Author: regan

No, says Sayeeda Warsi “It gives me a spur for the coming year,” said Margaret Thatcher in 1982, explaining why the annual Conservative Party conference was so important to her. Thirty years on, conference is still the highlight of the political calendar – it’s our Glastonbury, minus the mud. There are many reasons why conference is crucial. It’s the only opportunity for the professional, voluntary and parliamentary parties and our sister parties around the world to come together in one place. This necessary pause in our political year is a chance to look back at the achievements of the past 12 months and to look ahead at our collective to-do list. Here we can be enthused, inspired and invigorated, be it by a stirring main-stage speech, a thought-provoking fringe event, or simply by the thoughts of a fellow party member you meet in one of the bars. As well as being about strong internal debate, conference is an opportunity for our messages to echo beyond the auditoriums, a public showcase of what our party’s all about. And it’s a chance to get out of Westminster and to the places where politics is really done. What makes a conference delegate feel truly part of something is a certain sense of history. There’s a feeling that here, great things begin. David Cameron’s notes-free speech in 2005 won him the leadership of the party. William Hague’s words from the platform as a 16-year-old launched his political career. And a chance conversation at the 1949 Llandudno conference between a friend of 23-year-old Margaret Roberts and an association chairman looking for a candidate set the grocer’s daughter on her remarkable political path. However, when conference season begins, many say that the ritual should be scrapped. Some journalists slate the cheesy walk-on tunes, the corporate air, the media and the lobbyists (even though most of the grumbling emanates from speech-weary journalists themselves). I do, however, concede that two criticisms are partly valid: the issues of cost and of providing the space for free, open debate. But these are not good enough reasons to scrap conference – they’re reasons to rise to those challenges. In an era of ever-sophisticated conference facilities, where exhibitors, the media and delegates expect a more professional set-up, conference has moved to the areas where cheap B&Bs aren’t as readily available. Consequently, the combined cost of accommodation, conference pass and transport can equate to the cost of a holiday. Some say this deters many members from attending. I’m sad to say, I’m sure they’re right. That’s why, each year, party co-chairman Andrew Feldman and I have devised special packages to reduce prices. This year, we’ve negotiated special deals, including train fares, one-day passes and special accommodation offers. Our mission is to make conference cheaper and more convenient, and therefore more appealing. Regarding those who cite the conference ‘heyday’, when there was voting and much of the time was allocated to issues chosen by the members, I agree. Conference should be a conversation, not a lecture. I disagree with those who say that a free and open debate could lead to embarrassing episodes for the party in this 24/7 media age. We’re a broad church, and a broad church deserves a forum for proper discussion. That’s why, year on year, I’m striving to achieve open debate for members. ‘Meet the Chairman’ sessions, of which I’ve held dozens, have proven that holding honest, frank discussions with members is rewarding, constructive and leads to improvements within the party. So we’re going further: we’re bringing debate to the forefront of conference this year, holding special members-only events with ministers, and enabling members to shape our 2015 manifesto with more Conservative Policy Forum events, building on last year’s successful main stage CPF debates. Members will also have direct contact with top party officials to discuss the campaign strategy and the road to 2015. Conference continuously evolves – better facilities, slicker presentations, more member involvement and interaction, embracing new technologies and IT – but despite the changes, one thing remains: members are the beating heart. Conference is their event. So once more, Andrew and I are planning a conference that will be more engaging and more entertaining. Evolve, adapt and improve conference, yes. Scrap it? In the words of one of the event’s biggest advocates: no, no, no.

From free school meals to the foreign office: the next generation of mandarins? Whitehall is on a quest to prove it is not elitist. But would these children be convinced? Oliver Wright Thursday, 30 August 2012 Young Sir Humphrey Applebys they are not. Neither, frankly, do they bear much resemblance to aspiring Malcolm Tuckers – probably for the best. Nonetheless, the 60 teenagers, looking a little intimidated amid the garish turquoise and gold state rooms of the Foreign Office, are what the civil service believes is its future. They were chosen from hundreds of applicants across the country for an internship programme with a difference. While many summer schemes are dominated by children of the wealthy, all those accepted are either on free school meals or in line to be the first generation of their family to go to university. They had been fixed up with two weeks of placements across Government departments – from the Treasury, to the Home Office and even David Cameron’s office – to get a taste of life in Whitehall and a step up on the ladder to a civil service career. The scheme, now in its second year, has so far had little publicity – but if it works, could fundamentally alter the make-up of the next generation of Whitehall mandarins. Not that the 17-year-olds initially saw it that way. “I heard about it from one of my A Level teachers,” said Liam Reynolds, 17, from Birmingham. “But I didn’t really apply until the last day because I didn’t think it was a realistic goal. I thought it would be for the upper class.” Rumanah Patel from Bolton agreed. She has experience of the public school types that she thinks populate Whitehall – and at the start of her placement, still had plans to become a cosmetic dentist. “I was at a politics conference with school recently and we were the only normal school there. Everyone else was from a private school. The guy sat next to me was like someone who had walked out of an olden-time movie. He was saying, ‘It’s so good to step out of the bubble and meet new people’. I thought, ‘Are you trying to say I’m something from outside the bubble?’ There is a divide. When they come into something like this, they are prepared for it. We’re not.” To put them at their ease on their first day, Baroness Warsi, the Cabinet Minister responsible for the programme, told a story of growing up in Dewsbury; the child of immigrant parents and going to the local comprehensive school. “I went to see the careers’ service,” she tells them, “and the woman said to me ‘what is it that you want to do?’ I said I really enjoyed working with people and she said: ‘Well there is a McDonalds opening in town. Have you ever thought of applying there and doing that?’” “I decided that I didn’t want to flip burgers for the rest of my life. I wanted to do more than that. Sometimes it’s very easy to look at other people who are successful and think they must have had it easy all the way: they were probably born into a more successful family; they probably didn’t have the challenges at home that I did; they probably did not have the barriers I did. But I came to realise that the biggest barriers I had were my own aspirations.” So two weeks on, what do the teenagers make of life in the civil service and has it changed their minds? Rumanah has been completely converted: “I went in to this talking about dentistry and I didn’t think I was desk person. But now I’ve seen the amount of things that can be done from behind a desk. “We went to an asylum screening centre. There was this [Chinese] lady and she didn’t speak a word of English, but her husband was English, and he didn’t speak a word of Chinese – and they’d been married for six months.” Blake Lawrinson from Leeds did a stint in David Cameron’s office, researching the Paralympics and taking part in field visits. “The definite highlight had to be when I went on a recce – visisting one of the most sustainable buildings in Europe. That was just a completely new experience, and exclusive as well. It was like, ‘Wow, I can’t believe I’m here’. I pinched myself a bit. I’d love to pursue a career in the civil service – I’ve found that it’s something I really liked doing.” All those taking part were given references signed by Nick Clegg, advice on applying to top universities, and the promise that they will get extra support if they do decide to pursue a career as a civil servant. But amid all the positives, there was at least some cynicism that would not appeal to Sir Humphrey. “Before I came I had this idea that there would be a lot of bureaucracy,” said Liam. “And that’s not really changed – if anything, it’s been reinforced quite a lot. Perhaps civil service cuts are the way to go.” http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/from-free-school-meals-to-the-foreign-office-the-next-generation-of-mandarins-8092832.html?origin=internalSearch

On behalf of the Conservative Party I would like to send my warmest wishes to everyone celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr in Britain and around the world. Eid is a special time for families and friends to come together to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan. The significance it places on hope, charity and community is something which unites Muslims and non-Muslims alike. As we come together to celebrate we must remember the lives of those who are less fortunate than us, in particular those suffering as a result of the brutal situation in Syria. Once again, I would like to wish Eid Mubarak to everyone marking this special occasion.