PowerSwitch

Seeing how the Tories are now 20% ahead in the polls it's looking more and more like 2010 will bring a Conservative government. So what can we expect? Well here's a few, for good or bad.

Transport

1. No Heathrow airport expansion (presumably)

2. Encourage train operators to make long-term investments by making 15- to 20-year franchises the norm

Energy

1. Tranform electricity networks with 'smart grid' and 'smart meter' technology that automatically matches supply and demand, allowing a huge increase in renewable power

2. Provide up to £6,500 worth of home insulation improvements, enabling households to reduce their gas and electricity bills

3. Create a decentralised energy revolution by introducing a system of feed-in tariffs to encourage micro-generation of electricity

4. Expand offshore wind and marine power and provide government backing for a network of large-scale Marine Energy Parks

5. While ensuring Britain has adequate, safe and reliable access to conventional fuels, we will only permit coal-fired power stations to be built with clean carbon capture and storage technology, restricting carbon emissions to the level achieved by a modern gas power plant.

6. Nuclear power will be part of the energy mix if it is economically viable, but new nuclear power stations should not leave taxpayers with liabilities for their running, decommissioning or waste.

Communities

1. Devolving power to local authorities, who are better placed to make decisions for their communities

2. Keep Post Offices open. 'We are vehemently opposed to these [closure] plans, as we believe Post Offices are vital institutions, as important to communities as the local school or pub'.

Food

1. Labelling of British food.

When you buy a 'British' pork pie, you probably assume that the pork comes from Britain.

In fact, meat from abroad can be imported into Britain to be processed into bacon, sausages and pies which can then be labelled to suggest they are British.

We think this is dishonest. People have a right to know where their food comes from. Meat labelled 'British' should be born and bred in Britain, raised to our high welfare standards.

Consumers should be free to choose food from any country, but real choice requires real information. So the Conservatives are demanding honest 'country of origin' labelling to restore trust and allow people to choose British food with confidence.

http://www.conservatives.com/Campaigns/Honest_Food.aspx

There's a vid and a petition to go with this one on their website (above).

It is very easy to come up with sensible policies when in opposition but they will have to submit themselves for the obligatory commonsensotomy before they are allowed into cabinet offices.

But it all has to be done on a smaller tax take. That aspect of a couple of centuries of Tory philosophy has not changed, despite the greenwash.

But it all has to be done on a smaller tax take.

Or a much lower one, efficiency savings, not doing things people dont want you to do, choice.

For those who care, theres a book called "The Plan", you can download it for a fiver.
Its not been accepted as a full on manifesto, but it is certainly leading thinking, it explains, with real world examples, how things are done cheaper and better privately.
Like Swedens school system, or Singapores health system.

The real policy is still a bit contradictory in places, devolve power to communities, but insist they keep post offices open and collect bins weekly, but its improving.

The whole political process - Tory or Labour - makes me feel ill.

They all have their snouts in the trough.

The rise of the career politician has tainted the whole system.

Change it then.
Might require getting involved, going to meetings, doing some campaigning on a cold and rainy morning, but its not like it cant be done.

An elected Senate who's member have to be over 40 and cant have been elected as a councillor or ran for MP would be pretty damned none career politican.
No one cares about your opinion though unless you get involved.

dominicj, the whole system is now polluted.

How can an individual - or even a small group - defeat the endemic corruption & lack of integrity?

I can only hope that 'the masses' throw the whole stinking shower into the Thames.

By becoming a bigger group, or even joining a bigger group and convincing them.
Its difficult in real life, buts its impossible on the net.

I've not convinced my local tories to love Redwood yet, but I have got them to, before we demand a post office is subsidised, at least think about how much the subsidy will be, who will pay it, and it the money could be better spelt elsewhere.
I'm seriously considering running for my local council in a couple of years, I intend to do so on a platform of reforming the council budget, I cant of course, but the next year, the next Tory can say I support DominicJ's attempt to introduce line budgeting, your labour rep doesnt, vote me for better and cheaper council services.

If my Tories disagree with my plan and dont select me to run, I could do so as an independant, but if I give up, it'll never change.
Governments like apathy.

"Governments like apathy."

A solid gold little nugget.

Apathy might in present times be defined as 'lobotomization of the masses through the relentless promotion of the consumer culture'.

Maybe.

DominicJ wrote:my Tories

Good to know that the Conservative Party is in safe hands.

Wow, arent you a funny guy, laugh a minute that sort of humour.

Is this DominicJ I see before me?



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeLSNzEorbI

I used to think labour were better than the Tories, since Tories only seemed to be interested in supporting the interests of business competitiveness and wealth creation to the expense of virtually everything else that's dear. Now I appreciate Labour is also wedded to the idea of endless economic growth and consumption and debt, and the Tories seem to be "getting it" a bit more these days. If they keep their promise on the 3rd runway that could be a vote clincher. If I vote Green in my constituency next time, this will probably have the same effect as voting for Tory as it would take votes away from Labour. There you go, anti Labour but a clean conscience!

Ballard wrote:Is this DominicJ I see before me?



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeLSNzEorbI

LOL Coffee -> Keyboard.

Vortex wrote:The rise of the career politician has tainted the whole system.

Totally agree - the whole "outside interests" debate with the media hounding them out of office has effected this whole fraternity of spin-doctoring wet-blanket tunnel-visioned lack-of-commonsense career politicians.

Perhaps we should follow the French example where politicians have to get their leg over to command respect. Though I think we're a bit too Christian for that.