Conservative Party must explain what it 'actually stands for,' says rising star

Treasury Minister Nicky Morgan also said the party should use the word 'aspiration' much more

Ian Johnston
Wednesday 22 January 2014 00:40 GMT
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Nicky Morgan, MP for Loughborough
Nicky Morgan, MP for Loughborough

The Conservatives must stop talking about things they hate and start inspiring people, according to a rising star of the party.

Treasury Minister Nicky Morgan also said many of her female friends thought she was “stark-staring mad” for having joined the “ male club” of Westminster politics.

Speaking at a meeting of the Bright Blue Conservative think tank, she said the party needed to explain what it “actually stands for”.

“If we talk about what we hate all the time, we're not talking about we like and what we want to do to help people who want to do well. We never say actually we are on the side of these people, we want this to happen and we think this is great,” she said, according to the Huffington Post.

“We've got to think about what motivates us to announce our policies. Are we motivated to announce policies because we hate the person we are announcing about? Or are we announcing it because we are on the side of the person we are announcing about.“

Miss Morgan said the party should use the word “aspiration” much more.

“I think it is the Conservative Party’s word. I think we are on the side of people with aspiration and want to give them the best possible opportunity we can to absolutely make the most of themselves and their talents,” she said.

She complained that Westminster politics had “turned into a sort of male club” and that this was putting off women from trying to stand.

“I think a lot of women look at it, a lot of my female friends look at what I do and they think I’m completely stark-staring mad to be involved in politics.”


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