CUCA is the largest, most active political organization at Cambridge University. This Easter term we are campaigning hard for May’s local elections in Cambridge, as well as working for Boris Johnson’s re-election in London. We also have a very exciting programme of speakers and social events lined up.
To be kept informed of new events, please join our mailing list and our facebook group. I hope to see you at an event soon!
Michael Goode, Chair, Easter 2012
Following the spirited debate which surrounded the recent elections to the 1922 Committee, which have been marked by the presence of a public slate of candidates from the ‘301 Group’ of largely new MPs, it seems the time is ripe for a discussion of those issues which may not matter much to the fortunes of the country under the Coalition government, but will certainly matter to the future of the Conservative Party and its performance at the next General Election. The debate over modernisation, presentation and independent-speaking is one which no Conservative can escape.
It is worth noting that the Parliamentary Party is in fact not especially divided on major policy issues. Indeed the new members elected at the last election are on the whole rather more right-wing than some of their critics in the tabloid media would have us believe. The debate is not about policy, but about perception. For example while there undoubtedly are some backbenchers who believe the Prime Minister’s support for marital equality is hurting the Party’s prospects at the next election, far more often heard is the more nuanced criticism that by appearing to focus on same-sex marriage at the expense of economic concerns the Cabinet seems out of touch. This is not a message which undermines the leadership – it is the opposite; a call for a clearer sense of focus and a greater display of resolve on economic matters.
With an anti-austerity President elected in France, and no-one winning outright in troublesome Greece, doubts over the future of the Euro and the future of the European project as a whole have resurfaced. Consistently in British commentary on this crisis there has been the schadenfreude-enthused crowing of more ardent Eurosceptics decrying the Euro as a failed experiment and lauding the impending demise of the European Union. These ideologues are misguided in their critiques for two main reasons. The first is that their most hoped for outcome, the total breakup of the EU, is a near impossibility; the second is that their perpetual bugbear of an even closer union is in fact exactly the outcome they should champion.
From the outset let me be clear: I am not arguing that it is in Britain’s interest to become a member of a United States of Europe, nor that a spirited defence of Britain’s independence and sovereignty does the nation a disservice. I am not even warning of the (undoubtedly considerable) catastrophe that would befall our economy if the Euro breaks up. The argument is that the EU and, more likely than not, the Eurozone are here to stay, and that the best hope for maintaining our sovereignty is to draw a clear dividing line between the two.
At the beginning of Holy Week this year, David Cameron made another foray into religious affairs. It was a rare glimpse of that elusive aspect of the Prime Minister’s character – his Christian faith.
Mr Cameron’s most significant defence of Christianity to date was during the celebrations for the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible (see Jack’s and Daniel’s comments). He claimed:
“Britain is a Christian country and we should not be afraid to say so… the Bible has helped to give Britain a set of values and morals which make Britain what it is today.”
It is Christianity’s conceptualisation of the nation that is at the heart of Mr Cameron’s moral code. This is evident in his vision for a ‘Big Society’, where responsibility, duty and community are most valued. And of course the institution that upholds the Christian faith and defends these values is the Church of England.
With Rick Santorum departing at long, long last, the Republican Party can finally accept the inevitability of Mitt Romney as their 2012 nominee. Deprived of the illusion of a competitive Primary process or the spectre of a brokered convention, political pundits will now turn to the next item on their speculative checklists: the identity of Romney’s running mate. As essentially a parade of personalities, the Veepstakes are always more enticing than investigations of the much more significant phenomena of fundraising or the build up of campaign infrastructure; and that’s exactly why I’ll be writing about the empty space at the bottom of the ticket, rather than dull, important concerns.
A long shadow lies over any discussion of Romney’s VP pick: that of the previous choice, Sarah Palin. Palin was the first VP candidate for a generation who came completely out of the blue. Joe Lieberman, Dick Cheney, Joe Biden and Jack Kemp were all well established elder statesmen; Al Gore and John Edwards had made their own significant runs for the Presidency. 2008 saw the first time since the rise of the 24 hour media cycle that a candidate shocked the country with an unknown pick, and it proved to be a catastrophe. The massive psychological impact of Palin’s overnight rise as a much-derided, deeply polarising figure is why I’m confident in saying that the always-methodical Romney will be particularly careful is vetting his potential choices, and especially in ensuring that they have sufficient stature to be considered presidential.
It has not been a particularly good time to be a Tory lately. With an all-round decent budget undermined by a few gaffes, like the premature panic over a petrol strike and a scandal over party funding, the Conservatives’ tie with Labour in the polls has now entirely evaporated. On the one hand this is temporary; any government has its tough times, and better that they should come in the middle of the Parliament with time to recover than at the end. However, Labour’s recent lead in polls, despite having a weak and indecisive leader and no clear vision for government, does highlight a serious concern.
This concern is the unpleasant fact that even if the Conservatives and Labour were running neck-and-neck it would translate into either a Labour majority or a Labour-dominated hung Parliament. Despite the historic effort of the 2010 election which saw the Conservatives gain more seats than they had for eighty years, and the boundary review which should mitigate some of the systemic unfairness, the electoral map will remain heavily weighted in Labour’s favour. The focus of seats in areas where Labour is the only show in town, such as inner cities, is the main reason for this. However, in many areas where Labour does face opposition it is either from the Lib Dems, or split between the two Coalition parties. At the heart of this is the fact that, despite the passage of time, and the change in both the spirit and the image of the Conservative Party, there remain a lot of seats where it seems unlikely the Tory candidate will ever be acceptable to many voters. But the Conservatives’ can still win these seats, and hold many gained in 2010, through a simple tactic: electoral fusion with the Lib Dems.
CUCA is the largest and one of the oldest political societies in the University and when you sign up for life membership, it really is for life. Alumni and Alumnae of the Association are always welcome to all our events. Many have gone on into the world of politics, such as Michael Howard, Michael Portillo and Douglas Hurd. However, we are always keen to Foster closer relationships with our members in the wider world. As Registrar, I would like to organise an Alumni Dinner (if sufficient interest is expressed), so please do not hesitate to contact me at registrar@cuca.org.uk to express your provisional interest.
Moreover, it is always wonderful to hear of CUCA’s exploits in previous years. Should you be willing to share your experiences I will be happy to include any material you can offer into the Association’s Archive in the depths of the University Library. The history of the association is one of its key strengths and something from which we can all draw interest and learn from.
Thus, do not hesitate to get in touch if you would like to be kept up to date with the work of the Association, and we can add you to the Alumni Database. Or come to any of our events and say hello.
I look forward to hearing from you,
Kind regards,
Johnathan Alexander Zemlik
Registrar Easter 2012
This term CUCA is delighted to invite you to a varied range of events. From addresses by Cabinet Ministers and leading economists, to more relaxed events such as the annual midnight punting event. As usual the term ends with the sumptuous Chairman’s Dinner, which this year is being held at Selwyn College. As we progress into May week we can all look forward to the legendary CUCA Garden Party. There is something for everyone, so come join us for what is guaranteed to be a fantastic term.
April
28th- Cake and Cava with George Eustice MP at the Fitzwilliam College Auditorium, 7pm-10pm. Charge to members: £5, non-members: £7.
28th- Campaigning in the Trumpington Ward for the local elections, 1pm-5pm.
30th- Gin and Tonic event with Mark Littlewood ( Director General of the Institute of Economic Affairs) at Trinity Hall, 7pm-9pm.
Charge to members: £2, non-members: £3.
May
1st- Campaigning in the Trumpington Ward for the local elections, 1pm-5pm.
3rd- LOCAL ELECTIONS- Campaigning in the Trumpington Ward, ongoing activity from 6am to 5pm.
10th – Joint event with Trinity Politics Society – Drinks with Robert Sturdy MEP for UK Eastern Region, room TBC.
19th – Midnight punting with strawberries and champagne, meeting point and prices TBC.
June
7th- Drinks with the Rt. Hon. Andrew Mitchell (Secretary of State for International Development) at the Gradute Union, 7pm-10pm. £5 charge for non-students.
11th- Drinks with the Rt. Hon. Owen Paterson ( Secretary of State for Northern Ireland) at the Barbara White room, Newnham College, 6:30pm-9:30pm. £5 charge for non-students.
15th- Chairman’s Dinner at Selwyn College, details TBC.
18th-CUCA Garden Party at K Block (Gonville and Caius College), TBC.
*Details for events are subject to change and all events marked TBC will be updated as soon as the relevant information is available. Please look out for our publicity around Cambridge and the events on Facebook.
On Wednesday, George Osborne grew in stature as a Tory Chancellor. The Budget was the most definitive account of the Government’s plan for growth. Yet it was mainly framed as a tax reform budget, and it is by this standard it should be judged.
In which case, it was also something of a curate’s egg. In places it was bold and radical, while in others it did not go nearly far enough.
Mr Osborne articulated a clear, long-term vision for tax reform. He began by claiming Adam Smith as his guide, embracing the principle that taxes ought to be “simple, predictable, support work, and they should be fair”.
Edward Turnham writes
George Osborne’s budget has exposed a lot of very silly ‘thinking’ on the part of many pundits. Here are a few of the common mistakes.
“High tax rates on the rich are compassionate”
The usual purpose of taxation is to raise revenue. Read More »
Nominations for the posts of Vice-Chairman, Secretary, and Registrar, and for eight committee posts, shall open at 10pm on Saturday 25th February and close at 10pm on Saturday 3rd March.
If one or more posts are contested, a poll shall be held on the afternoon of Saturday 10th March before the Termly General Meeting, which starts at 4.30pm. Nominations should be sent in writing to Edward Turnham at Christ’s. The nomination form and the Association’s Constitution, which should be read by potential candidates, are to be found here. Questions should be addressed to the returning officers, Edward Turnham and Callum Wood.