Category Archives: Debates

Local Business Feedback

On Tuesday, I joined Howell Jones for a local business breakfast at Zio’s in Walton. It was well attended by local businesses, a great opportunity for me to meet – and hear from – a broader range of local business people. Alan Roper hosted a terrific event – my thanks to Howell Jones and all those who came a long.

(Dom with hosts Alan Roper, Chloe Newton and Clare Joyson)

Conservative Party Conference – Round Up

After four days in Manchester, the Conservatives have thoroughly debated the party’s policies – from deficit reduction and business growth to law enforcement and welfare reform. The Prime Minister struck a workman-like note with his speech today, leading the audience with his theme of stubborn optimism in challenging economic times.

Aside from the main policies and themes that have been well publicised in the media, a number of aspects stood out for me. I was genuinely moved by the video presentation made by Burmese dissident, Aung San Suu Kyi, this afternoon. After four days in the bubble of a political conference – and the wearying media scepticism that accompanies it – she reminded us all that we are lucky to have the democratic opportunity to debate what we stand for so freely.
On the domestic front, Justice Minister Nick Herbert talked about modernising our magistrates courts. Given the spending review, many magistrates courts are being closed because their throughput is low. I have been worried about the impact on the local dispensation of justice, bearing in mind that our Justices of the Peace (JPs) work for nothing and therefore represent good value for money. Nick talked about plans to modernise their role, by allowing them to sit in less formal (and expensive) and more flexible settings – like town halls – in order to maintain their vital functions. I am a big fan of the magistrates courts. We need local judicial oversight over the wide array of powers that local police and councils now have, as a safeguard to protect our liberty as citizens. They also proved their worth in firmly but fairly dispensing criminal penalties in the wake of the riots. So, I was delighted to see Ministers are thinking creatively about their future role.
On a personal note, I participated in a range of debates – seven in total – from taxation to extradition, and launched two books which I co-authored on the future of the Conservatives. The Observer included me in a profile of the new intake here.
However, the real lesson for me was that, as a backbencher, you can influence policy development. Two major policy announcements addressed personal campaigns I have spear-headed over the last year. First, the Home Secretary’s announcement of a change to the rules governing deportation orders, to curtail their frustration by spurious claims to family and social ties (as reported here), was the result of a long campaign arising from a tragic local case in Esher (as I blogged previously here).
Second, Ministers announced they were scaling back the scope for full time civil servants paid out of taxpayers’ money to work on union business (as reported here), responding to my research highlighting the extent of the problem (as explained here in an article for the Daily Telegraph). It shows, that even as a humble backbench MP, you can make a contribution to policy-making.

Conservative Party Conference

For those heading up to the Conservative Party conference, next week, my itinerary is set out below – including drinks on Monday evening with anyone coming up from the constituency:

Sunday 2 October

1. 1645 – 1745: Big Brother Watch Fringe on Extradition Reform
Freedom Zone, Bridgewater Hall, Lower Mosley, Manchester M2 3WS

The European Arrest Warrant: Time for Urgent Reform

Chair: Nick Pickles, Director of BBW

Panel: Martin Callanan MEP (Leader of the Conservatives in the European Parliament), Nick de Bois MP, Andrew Symeou, Dominic Raab MP

2. 1800 – 1900: People’s Pledge Fringe
Freedom Zone, Bridgewater Hall, Lower Mosley, Manchester M2 3WS

The Eurozone Crisis and the case for a referendum

Chair: Mark Seddon, Director of People’s Pledge

Panel: Graham Stringer MP (Lab), Ruth Lea (Economist) and Dominic Raab MP

Monday 3 October

1. 1230 – 1400: Conservative Way Forward Fringe on Tax Policy

The Midland Hotel, The French Rm, Peter Street, Manchester, M60 2DS

The Tax Cutting Agenda

Chair: Dominic Raab MP

Panel: Conor Burns MP, Matthew Elliot, CEO Taxpayer’s Alliance

2. 1415 – 1515: Policy Exchange – the 2010 Intake

Novotel Centre, 21 Dickinson Street, Manchester, M1 4LX

Chair: James Forsyth, The Spectator

Panel: Dominic Raab MP, Rory Stewart MP, and Claire Perry MP

3. 1900 – 2030: Drinks with Local Association attendees
Bar Epernay, Unit 1a, Great Northern Towers, Watson Street, Manchester M3 4EE

Tuesday 4 October

1. 1245 – 1345: Policy Exchange Fringe on Human Rights

 Rylands Room, Novotel Centre, 21 Dickinson Street, Manchester, M1 4LX

Is it time for a new human rights settlement?

Chair: John Rentoul, Chief Political Commentator, The Independent

Panel: Rt Hon Dominic Grieve MP, Blair Gibbs, Head of Crime & Justice, Policy Exchange and Dominic Raab MP

2. 1830 – 1930: The Observer Fringe – the 2010 Intake

Exchange Auditorium, Manchester Central

Interviewer: Andrew Rawnsley

Panel: Priti Patel MP, Charlotte Leslie MP, Damian Hinds MP, Dominic Raab MP

3. 1945 – 2100: Institute of Economic Affairs Book Launch of After the Coalition

Exchange Room 10, Manchester Central

Chair: Kevn Bell (IEA Trustee)

Panel: Elizabeth Truss MP, Chris Skidmore MP, Dominic Raab MP, Mark Littlewood, Director General of IEA and Iain Martin

Taking on the Neo-Cons …

I have written an article for the Daily Telegraph, based on the foreign policy chapter in After the Coalition, criticising the irrational exuberance of the Blairite era, and arguing for a more rugged internationalism – which takes Britain’s responsibilities as a global good citizen seriously, but does not lose sight of the UK national interest.

You can read it here.

After the Coalition

I have co-authored a new book, After the Coalition, setting out a Conservative vision for Britain beyond the end of the current coalition in 2015.

I wrote the book with Kwasi Kwarteng, Liz Truss, Priti Patel and Chris Skidmore – MPs from the 2010 intake – and it will be serialised in the Daily Telegraph next week.

Economic Woes, Deportation Developments

Amidst all the scaremongering about cuts to public spending, Allister Heath at City AM points out that public spending is still over half of UK GDP – for the third year running – and that this is what is keeping growth so sluggish. His editorial here is well worth a read.
I have written a piece for Con Home today, following up on the report in the Sunday Telegraph, about how we can amend the UK Border Act 2007 to strengthen our ability to deporrt foreign criminals. You can read it here.