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Why I left the TRG (and Why I am bothering to tell you)
Sadly this year I have left the TRG and the Party after 31 and 36 years respectively. Though I applaud what David Cameron is trying to do I fear there are still feral elements within the Party who are waiting for him to trip up and so take the Party off to it unelectable redoubt.
As the proponents of One Nation Toryism I felt the TRG has to be a distinct voice campaigning for this view whether the Party Leadership is leaning this way or not. If the TRG does not do this and cozies up to them it leaves the Leader, and more importantly One Nation Toryism, very exposed when attacked for taking the One Nation cause.
As a rank and file member I did not hear what the TRG where doing this summer when there (appeared?) to be a right wing wobble? In fact I did not anything from TRG; was there a perceived fear of “not rocking the boat” or did it interfere with the plans for another wine and cheese!?
In view of all the pressures on the Leadership there must vigilant voice for One Nation Toryism whatever way it is leaning to ensure this route is maintained. I note we now have Michael Howard as a patron. While we must always welcome a sinner who repents I wonder if this “big tent” approach will make the TRG lose its cutting edge and fall into becoming an ambivalent mush. (Well we were called Wets!)
By the 1970’s the Bow Group had lost its cutting edge and the TRG came in to fly the flag of sensible Toryism. Is there now a need for the TRG to be replaced? Sadly it has always had the tendency of slipping into a metropolitan dining club with the occasional reminders and rallying calls (and conferences) for us members out in the sticks but sadly in recent years we have been forgotten about and certainly given no leadership. As there is no such leadership given to the likes of us what impetus is there for us to stay in the Party to fight our corner when left to our own? Cheers!?!
Comment by Charles Elliott — 1 October, 2007 @ 2:32 pm
Charles – many thanks for your comments.
We are, of course, sorry to lose you as a member of the TRG and the party as a whole. I would like to address some of the issues that you raised in your comment.
Michael Howard became a patron several years ago. It has long been a long-standing tradition that the TRG has asked each party leader to become a patron and Michael Howard agreed to do so. I see no contradiction between having Michael as a patron and being an effective voice for One Nation Conservatism. Indeed, being able to associate with major figures in the party helps our cause and underlines the fact that we are part of the mainstream and not an insignificant voice in the wilderness that can be safely ignored.
The TRG has worked hard over recent years to ensure that our voice is recognised as being a constructive one and the response that we received last week at the party conference underlines that this is now the case. All of our events were attended beyond our expectations and major party figures are pleased to associate with us, not because we toady to anyone, but because we have a distinctive viewpoint that adds to the debate. This is something that was underlined to me by both regular members and journalists that were present. That distinctive sound is the voice of One Nation Conservatism and we welcome David Cameron’s comment in his close of conference speech that the Conservative Party is now “the party of One Nation.”
This would be true if we were an exclusive metropolitan dining club and we work hard to be inclusive with a serious agenda. Our launch of new units in Wales and Scotland over the last eighteen months are a step in that direction. However, a large proportion of our members are in London, as are the vast majority of potential speakers, so we do tend to meet there, it is true. Still, this does not stop some members from regularly joining us from Bath, Nottingham and Norfolk as they find London an easy place to get to. Many members of the party from across the country also make it to party conference each year and we work hard to ensure there is a mixed programme of events at every conference to cater for the interests of our members. In Blackpool this year, we covered the state of the United Kingdom’s bonds of union, the role of Robert Peel as the first One Nation PM, heard from Oliver Letwin about his view of the policy development process and discussed community development versus individual aspirations with Ali Burt and Groundwork.
The TRG continues to regularly publish pamphlets, Reformer and items online that push the debate. We lobby in public and behind closed doors. The result has been a period of leadership that has been closer to the TRG’s perspective than any other in 30 years. Why would you leave now if your interests are so close to those you claim?
The TRG has a growing membership with half of all our new members being students. That is a record that any political group across the spectrum would envy. We achieve it by having a distinctive voice and by advocating a perspective on Conservatism that resonates with a huge proportion of the population. We are sad to lose you, Charles, but luckily we have taken on ten new members in your place and would welcome you back in the future if you feel able to do so.
Comment by Timothy Barnes — 8 October, 2007 @ 10:37 pm