UK: Political Correctness driving people from Cameron’s Cronies to the Farage Camp

Back when Don Brash was the leader of the National Party he appointed Wayne Mapp to be the party’s political-correctness eradicator; he even dedicated a portfolio to it. Then along came John-boy Key and tossed it out.  At the time Key said political correctness wasn’t an issue; he saw it as just some nutty, far-left stuff which didn’t warrant a special portfolio.

Having blogged on Political Correctness for many years and being aware that it was far more insidious than just some nutty, far-left stuff, I emailed Key about my concerns regarding the subject, and he (or one of his staff) responded saying political correctness was irrelevant. That was my first red flag about Key, and I thought to myself at the time ‘He’s a liberal; only a liberal would say political correctness is irrelevant; only a person who believes in political correctness would say such a thing; only a liberal would not see political correctness as creeping communism.’

John Key, just like David Cameron, has done nothing to curb political correctness. In fact, he has done the opposite; his politically-correct stand on gay marriage is a classic example of this.

But as I mentioned in a post the other day, the tide is turning against David Cameron; people are bailing from his pseudo-Conservative Party to Farage’s UKIP party. And now Lord Ashcroft, a major Tory donor, has come out and stated that most of the bleeding is due to political correctness; people have had a gutful of how daily life is changing.

In respect to how life is changing in the UK, the following article is a very good read; it clearly highlights why people have had a gutful: Alien nation: The new census reveals a Britain that would be unrecognisable even to our grandparents

The Telegraph article about Lord Ashcroft:

Lord Ashcroft: voters defecting to Ukip because they are fed up with political correctness

Voters are defecting from the Conservatives to Ukip because they are fed up with political correctness, not because of Europe, Lord Ashcroft said today.

The major Tory donor and Number 10 adviser said Ukip is stealing voters because many are uneasy about "the way life is changing in Britain today", fuelled by unhappiness about immigration and a benefits culture.

Amid polls showing a surge of support for Ukip, Lord Ashcroft commissioned new research showing 12 per cent of Conservative voters would side with Ukip at the next election. Half of those turning to Ukip are former Tories, he found.

It also showed that just seven per cent of Ukip voters say Europe is the single most important issue for them. It ranks behind economic growth, welfare, immigration and the deficit.

However, he said Ukip's general outlook, rather than policies, is driving support.

"Certainly, those who are attracted to UKIP are more preoccupied than most with immigration, and will occasionally complain about Britain’s contribution to the EU or the international aid budge," Lord Ashcroft wrote on his ConservativeHome blog.

"But these are often part of a greater dissatisfaction with the way they see things going in Britain: schools, they say, can’t hold nativity plays or harvest festivals any more; you can’t fly a flag of St George any more; you can’t call Christmas Christmas any more; you won’t be promoted in the police force unless you’re from a minority; you can’t wear an England shirt on the bus; you won’t get social housing unless you’re an immigrant; you can’t speak up about these things because you’ll be called a racist; you can’t even smack your children.

"All of these examples, real and imagined, were mentioned in focus groups by UKIP voters and considerers to make the point that the mainstream political parties are so in thrall to the prevailing culture of political correctness that they have ceased to represent the silent majority."

He identified the typical Ukip voters thinking "Britain is changing for the worse". Read more