Quote of the day 21st July 2024

The Conservatives have just taken a hell of a beating. People will not be interested in what we have to say for a while. 

But this government needs an opposition. And like it or not, that's us. 

Every government runs into trouble. It might happen sooner than many people think. At that stage it will be important again whether the Conservatives can provide a constructive and positive alternative. 

That will have to include being a broad church - addressing some of the issues which caused some of our voters to despair of us and go to Reform while also addressing the problems which caused other people who have voted Conservative in the past to vote Lib/Dem or Labour.

We will not win again without winning back voters on both the right and in the centre. That will require competence, integrity, and common sense. It will not be achieved by lower-common denominator politics.

And above all, we need to remember these wise words from "The great communicator" a man who was often wrongly depicted as some sort of hard-right nutter but now looks like a great statesman my comparison with most of those who succeeded him in the Oval Office.