ConservativeHome and Harry Phibbs on the Social Affairs Unit have both written very interesting pieces on the concept of being 'Right Wing', a term the BBC usually applies to anyone it considers a 'baddie'. Ming Campbell, in a rare public statement this week, decided to avoid talking about real political issues like education or health but instead launched an attack on David Cameron, calling him an 'unpleasant right winger'. I understand Sir Ming is recovering well from his fever and the hallucinations are gradually going away. Let's define what being 'right wing' actually means. Here are my Ten Different Ways to Spot a Right Winger...
A Right Winger...
1. Believes that taxes are too high and should be cut
2. Believes that smaller government is better government
3. Is proud of their country
4. Believes the first duty of a government is to protect its borders against aggressors
5. Believes in free market economics and private enterprise
6. Believes that Margaret Thatcher was a great Prime Minister
7. Believes in the freedom of the individual
8. Believes that Britain's ability to govern itself is being eroded from Brussels
9. Believes in freedom of speech for all
10. Believes in a safety net for the least well off in society
I'd love Sir Ming to tell me what's unpleasant about any of those. Surely a true Liberal would agree with at least 8 of the 10 points. We Conservatives have got to be very careful about this kindm of labelling. We need to reclaim the concept of being right wing as a positive, not a negative thing. We need to question media organisations who refer to the BNP as a far right Party. They're not. You look at their policies and they have far more in common with an authoritarian, State-Knows-Best far left policy platform. Put simply...
Right Wing = freedom, low taxes, small state, individuality
Left Wing = Nanny State, high taxes, government knows best, repression of individuality
