Some people don't get it. They really think that America's Tea Party Movement is some sort of closet racist, social conservative, religious right thing.
Cameron’s problem with UKIP looks more and more like a rehearsal of the trouble the US Republicans have with the Tea Party. It feeds off grass roots energy, presenting itself as the anti-establishment, anti-politics beating heart of conservatism, which makes it very effective when it comes to local campaigning and disrupting the mainstream.
For this writer's education, let's explain. The 'tea' bit of 'Tea Party' is an acronym - Taxed Enough Already it says. And there's the point of it all - it's not anything other than a simple statement of the first principles of a free society:
Fiscal Responsibility: Fiscal Responsibility by government honours and respects the freedom of the individual to spend the money that is the fruit of their own labour.
Constitutionally Limited Government: As the government is of the people, by the people and for the people, in all other matters we support the personal liberty of the individual, within the rule of law.
Free Markets: A free market is the economic consequence of personal liberty.
It you're in the Conservative Party and don't sign up to these beliefs then you should go join a different party. We leak voters because:
- We force up the cost of living with a deliberate policy of inflation
- We raise taxes on ordinary people- taking more and giving less
- Our policies force up food, fuel and gas prices
- We choose corporatism in the UK and in Europe over free markets
- We hector, nanny and fuss at people rather than offer them a hand
- We spend money overseas - on wars, on aid - rather than at home
To say that wanting this to change is extreme is nonsense - yet this should be the agenda for an English Tea Party. Fighting for lower taxes, control of inflation and a smaller, more purposeful government.
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