The Good Right: a soft ‘n’ furry Tory alternative
Tim Montgomerie and Stephan Shakespeare propose a new compassionate Conservatism. Here’s how…
Is there a place for a new Conservative agenda that is genuinely compassionate and that appeals far beyond the limits of the current Conservatism as dictated by David Cameron, George Osborne and their election strategist Lynton Crosby? In short, forget the ‘nasty party’ and embrace the ‘good right’
As the Daily Telegraph’s James Kirkup argues today, Cameron has ditched every one of his attempts to make the Conservatives attractive to non-Conservatives. Where is the Big Society? The care for the environment? Admiration for public services? Not “banging on” about Europe?
All gone, says Kirkup, as Crosby “holds sway” and “those who seek to make the party a broader electoral church are marginalised”.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Crosby and party chairman Grant Shapps are also in the firing line for the unpleasant US-style “attack ads” against Ed Miliband being run on YouTube.
Two senior Tories, Theresa May and Esther McVey, yesterday broke ranks to say they disapprove of the ads; the Home Secretary called for a more “positive” message from Tory HQ while the Employment Secretary said: “I don't agree with that… You stand by your policies.”
Well, the Times columnist Tim Montgomerie and YouGov CEO Stephan Shakespeare think the time is right to remind the British that there is an alternative and have just launched The Good Right – a framework for a new, improved Conservative agenda.
It’s not fully fledged – they’re inviting further ideas – but among their proposals are: above-inflation increases in the minimum wage to encourage employers to invest in a more highly skilled workforce; a state-supported house-building programme designed to cut the future cost of housing benefits; and a rule that all private schools - all of which are charities, don’t forget - should be forced by law to accept 25 per cent of their intake as scholarship boys and girls, funded by the State on a means-tested basis.
As James Forsyth of The Spectator writes, “Not everyone on the right will agree with every idea that Montgomerie and Shakespeare propose. But what is undoubtedly true is that there is a need for a Conservatism that has a broader appeal and a more clearly defined moral purpose.”
Readers wanting to learn more should visit The Good Right website. To give a taste of their offering, here are Montgomerie and Shakespeare’s 12 “foundational beliefs”:
1. Enterprise: Innovation and job creation drive material progress.
2. Respect: The highest form of charity is to give someone their independence.
3. Optimism: There has NEVER been a better time to be alive.
4. Virtue: The basis of democratic capitalism is provided by moral citizens.
5. Family: No social power counts for more than the love of parents for their children.
6. Responsibility: The State cannot love YOUR neighbour as well as YOU can.
7. Government: It is NOT the enemy.
8. Solidarity: A provision of a generous minimum income for those who can't help themselves.
9 Rehabilitation: Let's build the nation of the second chance.
10. Pragmatic: Neither socialist nor libertarian.
11. Modern: Traditional social institutions endure but there must be zero tolerance of violent behaviour, violent language or exclusion of gay people.
12. Transparency: See-through government is smaller, more effective government.
As Forsyth argues in The Spectator, “What is being crafted here is a new Conservative agenda for someone to adopt in a future leadership race.”
Perhaps Esther McVey will take note: in the same Loose Women interview in which she expressed her distaste for the YouTube attack ads, she admitted that she has ambitions to be Prime Minister.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Nigel Horne is Comment Editor of The Week.co.uk. He was formerly Editor of the website until September 2013. He previously held executive roles at The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Times.
-
Moldova's pro-West president wins 2nd term
Speed Read Maia Sandu beat Alexandr Stoianoglo, despite suspicions of Russia meddling in the election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
2024 race ends with swing state barnstorming
Speed Read Kamala Harris and Donald Trump held rallies in battlegrounds over the weekend
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Five things you might not know about Quincy Jones
In the Spotlight From narrowly escaping the Manson Family murders to producing The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, his cultural imprint extended far beyond music
By The Week UK Published
-
What is the next Tory leader up against?
Today's Big Question Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick will have to unify warring factions and win back disillusioned voters – without alienating the centre ground
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is Lammy hoping to achieve in China?
Today's Big Question Foreign secretary heads to Beijing as Labour seeks cooperation on global challenges and courts opportunities for trade and investment
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Britain about to 'boil over'?
Today's Big Question A message shared across far-right groups listed more than 30 potential targets for violence in the UK today
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
UK's Starmer slams 'far-right thuggery' at riots
Speed Read The anti-immigrant violence was spurred by false rumors that the suspect in the Southport knife attack was an immigrant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The Tamils stranded on 'secretive' British island in Indian Ocean
Under the Radar Migrants 'unlawfully detained' since 2021 shipwreck on UK-controlled Diego Garcia, site of important US military base
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
David Cameron resigns as Sunak names shadow cabinet
Speed Read New foreign secretary joins 12 shadow ministers brought in to fill vacancies after electoral decimation
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Britain's Labour Party wins in a landslide
Speed Read The Conservatives were unseated after 14 years of rule
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published