Grassroots taken for granted
From Beryl M. Goldsmith, OBE
Sir: Charles Moore, perceptive as ever, is right (The Spectator’s Notes, 25 March). The Conservative party in recent years has been far too casual with its traditional power base: local associations with enthusiastic volunteers raising funds on the old ‘quota’ system.
Today the party hierarchy appears determined to reject proven experience. Power is now held by the centre and there is serious dissent over new rules governing candidates’ lists. Winnable and ‘safe’ seats will be permitted only to select candidates on the socalled ‘A’ list compiled exclusively by the centre. Local associations will thus be limited in their influence on and choice of candidate.
But now that funding is a serious problem, the party will have to depend more than ever on strengthening its local base, and Mr Cameron cannot have it both ways. If he reduces volunteer supporters to the role of acquiescent employees who receive their directives from Central Office, he will lose their confidence and their cash. He must stop taking for granted the hundreds of men and women who give so generously of their time, money and effort; stop the collective bitterness engendered among candidates removed from that precious list; stop the huge salaries (reportedly a quarter of a million pounds for the ‘ideas man’) paid to party officials. Professionalism and dedication are not exclusive to the highly paid elite. Far from it. Above all, he must stop the current modern, compassionate ‘metooism’. I do not wish to be ‘morally the same’ as Mr Blair and his followers over fundraising, or anything else much.
The grassroots are still there but they need urgently to be reinstated and reassured.
Beryl M. Goldsmith London EC2
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