The Blueprint

Conservative Party General Election Manifesto Sept. 2010

Foreword by the Leader of the Conservative Party The Rt. Hon. Dr. Nicholas Cooper MP PC BM BCh BSc For too long now, the calls of the people of Britain have gone unnoticed by the Labour Party and the set of people that we have to call our government. The reasonable requests for change have been neglected and ignored by successive Labour Prime Ministers, most of them unelected by the people. The politicians who have had control of our country for the past thirteen years have been changed by power, and they simply do not understand what it is that the people really want. But now, it is time to change all of that, and deliver power back to the hands of the people. Within this manifesto, the Conservative Party will show what a vote for us on September 7th will mean, and show why it is only our party that has the sensible options for British politics, and the British people. Our policy has been worked on by several experts in their field, the great friends of mine that I like to call the Shadow Cabinet, and we think that our ideas for Britain will benefit not the politicians, not the quangos, but the real people who matter: the British people. We have named our manifesto The Blueprint; an apt name for such a reforming set of plans for the country. But as with all blueprints, the designers only do the designing: it is the managers who truly decide what happens with it, and whether they decide to give it a go in hopes of improving things. We, the Conservative Party, are the designers. But the people are the managers: they are the people who decide whether our plans for a better Britain cut the mustard. So, as you read the Conservative Party Manifesto for the second general election in the year, just remember the series of failures and catastrophes that the Labour Party has forced upon our country. Remember that it was the Labour Party that led us into the biggest recession in a generation, and the biggest budget deficit of any first-world country. But most importantly, remember that on September 7th, there is a real opportunity for change, and a real opportunity to make this country great again. And that opportunity lies with voting for the Conservative Party.

Conservative Policy on the Economy, led by The Hon. Stanley Beauchamp MP And The Hon. James Ipswich MP
The British economy has been left in a state under Labours thirteen years of seemingly endless spending, and failure to keep a limit on the amount of money that is going out. Bankers have ruined our economy, and the governments inability to deal with it has left us with the biggest budget deficit among developed nations. The Shadow Budget made under our current leader decreased any government debt meaning that the country would become stable again. This manifesto follows on from this highly successful Conservative economic evaluations of last year and will explain some of the changes made as well as a few more added to make it even better, saving you money. Under a Conservative government, the Stamp Duty threshold would be raised from 107,000 to 112,000 to help first time buyers get a real hold on the market. However, the top rate of the same duty would have to be raised by 0.5%. An extra 100 Armoured Fighting Vehicles to help our soldiers fight the war against terrorism in Afghanistan, along with increasing the amount of Helicopters from 325 to 400. This has also been noted in the defence section of this manifesto, where Mark Baglow MP has stated that we will increase the amount of these, as well as all other equipment to give our troops the best chance they can get in attaining the targets set. The main rate of VAT will be dropped from 17.5% to 17%, to give the British people a chance to recover and put their money into the economy. This will be kept like this for a further year where the debt situation will be looked at again and then altered accordingly. The lower rate of VAT though, which is only incurred on things like domestic gas supplies, so covering a vast minority of homes, would be raised to 10.5%. Under a Conservative government, the employers rate of National Insurance would remain at 13%, with the employers rate also remaining at 5%. We believe that we can cover the costs of freezing national insurance for a Parliament by cutting wasteful government spending, such as the 6bn being spent in pay rises for the bureaucrats in Whitehall. This is unacceptable, and an elected Conservative government would get rid of this ridiculousness. The basic rate of tax will be reduced to 21%, which is more than any other party is willing to do to aid the poorest. However, contrary to our predictions last year, we can no longer reduce the top two rates of taxLabours planned spending for the upcoming year means that there is no longer any money to cover these costs. The Conservative Party would also build on the Fast Food tax that they wanted to introduce if

elected in their last Shadow Budget. They would increase the tariff from 18.5% to 20% on the higher rate, to really discourage our young children and indeed our unhealthy adults from eating the junk that we so often see nowadays. Duties The Conservative Party is committed to making sure that a financial punishment is put on things that badly contribute to society, such as alcohol, tobacco and vehicle emissions. It is thus that we would increase all duties by 20% on alcohol, tobacco and vehicle excise, putting the emphasis on a healthy, green way of life. We would also increase Mansion Tax to 16.5%, making those who can afford it truly do their bit for society. All of these plans combined will lead to a safer and better economy for us all to live under. The economy is one of the most important things in a country like the UK so to get it right is very important. Labour have not done this: they have left us with debt that our childrens grandchildren will be paying off in the decades to come. In this election, make sure that you vote for a brighter future by voting Conservative.

Conservative Policy on Education, led by The Rt. Hon. Matthew Doy MP PC

When Labour came into power thirteen years ago, they rode in on the promise that their three main priorities were education, education and education. But the Labour promise has been broken, yet again, and the education system is more inefficient, and more ineffective than ever. Primary Education More pupils than ever are leaving primary school without knowing how to read or write. And we believe this is because of Labours warped priorities: as long as schools are meeting financial and league table targets, then nothing happens. At the Conservative Party, we have dared to break away from the tradition of backing ineffective testing in KS2, namely, SATs. A Conservative government would look towards abolishing the SATs testing system, and putting in place a set of teacher assessments that more accurately portray a pupils progress, identifying areas of weakness and strength to work on. Secondary Education The Conservatives believe that not everybody can be taught in the same way, and excel in their own way, as Labour does. Everybody has their own set of talents and abilities, and a Conservative administration would nurture that to its fullest, by making sure that the brightest pupils were stretched and those who werent as good academically were helped to catch up through one-on-one tuition and teaching of people of the same skills group. However, our flagship policy is the equal support of grammar schools and comprehensive schools. It has long been said that grammar schools are biased towards the middle class: a Conservative government would do everything in its power to stop this completely. We would give powers to schools to severely frown on grammar school applicants who use private tutors, as this is not a fair reflection of ability. Grammar schools should be used to stretch the brightest of our children, and giving precedence to someone who has managed to remember a few techniques for a test is not fair on those who cannot afford private tutoring. Grammar schools would become a hub of academic excellence in the country, while comprehensive schools would take in the less able students and nurture them using less challenging material. We believe that this way, teachers dont have to accommodate for a broad spectrum of students, and will allow them to really help those who need it, or stretch those who are able enough, without having to worry about leaving behind one group of students, or boring another. The Conservatives fully support setting in all academic subjects after two years, such as English, Maths and Modern Foreign Languages. We also believe that to give a broad education, the sciences must be split up from day one of secondary school, to give a solid understanding of the universe that we live in. For GCSEs, we have ambitious plans, also. Gone are the days of challenging courses which culminated in a test. Indeed, scientific evidence shows that coursework favours girls over boys, as boys

have a shorter concentration span, but perform better in tests. Why cant we go back to the old method of getting taught everything about a subject for two years, and then being given a test to demonstrate ones knowledge at the end? Indeed, even the valuation of the tests themselves have become unfair beyond belief. How is it that a Media Studies GCSE can be valued the same as a painstakingly difficult Latin GCSE? How can a Drama GCSE be seen at the same value as an English Literature GCSE? It is thus that the Conservatives would set out the following tier system to show a GCSE at its true worth. Whatever the critics say though, this system is not to make students feel unworthy. It is to show that some people are not academic people, and should not be deluded as they are under Labour that they can go into an academic field. The Labour education system has made it embarrassing to go into a job that doesnt require a degreea Conservative government would work to lift that stigma, and make sure that everybody feels worthwhile, whether they are manually skilled or academically skilled. Tier 1 Maths; English Lit/Lang; Any MFL; Any Science; Any Classics-based subject; Any Humanity Tier 2 Any Expressive Art; Any Technology; Psychology; Sociology; Citizenship; Home Economics; Media Studies; Astronomy; Business Studies; General Studies
Note: the subjects listed above are a sample of GCSE subjectsothers would be listed as Tier 1 or 2 within their specific syllabus

We would also get rid of all mandatory subjects at GCSE, except English and Maths. It is ridiculous to expect a student to excel in a subject that they dont enjoy, and are being forced to do. However, PE and Citizenship would continue to be compulsory, but not to GCSE level. Further Education The Conservatives believe that the government are devaluing the British degree by throwing it open to anybody, not just the most apt of the students in the country. It is thus that we would freeze the number of university places available, and use the money created from not increasing university places to freeze tuition fees for a Parliament, and to give more money in terms of government grants to the students who are capable, but dont have the money to study. We have established several times that there are two types of people: academically slanted and non-academically slanted. For those of the latter category, the Conservative Party is committing itself in this manifesto to increase the number of apprenticeships available to young people leaving school. Britain is in a dire need of good plumbers, carpenters and builders, and it is nearly a dying trade in this country. This would also help immigration. If we have a normal, healthy number of British manual labourers, there will be fewer jobs that need to be filled by EU migrants, thus discouraging them from coming here. But that is not the main concern: the main concern is lifting the stigma of manual labour, and helping young people find the job that

suits them if they dont get into university. Teachers Too long have teachers been persecuted by troublesome students in their own classrooms. Well, it's time to protect teachers from malicious allegations by giving them a chance to defend themselves and the permitting of withholding their name. Its innocent till proven guilty in court, so why not for the teachers of this country? We find ourselves in a position where if a teacher is accused of anything, whether guilty or not, they are marked as a bad teacher and in some cases, forced out of the profession altogether. Thus, as mentioned previously, we would give teachers the right to anonymity within court until they were proven guilty. If innocent, there would be no repercussions on the teacher, and they could go back to doing the job that they love. Similarly, we would introduce punishments on pupils who were putting forward false allegations. A Conservative government would force the family of the offending pupil to pay all legal fees if the teacher was proved innocent, with the possibility of expulsion and a mark on their permanent records in extreme circumstances. Building of Schools The building of schools would only be a priority to a Conservative government if pupil numbers were rising and class sizes were ridiculously too big. Currently though, this is not the casein fact, it is completely the opposite. There are currently 890 schools not being used, and leaking government money and resources in maintenance. The truth is, if the government had the guts to sell off these schools, there would be an overall turnover of 50million. However, there must be a reason for the Labour Party not to have sold them. Either because they are afraid of the press surrounding the selling of a school, or because they are simply negligent, we will never know. It is Conservative policy to sell off these money drains, and to use the revenue created to fund more teachers to reduce class sizes, and the building of desperately needed new primary schools up and down the country. The National Curriculum Under Labour, the National Curriculum has grown to become a 4,000 page document detailing every single thing that needs to be taught to students. It is preposterous to expect a teacher to follow all of this information to the letter, while still giving a broad education to the pupils of the country. The Conservatives would, if elected, completely scrap the National Curriculum in its current state, and replace it with a far more streamlined set of minimum requirements for classrooms, to allow teachers to assess students clearly, and to teach them a broad spectrum of what interests them in class, instead of the obscene focus on examinations that currently takes place within the classroom.

Families The Conservative Party is a firm advocate of the family unit, believing that it is the best way to provide a safe and loving bringing up for children. However, too many children can make a family divided, and can cause stress. You also get families who have exorbitant numbers of children simply for the benefit income. It is thus that the Conservative Party would push for a change in the benefit system, whereby only the first three children would be given the child tax credit. We believe that a small, manageable family unit is key, and research has shown that financial problems are one of the biggest causes of divorce in the country. The Conservative Party would also be staunchly in favour of maintaining Sure Start centres, but specifically targeting those families who needed it the most. We would, if elected, bring in hundreds more health visitors to give families reassurance with their children, and make sure that they were being properly looked after.

Conservative Policy on Home Affairs, led by The Hon. Ian Caithness MP BSc

At the Conservative Party, we believe that society is one of the greatest assets of the United Kingdom, and we must do all we can to clean up crime and promote justice on the streets in order to ensure the continued safety of our citizens. Sentencing Guidelines: A Review The magistrates court lacks the power to sentence offenders to substantial custodial sentences and so the Conservative Party promises to provide magistrates with the power to sentence offenders to prison for a maximum of twelve months, raised from the current six months. We will also perform a full review of current sentencing guidelines and push for Parliament to scrutinise the guidelines to ensure that the rate of re-offending is as low as possible. Legal Aid and Victim Support The current scheme for legal aid is an expensive, bureaucratic and unrepresentative system that requires urgent review. We promise to complete a full review of legal aid and consider alternatives means of funding for those people who cannot afford the fees of solicitors or barristers. We will implement the Prisoners' Earnings Act to allow deductions from prisoners for paid work into a Victims Fund that would be used to create fifteen new rape crisis centres and support the existing rape crisis centres. We will also ensure that those who prevent crime are not at risk of prosecution by the government and providing legal measures to protect citizens who are forced to defend their homes against attackers. Giving Power to the People The Licensing Act is problematic and we pledge to overhaul this legislation to give the police and local authorities the power to act against anti-social behaviour. This will include the following measures: i. Providing local authorities and the police to shut down and ban off-licenses and shops found to be persistently selling alcohol to children, to be supplemented by a pledge to increase the fines for businesses found selling alcohol to children to 20,000 ii. Increasing taxation on drinks linked to anti-social behaviour and removing Labour's cider tax on ordinary drinkers iii. Ban supermarkets and off-licenses from selling alcohol below the cost price and giving local authorities the power to charge more for late-night licenses to pay for additional policing iv. Introduce instant sanctions for anti-social behaviour, which will include grounding orders, curfews, ASBOs and fixed penalty notices. v. Give PCSOs (Police Community Support Officers) the power to arrest suspected offenders of crimes, increase their right to produce instant fines and penalties and give greater freedom to this

vital section of the power police to prevent and deter crime. Police Reform and Guidelines The government has created a police force that is bloated with paperwork and forms that hinder the real and necessary work of police officers on the beat. The Conservative Party promises to change that by removing the obstacles associated with the stop and search procedure, namely, the stop form. Officers will still have to record this procedure but will do so by radioing in, rather than filling in a form. We will also ensure that common-sense policing is returned to the forefront of a police officer's role by amending health and safety laws, giving the police the power to identify offenders to protect the public and prevent crime and process crime more quickly by video-linking custody cells and the courts. We will also pledge to have a public consultation about the possibilities of an elected official being accountable for the local policing authorities. This official would be in charge of the local strategies for tackling crime and the budget for their area. Local policing authorities would also publish monthly local crime data statistics in an open format. Prisons: Reducing the Burden Our pledge to citizens is that prisons should be a punishment, not a luxury holiday. The Labour government has seen 80,000 criminals released early and foreign criminals due for deportation escape the radar through these release programmes. The Conservative Party will change this through a three point plan. i. Introduce a system where the courts can define minimum and maximum sentences for certain offenders. Criminals who have served their minimum sentence will be released if they have earned that privilege. It is not a right. ii. Pilot a scheme to create Prison and Rehabilitation Trusts so that one organisation is responsible for the rehabilitation and prevention of re-offending criminals. iii. Engage with specialist institutions to provide education, mentoring and rehabilitation schemes for young offenders to assist them in regaining their lives.

Conservative Policy on Health, led by The Hon. James Mountain MP

Under the Labour Party, the NHS has suffered. Indeed, a poll carried out shows that despite Labour almost doubling spending on the health service, more than two thirds of people are unhappy with the way it is being run, and dont trust Labour with its future, because of nurse shortages, language incapability and waiting times. The National Health Board Under a Conservative government, the Department of Health would be all but scrapped in favour of an independent control board, to be called the National Health Board. The board will review all funding and pay for the NHS and will deal with staffing etc. The Secretary of State for Health will have a seat on the board, and will also have an executive veto of policy decisions for only two circumstances: - A matter of public interest (he or she may suspend the board and resume power for corruption, overrule withdrawal of certain services [e.g. dentistry] etc) - A waste of public money (he or she may put caps on certain pay, overrule unnecessary hospital construction/expansion etc) However all in all the NHB will govern the NHS with the following focus: "To provide an institution that caters for, cares for and defends the right to excellent, universal healthcare for every man, woman and child of the United Kingdom at the point of contact." NICE will now be incorporated into the NHB, as will the GMC, both as sub-divisions with important roles over hospitals in the country. The NHB will send a yearly request to the Department of Health for what funding they deem necessary which he can review and scrutinise. He can then offer less, exactly, or more. The NHB will have the power to take the Department to a parliamentary committee to explain funding decisions if deemed improper. All information on why shall be available by Freedom of Information. Hospital Staffing The Conservative Party believes that hospital management and administration quangos have become overpaid, and their number bloated within the hospital. For the NHS to remain as streamlined and as cost-effective as possible, while maintaining the excellent level of care that it is renowned for throughout the world. It is thus that under a Conservative government, we would remove "managers" as they are and insert qualified medical professionals into the roles. There are three different levels of control over the NHS, direct clinical influence, indirect governance, and a mixture of the two.

1. NHBIndirect governance 2.i. Hospital Board of Governors Indirect governance 2. Dean of Medicine - Deals with the hospitals administration as well as doctors 3. Chief of Surgery - Direct clinical influence 4. Chief of Medicine - Direct clinical influence The NHB has been described above and may call any Dean of Medicine to report on underperforming hospitals, or to justify expenditures. The Board of Governors would be a mix of doctors including the Dean of Medicine and other senior hospital doctors and managers with at least 10 years expertise in medical care, and at least one "patient representative." May overrule funding grants by the Dean of Medicine. May remove the Dean for underperforming or report to the NHB for tribunal. The Dean of Medicine would be a senior member of the medical team who was elected by the Hospital Board of Governors. The Dean is in charge of the general day-to-day running of the hospital and allocation of funds to departments. All doctors are answerable to the Dean. He or she would have at least 10 years medical experience in his or her field. The Chiefs of Surgery and Medicine are responsible for surgeons and physicians respectively. They appoint team leaders of consultants to a team of doctors who must submit reviews of doctors to the respective Chiefs every six months for consultation. Problematic doctors are then referred to the proper Chief or the Dean of Medicine for further action (may result in dismissal). A similar role may be given for overseeing of nurses to a senior nurse. We are putting care and running of hospitals back into the hands of doctors with a clear structure as to who is doing what, and who ultimately is responsible. The Labour government has neglected this responsibility, and the Conservatives would prove how vital an organised hospital is if elected on September 7th. Nurses and Dentists Both of these roles have had massive shortages under a Labour government. The Conservative Party is committed to hiring more nurses to solve the dreadful shortage that Labour seem to have sponsored over their thirteen years in government. We also believe that creating the role of Chief of Nursing would benefit the organisation of nursing in any hospital in the country. In terms of dentistry, we would make it law that all dentists must offer childrens dentistry on the NHS, and also offer financial incentives to accepting adult NHS patients. We believe that this is the only way to solve the massive NHS dentist crisis. Waiting Times By hiring more GPs in the local area, and more registrars in hospitals, the Conservative Party believes that we can substantially cut the amount of waiting time in an A&E department, and also a GP surgery. Under a Conservative government, gone would be the days of having to travel many miles just to see your doctor. We believe that everybody has a right to local, excellent healthcare.

Conservative Policy on Justice, led by The Hon. Ian Caithness MP BSc

The Conservative Party believes that the government is paying far too much money to have two separate departments for Home Affairs and Justice, especially when they cross over in a lot of circumstances. This is why a Conservative government would merge the government departments, leading to the common sense approach of the Home Secretary having the additional power of being in charge of the nations prisons and courts procedure. The Conservative Party is committed to ensuring that the general public is protected from dangerous and persistent criminals. We are also committed to providing the courts with guidelines on sentencing and removing the fear that a punishment is not punished severely enough. With that in mind, we have developed the following policy, known as the Tier System Approach. The Tier System Approach places crimes in a three tiered system that escalates in severity of crime. This approach will also come with sentencing guidelines on the minimum and maximum sentences that the courts should be using as a guide when dealing with such cases. The Tier System i. Tier 1 Tier 1 crimes are the most severe that can be committed in society, which can be easily categorised as those which cause extreme mental or physical harm to the victim, and that the psychological effects of the crime on the victim will haunt them for the foreseeable future. Examples of this type of crime would be murder, manslaughter, rape, or child abuse. ii. Tier 2 Tier 2 crimes are categorised as crimes that are not as damaging as Tier 1 crimes, but certainly very close to this level of harm, and a severe matter to be dealt with by the courts. Summarily, these crimes are seen as quite harmful, both mentally and physically, to the victim, although the psychological effects will not necessarily carry for the rest of their life. Examples of this type of crime are theft, arson (provided that nobody is seriously injured, indicating GBH and a Tier 1 crime), and child pornographic offences. iii. Tier 3 Tier 3 crimes are not necessarily harmful to a particular person; more a group of people. These are categorised as causing major annoyance or nuisance to a person or people, with barely any psychological impact. Crimes included in this tier would be theft of items under 100, perjury, and drug/ alcohol related misdemeanour. Sentencing Guidelines i. Tier 1

A ) The minimum sentence for these offences is seven years in prison with no possibility of early release for good behaviour or parole. B ) The maximum sentence for these offences is a 'whole life' sentence which means that the prisoner will never be released from prison due to the severity of his crime. The Conservative Party sincerely believe that the whole life sentence is not nearly used enough in today's courts. C ) Luxuries within the prison would be removed and given solely on a rewards system and learning would be encouraged. ii. Tier 2 A ) The minimum sentence for these offences is three years with no possibility of early release if the criminal has previous convictions in the same tier. B ) The maximum sentence for these offences is a single life sentence (currently defined as fifteen years imprisonment) with no possibility of early release. C ) Repetition of this type of offence lifts its level to Tier 1. iii. Tier 3 A ) The minimum sentence for these offences is a fine of 50, which does not include court costs and compensation for the victim. B ) The maximum sentence for a first offence is a fine of 5,000, which does not include court costs and compensation. C ) The maximum sentence for a re-offending criminal is one year imprisonment with a strict rehabilitation programme outlined in our Crime policy section. D ) Three-time or more repetition of this type of offence lifts its level to Tier 2. This policy would, of course, be in conjunction with all criminal legislature that has been passed by the House of Commons in the past. Conservative policy on justice is to clear up the shambles of the judicial system that Labour have made, and to give British people renewed confidence in the courts which has been so lacking for the past fourteen years.

Conservative Policy on Communities and Local Government, led by The Hon. James Mountain MP

Under the Labour Party, Britain has turned from a country with excellent community values and social links to one that is centrally ruled on the most simple of matters. If theres a problem, Labour thinks that the solution is to pass a law on it. The Conservatives think that this is majorly flawed, and so thus, one of our flagship policies of big society comes into play. Big Society You may notice when reading this section of the manifesto, that this is our only policy on the matter. But it is so colossal, and so potentially revolutionary, it deserves to be unique in its position in Conservative documentation. Our goal is to end the quangocracy in government; to end the central control that everything seems to have nowadays. We want to give real power to real people, not make empty promises like Labour and the Liberal Democrats, who since the last election, have done the sum total of nothing in Parliament. The first thing that we believe is essential to a tighter community is the confidence to know that it is being policed well. This is why under a Conservative government, we would make sure that the people elected their police commissioners, so that they know who they are, and so that they feel confident that they can approach the person if needs arise. A well-known member of the community at the helm of its security is vital to reducing crime on the streets. Then comes the Conservative ideas about councils. We believe that these much-neglected local assets are vital to creating better societies and communities in all areas up and down the country. It is thus that we would give substantial powers to the people so that they can influence their councils and indeed Parliament if it is necessaryto do the right thing. First and foremost, citizens would be given the power to veto any major construction projects in their area in an open town hall vote. Secondly, all town budget plans would have to be published in full prior to their implementation, and subject to another open town hall vote, to make sure that the people know that their council tax is going to the most deserving things in their area, and not the pockets of the politicians and big businesses. But some of our most important proposals are about the cleanup and transparency of politics. To begin with, we would make sure that a constituency can recall their MP and call a by-election if that MP is mistreating their position. But thats something that every party is doing. One of the things that makes the Conservative policy distinct is the petition proposal. We say that if a petition has over 10,000 signatures on it, its contents must be debated in Parliament. Politicians are servants of the people, not the other way round, so lets do something about getting that balance right again! Further ideas about the cleanup of politics mean that every party has to declare a donation of over 5,000, and cutting the enormous civil service that we have at the moment. There are too many wealthy bureaucrats in Whitehall. Why should the taxpayer pay them to do effectively nothing? Big society is the way forward, to create a more friendly and close Britain.

Conservative Policy on Foreign Affairs and Immigration, led by The Hon. James Ipswich MP

Over the last thirteen years, Labour has made Britains position in the world become less and less prominent, by effectively agreeing to everything put in front of them. This includes ridiculous working hour policies in the EU, and unfair extradition rules with the US. We at the Conservative Party believe it is very important to maintain good affairs with foreign countries and work with them to ensure a good trade relation among other things. North Korea and Iran At the moment we are faced with the possibility of countries developing Nuclear Weapons which would be very bad for the world. North Korea are advanced in this matter and should be stopped under a Conservative government we would endeavour to protect you against any attack. We need to improve foreign relations with North Korea and begin to start talks with them to put arms down and make everyone in the world a lot safer. The EU At the moment the country is within the European Union which needs to work for Britain in a practical way that benefits the people, not forces overly bureaucratic rules into our faces. Otherwise we must seriously consider leaving. However we are willing to stay and see if we can make some change. If a Conservative Party was elected to government, we would make sure that there were transitional controls on any new country joining the EU, making sure that an influx of immigration didnt take place. We would also lay down a law which meant that any major piece of EU treaty or law would have to be voted for directly by the British people. This means that our MEPs would also be committed to repealing the unfair and undemocratic Lisbon Treaty, which Labour promised a referendum on. But as is the way of many Labour promises, nothing happened, leaving us in the mess were in at the moment. Immigration Immigration is a major problem and we need massive reform on this measure. The Conservative Party proposes a real chance of lowering the number and are not afraid to! At the moment there are a huge amount of illegal immigrants living around the country in peoples gardens, in parks and wherever they can find, they steal and make this country a horrible place. We would bulk up the Border Control Agency, and reintroduce exit controls to make sure that people coming in arent staying for longer than their visas permit. For new immigrants a condition will be they must offer skills to the country which are needed, they must speak English as well a cap will set to lower the amount allowed in from outside the EU. Embassies We will maintain a good amount of embassy workers abroad to help any British people on holiday, and we will make sure we work with other countries where possible to increase relations. Diplomacy is key to maintaining peace, and would be one of the top priorities of a Conservative government.

Conservative Policy on Northern Ireland, led by The Hon. Philip Mitchell MP

Northern Ireland is a vital part of the Conservative plans for the country. We strongly believe in the power of the people, and so would work with the Northern Irish people in reaching an agreement on the union, devolution, and terrorism. Politics The Conservative Party remains totally committed to establishing national, mainstream politics in Northern Ireland. We want to move Northern Ireland politics forward, we want more focus on the issues that affect the people of this province in their daily lives, instead of the sectarian political divisions of the past continuing to haunt us. We support Northern Ireland's devolved institutions and will continue to commit to making devolution work. It is important, however, that all parties are involved when it comes to discussions on devolution, and that to maintain the strength of the British union that defines us so, we only devolve things that are sensible to be devolved, instead of the approach of parties such as the SNP, who want to devolve things that are essential to remaining central, such as income tax changing powers. Health Northern Ireland needs proper investment in Health. The Health Service in Northern Ireland is on its knees due to a 50% cut in cleaning staff, it's my belief that this has contributed to the rise in hospital calls to pest controllers in Northern Ireland. The Conservative Party has plans for 60 new hospitals to be built, it is only fair that Northern Ireland should have new hospitals built, as some of the current hospitals are old & beyond repair. Policing We will continue to give our fullest support to the Police Service of Northern Ireland in their efforts to combat the threat from any terrorist group or organisation that threatens to destabilise the peace process in Northern Ireland. Their is no place for terrorism in a 'modern day' Northern Ireland. The Conservative Party would also encourage everybody in Northern Ireland to co-operate with the police force in doing their difficult job, whether they be Catholic or Protestant. Religious tension had its place in the 16th Century, but not today in modern Northern Ireland, where human morals must prevail. We would do this by ensuring that there was a roughly equal amount of Catholic and Protestant police officers in the Northern Irish service, to promote unity and the necessity to work together against sectarian terrorism that still blights the country.

Education Northern Ireland over the last few year's has out-performed the rest of the UK when it has come to exam results, and hopefully over the next few years, those excellent results continue. Current Government plans to introduce 'Political' Education as a compulsory subject will be fought against and with the current shortage of teachers, it's beyond belief as to why the Government would wish to increase the burden on those teachers who are already being stretched to the limit. Economy Like everywhere else in the UK. Northern Irish people are worried & anxious about the economy and their jobs. It is our plan to examine alternative ways of 'Getting Northern Ireland Working' & turning Northern Ireland into an economic enterprise zone. We would do this by urging aspiration Northern Irish youngsters to start their own businesses and contribute directly to the economy. We would also give more money to Northern Ireland for major new construction and industrial projects, creating jobs and a better Northern Irish economic climate.

Conservative Policy on Scotland, led by The Rt. Hon. Frank Skinner MP PC

Although powers are largely devolved to the Scottish Parliament, the Conservative Party believes that it can do a world of good by stopping whining politicians on their missions of self-righteousness and giving power back to the people who need it most. Devolution One of the main points of discussion in Scotland is, understandably, that of devolution. It is a very contentious issue, but although the Conservatives have been traditionally unionist, we are also of the belief that politicians shouldnt meddle, and shouldnt thrust their views and opinions in the faces of others. It is thus that we would support a referendum for further devolution of powers in areas that are practical to be devolved. However, we would not support any particular side of the argument, instead giving informed, unbiased information on the pros and cons of devolution. The Conservative Party believes that the people of Scotland arent stupid, and will be able to make an intelligent decision as to the future of their nation. Defence Scotland is currently home to the nuclear deterrent, something that creates hundreds of jobs for the people in the surrounding area, and providing the main source of monetary income for the area itself. The Conservative Party would be committed to maintaining the area as a functional home for the bulk of the submarine service, including the Vanguard-class submarines. Funding In this area, the Conservative Party can only promise to carry out a spending review. It has long been suspected that the devolved powers have been neglected in terms of funding, however, nothing can be done about it unless an independent organisation investigates the situation. Once this was complete though, a Conservative government would consult to decide what measures should be taken, if any.

Conservative Policy on Wales, led by The Hon. Stanley Beauchamp MP

Again, powers are largely devolved to the Welsh Assembly, however there is a considerable amount that we can do to help the Welsh people in this time of crisis. Devolution Like Scotland, Wales is a four-party system, and the Welsh assembly is a massive part of the political system in the country. The Conservatives believe that any further devolution must be approved by the Welsh people, and again, the Conservatives would only give advice, both positive and negative, to the people of Wales so they could make their minds up on their own. Language The Conservative Party is strongly against any costly government projects to raise the profile of the Welsh language. However, we do believe that Welsh is a large part of Wales heritage, and should be encouraged. This must not be at the expense of government departments though. A Conservative government would address the issue through the mantra of if it cant stand up on its own, then theres no point in funding it. Other issues are more important, such as policing, schooling and health. Funding In this area, the Conservative Party can only promise to carry out a spending review. It has long been suspected that the devolved powers have been neglected in terms of funding, however, nothing can be done about it unless an independent organisation investigates the situation. Once this was complete though, a Conservative government would consult to decide what measures should be taken, if any.

Conservative Policy on International Development, led by The Hon. James Ipswich MP

Britain is one of the leading countries in the world, economically, and politically. So therefore, we as a government must do all we can to help developing nations and war torn nations to get back on their feet and make their own mark on the world. Aid: The UN Target for aid is 0.7% of national income by 2013, the Conservatives will aim to give more than that with 0.9% to help with third world countries in Africa. Although losing money this will help all those overseas less fortunate than us, we need to make sure countries aren't exploited or left at risk to natural disaster which could cost the country a lot more. We will waive any taxes on corporations raising money for overseas such as singles raising money for people in the poorest circumstances. We will also provide grants for people willing to go abroad and help with poverty such as providing an education for children living in third world countries, these could include teachers or doctors. A Conservative government will give its backing to any major fundraising ideas such as Comic Relief on the BBC, supporting both the program and the British Broadcasting Corporation. We believe that public drives for the benefit of the people who really need it are an excellent way to raise money and public awareness for their cause. Trade: We will aim to maintain and grow on current links for trade making sure that where possible we ask companies to use fair trade produce to again help people overseas. Businesses will be taxed if they bring in products that are not fair trade however only if there is a fair trade alternative. We believe that fair trade is an excellent idea that not only promotes the proper treatment of workers in different countries, but also helps ensure that they work in proper conditions, and work under humane standards. Conflict Resolution We will give much greater importance to conflict prevention and resolution because a nation mired in conflict remains vulnerable until the fighting stops, no matter how much aid or trade it receives. We promise to give funding to any country under threat from a dictator or somebody who is not acting in the best interests of the party. They will also be given support on how to change the country for the better by specially trained UK Embassy staff and other diplomats.

Conservative Policy on Trade and Transport, led by The Hon. Mark Baglow MP

Britain is one of the most commercial countries in the world, with an intricate series of motorways and roads linking its towns and cities. It also is a hub for trade and business, and although this has been neglected under Labour, the Conservatives would do everything they could to bring it back up to the best standard. Trade At the Conservative Party, we believe that a key to keeping ourselves in the black is to cut the number of imports, and start rising the number of exports again, to create revenue and a solid British sourcing base for all supermarkets and restaurants with need of food and other resources. We would make sure that British industry was not overshadowed by an American or European counterpart, by blocking, in Parliament, the takeover of a company from any of these areas, and thus the loss of hundreds of jobs in factories up and down the country. Instead, the money leftover in the Conservatives first Budget in government would be used as a helping hand for failing businesses, being given in grants and loans to ensure that British factories remained open for British workers to maintain their jobs and earn money to keep their families well looked after and in their homes. Transport A Conservative government would seek to make British transport systems some of the best in Europe. We would encourage the private sector to work on major building projects, putting more money back into the economy, such as the work on new railways and new motorways. A Conservative government would also give power to local councils concerning public transport. People are constantly at the receiving end of exorbitant bus and train fares. Under our plans, local councils would be able to limit the price of a bus ticket or a train ticket, setting a maximum amount that the companies would be able to charge. This move would encourage far more people to use public transport, helping the environment, and aiding the private sector who currently control most bus and train services. The Conservative Party also has plans to build several new desperately needed rail links in Wales and Northern Ireland, to make waiting times and overcrowding less.

Conservative Policy on the Energy, Climate Change and the Environment, led by The Hon. James Mountain MP

The UK is already one of the leading nations in the world in terms of alternative energies, but under a Conservative government, we would do all that we could to continue tackling the problems that we face through climate change, through the creation of a green economy with green jobs. Alternative Energy In its economic plans for the future, the Conservative Party has put forward a number of ideas for creating alternative energy resources, in an attempt to try an get more of Britain running on renewable energy. A Conservative government would approve hydroelectric power plants in the mountains of Scotland, providing several hundred jobs. A Conservative government would also put millions of pounds into new offshore technologies, using tidal power and the wind at sea to generate electricity for thousands of British homes. We are also committed to investing in the latest hydrogen cell technologies for cars, which would all but stop pollution coming from them. A Conservative government would wish to show its commitment to already established methods of alternative power as well, such as nuclear energy. This has already been proven to be clean, green and effective in producing a lot of power. Indeed, France is run on 75% nuclear energy and is one of the leading countries in Europe for its green credentials. Climate Change A Conservative government would massively increase the taxes on emissions of gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide, all of which are massively damaging to the atmosphere and the ozone layer. It is simply not good enough that, despite Labours spin, emissions of all these types of gas have increased at a steady rate over the past five years. A Conservative government would do everything in its power to cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than the EU standardwe want to slash carbon emissions by 50% by 2045. We believe that this target is achievable through several ways. One of which would be that a Conservative government would support the implementation of congestion charges in inner city areas, where it would be far more practical and less damaging to use public transport. This goes in conjunction with our transport policy, which would make it far easier and cheaper to catch a bus or a train, providing we were elected on September 7th.

Conservative Policy on Work and Pensions, led by The Hon. Lachlan Bruce MP

Under the Labour Party, pensioners have been neglected, with our system going from being the envy of the world to being the envy of nobody. Under Labour, unemployment has surged, and theyve done the sum total of nothing to control it. A Conservative government would seek to remedy these problems, with the solutions listed below. Unemployment The Conservative Party accepts that unemployment is at a massive high at the moment, thanks to the Labour government. And so it is thus that we must get people back into work, and encourage people to come off of their benefits and get into the working way of life. The Conservatives firmly believe in the mantra of put something in, and get something out. This is why, under a Conservative government, those people who are offered a perfectly good job that they can do, but refuse, will have their unemployment benefit withdrawn. First of all for one month, then for three months, until finally, the withdrawal can last up to three years. People work for their entire lives and pay taxes into the centre: they dont expect those taxes to be spent on making somebody elses life easy when they dont work at all. The Private Sector The private sector is unbelievably small at the moment, and for the sector which is a massive wealth creator for the countrys economy, it has been enormously undervalued by the Labour Party. A Conservative government would encourage the private sector, but more specifically entrepreneurs and businesses, by cutting corporation tax for all businesses, and making sure they have the government backing to survive in todays difficult financial climate. Successful businesses mean expansion, and with expansion comes more employment. If more small and medium size businesses crop up in a community, that communitys unemployment rate will go down steadily. Pensions Under a Conservative government, the elderly of this country would be completely safe and well looked after. We would be committed to steadily increasing pensions, in real terms, while also staunchly maintaining the winter fuel allowance and the free bus pass and TV license for the elderly. However, as people are living longer and remaining stronger throughout their lives, we would have to raise the retirement age to 67 by the end of 2014 if elected, to safeguard the pensions scheme. Under Labour, elderly people find themselves trapped if they are in need of care. Go into state funded care and be looked after (or not as is sometimes the case) but lose their home, or stay at home and not get the care that everybody should be entitled to? The Conservative Party thinks that this is just plainly wrong, and would put into place a law that meant if an elderly person put aside 6,000 to pay for their care when they needed it, then they could keep all of their assets and, as so many elderly people do nowadays, leave their property and money to their beloved children and grandchildren. We would also fund a series of drop-in centres for pensioners to come and have a chat, a cup of tea, and some lunch with people in similar situations to themselves. The Conservative Party would also ramp up the War Pension, as we believe that those men who risked their lives on the frontline must be rewarded for their actionsit is them that we owe our liberty to.

Conservative Policy on Defence, led by The Hon. Mark Baglow MP

The Labour Party quite clearly has a vendetta against the Armed Forceswhy else would it be that they have cut defence spending consistently over the past thirteen years of their government? It is particularly sickening to know that while the budget gets cut, our troops are still fighting a tough war in Afghanistan. The Conservatives would make defence one of our top priorities. Afghanistan The war in Afghanistan has been badly handled by Labour from day one. Not enough helicopters and functioning equipment was sent out there, and the top army generals have said that their troops feel exposed and under-defended on the battlefield. It is thus that the Conservatives would identify three main aims to the war in Afghanistan, to make sure that the British people knew what was going on, and what our objectives were: 1. To effectively neutralise terrorism in Afghanistan 2. To put in place a democratically, non-fraudulently elected government 3. To train the Afghan National Army to a standard such that they can continue the carrying out of the previous two objectives. It is only when all three objectives, but particularly the third one, have been completed that we can think about pulling our troops out of Afghanistan. Britain must send a message to terrorist organisations: we will not stand the attacks on our nation and attempted attacks on our nation, and the murder of innocent people. We would also put more money into the defence budget in order to approve all major Army projects in terms of tanks, aircraft and helicopters. We cannot expect our troops to do a good job if we do not spend money on getting them the most up-to-date equipment for the hard work they must do. Trident Although Trident is a costly commitment, the Conservative Party views it as absolutely core to Britains role in the world. It is thus that we would completely support its renewal when it comes up for review, as it protects the British people from any threat, and wards off any attacks from rogue nations. With the maintaining of our nuclear deterrent, we can keep a sizeable position on the world stage, and make sure that the people of this country are protected from any attack. The Navy As part of the Strategic Defence Review two years ago, the Labour government decided that they would move the whole submarine service to Scotland, and the warships to Portsmouth, leaving Plymouth completely empty, and stripping it of its primary economic source. This is wrong, and the Conservative Party would be committed to reversing this decision. Under a Conservative government, Plymouth would be home to all submarines not of the Vanguard class, with the new Astute class gradually replacing the Trafalgar class. It would also take onboard more warships. Faslane in Scotland would maintain the bulk of the nuclear deterrent, in the

form of the Vanguard class of submarine, while Portsmouth would gradually become less used for main operations, and become a training port. Portsmouth is prepared for the loss of the Navyits economy is more reliant on students nowadays, unlike Faslane and Plymouth.

Conservative Policy on Business, Skills and Innovation, led by The Rt. Hon. Matthew Doy MP PC

Britain has suffered during the Labour recession, because of the large focus on the public sector over the private sector. The Conservatives believe that the private sector is equally as important, if not more important than the public sector, and through our policies on business, we believe that we can restore the balance. Small Enterprises The Conservatives are absolutely committed to slashing all rates of corporation tax over the next Parliament, to make it easier than it has ever been to set up a new business and let it survive. The Conservative Party believes that through entrepreneurialism in Britain, we can create more jobs, which leads to more efficiency in production, leading to more exports and a better economy. A Conservative government would also give a 2,000 bonus for any young apprentice that a small or medium sized business took on, which is an incentive for people to hire young people and put a stop to youth unemployment. This is unlike the Labour plan, who want to raise corporation tax by 2% on all businesses, which would make it incredibly difficult for any aspiring businessman to make his mark on the market. Government Procurement A Conservative Party would set a quota for any government to sign any supply contracts that were needed for offices and departments from small British businesses. This quota could vary over time, but as a starting figure, we are adamant that at least 25% of government contracts should go to small or medium size businesses, effectively putting government backing into the driving force of the British economy. Skills A Conservative government would create over 100,000 new apprenticeships to aid the rise of British manual labour industry, such as building, carpentry and plumbing. We would also create over 100,000 new work partnerships in business and enterprise so that young people can get meaningful advice and mentorship from already established businesspeople. Technology Exportation A Conservative government would, if elected on September 7th, almost immediately put into place Sir James Dysons plans for technology and science business and industry in this country. The Conservative Partys aim is to make Britain the leading exporter of technological goods in the EU. Cutting the Red Tape A Conservative government would abolish many of the unnecessary forms needed to start a business. The case at the moment is that people refrain from starting up enterprises that they wish to because of the large amount of paperwork that needs to be filled out in order just to be licensed and recognised. The Conservative Party wants to make it just one form that needs to be filled out to start a new business, making Britain one of the fastest places in the world to set up a new enterprise.

Conservative Policy on Culture, Media and Sport, led by The Rt. Hon. Frank Skinner MP PC

Culture and media are a major factor to the British persons happiness, with entertainment and TV being a huge part of this department. Media is also a huge wealth creator for the country, and the Conservative Party want to expand on all of this for the future. Local TV Stations Local TV stations have suffered in the recession, with many of them going under in the bad economic situation. It is the Conservative Partys belief that a person should remain updated with the news in their community to feel as if they know what is going on and what needs to change. So, a Conservative government would fund the creation of an economically viable, smoothly operated link of local TV stations up and down the country. The London Olympics The coming of the Olympic Games to London in 2012 is a fantastic opportunity to show to the world what Britain is made of in terms of sports. It is thus that the Conservative Party would create a new force of talent scouts to go out to the schools in the country and look for any potentially brilliant athletes for two years time. We want to recognise the sporting excellence of some youngsters, who are not recognised under the Labour governments refusal to fund sport and athletics in this country. The BBC All people owning a television must currently pay the license fee, which funds the BBC. However, it is increasingly coming to the Conservatives attention that this money is being badly spent by the Corporation, and it is thus that a Conservative government would set up a Broadcasting Audit Association in order to govern all broadcasting companies (although specifically the BBC) and make sure that the funding was being used correctly, to fund exciting new broadcasts and ideas, instead of paying presenters extortionately. Theatre A Conservative government would be committed to spending millions more on the promotion of live drama and musical theatre up and down the country, in order to raise awareness of plays modern and new. Too long have things like this been neglected by the Labour Party, and it is time that culture took a higher role in the lives of the British people.

On Democracy The Rt. Hon. Dr. Nicholas Cooper MP PC BM BCh BSc Britain has one of the oldest democracies in the world, and is the seat of liberty in the Western worldwhere everything started. Our political system is built on the promise of a strong government nine times out of ten, and the ability for the people to trust the politicians to make the right decisions and make the country a better place for it. However, Labour and the Liberal Democrats are threatening this marvellous system of ours, and trying to change it in such a way that gone would be the days of a strong, majority government, where the people effectively pick the Prime Minister. The plans for proportional representation on the part of the other two parties would create coalition after coalition, with bartering amongst the politicians deciding the Prime Minister and various other Cabinet positions. This is the most blatant attempt to take power away from the people by the Labour and Liberal Democrat Parties yet, and it is disgusting to behold. If the Reform Bill manages to be carried by the vote before Parliament is dissolved, it will mean that any government is legally bound to hold a referendum on the matter of introducing a new electoral system. But a Conservative government would fight fiercely for the retention of the system that has served us well since the Reformation, for the retention of the system which people have thrown down their lives in defence of. The attempt to change the voting system is a blatant attempt by the Liberal Democrats to get more seats for themselves, and to ensure that they are important in any Parliamentary goings on. The attempt to change it from Labours stance is because of the coalition forcing them to vote for it, lest they lose their precious unification and lose their majority. We must not let it happen. Political reform is key to the building of trust between people and politicians againthe power to recall ones MP, the power to petition directly to the House of Commons are all things that the Conservatives are campaigning for but dont be fooled by the Lab-LibDem attempt to ruin this country for good. A vote for proportional representation is most definitely a vote for indecisive government and a weaker Britain. This democracy is the most marvellous and amazing thing that we have. Dont let it be ruined by power-hungry parties who will stop at nothing to cling onto government.