How does the Tory party have to change in order to win back the public?

Question

I hate Cameron and many of his policies, but i would consider myself conservative, and would never vote for them.

What would the party have to do in order to make you think they were the right choice?

Answer 1

The answer is historical. To many people the Conservative image is of Thatcher destroying the lives of decent hard working people because they dared to hold opinions different to hers, she called them "Wets" Then came Major with what was probably the most corrupt government ever. I don't like any political party very much but it seems we are stuck with Labour until Tories can relate to everyday problems and not preach to people. Will go now as I seem to be getting on a soapbox!

Answer 2

These days the labour party are more Capitalist than the Tory's. No longer can Labour be called socialists. Conservatives have to show they understand the needs and concerns of the people. They would have to come out with some policy's to show they mean business and intend to repair some of the damage done by the present regime, All they are doing now is pretending to be the shadow government. They need to get some guts!

Answer 3

I don't think the Tory party is going to get anywhere with David Cameron at the helm. He simply doesn't inspire confidence.

The party needs a stronger leader. Because however great the policies may be, without a leader that people feel they can trust, the Tories won't achieve anything.

Answer 4

It is one of those things, but the way things are here oppositions do not win elections, out going governments lose them on the basis of poor performance, sleaze or national crises which can be pinned directly on them.

The previous Tory government can be said to have lost the 1997 election in 1992, when Black Wednesday showed them to be economically incompetent. John Major's resignation of the leadership over a party split in European matters compounded the problem - the public will not elect a divided party.

From a personal point of view, the Tories can never do anything to make me vote for them. I am Labour through and through, and I will never forget losing my home that Wednesday in 1992 when interest rates rocketed to 15%.

From a more objective point of view it is a fact that our electoral system, due to demography and the geographical distribution of parliamentary seats, favours Labour more than the Tories. A Lab/Con dead heat of 38% each would result in a Labour majority, albeit a small one. The Tories would need around 42% of the national vote to get an overall majority. Since Gordon Brown and his predecessor have been extremely competent, excellent Prime Ministers, I can't see them losing an election until they (inevitably) suffer a crisis the public can pin directly on them.

The only previous examples of post-war governments unexpectedly losing elections were 1964, when a Tory government was expected to win comfortably (result Labour majority of 66 seats) and 1970 when Labour were expected to hold on to the 96 majority it won in 1966 (Conservative majority of 30). So the Tories COULD pull off a shock. But I doubt it, they are about 10 percentage points short.

To get that back they need firstly to get in the news, they need their front bench to be as recognisable as any celeb. They need policies and they need to be honest like Labour were - Tony Blair often said before 1997 there is no point making promises TOO elaborate. They have to have some simple policies the public can accept and that they identify with.

EDIT to the bloke who doesn't understand - interest rates under the Tories were rarely under 10% and they stayed around the 15% mark for a while after black Wednesday - quite high, esp. on an interest only mortgage.

The truth is the Tories have NO European or immigration policy the pubic can relate to. The public want the European policy of the Tory party that took us IN to Europe, not the Eurosceptics. They want sustained sensible immigration because we NEED it, not the fascist rubbish heard in pub vaults and printed in The Daily Hate. People relate more to matters like housing, employment, tax, benefits, NHS, law and order. Europe and immigration are the least of most ordinary people's worries.

Answer 5

First thing the Tories must do is apologise for the 18 years of Thatcherite misrule.

They will never get my vote. I know from my Socialist childhood, that neither they, the Tories, nor yet the Liberals [Lib/Dems] wil ever do anything to improve the lot of the oppressed and disposses in our country.

They are just a bunch of freeloaders and crap who have never done a days work in their lives.

Answer 6

They, in common with Labour and the Liberals represent a capitalist economy so it is purely a case of deciding which one you want to run the country.
None of them will ever change as they are playing a very large game of Monopoly.
Just take a look at the political history over the past 100 years and you will realise it is nothing more than action replay e.g. boom, slump, war followed by the same old policies of empty promises subterfuge and lies.
The only answer is to do the best you can in life for your family and friends and basically watch your back.

Answer 7

The problem with Cameron and the Tory party in Westminster is that they are trying to be just like Labour. The sooner they elect a leader like Maggie the better, and one who will promise to remove us from the clutches of the criminals in Brussels the better. That is what would get them elected.

Answer 8

I'm not sure i understand the guy who lost his house, interest rates on that day were announced at 30% then of course they realised how silly that was and came out of the erm, and intrest rates actualy came down that very day, they had been high for a while, and they continued to come down quite a bit once we were out, anyway to answer the question, i was labour and even a member for about 20 years, now id never vote for them they have let the people down big style. for me the tories need to do something about their european policy and imigration policy, if they do that and address the problems i would for the first time in my life vote conservative,

Answer 9

Admit they made mistakes.

And tell the truth when it comes to our economy. Yes, they are right to talk about the debt and pensions timebombs, but if they admit the strengths of what the parties they are fighting against, then I might stop thinking that they are spin driven lying toe rags. (Mind you, the current party...)

It would be nice if they had some polices as well!

Answer 10

They could hand out free booze on election day? If we were all totally pissed out our heads - we might forget the Thatcher years. The Major years. We could forget that it was Thatcher that made the nation in to a property owning nation - putting more and more debt on their property - until it all crashed and people lost their homes through negative equity (it will happen again soon). John Major said the money would cascade down the generations - lol You will probably inherit nothing or debt.