I like to think that my politics
are on the centre-left.
However my
beloved husband (and some friends) seem to think that I am a rabid right winger
because I don't think that an all-powerful state is the answer to every
question (amongst other beliefs).
In a spirit
of self-discovery in the run up to the general election, I will occasionally look at the
policies and ideas from the political parties and think-tanks to see how I compare.
The first
set of ideas I'll look at are the 12 manifesto ideas
from The Good Right, a new site
set up by Conservative activist Tim Montgomerie. They are not official
Conservative party policy and have not been universally well received on the
right.
1. More
housebuilding, More home ownership
A large
state-supported house building programme is not what you expect from the party
that is associated with selling off council homes and not replacing them. But
it sounds good to me.
2. Higher
taxes on expensive properties and luxury goods
The idea is
to allow additional higher council tax bands with a requirement that the
overall tax burden does not rise, and a super consumption tax until the deficit
is eliminated. I like the idea of taxes on wealth (rather than income) but don’t
agree with the suggested limitations so I half agree with this one.
3. Lower taxes
on the low-waged, Higher wages for lower-paid Britons
I like the
idea of above-inflation increases in the minimum wage until there is clear
evidence of a negative impact on job creation. Evidence-based monitoring of the
effects of a policy that sounds good on paper.
4. Abandon plans to raise the income tax threshold and target
all spare funds on increasing work incentives through the universal credit
I think raising the income
tax threshold has been a good policy, helping low paid people (but not those
already poor and below the threshold). The question is what comes next. I don’t
know much about universal credit so I honestly don’t know whether changing the
allowances would be better that raising the threshold higher but it sounds
plausible – let’s say I half agree.
5. A renegotiation
with Europe that cuts energy and food bills – and protects the interests of the
low paid
I agree
with reforming the Common Agricultural Policy but support the free movement of
labour and current green measures so only half-agree with this.
6. More
investment in northern infrastructure to create a more balanced economy
If you define “northern” as
anywhere in the UK outside of south-east England then I’m in.
7. Open up
private schools to the brightest pupils from lower income homes.
I don’t agree with forcing all
private schools to accept 25% of their intake as state-funded scholarship
students. I appreciate that the benefits of being a charity should come with responsibilities
to benefit the public but 25% seems an arbitrary number.
8. A wiser
state, focused on long-term strategic needs
I agree with protecting infrastructure,
science and long-term research spending but don’t agree with reducing the pay
of most public sector workers. Another half-agree.
9. Government
spending that is more focused on the most deserving corners of the nation
I totally agree with replacing
the Barnett formula with a new needs-based assessment. I think there is a case
for considering means testing some pensioner benefits. Another agree.
10. Family
hubs to replace children’s centres and measures of social progress to be
produced alongside measures of material growth
I agree with fighting the causes
of poverty rather than the symptoms but these ideas seem to be misplaced.
Disagree.
11. Reforms
of political funding that create a more competitive capitalism and a more
dynamic public sector
I agree that the funding of political
parties needs reforming but I have yet to clarify my thoughts on the
state-funding of political parties. Probably agree.
12. Financial
assistance for people of limited means to enter parliament
The idea is for a bursary scheme
to help more diverse people become Tory MPs. Make it a national scheme for all
parties and I’d agree. Half-agree for now.
My final tally is 7.5 out of 12.
Either I am more right-wing than I
thought (centre rather than centre-left?) or the ideas are not as conservative
as I thought…
Interesting
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