The Conservative party needs to make it clear what we stand for – lower taxes, controlled spending and social justice for everyone
3 min read
Our pitch to the nation should show that we are on people’s side, writes Jackie Doyle-Price MP
For too long we have allowed our opponents to define what Conservatives are. We have been far too reticent about making the case for low taxes and controlling public spending. We have allowed our opponents to define austerity as an ideological project when it was practical and necessary for the nation’s finances. We need an unapologetic pitch in favour of lower taxes and controlled public spending. We will take no more and no less from taxpayers than is required to deliver good public services and sound defence. We want people to be able to keep more of what they earn. It is time our pitch made it very clear to everyone that the Conservatives are on their side.
First and foremost, we should set a clear ambition that no one who earns less than the living wage should be paying income tax.
Tax cuts alone are not enough. We need to restore the hope that comes with the ambition to own your own home. For too many people the dream of owning their own home seems very distant. This is a market failure that government needs to address using all powers at its disposal. That includes the state building homes for rent through fixed-term tenancies and a right-to-buy option when the property has become affordable to the tenant. Restoring the opportunities for home ownership must be central to any new Conservative government. But we also need a revolution in ‘build-to-rent’ and encouragement of institutional investment in rental property. That will facilitate more security of tenure for renters.
Finally, as a party that is steeped in its commitment to social justice we need to address where the state does things badly. Visit our prisons. See how many offenders have been through the care system. How many are illiterate. There are so many opportunities for the state to give these people the support they need. And they are missed. And nobody really cares. We can really do better than this. A renewed focus on special educational needs is key. So are partnerships and initiatives to provide support to young people. OnSide has very ambitious plans to provide youth zones all over the country. We need to have the right services to support addiction. We need to identify and support victims of abuse and make sure that families that need support get it. When a vulnerable person ends up in the criminal justice system, that is a failure of the state. We must do more to prevent it.
Jackie Doyle-Price, Conservative MP for Thurrock
PoliticsHome Newsletters
Get the inside track on what MPs and Peers are talking about. Sign up to The House's morning email for the latest insight and reaction from Parliamentarians, policy-makers and organisations.
