Contributions

It is incumbent on all of us who share the Conservative view of fairness to support the development of the right policies, get out on doorsteps and make the case for them and secure the better future which is within reach.

The lesson of the Titanic was not “build bigger ships.” It was “learn to navigate.” Yet our politics today is all about tonnage and paintwork, with grand launches lacking in consistent advocacy, while the ice drifts ever closer.

With previous tax rises raising less than the Government had hoped, and the exodus of wealth creators gathering pace, it is clear that our current tax and spend model is entirely unsustainable, especially in the face of growing demographic pressures.

There is a peculiar British political habit, perhaps best described as a national affliction, of turning policy into sacrament.

We come back up to Teesside for this installment of Whole Nation History, to one of East Cleveland’s much loved exports.

Far too often we see ‘Human Rights’ being used as a justification for prioritising the interests of those who have broken the rules over the law abiding majority.

It is clear that our party needs to articulate much more clearly why Conservatism offers the best answers to the challenges our country faces, and the best prospects for those seeking to build a better life.

If there is one lesson the British state must learn at pace it is, to quote Ronald Reagan: “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’”

Until our governments rediscover that political power must be exercised in service of the people’s flourishing, not merely their servicing, we will continue to write budgets that grow the government, while the nation quietly shrinks.

The harsh reality we must face as a country is that an aging population and tumbling birth rates are making the post-war social contract increasingly unsustainable.

In our last installment, we talked of one of our home’s most beloved historical figures: Captain James Cook. Teesside has so many historical giants that it was tempting to delve back in here for this one - but variety is the spice of life. So this week, we look at someone from my old stomping ground in the East End of London.

We are, once again, in a situation where pragmatism must trump piety.

James Cook was born in the village of Marton, now a suburb of Middlesbrough, in October 1728, the son of a farm hand. By the time of his death in Hawaii in 1779, this remarkable man from humble Teesside origins had changed our understanding of the world.

Grab a cup of tea. Ensure you are sitting comfortably. This is going to be a long one. What follows is a dose of common sense. If you get to the end of this and don’t see how it’s common sense, read it again until it does.

The importance of celebrating our country’s history, and the unifying and educative force of doing so, should be at the core of Whole Nation Conservatism.