In Birmingham today for the launch of the Conservative Policy Forum (CPF). The CPF made up of party activists and supported by MPs, will be looking at policy development in the run-up to the 2015 election. The hope is that local CPFs, working with experts and specialists, will be able to provide policy ideas for the next election manifesto. Activists and MPs will be encouraged to set up CPFs in areas where they are thin on the ground.
It is quite an exciting concept. All over the country, CPF Branches will be discussing ideas for the future - their ideas passed to Ministers to consider. Moreover, it provides a great reason for people to join the party - as their ideas will be listened to. What better way to invigorate the party and revitalise the work of members?
I have been tasked by the Party to be the national MP representative of the CPF. My role will be to work with the CPF Board to help other MPs with their regional CPCs and assist CPFs to grow and flourish. It is a great challenge.
As Oliver Letwin, (the Cabinet Minister in charge of policy development - pictured above), said today, "the wisdom of Crowds is immense: cleverness doesn't just exist in centralised bureaucratic form". In other words, the ideas that come up from the grass roots, are often much better than those which come down from the establishment.
You can read more HERE, HERE and HERE.
by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com
It is often said 'How do these public school MP's (of which there are many in the Conservatice camp) know what issues affect us?. Well this could be a way of answering this question. Well done Robert I am sure you can deliver on these promises.
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