John Bercow: A retreat to old comfort zones would spell failure

Two years ago, David Cameron set the Tory conference alight with a clarion call for a wholesale modernisation of the party. Abandoning the approach that had led to a string of heavy defeats, he rightly argued that Tories should embrace a mix of free enterprise, quality public services and social justice in order to challenge Labour for the centre ground where elections are won or lost.

Ever since, a wave of thoughtful policy reviews has considered how to translate the vision of modern Conservatism into practice. Yet now some right-wing commentators are demanding that the party should retreat to its old comfort zone and pledge big tax cuts, action against immigration and hostility to the EU as the centrepieces of an election campaign. This approach has failed before and it would fail again.

Instead, the party can this week trumpet its belief in modern Conservatism and offer Britons a thumbnail sketch of what it would look like. Here are just a few thoughts.

On the economy, we should of course continue to stress that the overriding goal is long-term stability. We should not offer net tax cuts but pledge to simplify taxes and, above all, commit to fairer taxes . The commitment to fairness must apply also to the low paid and to women. The National Minimum Wage is very modest and thousands of workers, including migrant labourers, are cheated out of it by a hardcore of cowboy bosses. This is the unacceptable face of capitalism. Conservatives should aim to increase the minimum wage, make young workers eligible for the full rate and enforce it rigorously. The party should also pledge to extend the right to flexible working to all parents with children under 18, promote pay audits as standard practice and prohibit companies with discriminatory pay policies from tendering for Government contracts.

Millions aspire to do better for themselves and, above all, they want better opportunities for their children. Conservatives must resolve that state education will provide the best service which, in some areas, is still available only to those who can afford to use the private sector. David Cameron was right to reject a return to the 11-plus and the return of grammar schools where they no longer exist. Instead, we should strive to improve standards across the board. In special needs education, though there are some excellent services out there, parents too often face soul-destroying struggles to obtain the help their children need. Conservatives should undertake to separate assessment of needs and funding to meet them.

Voters expect the Government to counter the threat of terrorism and to fight serious crime. Although ministers seem hellbent on introducing identity cards, the risk is that they will cost billions, curtail freedoms and exacerbate identity fraud. There is surely a better way. We should allow the use of intercept evidence in the trials of suspected terrorists and permit post-charge questioning of terrorist suspects. This would reduce the need for any further extension of the period of pre-charge detention.

The public wants a robust approach to crimes against people and property. Accordingly, every home secretary tries to sound tougher than his or her predecessor. It is time to level with the public and admit the toughest truth of all. Thousands of people go to prison uneducated, untrained, unqualified, unemployed and unwell and they come out utterly unreformed. Giving serial offenders the chance to change themselves into constructive citizens will take time and cost money. Let us recognise this fact and commit to rehabilitation as a Conservative priority.

At our best, Conservatives are internationalists. Good relations with the US and the EU should not be viewed as competing alternatives. We need both. Britain should be a candid friend to the United States, broadening the Americans' world view and underlining the need for multi-lateral initiatives. Conservatives should work tirelessly within the United Nations so that it accepts its responsibility to protect the victims of tyranny, be it in Darfur, Burma or Zimbabwe. Within the EU, a Conservative government should work to speed up economic reform, open up markets and underpin necessary social protections for our citizens. Above all, we must accept our moral obligation to fight global poverty. Increasing bilateral aid and pressing for unilateral elimination of trade barriers imposed by rich countries on poor countries, should all be at the heart of a Conservative approach.

Achieving stability, fairness, opportunity and security are among the challenges of modern politics. Conservatives must show this week how we will meet them.

The writer is Conservative MP for Buckingham

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