom says that negative politics doesn’t work, this has to be the exception.

Comment by David Turner on March 17, 2010 at 7:35 am

I was expecting something more substantive than this from Michael as heb is so sharp! I couldn’t connect with his theme. Perhaps an examination of the communist, Gramscian or international marxist group pedigree of key Labout figures would have been more compelling?

Peter Mandelson – ex Communist and Communist Youth League

Alan Milburn – links to the IMG of Tariq Ali

John Reid – ex communist party

Millibands 1 and 2 – remember their dad and what he was about?

Comment by Chris on March 17, 2010 at 8:31 am

We have to fight against the forces of Communism that now have taken root in our government and civil service. Socialism means letting decent hardworking people pay for the feckless, idle lives of others. Time for a new broom to sweep the whole lot out!

Comment by Clive A.S. White on March 17, 2010 at 9:03 am

It is absolutely vital that we get rid of this corrupt Labour Government and replce it with a Conservative Government with a thumping good Majority. The alternative is that this Country will go under.
Forget the Lib/Dems as they have no experience of Government for nearly 100 years

Comment by Andy on March 17, 2010 at 9:16 am

Ok, so here’s the deal….

I want proper Conservative (capital C) policies; that is those which nurture self-sufficiency and economic growth (while looking after the elderly/infirm etc.)

I DO NOT WANT:- New Labour Lite or some wishy washy, there, there, it will be all right don’t worry, we won’t cut your jobs.

So if that is fine by you then my vote FOR you is fine by me.

Comment by David Roberts on March 17, 2010 at 9:18 am

Following the destruction of the Berlin Wall, those who supported the bankrupt ideology that was communism did not simply change their beliefs, They Moved ! To Brussels and are now, thanks to Nu Labour are firmly established within the administrations in the UK. They make up the management of the endless number of Quango’s set up by this corrupt regime.

As a example of the Labour gravy train check out this link.

http://www.theoneclickgroup.co.uk/news.php?start=3300&end=3320&view=yes&id=4433#newspost

Now please tell me why the Conservative Party are not exposing such scams, especially as we need to use all the ammunition we can find.

Comment by ROBERT PECKHAM on March 17, 2010 at 9:34 am

Dear Sir/Madam,
I would like to comment ion the excellence of the blog.It is quite obvious what is happening to the Labour party,they are reverting to type as they always do!This nonsensical buffoon-led government and its hangers-on and assorted oleaginous acoylites are really to blame for all the ills that have swept our dear country since that fatefull May day in nineteen ninety -seven.Always they will select the incorrect policy and reward the indolent and the lazy the feckless and the idle!A time for a sea-change is long overdue!The crypto-Communists who are now edging their way into the corridors of power including the odious union leaders and their ilk illustrate the urgent need for governmental change at root and branch level.Thankyou for listening to this state-pensioned yet still working full time postal porter.
Kind regards,
Robert Peckham

Comment by John Popham on March 17, 2010 at 9:37 am

Part of Labour’s dogma has been to treat success as some sort of punishable offence. Whilst most of the electorate dislike the excesses of some ‘captains of industry’ (e.g. over paying bank traders) unless we can get away from hammering the moderately successful we will never get the country back on its feet.

Please, Oh please, make it clear our party will seek to allow those who take risks and achieve success to retain more of the money they have earned.

Also please make it clear the Labour Social engineering games will be halted. We want social mobility – yes – but the way to get there is to educate the young so they can compete on a level plaing field. I benefitted from a private sector boarding education – paid for by the then London County Council. Instead of seeking to hammer good private schools for reasons of political dogma, why cant we open them up to a wider range of pupils through going back to assisted places.

I was rescued from dire poverty and family circumstances that would have had modern Social workers messing up my life – but my mum used the LCC scheme and I ended up running a large chunk of a well known insurance company. If it could work for me it could work for thousands of others.

Comment by Ron Forrest on March 17, 2010 at 9:55 am

How right we are to draw attention to the threat of the unions. They are still the ‘enemy within’ as they were thirty years ago when Margaret Thatcher took them on. Blair kept them at bay but Brown will be at their mercy.

Comment by Alex Marten on March 17, 2010 at 10:21 am

While I agree with the vast majority of these messages I am getting increasingly frustrated at the number that focus on the failures of the Labour Party. Whist six months ago messages focused on what the Conservatives will do for Britain, it now seems that finger pointing is the norm. Of course these failures have not gone unoticed, but why not focus on what the Conservatives can and will do for our country rather than engaging in a petty argument that just gives the message that the Conservatives are only better than absolutely rubbish. Concentrate on what this country deserves and not what the other side is doing.

Comment by BRENDAN WATSON on March 17, 2010 at 10:23 am

You and I know Labour is but the difficulty is getting the truth over to the rest of the electorate. A way has to be found and the task is more difficult with Brown’s social engineering.

Comment by George Moor on March 17, 2010 at 10:46 am

Notwithstanding the vagaries of a labour government caught between two stools, a BA management fearing Godot and better placed competition , a Union raising power stakes in America etc – maybe we are missing a simple point. The thousands of cabin crew operating out of Heathrow have voted for strike action with a massive majority.
Although I don’t hear too much of the background for this my experience in developing business is shouting ‘Bang some haeds Jimmy!’. ‘Bang some haeds!’. Unfortunately Gordon Brown is not best placed to do this is he?

BA by BA thwarter

Comment by louise m donnelly on March 17, 2010 at 11:09 am

I agree 100% with Michael Gove. Of course Gordon Brown does not want to upset the union which bankrolls his party to the tune of 11 million pounds. ‘militant’ is an excellent description of the labour party, for whom I have never, and would never, contemplate voting.
I am a lifelong conservative voter, until now. I am disappointed that I shall be unable to vote conservative in May; David Cameron’s decision to repeal the huntung ban has made it impossible for me to vote for the tories this time. Should Mr Cameron change his mind on this, I would be moe than happy to vote for and see a conservative government.

Comment by Steve Willis on March 17, 2010 at 11:43 am

This is probably the best speech by a politician I’ve seen in a long time. Well constructed, making good points.

Do beware of how some in the media may use it to place the Conservatives as the heirs to Blair. Blair had a dark side – I discussed with a very Senior Conservative Cabinet Member, the way in which Blairites used the strategems & devices of Militant Labour to take over the Labour Party – Back in 1995, I even wrote a piece entitled New Labour – New Militant.

You don’t want to get tarred with the Blair brush.

Comment by S Ferdos on March 17, 2010 at 12:43 pm

II think the conservatives need to put out a message that they will be the party to bring signification change to the political system. They will restructure the current political structures bringing in some form of oversight on the parliament an law makers. In addition involve The People and professions in law making. I.e. more referendum on important laws that effect everyone and involvement of professionals in law making for example a database of professional participants who are involved in debates on specific areas of law in which they have expertise. Their group opinion should be published and be binding on the law marker. This is the way to a better Britain. Be brave enough and you will succeed.

Comment by James on March 17, 2010 at 12:46 pm

An excellent speech. You can see the unions flexing their “muscles” everyday and there are people who just don’t want to see whats happening. What Unite does not see is they’ve finished off Corus 2000+ members now they want to do the same to BA. Oh, what fun when they realise loss of members=fewer £££’s to Labour.

Comment by Richard Lohman on March 17, 2010 at 1:36 pm

Unions are not all bad! they are essentially about rights for workers. The conservatives need to stop dismissing and disrespecting the unions and start honest and open debate about moving peoples working rights forward so they are fit for the 21st century. It is a fact that workers have less rights in England today than they had 70 years ago – wouldn’t it be just peachy if the conservatives were the ones who improved workers rights rather than thier image of eroding them

Comment by Margaret on March 17, 2010 at 1:54 pm

i’ve heard there have been 4000 new laws in G Brown’s time alone? and that there are at lease 10 (ex?) communists on the unelected commission!

very good article

Comment by roy on March 17, 2010 at 2:17 pm

Yes- I see all of that. What I consider important in the coming weeks is SHOWING the electorate how labours profligacy is IMPACTING on our domestic culture already. Take eg., Domestic economy- FUEL at the pumps. Crude is 80$ a barrel at the moment-the reason petrol may go up to £1.20 a litre is because Labour (G Brown) has in effect, DEVALUED the pound£. This will be one of many to the election but can you see millions of people at the pumps falling in love with labour IF you have shown them that it is Labours profligacy that has brought this about. On all such issues that effect the public NOW and near future, YOU MUST get the benefit of showing this. If you do not we do not deserve to win?

Comment by Darren Jackson on March 17, 2010 at 2:25 pm

These so-called Labour socialists are nothing more than greedy, self centred, egotistical, and covetous individuals. They do not care what is happening in our society today, they do not care about the terrible increase of crime, anti social behaviour or mass immigration, they are not bothered; as long as it is not affecting them (sat in their ivory towers) they have no interest other than to up hold their socialist beliefs, and oppose anyone that disagrees with their ethos. Tony Blair is a prime example, he waded into politics eventually to become leader, he has now long departed having patronised the people of the country whilst making himself extremely rich & wealthy, and while the country is now in a terrible mess, socially, morally and financially he’s gone and doesn’t care.

Gordon Brown and his Labour cronies seem to be more concerned with preventing the Conservatives getting elected than actually making the UK a better place to live! I wish I had the choice to leave this country with my partner and my two daughters, but I can’t because I am divorced and my children live with their mother in Sussex. Instead I hope & prey that someone will take the UK by the scruff of the neck and literally drag it back to some semblance of order, respect, and financial stability. If Mr Cameron & the Conservatives can bring themselves to ignore the cries of the politically correct loony left and simply focus on a solid, stoic, and un-compromising determination to lead this country back to greatness, then It may be that we will once again be able to live in a much better, more caring and less cynical society for which we have suffered under Labour for far too long.

God help us all if Labour win a forth term?

Comment by Avril Read on March 17, 2010 at 3:12 pm

I agree with you, at least Tony Blair gave the
impression he was different BUT, how come Gordon’s face is everywhere at the moment?
I am confident that voters will vote for David if the get to know him. Lord, if Gordon can start
to convince people that he is electable, anything or anyone could end up at No 10.

Comment by geoffrey j harris on March 17, 2010 at 5:42 pm

So right, time to get Labour out and keep them out. So many failed promises, people let down time after time and how can Gordon Brown sit comfortably with Charlie Whelan? Another wonder kid of Blairs who appears to bat for both sides, if that is not controlling I do not know what is.As a PS my wife and I were very impressed with the Trevor McDonald interview with David and Samantha Cameron, so honest and natural, must have worked wonders for the Polls.

Comment by Richard Broughton on March 17, 2010 at 5:52 pm

Michael, You are absolutely right in everything you say and I hope David Cameron rewards your talent when you win the forthcoming election.

Comment by thomas brown on March 17, 2010 at 6:12 pm

For me, the most noticeable aspect of what Mr Gove says is that he appears to think that New Labour in 1997 was ok. Incredible ! In his ‘forces of conservatism’ speech, prior to being elected, Blair set out his intentions to destroy just about everything that the Conservative Party stands for. They havn’t changed at all, they have been repulsive from day one.

Comment by brian sullivan on March 17, 2010 at 7:05 pm

I must admit I don’t quite follow Michael’s reasoning here. Surely if Labour were in hock to Unite we would not have Brown and Adonis going on TV and condemning a strike in which its members are engaged. In fact Brown always condemns strikes and inisists that the union should go back to work on the employers terms. Surely the question should be “why do the unions give money to Labour when they get absolutely nothing in return for it.

Comment by John Holland on March 17, 2010 at 7:30 pm

Absolutely on the button.
See also Simon Heffer in today’s Telegraph where he shows how Labour has retreated into a party of control, taking away our individual autonomy and stifling enterprise

Comment by Clive Pearce on March 17, 2010 at 8:35 pm

It appears to me that Labour’s reluctance commit itself to the cuts necessary to save the country’s AAA rating is down to its dependence on the unions. Condemning the BA strike I think is a “put up job” becuse of the election; probably arranged with Unite. No actual pressure is being exerted by GB to end the strike.

Comment by Christopher Bell on March 17, 2010 at 9:55 pm

If Gordon Brown is orchestrating the rise of union problems while we are in such a fragile economic situation, then surely he should be charged with sedition as he has already brought the country to it’s knees by his communistic policicies. He should be “outed” and the public informed as to his true intensions. i.e. Not to revive this great country but to supress it even further and in the end, ruin it. The Soviets couldn’t do it during the cold war and this socialist party have very nearly succeeded by subtefuge. They must be stopped whatever the cost and the voting public shown their true colours. Come on Mr. Cameron, you have the potential to become a great PM. Take him on and don’t hold back. Labour have done everything they can to alter the culture of this country. They cannot and must not be allowed to get away with it.

Comment by Lucy on March 18, 2010 at 8:15 am

Nowhere do you mention the fact that DFID gave money to the unions which is now funding labours election campaign.
This morning the BBC has ressurected the Lord Ashcroft debate. When are you going to fight back and say one can tell Charlie Whelan is back. Smear tactics again. Why aren’t you gunning for Brown over his lies to the Chilcot enquiry.

Comment by Sally H on March 18, 2010 at 1:48 pm

Get on with forming policies that will help the people of this country. The smearing, spin, insulting of each other not only takes time and energy away from the real problems facing this country – immigration, the state of the economy, the EU, the heavy (often unfair)financial demands being made on us and so on, but also causes confusion and uncertainty and we don’t know who to believe. Whelan, Paul, Ashcroft, MP’s expenses, any dishonesty within politics – work on ridding us of these issues so you can concentrate on what is required to put the Great back in Britain and give the hard working, tolerant and loyal people of this country the true democracy they deserve.

Comment by Derek Brooks on March 18, 2010 at 3:21 pm

If all Party communications ‘framing the debate’ were expressed as forthrightly, and as eloquently, as this piece from Michael then we need not fear another ‘wobble’.

Comment by krystyna on March 18, 2010 at 8:21 pm

Am I the only one cynical enough to think the whole UNITE thing is a set up so that Gordon Brown can save the world again – and BA – riding to the rescue by ‘resolving’ the dispute in the nick of time? A PR stunt in the making – but of course, Charlie Whelan was his PR guy and still visits No 10 regularly.

Comment by noshaba on March 19, 2010 at 9:59 am

Good points here but what about children being taught in schools by Cover Supervisors. The unions are not objecting becaue it gives teachers PPA time. But I am a teacher who has witnessed this scandal, but feel intimidated. I would like parents to ask schools about these cover supervisors….and their role in school. Maybe research by your researchers would provide the data to enable you to expose the extent of the problem and the damage of someone with not evan a GCSE in a subject attaempting to teach it! For us to be considered for positions we need a Degree in a subject. These childminders are “cheaper”

Comment by noshaba on March 19, 2010 at 10:22 am

Good points here but what about children being taught in schools by Cover Supervisors. The unions are not objecting because it gives teachers PPA time. But I am a teacher who has witnessed this scandal, but feel intimidated. I would like parents to ask schools about these cover supervisors….and their role in school. Maybe research by your researchers would provide the data to enable you to expose the extent of the problem and the damage being done to children’s education being managed/policed/ baby sat, really, for the whole day,or for sevaral days- if their teacher is ill, or on a course or has left and has not yet been replaced.( all 30 children are in a classroom with no qualified teacher present)- just the unqualified cover supervisor) Someone, with not even a GCSE in a subject… attempting to teach it!
For teachers to be considered for positions, we need a Degree in a subject. WHY THE DOUBLE STANDARDS? This is one reason why the education system is underperforming.
These childminders are “cheaper”, but the children feel “short changed”. They know what is happening too and the difficult learners are being even more ” put off.”
Yet, no teacher’s unions have objected, neither has the dreadful the GTC (useless, expensive, quango). They are in hock with the Government in this.

Comment by artfan2000 on March 20, 2010 at 3:07 pm

The BA strikes are a pain in the arse. Other than that I don’t have an opinion on the the left/right spectrum. BA workers will price themselves out of a job. Charlie Wheeler-dealer and Woodley will still be drawing 6 figures salaries.

Comment by Carl Westover on March 20, 2010 at 4:55 pm

Not only should David Cameron outlaw the trade unions, he should also make the labour party illegal so they are never allowed to run our country into the ground ever again. They are truly loathsome.

Comment by noshaba on March 24, 2010 at 8:39 pm

Mr Michael Gove-Shadow Education Secretary
Would it be possible to include a proposal for education in Secondary schools where Headteachers are given the option to arrange Single-sex clases so that boys and girls can be taught separately up to year 10.
Single sex education does work, but it is difficult and uneconomical to revert Labour policies here. But academies could be set up that way if the sponsors wish.
Underachievement amongst boys is an issue and the kind of reading materials, strategies and activities they respond to positively are different to those that are successful for girls. The policy is not one that dicates with an ideological framework, but one that offers the option to schools/Heads/Governing bodies.

Comment by Kenneth Fontana on March 29, 2010 at 4:26 pm

Yes we know about the Labour lurch to the left and the wreckage they have made of the economy but what worries me is the lack of an undertaking by you to allow the introduction of selective education. All the results show that it works but because there is a misconceived opinion that it is socially divisive, governments are doggedly determined not to allow selection.

Milton once said “It is better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven” and adapting this to my above comment, it is better that a child who is not academically bright enough (or lacks the will) to make progress in a Grammar school should excel themselves in a Secondary Modern school where the ethos is different and where they can transfer to a Grammar School if it is right for them to do so. Similarly, a child struggling in a Grammar School should be allowed to transfer to a Sec. Mod. if it is in their best interests.
There is another important point here and that is that a child in a Sec. Mod. who works hard and gives of their best will be encouraged by the teachers whereas, the same child struggling in a Grammar school may be made to feel that they are a failure.

Comment by realist on March 30, 2010 at 8:32 pm

We cannot go back to the trtpartite system. Have a look, a close look at Kent. David C is quite right to resist calls to establish more grammar schools.

Comment by Malcolm on April 6, 2010 at 3:58 pm

We are all agreed that the economy is in a trillion pound mess due to Gordon Brown’s willful mis-management of the economy. Rather than fight Labour on the details of the painful measures needed to pay off this debt, there is a more fundamental issue which should be the basis of the electoral battle.

This is that the mask of ‘New Labour’ invented by Tony Blair has slipped, and the underlying ugly face of ‘Old Labour’, as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Trade Union movement, has been revealed by the recent wave of strikes. This ‘Phantom of Downing street’ has now been unmasked in all its divisive class warfare horror, with social engineering of schools and Universities, and recently election slogans such as ‘Come outside posh boy’.

It would seem good and important material for Saatchi and Saatchi to put on their poster campaigns, complete with pictures of Gordon Brown unmasked in the subterranean corridors of power. Even the pathetic attempt to restore the ‘New Labour’ mask by wheeling out Blair, failed miserably, and is likely to backfire on ‘Old Labour’ by reminding the electorate of the broken promises on which he was elected and the two unjustified and unwinnable wars he started in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This end to the pretense of ‘New Labour’ is the real issue in the election, and should be the important principle on which the election battle should be fought, and Conservative victory can be assured.

Dr Malcolm Carruthers
Conservative Supporter for over 50 years
for hoadowns

Comment by John smith on June 27, 2010 at 9:55 am

Surely trade unions should be made liable to the same monopoly and competition rules that are faced by big business. This would limit union mergers and make for smaller unions more accountable to their members.

Comment by Don Cross on August 15, 2010 at 9:03 pm

The trade unions will have to be taken on by the goverment,esp unite who care nothing about thier members,exept there dues,they are a millitent based organisation whose sole purpose is to bring down the current goverment.
The proposed airport strikes cannot be allowed to take place,wage increases will have to be allowed,followed by the appropriate redundancies.
We have only just got rid of the worst goverment ever,and cannot allow a return to the days of strikes and violence.