Opinion: Across the country before election day, take a moment to consider lending the Conservatives your vote

Former Prime Minister InfernoPlato writes for the Guardian.

Former Prime Minister InfernoPlato says you should vote Conservative in these devolved elections.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Guardian.

In Scotland we’re running as the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. In Wales we’re running as the Welsh Conservative and Unionist Party. In Northern Ireland we’re running as the Ulster Unionist Party.



We are not a small party, nor are we a party that has one uniform strength across the country. In Northern Ireland we are the largest party and occupy the position of First Minister in which FPSlover1 is doing a wonderful job. Meanwhile in Wales, this shall be the first election we shall be contesting. In Scotland, we been going from strength to strength, jumping over Labour in the polls and closing in on the Classical Liberals as the closest opposition party to ousting the Scottish Greens.



So, why do I ask for you to lend your vote to the Conservative and Unionist Party across the three countries of the UK tomorrow at election day?



The answer is simple: Across the country, we have varying strengths in different areas and it’s in the vital interest of all countries to see more Conservatives in the legislature.



Northern Ireland – Vote for the Ulster Unionist Party



In Northern Ireland, we have seen a term in which the opposition parties have squandered and bickered or have evolved this election into parties that have no place in Northern Ireland.



The Green-Left movement has split into two, with the People’s Movement and Sinn Féin deciding to abandon all hope of governing or opposing responsibly and are now in a state of infighting and disagreement. They cannot unite themselves, never mind Northern Ireland. Partisan bickering is more important that delivering good government. No party can argue that they are the best suited to govern.



The Irish Parliamentary Party are as the name suggests – nationalists. Not only are they nationalists, but the same ones that pop up every now and again at election day, then fade away at the next due to an unsustainable party structure that quite simply does not have the members nor the resources to evolve with the times. A party must be ever thinking, ever changing but also an institutional force for good. IPP do not deliver that. They propourt to the the only nationalist candidates, but in reality, they will disappear in good time.



Alliance are no better, merging with the Classical Liberals with no warning not consultation with the rest of the Executive, causing pointless division and inability to communicate, and demonstrating an Alliance First Minister would not be good for Northern Ireland. Their party is one that declares itself neutral on the issue of the Union, yet, chooses to accept the Classical Liberal leader’s decision to try and collapse the Northern Ireland Executive permanently by denying nationalists representation. Their leader, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, claims to support the Good Friday Agreement yet wants to be Northern Ireland First Minister and Prime Minister. Two very important positions being occupied by the same person is not good enough. We need a First Minister dedicated to Stormont first, Westminster second.



The Labour Party of Northern Ireland is led by a person who was forced to withdraw from the UK Labour leadership race due to homophobic remarks that were uncovered by the Monolith and who lashed out at the press for reporting on them. Dare I suggest that maybe he isn’t that dedicated to Northern Ireland and this is merely an appeasement appointment? In addition, I think it is quite clear you can’t trust LPNI to be trustworthy to their word considering their constant leadership swaps and their inability to even keep a consistent brand. They are directionless and cannot direct their party into the future, never mind lead Northern Ireland to a better one.



The DUP? Irrelevant and to be frank a party that whilst purports to be supporters of the Union, are the ones most irresponsible with power. We cannot forget they opposed the Good Friday Agreement, have not been an active force in Northern Ireland for years and have not demonstrated their suitability for scrutinisation or government. No, lending them your vote would be too risky.



The UUP have the plan and the personal to enact lasting and beneficial reform.They do not only embrace the peace process, but they expand upon it and address the legacy of the Troubles. Unlike some parties who are intent to ignore the Troubles and pretend it is all sorted, the UUP understand that sectarian violence and the memories of those days are not that far behind us. They seek lower taxes to bring business to Northern Ireland, ensuring that the country is less reliant on money from the UK Government and ensuring more money can go towards public services. Education is a priority, with a pledge to invest in upper education through funding from a tax that shall target those who benefitted from University the most. Child-care is going to be made more readily available, allowing parents to be more independent and get back to work quicker, boosting not just the economy but the prospects for all.



Only the UUP have the policies and the leadership at this election, and I ask you, therefore, to lend them your vote on Thursday 13 June.



Wales – Vote for the Welsh Conservative and Unionist Party



In Wales, the Wlesh Conservatives are making their very first attempt at entering the Senedd, delivering not just conservative values to the chamber for the very first time, but providing a much needed reality check on the ambitions of Labour, Plaid Cymru, and the Liberals.



The Liberals are extremely arrogant at the moment, traipsing around as ‘Wagbo’s Liberals’, it’s important to note that at the start of the term they, Labour and Plaid enjoyed a chaotic start with backstabbing, putting party politics first and declining to deliver legislation for the Welsh people. They talk down the Conservatives, arguing that they cannot win just because we have never stood before, demonstrating that they are unable to work nicely or focus on an election debate weighing up the competence of each party. They have social democrats as finance ministers, they pursue Labour policies, it’s quite clear that when you look at the voting record of the Senedd, the Liberals, Labour and Plaid all agree when it comes to the big issues of the day. It’s time to say no to the echo chamber and vote for more Conservatives to hold them to account.



Plaid are foolish, believing that an independent Wales would make Wales better off, when in fact it would make Wales poorer. Their campaigns revolve around denouncing Conservative cuts, denouncing Conservative privatisation of the NHS, despite the fact we are doing no such thing. The Welsh Conservatives are investing in Welsh education, expanding child care coverage, pushing for healthier schools. The Welsh Conservatives plan on ensuring the NHS is as efficient as possible, whilst keeping it free at the point of use. Plaid have proven to be a poor opposition and an even poorer government partner and it’s crucial that they’re replaced by more Welsh Conservative members of the Senedd.



In fact, it’s telling that all that has been written about Plaid can be applied to Labour. They have no concrete policies, and their only opposition to the Welsh Conservatives is based on the same arguments that have been dismantled. The only further point one can make is that the Labour Welsh First Minister of last term was a complete joke, but party before country, and allowed for drama to take hold in the chamber rather than legislative debate. Do not risk that again.



The Welsh Libertarians have demonstrated themselves to be inactive in Wales and inactive in the campaign. Therefore the only option if you want pragmatic centre-right policies in the chamber is to vote Welsh Conservative.



The Welsh Conservatives have a detailed plan to boost our economy, from backing the M4 relief road and introducing policies – such as free car parking on weekends – to boost our highstreets. They have Welsh steel, and the Welsh Conservatives have promised to invest in education. Education makes a person, and the Welsh Conservatives have not forgotten to that. In addition, the Welsh Conservatives have honed in on tackling climate change and the environmental impacts of such change, with detailed policies such as expanding the blue belt and introducing laws ensuring flood plains are not irresponsible built upon. If you want solid leadership and no drama, but with big pragmatic and responsible policies, the only party you can lend your vote to is the Welsh Conservatives.



Scotland – Vote for the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party



In the face of a lazy and uncommitted Scottish Green government and a Classical Liberal government that is divided on some of the biggest policy issues of the day, it’s important to vote for a party that straddles these two extreme, who can hold both accountable, and can provide for a responsible and moderating force on all parties in Holyrood.



The Scottish Greens are absolutely useless and outright dangerous, as are their partners the Labour party. Thay act obstructively with Wetsminster at every turn and pick fights in order to distract Scotland from the real issues worth facing: education, health, the economy. The Scottish Greens and Labour are in lockstep, permitting the government to commit illegal acts without repercussions, allowing for ministers to outright insult and not turn up to Holyrood with no repercussions and introducing irresponsible policies such as making private healthcare more difficult to gain access to. The Greens and Labour need booting out, both are as bad as each other.



The Classical Liberals are divided. They cannot agree on whether we should devolve welfare or not, and they cannot agree on whether they should call the government an Executive or not. If Duncs11 is FM, then can he really say to be against the devolution of welfare or that he can work with the UK government when not even his whole party is on board with his policies? No, it is better for a Conservative FM in office, one working close with the Prime Minister in order to deliver a lasting devolution settlement.



The Liberal Democrats meanwhile have decided to lump it with the Scottish Greens. mg9500 and icecreamsandwich401 both get Lib Dem approval despite their actions in permitted the Scottish government to act illegally, assisting in the attempted banning of access to private healthcare and their subsequent attitudes in parliament, ducking accountability. The Scottish Liberal Democrats, with these endorsements, have shown that a vote for them is not a vote that can be trusted to deliver Lib Dem values.



The Scottish Libertarians have been decidedly inactive across the term and across the campaign. It is therefore not in your interest to vote for them if you want pragmatic, responsible government. This is the same as the Social Democrats, who have been decidedly inactive across the term and are likely to disband before the next election.



The Scottish Conservatives promise to be ready for government and ready for opposition if elected. There is no doubt that the Scottish Conservatives are ready for anything and will work in whatever way possible to deliver for the Scottish people. This means bringing back accountability by introducing more stringent regulations that ministers must adhere to, and it means going back to basics. This means focussing on the economy, education, health and not stirring up trouble needlessly with the UK government. Conservatives MSPs would not waste time on that nonsense, and would instead be dedicated to delivering for the Scottish people with responsible, pragmatic policies.

Written by InfernoPlato for the Guardian.

