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UNFORTUNATELY MR HAGUE WAS UNABLE TO FIND TIME TO MEET A CCF REPRESENTATIVE FOR AN INTERVIEW BUT HE DID AGREE TO PROVIDE WRITTEN ANSWERS TO OUR QUESTIONS. THESE ANSWERS ARE REPRODUCED HERE.
ยท Free enterprise, better education, and attachment to the United Kingdom are the three issues on which the Conservative Party can unite.
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CCF: What are the top three issues which the Conservative Party can unite around in the next five years?
WH: All Conservatives can unite around a belief in a free enterprise economy that gives people the chance to better themselves and their families, a commitment to a first class state education system that liberates people of all backgrounds, and an attachment to a United Kingdom that is not run from Brussels, nor is divided between its constituent parts.
CCF: For the last thirty to forty years the Conservative Party has relied upon the same dedication of now ageing set of activists. How will new people be recruited to the Party? What are the likely sources of new members? Should Party members have a bigger say in internal decision making?
WH: If the Conservative Party is to have a fresh start then we must begin by restoring our strength at the grassroots. We need to bring people into the Party from every walk of life and all parts of the country. We mutt bring in people from my generation. The Conservative Party must be the party of teachers, nurses and the least well off, as well as the party of the small businessman and the successful professional. The voice of our members must be heard within our Party. That is why, if elected, I have pledged to submit myself to endorsement by a special party conference. I am also committed to a fundamental review of the party organisation.
CCF: Spending on education and health are key voter concerns on the doorstep. What would you do to win back voters on these issues?
WH: First we must stop talking the language of the bureaucrat and start talking the language of the people. There is no point arguing about the details of health and education policies if people don't think we care about schools or hospitals. Take education in particular. Despite the enormous changes we have made to spread choice and raise standards, we are still seen as the Party hostile to good education. We must convince people that education is central to Conversatism - it provides lasting liberation from poverty and drudgery. That is why I am committed to the highest possible standards across our state education system.
CCF: For the next five years the Conservative Party must rebuild its local government base. Does the Party need to refresh its attitude to local government as part of this rebuilding process?
WH: One of the greatest problems we now face is that there are whole areas of the country - Scotland, Wales, our inner-cities - where there is no Conservative presence at all. In parallel with rebuilding our grass roots organisation, we must once again become a force in local government Ironically, we made a start on 1st May when we won back control of some county councils. We must convince people that we are not the enemies of local government per se, but we are the enemies of the bad local government which governs so much of the country at the moment.
CCF: The General Election manifesto's commitment to a tax-break for any married partner who chose 'to stay at home' was a welcome, if belated, recognition of the importance of the family. How important should family life be to the Conservative's tax and welfare policy?
WH: Family life is central to a strong and responsible society. I support measures which encourage family life, such as the tax break we proposed at the last election. We should always look at ways in which the tax and benefit system could be used to reinforce the family's role in society.
CCF: You have frequently mentioned 'freedom' in articles and speeches outlining why you would like to lead the Conservative Party. Freedom linked to individual responsibility is, of course, a fundamental Tory belief but in what areas other than state funded welfare provision and law and order do you see real differences between Conservatism and a libertarian philosophy?
WH: The Conservative Party embraces many traditions, including the libertarian one. Conservatism includes important elements of libertarian philosophy, most notably in our belief in a free enterprise economy. I believe freedom rests on people being able to own property and to use that property as they choose fit, without having it appropriated by the stare. However, there are other areas of policy where libertarian solutions are unacceptable. For example, in health and education services, I believe that the state must play the central role. The most important thing is that Conservatives avoid being dogmatic about issues, and that we are able to communicate our policies to the people.
CCF: What lessons can we learn from the US Republicans' unsuccessful fightback against President Clinton?
WH: Political parties that become absorbed in internal disputes lose touch with the electorate and pay the price at the polling booth.
Related links
William Hague delivers the Second William Wilberforce Address
The 1997 Conservative Leadership Interviews: Ken Clarke
The 1997 Conservative Leadership Interviews: Stephen Dorrell
The 1997 Conservative Leadership Interviews: Michael Howard
The 1997 Conservative Leadership Interviews: Peter Lilley
The 1997 Conservative Leadership Interviews: John Redwood
The 1997 Conservative Leadership Interviews: moral issues questionnaire
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