Local and European Elections
Wednesday, June 9th, 2004Alex Wright (Peterhouse)
Chairman, Easter 2004
“The tyranny of a prince in an oligarchy is not so dangerous to the public welfare as the apathy of a citizen in a democracy” - Montesquieu
We are now at an important stage where Britain is turning against a Government which cannot deliver tax-efficient public services, has hammered the elderly and the poorest in our society through escalating council taxation, has failed to combat rising levels of violent crime and is determined to forfeit our national interest to sign up to the single currency and the European constitution.
The Conservatives are the only realistic challenge to the Government. Liberal Democrat councils are less cost-efficient, less effective at fighting crime than Conservative ones, and despite their environmental clothes, actually recycle less as well; on Europe, they hold views even more extreme than the Government. Likewise, voting for the fringe parties such as the UKIP neither present a realistic challenge nor a credible solution. Withdrawal from the EU would hugely damage trade - we do more than half our trade with our European partners - and cause mass unemployment.
“Student apathy” has become a favourite media tag-line. I don’t think that students are apathetic. I trust that we all care deeply about our society, and that the million who marched against top-up fees demonstrates the depth of interest in public affairs. Yet sometimes that concern for the country’s welfare doesn’t turn into exercising our democratic right. I would therefore urge you to vote in tomorrow’s election; due to the low turnout your vote may be magnified three or four times, and moreover, I urge you to vote for the only party which can guarantee the best service at a local, national and European level: the Conservative party.
If you feel strongly as I about helping the party win these crucial elections, we are more than happy to welcome volunteer campaigners. Please email our Campaigns Officer.
