New Year despair instead of Christmas hope

In his last set-piece news conference of 2008, Gordon Brown told journalists that Britain had been a “victim” of the economic downturn which, he claimed for the umpteenth, came from abroad.
Meanwhile, many respected commentators continue to say he much the Prime Minister appears to be enjoying himself as the financial crisis deepens and as more and more people lose their jobs, their livelihoods and their homes.

It will not surprise anyone when I say I’m not a huge fan of Gordon Brown.

However, his obstinate refusal to accept responsibility for any of his glaring mistakes and his obsessive belief that he is right and everyone else is wrong in relation to his handling of the economy is becoming disturbing in the extreme.

The weekend newspapers seems to suggest that there is a less than 50% of a General Election in 2009 which would guarantee up to 18 more months of this man as our Prime Minister.

Christmas should be a time of hope and good cheer but I’m afraid these are emotions I am having difficulty in summoning up at the present time.

Iraq war inquiry should be held

Today in the House of Commons, Gordon Brown again defied the wishes of all of the other political parties by rejecting calls for an inquiry into the Iraq war.

As David Cameron said in his response to the Prime Minister’s statement, the inquiry should be independent, have a wide remit and possess the power to question ministers.

Gordon Brown’s response was that an inquiry should not be held whilst troops are still in theatre – but that is to miss the point.

Whilst most of our soldiers will soon be leaving Iraq, they will remain in Afghanistan, probably for many years to come.

We owe it to them and their families – and to the memory of the 178 men and women who have lost their lives in Iraq – to ensure that any mistakes made in the Gulf since 2003 are not repeated.

For once, Gordon Brown should show both courage and leadership by agreeing to an immediate inquiry.

The right decision for the right reasons?

As en ex-squaddie and someone who was opposed to the Iraq war from the outset, I am pleased that Gordon Brown has today announced the Government’s plans to pull British troops out of the country from next spring.

However, unfortunately it’s difficult not to question his true motives in, first, taking this decision and, secondly, making this public now.

Grabbing the headlines will, as ever, be at the top of the list.

But could his move be even more calculated than this?

Could he be clearing the decks for a General Election early in 2009, perhaps in February/March?

By shutting down the Iraq war as a campaign issue, he has set up the potential for an election that would effectively be a referendum on who is best to run the economy.

Gordon Brown with his “grand plan” which, in his own misguided view, has already saved the world? Or the “do nothing Tories,” as the Prime Minister and his grovelling acolytes have tried to label the Conservatives.

The longer Gordon Brown waits, the more the economy will deteriorate and the more people will realise that his “grand plan” is hugely flawed and almost certainly crippling for this country for many years to come.

This suggests it is therefore in his best interests to go early.

No doubt, our forever indecisive Prime Minister will not yet have made up his mind.

But, from the point of view of my own General Election campaign, I’ll be ready when he is.

Upstaging Her Majesty

As Shadow Chancellor George Osborne pointed out last night, the detail of Gordon Brown’s announcement on help with mortgage payments for people who lose their jobs is much more relevant than the headlines he managed to generate.

The Prime Minister claimed in the House of Commons that the eight major mortgage lenders had signed up for the plan.

However, it later became apparent that two of them - Lloyds TSB and HBOS - had not yet agreed to the details of the scheme and that all eight had been less than fully consulted.

If the scheme genuinely helps people to keep their homes, then it must be welcomed.

But there are two major questions relating to the timing of the announcement, the answers to which reveal a lot about the state of the Labour Government at the present time and the vanity and the sheer calculating nature of Gordon Brown.

Firstly, why was the announcement not included in last week’s Pre-Budget Report when this would have been the obvious place for it? The answer, according to Treasury sources, is that they hadn’t thought of it by then.

And, secondly, once the decision had been made to proceed with the proposal, why wasn’t it then included in the Queen’s Speech?

The answer to this is easier to give: Gordon Brown decided not to risk being upstaged by Her Majesty and, instead, held the detail back so he could announce it to Parliament himself, grab the headlines and seek to wrong foot David Cameron.

At a time of grave economic difficulty, people should be able to feel that the Government knows what it is doing on their behalf, is not making decisions on the hoof and, when it does decide to make a call, the policy announcement is not then choreographed simply to make the Prime Minister look good.

We have long come to expect incompetence from this Labour Government but, when it comes to the antics of the Prime Minister, I never thought I’d say it – the present incumbent makes even Tony Blair look sincere.

Yorkshire Cabinet visit is further example of ‘Stalinist’ Labour

Earlier today I had the “privilege” of attending today’s “public” question and answer session with the Cabinet in Leeds.

It was one of the most tightly controlled supposedly public meetings I have witnessed with every question put to the Prime Minister clearly vetted beforehand.

As a result, there was not one syllable of criticism directed at the stage - it was simply another example of the Stalinisation of the Labour Government under Gordon Brown.

Our nation’s economy is in crisis but, instead of seeking the genuine views and concerns of people in Yorkshire, all Gordon Brown and his colleagues came here for was good PR and sycophantic praise from friends and admirers.

It was an insult to our intelligence and a snub to Yorkshire.

An expensive journey into the unknown

The build-up to next Monday’s Pre-Budget Report (formerly known as the Autumn Statement) is one of the most bizarre I can remember.

Every day for the last fortnight we’ve been subjected to hints and suggestions from Ministers and Labour apparatchiks on what may or may not be in it.

Tax cuts seem certain, as do measures to help small businesses including forcing banks to lend them more money.

Normally, this speech is low key in comparison to the Budget itself, but not this time.

Indeed, such is the profile being given to the event that many in the political world are now speculating about whether Gordon Brown is intending to use Monday as a launch pad for a June 2009 General Election.

This would certainly seem like a logical conclusion because, from what we know so far, his Monday giveaway followed another one in the Budget proper next spring will almost certainly place this country in greater debt than at any time in living memory.

The Government has already conceded that taxes will have to go up to pay for these splurges; what they have not admitted is that Labour dare not risk doing this in advance of a General Election.

However, an election on June 4th - the day of the European and county elections - would allow Gordon Brown, should he be successful, to put our taxes back through the roof on June 5th.

So, where’s your money?

We need actions, not words

Although widely predicted, this morning’s news that unemployment had risen sharply to 1.82 million was still extremely disturbing.

Experts are also now suggesting that this number will increase to close on 3 million as early as next summer.

The Tories were derided in the 1990s – rightly in my view – after the then Chancellor Norman Lamont said that rising unemployment was a price well worth paying to keep inflation down.

The fact is, unemployment is a personal disaster for those individuals and their families who have to endure it and this should never be forgotten by politicians.

However, as the numbers of unemployed continues to go up in the months ahead, it is actions and not words that those affected will demand.

I was therefore very pleased when, yesterday, Conservative Leader David Cameron proposed offering tax cuts worth £2,500 per person, per year to employers who hire new workers previously unemployed for three months or more.

£2.6 billion of tax breaks would be given to employers in total and this would be paid for using the money saved on welfare payments.

Crucially, the proposal would create an estimated 350,000 new jobs over the next year – exactly what the economy and the country needs at this time.

I hope very much that Gordon Brown takes David’s advice and acts on this very sensible suggestion without delay.

Labour is gambling our future

Today’s newspapers are crammed with suggestions that Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling are preparing to offer billions of pounds worth of tax cuts to families and small businesses in the forthcoming Pre-Budget Report.

As a Conservative, I am generally supportive of tax cuts. But it is clear that these Government measures will be funded by yet more public borrowing.

Two questions stick out about what Gordon Brown is up to.

First, are these giveaways part of a plan to call a spring 2009 election, which many Labour strategists are apparently now urging?

And secondly, when this election comes – whether it is next year or 2010 – will there be any money left for an incoming Government of whatever colour to do anything with?

Given the record levels of national debt we are currently saddled with and the likelihood of much more to come should these tax cuts come to pass, the answer appears to be a resounding no.

Meanwhile, I understand that David Cameron and George Osborne will shortly unveil separate Conservative plans for tax cuts.

However, unlike the Brown/Darling plans, the Conservative proposals will be fully funded – in other words, paid for by identified savings in other areas rather than increased borrowing.

This is an excellent example of the difference between today’s Labour and Conservative parties: Conservatives wish to creating a better and sustainable future for us all based on responsible economic policies.

In contrast, Labour wish to play Russian Roulette with our future by pouring money down black holes and increasing our national debt in the hope of some short-term political gain.

Thankfully, I believe the people of Keighley and Ilkley will not be fooled.

Train pain

Network Rail has been today been instructed to improve the quality of its service with less money and there’s going to a row.

I have no particular sympathy for the company as it’s clear it has not been anywhere near as efficient in its use of public money as it should.

However, the fact remains that reducing chronic overcrowding on our rail network was one of Labour’s key pledges when they came to power in 1997.

They have failed dismally. Indeed, the problem is worse now than at any time in living memory.

Rather than wheeling Network Rail bosses out to take the flack for everything that’s going wrong with our trains, shouldn’t Labour Ministers by accepting at least some responsibility for the ongoing debacle?

Clearly the answer is yes – but it isn’t going to happen.

The Beast of Bolsover comes to town

I see that old left-wing dinosaur Dennis Skinner is due in Haworth on Friday to address local Labour Party members.

One can only marvel at the range of imaginative and far-sighted new policy ideas he will seek to win them over with when he speaks.

The only way is down

Tonight’s television news programmes will no doubt be dominated once again by images of Gordon Brown talking up his plans to “invest” huge amounts of taxpayers’ money to ease the pain of the recession.

However, a little bit of reading between the lines will quickly reveal that what in reality the once so-called Iron Chancellor is doing is borrowing more and more cash to pay off the country’s existing debts – debts that he was largely responsible for racking up in the first place.

And you don’t have to be an economist to work out that, as he borrows more to pay off the debts, so the overall national debt will simply continue to grow.

So when and where will this horrendous cycle of economic decline end?

With regard to timing, it seems extremely unlikely to turn around whilst the Labour Government remains in power. Today’s Financial Times reports that Alistair Darling will announce on Wednesday he is scrapping Gordon Brown’s fiscal rules introduced in 1997, thus allowing him to borrow even larger amounts in the months ahead.

And on where, goodness only knows although one fact is now obvious.

Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were handed a golden economic legacy by John Major and Ken Clarke when Labour came to power 11 years ago.

Should the Conservatives be successful at the next General Election, it appears David Cameron and George Osborne will be handed exactly the opposite.

42 days charade comes to an end

Away from the ongoing financial crisis, Labour’s long-drawn out attempt to increase the number of days terrorist suspects can be held to 42 days finally hit the buffers last night.

Their Lordships rejected the proposals by a majority of almost 200 votes, the Government’s biggest defeat in the Upper House since the removal of hereditary peers almost 10 years ago.

This was a battle that should never have been fought and was born out of the Government’s shallow wish to look tough on terror.

But looking tough and being effective in the fight against terrorism are two very different things and the 42-day measure would simply not have worked.

Leaving party politics to one side, I only need to quote the words of Lord Dear, a former West Midlands chief constable and crossbench peer, who spoke in last night’s debate.

"This attempt to appear tough on terrorism is a shabby charade which is unworthy of a democratic nation,” he argued.

"This legislation is fatally flawed, is ill thought through and is unnecessary. Perhaps worst of all, it seeks to further erode the fundamental legal and civil rights that have been the pride of this country for centuries.''

His words provoked the traditional response of their Lordships when they’ve heard a speech they like – “hear, hear.”

It is a response I am happy to echo.

An unfortunate incident

As reported in today’s Keighley News, last Sunday morning I was the victim of an assault in the town - http://www.keighleynews.co.uk/news/3740356.Council_leader_attacked_at_station_by_thief/
My over-riding thought is that I find it incredible that two individuals can set about perpetrating their crimes in broad day light in the centre of Keighley and expect to get away with it.

These individuals have no respect for Keighley or anyone who lives there. And clearly few people in Keighley would have any respect for them.

I hope they are apprehended by the police – as I believe they will be - and dealt with severely by the courts.

Perhaps then they will understand that such blatant criminal activity have no place in our town - or any town.

The truth will out

Following one or two technical problems, I’m back online.

Since my last blog, I had the pleasure of welcoming Conservative Leader David Cameron to Ilkley where we co-hosted a meeting of local residents affected by the collapse of Equitable Life.

This is an issue I have campaigned on for some time and the solutions are clear: the Labour Government must apologise for their role in creating this mess and set up a payment scheme to compensate policyholders for their losses.

David repeated his position at the meeting that, if Gordon Brown failed to deal with the matter, then he would as the next Conservative Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, although delivering what most neutral observers regard as a passable speech (though vacuous in my view) speech at yesterday’s Labour Conference, Mr Brown is on the back foot yet again this morning after it emerged that Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly has asked to leave the Cabinet. Her wish seems likely to be granted next week in a Government reshuffle.

However, this one is clearly worth watching given the accusations and counter accusations being traded between supporters of Gordon Brown and, “sources close to” Ruth Kelly herself.

Was she really intending to be part a group resignation involving perhaps three other Cabinet Ministers?

Was news of her requested departure really leaked by Downing Street overnight to throw her off balance?

Did she really tell friends she was “disgusted” by yesterday’s Brown speech, as the Daily Mail now claims?

And, if she is as embittered against the Prime Minister as some political commentators would have us believe, is revenge on her mind?

I would imagine we will not have to wait too long to receive the answers to these questions – particularly the last one.

This farce must end

“Of course I take responsibly for the state of the economy.”

The words of Gordon Brown during yesterday’s news conference to supposedly announce help with rising energy costs.

The £910 million of “help” will, it turns out in classic Labour style, be paid for by the very people – you and I – the measures were supposed to assist after Ministers confirmed they could not force energy companies to stop increasing bills further to claw back the money they had agreed to shell out for this scheme.

As for Gordon Brown taking responsibility for the economic mess we’re now in, it’s sadly a case of another day, another slogan.

If he truly was taking responsibility, he would come forward with some genuine measures to turn things around.

Instead what we have is a steady stream of excuses why our problems are everyone’s fault but his, coupled with announcements first on housing, then on fuel costs which, whilst trailed in the media as hugely significant, turn out to be damp squibs.

Surely this farce cannot go on for much longer.

A proud day

St Paul’s Cathedral in London will be the venue for a very special service later today.

More than 300,000 servicemen and women served their country during Operation Bannerman, the codename for military operations in Northern Ireland between 1969 and 2007.

Of these, 793 lost their lives and more than 6,000 were injured, many permanently.

I was proud to have completed two tours of the Province with the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment and they were undoubtedly the highlight of my time in uniform.

They were difficult times but I was surrounded by heroes.

With Northern Ireland now largely at peace, it is an appropriate time to reflect on the sacrifices made by those of my colleagues who were not as fortunate as me.

It is also right to salute the bravery and fortitude of their families who had to grieve for their loved ones or care for them when they returned with dreadful wounds.

Sometimes it’s easy to forget but, in this case, I - like everyone else who served there during the dark days of the Troubles - never ever will.

A Conservative Party for all

I found yesterday’s Guardian interview with Shadow Chancellor George Osborne both useful and positive on several levels.

He was right to be frank in pointing out that a new Conservative Government will not be able to deliver everything it wants to deliver because of the financial mess it will inherit from Labour.

However, he was able to balance this very necessary health warning with a promise to find a way out of the mess by moving the country away from Gordon Brown’s obsession with taxing everything in sight.

He also spoke of the need to alleviate poverty, describing raising the opportunities and aspirations of Britain's so-called “underclass” as “the great challenge of our age.”

His comments on the latter, although consistent with the approach taken by the Party since David Cameron became leader, are nonetheless very reassuring for those who still doubt our commitment to becoming a Conservative Party for all, not just the few.

And, on solving the nation’s economic difficulties, his words are both honest and spin free – as they tend to be.

Interviews like this make my job, as a Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, very straightforward.

Living on an island

In a speech to the Scottish CBI last night, Gordon Brown again repeated his line that Britain’s deepening economic crisis was the fault of everyone but himself.

And in a message to the British people, he proclaimed loftily that he and his Chancellor, Alistair Darling, “understand the difficulties you face.”

The Prime Minister then failed to offer a single suggestion on how he intended to turn things around.

Instead what we had was a man standing on a stage, holding his hands aloft and crying, “my hands are clean and I don’t intend getting them dirty for you lot.”

It’s a total abdication of his responsibilities.

Do you think if he joined Mr Darling at his Outer Hebridian croft for a few weeks and didn’t call in, would anyone notice?

I would say not.

Back in the Brown

Gordon’s Brown’s latest attempt to re-launch his premiership returned to Earth with a bang last night after the Organisation for Economic Co-Operations and Development’s (OECD) dire prediction that Britain would be alone amongst the G7 nations in seeing its economy slip into recession.

So much for Mr Brown’s supposed “brilliant stewardship” of the economy over the last 11 years.

And a quick look through this morning’s newspapers would hardly have brightened his mood.

The Mail comments that the OECD assessment “severely undermines the premier's claims that the UK is well-placed to withstand the global downturn."

The Telegraph reports that the housing rescue package was "greeted with almost universal condemnation."

And, not forgetting poor old Alistair Darling – who was shoved out of the way to allow the Prime Minister to make yesterday’s housing announcement with Communities Secretary Hazel Blears but left to pick up the pieces in media interviews afterwards - The Times says the Chancellor was "unable to answer questions on how he will pay for the £600m stamp duty holiday as he endured another awkward day of speculation over his future."

Apparently next week’s Brown re-launch will centre on rising fuel prices.

The subject for the following week’s attempt is yet to be confirmed.

Back to the future

I trust you all had a good summer break.

One of the many joys of Keighley and Ilkley is you don’t have to climb on to a plane in search of better scenery – this is already the most beautiful part of the world.

I therefore had what’s now commonly referred to as a “staycation” where I did a few things around my home in Oakworth, climbed up Pen-y-ghent several times and went campaigning in various parts of the constituency. It was wonderful – except for the weather.

From my many conversations with local residents over the last few weeks, it is clear that dissatisfaction with this Labour Government continues to be at an all-time high, as is the expectation of a Conservative Government after the next General Election.

This presents two challenges for Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidates like me.

First, is to continue to point out where Labour is going wrong – this is the job of Opposition, after all..

But second, is the need to inform voters in Keighley and Ilkley what Conservatives would do were we in power.

Under David Cameron, the Conservative policy portfolio is becoming increasingly detailed and impressive.

And, at Conservative Party Conference which begins at the end of this month, I expect a lot more flesh to be put on to the large number of ideas already set out.

I hope, over the next few months, you will continue to visit my website and blog to learn more about these policies as they are announced and to debate them with me.

The new political season is now well and truly underway – and I, for one, am delighted.

What goes around comes around

Some of the rumours surrounding possible attempts to remove Gordon Brown as Prime Minister must be familiar to him.

One increasingly strong suggestion is that September will herald a wave of resignations from Ministers and Parliamentary Private Secretaries in protest at his leadership.

Such a move would mirror the failed coup by some of Mr Brown’s closest allies in September 2006 in an effort to get rid of Tony Blair.

Several of those involved were later handed plum jobs in Brown’s Government including Tom Watson, who resigned as a Defence Minister under Blair but was then handed a key post in the Cabinet Office as soon as his mate Gordon entered Number 10.

Brown’s reputation for bullying colleagues and enemies whilst at the Treasury was well-deserved.

For him, instilling fear in others and ruling by dictat were very much the norm.

To my mind, the events of the last couple of days underline one key fact above all others – the fear factor has gone.

David Miliband’s article, press conference and general demeanour of yesterday demonstrated this vividly.

So too have countless briefings being given by Labour MPs to political journalists.

Yes, the vast majority of these have been off the record thus far but don’t be surprised if this changes over the next few weeks.

A General Election must be held

If ever more evidence were needed that the British people have had enough of Gordon Brown as Prime Minister, it came in the early hours of this morning with Labour’s Glasgow East by-election defeat.

It has already been described by some political commentators as the biggest by-election shock in modern history and it’s hard to argue with this view.

Indeed, yesterday the bookies were continuing to strongly favour a Labour win.

The upshot of all of this is that the people of this country – you and me – now have a problem.

We are being led by a Prime Minister who has lost the moral authority to govern. And, around the Cabinet table, he is surrounded by several senior ministers – including the Home Secretary and Chancellor – likely to lose their seats at the next Election.

Meanwhile, our nation’s economy is slipping ever further towards recession.

As it stands, we may have to put up with another two years of this before the General Election is called, and goodness knows what state the public finances will be in by then.

The Prime Minister’s position is now untenable and the Labour Government’s standing unsustainable.

Something clearly has to give and, in the best interests of the country, give soon.

An early General Election seems the only credible way out.

Planning for the revolution

Conservative Leader David Cameron and Shadow Skills Secretary David Willetts yesterday launched a new policy paper containing ambitious plans for “a training and apprenticeship revolution” in this country.

The proposals include:

· A huge expansion in the number of apprenticeships backed by £775 million of new money to support apprentices of all ages
· A £100 million fund to increase learning opportunities for young people not currently in education, employment or training
· Cuts in wasteful bureaucracy at further education colleges
· Extra money to improve careers advice services

As Chair of the Leeds City Region Skills and Labour Market Panel, I am acutely aware of the problems we face locally in relation to skills shortages and the huge need for improvement if our young people are to achieve their full potential for themselves and for the economy.

I hope these very well thought out proposals can serve as the basis for this to happen under a future Conservative Government.

No policies to tackle knife crime

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith yesterday outlined a number of supposedly new “shock tactics” to be used against young offenders caught in possession of a knife.

It has since emerged that these measures were first announced in a Home Office press release at the beginning of last month so aren’t new at all.

Although quick to reject sensible Conservative calls for anyone carrying a knife to go to jail, it is clear the Government has no strategy to deal with this terrifying scourge on our streets.

As ever with Labour Ministers, it’s cheap headlines first, serious policy development second.

Post Office boss stamps PM’s card

Interesting comments from the Managing Director of Post Office Ltd over yet more threatened closures.

Alan Cook has told the Commons Business and Enterprise Select Committee he would oppose any Government proposals “to further shrink the size of the network.”

Already Labour Ministers have decided to force more than 2,500 branches to shut nationwide including, of course, four in Keighley and Ilkley

It is clear that Mr Cook has had enough of being Gordon Brown’s fall guy.

The closures we have already seen have caused great stress and anxiety across the community in Keighley and Ilkley, particularly amongst elderly and disabled residents.

Last week I wrote to Gordon Brown to demand that the closure programme is brought to an immediate end.

It would be very helpful if his Labour Party colleagues in Keighley and Ilkley – including the MP - would have the courage and integrity to join me in this fight.

At the moment, their silence is deafening.

Government under friendly fire

"We will do everything in our power” to help members of the Armed Forces, said Gordon Brown in response to comments from General Sir Richard Dannatt – head of the Army – in this morning’s press.

In an unprecedented move for someone still in post, Sir Richard had complained that many of his soldiers were paid less than traffic wardens. Although obviously meaning no disrespect to traffic wardens for the often difficult job they do, few of them can realistically claim to be in any mortal danger. This, unfortunately, is not the situation our soldiers generally find themselves these days.

The Government argues that servicemen and women currently benefit from, for example, improvements to healthcare. However, surely this should go without saying considering the injuries and worse so many of them have had to endure – and continue to endure - in war zones over recent years.

Indeed, the recurring allegation that the Government is in constant breach of the Military Covenant is very well-founded.

Following the highly-publicised snub of the Police when their independent pay recommendations were rejected by the Home Secretary on the instruction of Gordon Brown, Labour’s disregard for our men and women in uniform has again been exposed.

And once again, this Government has been found to be out of step with the people they supposedly serve.

Turning in the road

Despite Downing Street denials, yesterday’s interventions by Jack Straw and John Hutton in the debate on Labour’s so-called “poll tax on wheels” have left most informed political commentators simply arguing over not if but when Gordon Brown will perform yet another U-turn.

As it stands, Vehicle Excise Duty is set to increase retrospectively on all cars bought before 2001.

Such a change would impact on 70 per cent of drivers in this country, each of whom would have to pay up to £245 extra a year to licence their cars.

The policy has been dressed up by Ministers as a “green tax.” But, amusingly, Greenpeace issued a statement describing it as “the kind of measure that gives green taxes a bad name.” You couldn’t make it up.

The U-turn, when it comes (and the smart money is on this autumn when the Chancellor delivers his Pre-Budget Report) will of course by driven (pardon the pun) by backbench Labour MPs in state of panic at the prospect of losing their seats.

It also seems likely that Alistair Darling will not now proceed with a 2p rise in fuel duty planned for October.

Prior to becoming Prime Minster, Gordon Brown was frequently described by his Labour Party admirers as an unrivalled political strategist.

But the last disastrous few weeks have seen any pretence at a Brown strategy for the future direction of this country – and, in particular, its finances – fly straight out the window.

As a result, the aforementioned political commentators are also agreed it is now a question of when not if Gordon Brown will be thrown out of Number Ten – and by whom.

Home Secretary takes a beating

You will probably be aware of Home Secretary Jacqui Smith’s uncomfortable ride at yesterday’s Police Federation annual conference.

Ms Smith was accused of a breach of faith for refusing to honour the police pay deal – something that would’ve cost the Government £30 million, a significant amount less than the £2.7 billion it committed itself to last week in an attempt to buy its way out of the 10p tax row.

However, what must’ve shocked the Home Secretary most was the sheer lack of respect shown to her in a room filled with 1,000 police officers. Police Federation Chair Jan Berry taunted her over her admission that she’d taken cannabis at university. “Your recent crimes have been more serious for the serious fraud office than the drug squad,” said Ms Berry.

And, whilst praising Jacqui Smith for having the guts to attend the conference, she added: “I am sure ... you [feel] like reaching for a stab proof vest and perhaps slipping into old habits and lighting up to calm your nerves.”

Then, after praising Children’s Secretary Ed Balls for accepting the independent recommendation on teachers’ pay (and praise is not something Ed Balls receives too often), Ms Berry continued: “So it suited Mr Balls to defend the teachers’ pay deal but it didn’t suit you to do the same for us. Home Secretary, what is it Mr Balls has but you do not?”

Ouch!

Senior Cabinet Ministers are traditionally treated with respect at conferences such as this, no matter who the post holder is. Delegates may not always agree with what is being said, but it’s rare for them to bite back so openly.

The incident is further proof, not that it’s needed, that the so-called “tipping point” in the life of this Labour Government has been reached.

It would be a surprise if this balance is not tilted significantly further against Ministers in general and Gordon Brown in particular by events in Crewe and Nantwich this evening.

The party's coming to an end

I tend not to follow Scottish politics too closely.

However, the public spat between Scottish Labour Leader Wendy Alexander and Prime Minister Gordon Brown is yet another example of the disarray that party is now in.

She has called for an immediate referendum on Scotland’s future place in the Union. He says she hasn’t.

She says he agrees with her “position.” But he says her position and his position – that everyone waits until a devolution review reports - are the same, which they clearly aren’t. (Apologies if I've lost you).

Even if a referendum was called - and this is now almost certain by 2010 at the latest – it is likely to be lost heavily by the nationalists.

But the current situation underlines yet again how much Gordon Brown’s power and authority have waned within his own ranks.

Wendy Alexander has long been regarded as one of the Prime Minister’s closest confidants - she has written many of his speeches on constitutional matters. And with closeness comes respect. Or, in their case, it did.

But, as with many of his Labour colleagues in Westminster, respect now seems to be draining away in his own former stronghold of Scotland. Otherwise, why would she have spoken out without proper consultation in the way she did?

It’s hard to imagine how political life can get much worse for the man.

Government right on cannabis

One of the most important aspects of being a “constructive Opposition” is having the confidence to say when the Government is right.

The decision to reclassify cannabis as a Class B drug - to be confirmed in the Commons later today – is such an instance.

The drug was downgraded to Class C when Tony Blair was Prime Minister. This was a foolish move and Gordon Brown is, for once, quite correct in performing a U-turn on behalf of the Labour Government.

The argument put forward is that he is worried about the use of “skunk,” a more lethal form of cannabis.

However, to my mind, the use of any illegal drugs is wrong and kids deserve as much protection as possible from them as the state can provide.

Opponents of the reclassification argue that the move will do little to deter people from smoking cannabis.

That’s as maybe, but surely it’s worth a try.

A humbling experience

Any politician standing for election who does not feel nervous before the count and humbled by a successful outcome is in the wrong business.

I can therefore confirm that I felt very nervous before the ballot boxes for my local council ward of Worth Valley were opened on Friday morning and both humbled and elated to find I’d gained 60% of the vote.

To those 2,475 residents who decided to place an X beside my name, I would like to say a huge thank you.

For those who didn’t, be assured I remain as committed as ever to providing everyone who lives in the most picturesque ward in the country with the best possible representation in the years ahead.

They're at it again

Yet again, Labour Ministers have been caught being less than honest over increased taxes.

This morning it emerged that owners of cars up to seven years old will be hit by an extra road tax demand as a result of the 2008 Budget.

The Government was forced to admit it was quietly abolishing the exemption for older cars from the highest rates of vehicle excise duty. This means that owners of larger cars bought since March 2001 will find that their road tax will rise steeply from next April.

"It's not as clear in the Budget as it could be,” said a Treasury spokesman. “It's not explicitly spelt out." No doubt as a result of an instruction from his political masters.

As with the abolition of the 10p tax rate – which could yet be the defining moment of Gordon Brown’s rapidly declining premiership – it is obvious that the characteristic Labour tactic of keeping its metaphoric head down in the hope that no-one notices their pockets have been picked was never going to work.

The British people simply aren’t that stupid and it is the sign of this Government’s arrogance that Ministers think we are.

Meanwhile, many larger families on moderate incomes will now be clobbered by another bill for £245.

Mood swings

Yesterday’s News of the World poll made interesting reading – and not just because it predicted my own victory in Keighley and Ilkley at the forthcoming General Election.

The survey was conducted in the 145 most marginal seats at the 2005 Election where Labour came first and the Conservatives second.

If translated into real votes, the predicted 9% swing would give Prime Minister David Cameron a 64-seat majority in the new Parliament.

Clearly much can and no doubt will happen between now and polling day in 2009 or 2010.

However, it’s reassuring to know that real people on the ground clearly like what we’ve been saying on the big issues in recent months.

But for now, it’s on with the hard work.

They think it’s all over?

Gordon Brown’s U-turn on compensating some of those affected by the abolition of the 10p tax rate is already well on the way to unravelling.

Last night Treasury Chief Secretary Yvette Cooper was characteristically patronising and woolly on Newsnight, refusing to be specific on who would benefit from the U-turn, by how much and when it would happen.

Then, speaking in the Commons this morning, Chancellor Alistair Darling said it would “take time” to finalise the compensation package, adding that the tax system could be “quite complex.”

Already several Labour MPs have spoken out to say they believe chief rebel Frank Field was too hasty in withdrawing his amendment guaranteeing compensation for those affected.

Should one of Mr Field's 45 rebel Labour colleagues re-table this or a similar amendment in time for Monday evening's debate, Gordon might well find himself back in the Brown stuff yet again.

Good Lord

Just a day after Alistair Darling admitted that Labour needed to "sharpen up," the party's crazy-haired peer Lord Desai today claimed the combination of an economic downturn and the Prime Minister's presentational weaknesses now made it "very difficult" for Labour to win the next General Election.

He also confirmed that many senior figures in the party were turning their minds to who would succeed Brown as leader.

Lord Desai told the London Evening Standard: "Gordon Brown was put on Earth to remind people how good Tony Blair was.”

Could things get much worse for the Great Leader?

Labour Government wrong on tax change

It was interesting to watch Treasury Select Committee Chairman and Labour MP John McFall come out last night and join the increasingly widening attack on the Government’s decision to scrap the 10p income tax band.

The normally loyal former Minister is usually very happy to defend his party colleagues at moments of crisis. But not this time.

His comments, coupled with ex-Sports Minister Kate Hoey’s description of the last Parliamentary Labour Party meeting as “sulphurous” over the issue is an indication of the increasing panic and paranoia rumbling through the ranks of the Brown administration – and it’s hardly surprising.

Over the last two months, 73 Labour MPs have signed at least one Commons Motion opposing the change.

Conservative Leader David Cameron is entirely correct when he says that this tax grab on some of the country’s poorest people must be stopped.

And, rather than simply talk about it, David has backed moves to block the measure when the Finance Bill returns to the House.

The next phase of this battle for what is right should be very interesting and I hope, for the sake of those in greatest need in our society, it is a battle the Labour Government loses.

There should be an Iraq war inquiry

It is hugely disappointing yet also sadly predictable that Labour MPs have blocked Conservative efforts to establish an inquiry into the war in Iraq.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband said an inquiry could not take place whilst British troops remained on Iraqi soil. This is a ridiculous position to take given the ongoing uncertainty over how long they are likely to remain.

As William Hague said during the Commons debate, now is undoubtedly the right time to hold an inquiry – when memories are still fresh and all the relevant documentation is available.

Unlike the majority of my Party, I was against the war from the outset. But making political capital is not what an inquiry is or should be about.

It is about learning lessons so the same terrible mistakes cannot be repeated in the future.

175 British service personnel have lost their lives since the Iraq conflict began.

Their families deserve to know why and they deserve to know it now.

Surprise, surprise...

...she didn't bother to vote!

This is the second time in the last three weeks she has failed to take part in votes of real importance to residents in Keighley and Ilkley.

Previously, she failed to participate in the House of Commons vote on allowing the new EU Reform Treaty to be put to a referendum of the people – something which was included in the Labour manifesto on which she stood for re-election in 2005.

Joking aside, both episodes amount to a very serious dereliction of duty.

Ann Cryer has been elected to represent the voters of Keighley and Ilkley in our nation's Parliament.

She is failing to do her job.

Post Office fight goes to Parliament

Shadow Business Secretary Alan Duncan will today table a Commons Motion calling on the Government to suspend its plans to close more than 2,500 Post Offices across the country.

Unfortunately this very welcome move from my Conservative colleague will have come too late to save those four Post Offices in Keighley and Ilkley - at Bradford Road in Stockbridge, East Morton, Highfield in Keighley and Leeds Road in Ilkley - that have already been served with closure notices.

As I have said repeatly since becoming Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Keighley and Ilkley, the loss of our local Post Offices will have an extremely detrimental impact on our community and, in particular, on elderly and disabled residents.

Local Labour MP Ann Cryer did nothing to defend the four condemned branches until it was too late.

It will be interesting in today's vote to see whether she now seeks to defend those Post Offices at risk in other MPs' constituencies despite doing nothing to save those in Keighley and Ilkley.

Alternatively she may decide to keep her line consistent and continue to support the Labour Government's organised destruction of our national Post Office network.

Either way, she'll be rightly labelled as a hypocrite.

Brown can’t hold a candle to Cameron

There is currently a storm of claim and counter-claim in the media over whether Madame Tussauds is planning to commission a waxwork of Gordon Brown prior to the next General Election.

Downing Street has apparently produced a letter saying the Great Leader has been invited to model for them sometime within the next six months.

Meanwhile, Tussauds say there is not yet sufficient demand for such an exhibit and that he hasn’t yet proven himself as PM in any case.

They add, somewhat cuttingly, that their model of Tony Blair is still a big draw with visitors.

Hopefully a David Cameron victory at the polls will allow the hollow arguments in favour of a Gordon Brown waxwork to quickly melt away.

Government caught out over plastic bags

Gordon Brown’s praise for Marks & Spencer’s decision to charge customers for plastic bags is justified.

What he didn’t mention was the official figures, just released, which show that over the last two years Government Departments and agencies have bought more than 1.2 million plastic bags branded with their logos.

The election of David Cameron as Conservative Leader saw the issue of climate change being dragged to the centre stage of British politics for the very first time.

Ever since, Labour Ministers have been struggling to practice what David has been rightly preaching.

This revelation proves that they still have some way to go.

A criminal exercise in spin

In the midst of the media storm surrounding the Government's decision to nationalise Northern Rock, it may have escaped your notice on Monday that Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced plans to "reduce serious violent crime by 2011."

This, I remind you, is a Labour Government that's been in power for almost 11 years.

Why has it taken so long to come up with such a plan and why will it take another three years before we are likely to see any positive results?

Might it be anything to do with the fact that Labour Ministers, embarrassed by the continuing surge in violent offences, are trying to desperately to kick the issue into the long grass until after the next General Election?

You would not have to be much of a cynic to reach that view.

We’ve been quango’d

New research published today reveals Yorkshire is massively under-represented on the boards of non-elected quangos.

The New Local Government Network report found that more than half of 1,000 quango board members live in London and the South East.

However, whilst this situation is both disturbing and wrong, the real scandal is the continued rise in the number and powers of these bodies across the country.

As the report confirms, quangos now have a combined annual budget of £123 billion of public money and yet a great many of them have next to no proper scrutiny for the decisions they take.

This situation must change and I know it is an issue high on the priority list for the next Conservative Government.

In the meantime, it is obvious that the membership of quango boards must become more representative of the country as a whole including the involvement of greater numbers of people from Keighley and Ilkley.

Troop welfare being neglected

I was very concerned though hardly surprised to read this morning’s Daily Telegraph report on troop over-stretch in the British Army.

According to Ministry of Defence figures, one in 14 soldiers is currently unfit to deploy because of illness or injury.

It has also been confirmed that the 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, currently in Afghanistan, recently had to leave 50 long-term sick troops behind and many other battalions are in exactly the same position.

The simple fact is that out troops are over-committed, under resourced and, as these figures prove, massively under-rested.

The Military Covenant is not being kept and, for that, Gordon Brown, Des Browne and every Labour Minister should hang their heads in shame.

Let's Talk Business Roadshow Rolls Into Keighley

I was delighted to play my part in ensuring that Keighley was the first post-launch destination for an excellent new venture set up to showcase the spirit of black and ethnic minority enterprise across the country and to find out more about the current barriers to business success for black and ethnic minority women.

Hosted by the Asian Women’s Centre on Marlborough Street in Keighley and jointly promoted by the Conservative Party and the National Black Women’s Network, the main speakers included Shadow Cohesion Minister Baroness Warsi, Conservative Party Women's Officer Liz St Clair, National Black Women's Network Director Sonia Brown and my colleague Cllr Andrew Mallinson who holds the Economy Portfolio on Bradford Council’s Executive.

A number of highly successful black and ethnic minority female entrepreneurs were also present to take part in the roundtable discussion together a number of young women who have attended the Asian Women Centre's Business OCN Level 2 course.

An excellent day for everyone involved and a great day for Keighley.

Labour finally admits defeat on ID cards

I have spoken out on many occasions over the last 18 months on why the Labour Government was wrong in its belief that compulsory national identity cards were good for this country.

The fact is that very little evidence exists to suggest they would assist in the fight against terrorism and illegal working.

And then, of course, there were the cost implications. Towards the end of last year, the Home Office was forced to admit that the cost of the ID card scheme had risen to more than £5.6 billion – a quite staggering sum.

The London School of Economics had already predicted that the eventual bill would be an even more mind-boggling £20 billion.

It is with all of this in mind that I am pleased to learn that the Government has finally seen the error of its ways although, New Labour being what it is, we have only discovered this through a Home Office leak.

When he became Prime Minister last summer, Gordon Brown had the opportunity to draw a line under the fiasco and say he would not proceed with the scheme. But, as has become his trademark since he entered Number Ten, he dithered. And, as he dithered, more taxpayers’ money was wasted.

Ever since the steam of data loss fiascos began a few months ago with HM Customs and Revenue CDs disappearing in the post and, most recently, Ministry of Defence laptops going AWOL, we have heard arguments that ID cards should not be introduced as the Government could not be trusted with our personal data.

This is a very fair point. But the fact remains – the scheme should have been cancelled long before now.

NHS patients continue to be kicked in the teeth by Labour

A report out today reveals that more than seven million patients have been unable to see an NHS dentist for almost two years.

Most of those denied access have paid for private care instead, says Citizens Advice, but almost three million have gone without treatment altogether.

The figure includes thousands of children and is much higher than Government estimates.

"Improving access to NHS dentistry is now a national priority for the health service,” is the response from Health Minister Ann Keen – but what has the Labour Government been doing for the last 11 years?

Speaking at his party’s annual Conference in Bournemouth in September 1999, then Prime Minister Tony Blair promised that everyone in the country would have easy access to an NHS dentist within two years.

Today’s report proves that this pledge was, like so many before and since, just another example of Labour spin.

And in the meantime, millions of patients – mostly from the poorest households in the country – have been left to suffer pain and indignity.

An Opposition politician this morning described the ongoing crisis in NHS dentistry as “this Government's hidden legacy.”

I couldn’t agree more.

The future's bright for BIGK 10K

I was delighted to be involved this week in the public launch of the inaugural BIGK 10K charity run which will take place around the streets of the town on Sunday 16 March in aid of the Manorlands Hospice in Oxenhope.

A team of us have been working on the venture for some weeks now and, with little more than two months to go, I am now very confident we will produce an event for local people to be proud of.

It is an excellent chance for people to get fit, raise money for a very worthy cause and help strengthen Keighley’s increasingly strong reputation for sporting endeavour.

Entry forms will be available shortly from a variety of outlets including the Keighley News and I will also keep everyone up to date via this blog.

For now, I’m off to do a bit more training in my spanking new luminous Manorlands Hospice Running Club tee-shirt which I had the privilege to wear at the launch alongside Manorlands Fundraiser Andrew Wood. Not sure it’s quite my colour but at least you’ll see me coming!

David Cameron volunteers his support for Airedale Hospital

Only three days into the New Year and, if anyone was in any doubt, they should now be assured about a future Conservative Government’s iron resolve to put the NHS at the top of its priority list.

Following his trip to Trafford General Hospital in Greater Manchester only yesterday, I had the opportunity to accompany David Cameron during a much longer visit to Airedale General Hospital in Keighley earlier today.

The two of us had the privilege of talking to the excellent staff about the challenges the hospital faces, what they're doing and the issues that worry them.

As anyone who knows Airedale Hospital would expect, David was extremely impressed by what he saw and heard. In particular, he singled out the incredible spirit that surrounded the place and the clearly important role played by the hospital in the community at large.

As the Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Keighley and Ilkley, my job is to continue to work very hard to convince local people that our goal of becoming the party of the NHS is based on the firmest of foundations – namely that Conservatives wish to improve the NHS for the benefit of all.

Rather than continue the Labour Government’s high-handed, remote and target-obsessed approach, we must ensure that the key decisions are taken at the right level by the right people including patients.