The party's over now
Sir: In his article (20 September) Anthony King puts the proposition that the two main political parties are ceasing to be bodies that advocate alternative policies and are becoming merely organisations to fight elections. I should like to put forward the suggestion that the lack of policy differences in the party strife results from the fact that the division between the two parties does not correspond to current political arguments. We need a realignment.
On many subjects the argument is not be- tween the parties, it is between rival elements in each party. East of Suez; universality or selectivity; NAFIA or Europe; import control; these are topics that are discussed without regard for party differences. Moreover, some questions, such as abortion or euthanasia, are held to be matters of conscience beyond the realm of party politics, let alone matters on which the views of the electorate should be heard.
In addition, by their current incomes policy the Labour party is in great danger of losing its power base, the organised manual workers,
and a party without a power base is unlikely to survive.
Where, then, lies the future? I suggest below some lines of policy for the Conservative party to follow which could shape the future of Britain's politics for a generation.
As a starting-point, we can take Disraeli's dictum that the Conservative party is a national party or it is nothing. This has two implica- tions. Foreign policy should be based on the interests of the nation rather than misplaced loyalty to any supranational organisation. Instead of seeking to join a wider United States of America or a United States of Europe we should think in terms of cooperation between nations, a wider Commonwealth join- ing with l'Europe des Patries. It would be a mistake to think that we can withdraw into a 'Fortress Europe' and ignore the rest of the world. Europe, North America, Southern Africa and Australasia are the cities of the .world; Asia, the rest of Africa and South America are the countryside. The Chinese com- munist strategy is to gain control of the coun- tryside and then the--cities will fall. Europe must be defended East of Suez and elsewhere. Fortress Europe would be Dien Bien Phu writ large.
At home the view of the Conservative party as a national party dictates the need for Policies that are socially cohesive rather than divisive. On economic grounds alone, selec- tivity in the social services stands condemned . by the tremendous disincentive effects pro- duced among those just above the poverty line. To establish the 'two nations' by statute is inconsistent with the need to achieve national unity.
The interests of all classes should be placed above the dictates of liberal economics. When we are in difficulties because imports are greater than exports, it is preferable to introduce im- port controls rather than depress the whole economy and produce social consequences out of all proportion to the original problem.
Alan Smith 83 Ferguson Avenue, Gidea Park, Romford, Essex
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