Response to Simon Cooke's fisk of 'Real Tories, Real Words'

Tracey Cheetham (@tchee) Posted by Tracey Cheetham (@tchee)
Monday, 1st February 2010

Wow, that is some comment! Thanks. I must say that I never put these forward as "the worst" quotes, merely as a taste of some of the things Conservative MEPs say during the course of their time in office. Obviously these are things that most Labourites would disagree with and as you admit, one of them is indefensible, whichever side you are on.

I do not need to google the condoms/HIV issue, I have examined this issue in some depth, as someone who is committed to HIV prevention in Africa. Scientific evidence has proven that when used correctly, condoms are >80% effective in protecting against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. I'm sure that the WHO site will be able to verify this.

I agree that non-attendance of NHS appointments needs to be addressed, I have less objection to this than the suggestion that it would be acceptable to charge people to see their GP. Indefensible. As a champion of the NHS (I owe them my life) I am absolutely committed to the concept of healthcare being free at the point of need. To charge people would see a decline in early diagnoses, people would wait until their symptoms got 'really bad' and this would cost the NHS much more in treatment and care as a result. This is as short-sighted as the Conservative pledge to cut the preventative services in healthcare provision, which currently help many people to avoid serious and long-term health problems.

You are wrong about Labour being frantic and desperate. We are neither. Our poll results are moving in the right direction and we are positive and optimistic. As the Tory lead is eroded further, Cameron will continue to U-turn and re-write policy on a daily basis, he will carry on with the flip-flop and flap routine that he has perfected over the past few weeks. I'm certain there are many quotes from Conservative MPs, that would equally expose their detachment from reality.

With policy changing by the day, with the back-tracking and shambolic announcements to the press there has emerged a familiar pattern:

Monday – big policy announcement

Tuesday – backbenchers complain and revolt

Wednesday – retractions and apologies

Thursday – more moderate (but rubbish) policy released, (with lots of crossing out and some crayon)

Friday – silence.

Saturday/Sunday – court the media and try to avoid all mention of the policy, while attempting to reconnect with core Tory voters.

What it does show is that the Tories cannot agree on anything and that Cameron has no idea what he will do if he wins the election. He really is just making it up as he goes along. 

More Posts by Tracey Cheetham (@tchee)

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