Now for those of you not so familiar with me, I like to write to complain or give advice. This time I thought I needed to advise the Conservative Party on their campaigning (I’m sure this went down well with career politicians and people who probably spent years studying politics, but hey at least I got a response. And only 10 days after I sent my message).
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I thought I should give you some feedback.
Throughout my group of friends, of whom few care about politics like I do, they are generally aware of what damage Gordon Brown and Labour have done to the country, but things are not really bad enough in their lives for them personally to be upset enough to be motivated politically.
As much as they would like rid of Gordon Brown, they don’t actually think it would make any difference.
I believe that they understand why it needs to change and that it should – I don’t think you need to hammer the message any more of what has gone wrong.
If the Conservative party want to win the next election, they have to advise people why to vote for them – not why to get rid of Labour/Gordon Brown as people already know why they want to get rid of them.
I expect currently most of my friends will not bother to vote.
Anyway, that is my feedback, I hope it helps as I would prefer a Conservative government (though I am also not convinced despite naturally being a Conservative!)
Kind regards
James
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Dear James,
I am writing on behalf of David Cameron to thank you for your e-mail. We certainly take on board the points that you raise.
First, let me assure you that we are under no illusion as to the challenge that awaits and, of course, people are anxious about the forthcoming election and the state of our country.
We all know that with Labour in charge our country is heading in completely the wrong direction. We can’t go on like this. That is why there is a clear choice at this election between five more years of Gordon Brown’s tired government making things worse, or David Cameron and the Conservatives with the energy, leadership and values to get the country moving.
As you will have seen, David Cameron, George Osborne and the whole Conservative Party are working to make this a year for change. Change to get the country back on its feet. And change based on the Conservative values of responsibility and aspiration. This can be seen in our six key priorities for government:
1. Act now on debt to get the economy moving: we will deal with the deficit more quickly than Labour so that mortgage rates stay lower for longer with the Conservatives;
2. Get Britain working by boosting enterprise: we will cut corporation tax rates, abolish taxes on the first ten jobs created by new businesses, promote green jobs, and get people off welfare and into work;
3. Make Britain the most family-friendly country in Europe: we will freeze council tax and raise the basic state pension, recognise marriage in the tax system and back couples in the benefits system, support young families with extra health visitors, and fight back against crime;
4. Back the NHS: we will increase spending on health every year, and make the NHS work for patients not managers;
5. Raise standards in schools: we will give teachers the power to restore discipline, and create new smaller schools;
6. Change politics: we will reduce the number of MPs, cut Whitehall and quangos by a third, and let taxpayers see where their money is being spent.
This isn’t some election it would be nice to win. It’s an election that for the sake of our country – for the sake of our broken economy, our broken society and our damaged politics – we’ve got to win. And if we all pull together then this country can have great hope for the future.
The choice is clear: five more years of Gordon Brown or change with the Conservatives. I do hope you will join us as we seek to change our country for the better.
Yours sincerely,
Lara Moreno Perez
David Cameron’s Correspondence Unit
Conservative Campaign Headquarters
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It is probably all generic and they just tick boxes mostly relevant to the topic of the e-mail but maybe they might take notice of my feedback.
And don’t forget that a vote for David Cameron is also a vote for William Hague and Boris Johnson, two more likeable politicians!