It Would Seem That Cameron's Stance On Gay Marriages Has Done Him No Favours.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2283926/Lord-Ashcroft-Drops-support-Tories-David-Camerons-gay-marriage-obsession.html

Even the Labour party chose not to support him over this matter, but instead took the opportunity to obtain further political points.

/// But Michael Dugher, Labour’s vice chairman, said his withdrawal of financial support was ‘a damning vote of no confidence’ in the Prime Minister. ///

[Zeuhl]

Ashcroft is an interesting bloke

He takes the very sensible approach that instead of paying taxes from his multi million income he should 'gift it' to governments who can do him favours e.g. the ruling group in Belize, the Tories in UK, the Liberals in Australia.

He thinks DC is a public school dipstick.

He's also an environmentalist and anti-whaling activist

Perhaps we should all try and emulate him?

[jake-the-peg]

This is just stringing out an old story really.

Ashcroft has been carping at the sidelines ever since the election when he stepped down and published 'Minority verdict' a bunch of criticisms of the party.

He tries to manipulate the Tory party with money - He called back loans made to it under Margaret Thatcher when he decided that he didn't like John Major.

Frankly I rather suspect that DC won't be too upset if he thinks this means he's seen the back of Ashcroft - I doubt he has though

[pdq1]

Cameron has devoted too much time to these liberal policies and forgets why his party voted him in as leader. Ashcroft is saying what any normal person would say and maybe the withdrawal of this huge funding may make Cameron see sense.

Its no fluke that the country is about to enter a 3rd dip recession or borrowing that is worse than when they took office. Maybe they should teach them financial matters at Eton rather than prepare them for high office.

[Gromit]

Lord Ashcroft has been plotting against Cameron for ages, long before the gay marriage issue.

It now seems certain the Conservatives won't win the next election, and Ashcroft is a business man so thinks there is no point on wasting any money on the current shower.

I am sire Ashcroft's Conservativehome blog will continue.

[FredPuli43]

It's one man's opinion. Losing one vote would not be significant, were the man entitled to vote. Or are we to understand that a Prime Minister is to act in accordance with the wishes of one man , if that man gives enough to his party? The stance may, in any case, do Cameron a favour or do him no harm. It hardly puts him at odds with a large percentage of the electorate

[askyourgran]

Actually I think it has done some harm, apart from Ashcroft, the electorate are not happy with the idea of DC wasting time on matters such as gay marriage and police commissioners instead of making headway into the things that we need to see action on eg. Immigration, the EU, Foreign aid etc, He is just pussyfooting about, not making much difference at al. We could still have Blair for all the difference it's made. A lot of people say they will not vote for DC next time or Labour,but it looks as though someone is trying to discredit Ukip.

[Zeuhl]

/the things that we need to see action on eg. Immigration, the EU, Foreign aid etc/

Well ayg, you've mentioned most of the distractions but omitted the one thing that really matters (to the country and to the next election) - the economy

[askyourgran]

True zeuhl, the economy is a huge mess as we all know, but this can't be solved by new legislation, action on the immigration policy and foreign aid not to mention the EU expenditure would be a start. I could have added the NHS and the Benefits/jobs market/housing. The national debt will continue for a good while yet, the loss of the credit rating was on the cards last year.

[Zeuhl]

/action on the immigration policy and foreign aid not to mention the EU expenditure would be a start./
/the NHS and the Benefits/jobs market/housing./

How would they even begin to make a significant difference to our economy?

If anything, economic growth tends to correlate with increased immigration. And there is considerable evidence that any disruption to our relationship with Europe would have a detrimental or at least mixed impact on our economy.

Government spending has continued to increase - but they have failed to stimulate growth. Everything else is relatively unimportant and would be of even less public interest if more people had more money in their pockets.

[anotheoldgit]

Seems it is not only Lord Ashcroft he has upset.

/// It comes as the chairman of Mr Cameron’s local party executive committee has quit in protest at the Government’s promotion of same sex marriage. ///

//// She added: ‘I’m not anti-gay people at all. I fully agree with civil partnership rights. But most gay people will tell you that’s all they wanted and they don’t want gay marriage.’ ///

[jake-the-peg]

^

I'm not anti-gay but most gay people don't want marriage and I feel so strongly about it that I'm quitting

Really?

[Zeuhl]

/But most gay people will tell you that’s all they wanted and they don’t want gay marriage/

Perhaps we should be shown her quantitative sources for that assertion

I'd hate to think aog was spreading misinformation that someone has just made-up!

[askyourgran]

Zeul, the economy is a wholly different ball-game, worth a thread of it's own and isn't the only concern of the electorate. The economy cannot be solved instantly, but some of the other matters of which I mention can be. People are concerned about the immigrants we already have, and now a new influx is expected. How many of them will be dole seekers wanting housing, how many will be blagging jobs from our own workers. Can our infrastructure cope with them all, housing, NHS, schools etc. I don't believe that for one moment immigration will be of any help to our economy. Once we regain our sovereigncy from the EU we will be far better off without the petty rules and massive bills propping up other countries. The Eu is not the only organisation we can trade with. The fact that the economy is expected to be in the doldrums for a good few years yet will not make the other 'insignificant worries' go away. They are the things that are causing unrest among people.

[emmie]

i suspect that if some people had more money in their pocket, they would leave and settle elsewhere. As to the question, did anyone think that it would or should have done him any favours, was that the point of his stance on gay marriage, a vote catcher..?

[FredPuli43]

So that makes two, aog. Plus an unknown number being 'most gay people' who the second one, with no statistical evidence in support at all, says are against gay marriage. Can't think Cameron is worried, nor should he be.

[Zeuhl]

Good point em

Perhaps he did it because he believes it is right

And is reassured that the majority of the UK population are in favour or at least relaxed about it

[FredPuli43]

http://lordashcroftpolls.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Gay-marriage-poll-full-tables.pdf


Lord Ashcroft's own poll provides scant support for his concern. The figures for people more likely versus less likely to support a party introducing gay marriage differ only slightly

[emmie]

i couldn't care less to be honest, i also doubt many people in Britain are worried about it, more likely to be can i pay my bills, what's for tea, and aren't tv programmes rubbish these days.

[jake-the-peg]

^
I agree em

Hardly a resigning matter is it?

[emmie]

Lord Ashcroft like everyone is entitled to his views, i was referring to DC