There has been lots of comment and reaction to Tory AM David Melding’s suggestion that the Conservative Party in Wales should follow the example of Scottish Tories and become a separate centre right party or at least aim for more autonomy from Tory Central office.
And with the lack of action in Cardiff Bay at the moment its got the political anoraks among us wondering about how viable it would be. Would new group leader Andrew RT Davies or Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan be supportive of such a change, would it attract new voters and ones from other parties and how different would it really be to the Conservative Party?
But aside from those talking points and David’s shot across Nick Bourne’s bows for only doing ‘two thirds of a job’ in transforming the Tory Party when he was Assembly leader, a new right wing Welsh party would have the same problems David and his colleagues always have – that Wales, its politics, parties and voters are left wing and the majority of political discourse is left wing.
Despite the progress of the last decade centre right politics remains a minority interest in Wales and I have no doubt that the other parties will use guilt by association for any new centre right party started here in Wales.
The new party members will be asked continually about their views of Margaret Thatcher, her economic policies and the miners’ strike and would also be accused of not being Welsh and not caring about Wales like the Conservatives are now – you have to ask why anyone would put themselves through the ordeal without the prospect of real influence or ever getting in to Government?
But in this context, it’s noteworthy that the most significant developments in Welsh politics since May’s election has come from the Conservative Party following the UK Governments announcement of the Calman Wales style Commission before the summer recess.Any source
No comments:
Post a Comment