Conferences are pointless posturing

It is party conference time again, the annual charade of pulling together the faithful adherents of their dyed-in-the wool choice.

We had the usual Liberal tendency to wave bags of “sensible” ideas which is what every voter wants to hear. It goes with the tendency to learned faces, serious clothing and healthy eating which epitomise all that is supposed to be good and necessary for the country to succeed.

Then the traditional Labour rally, where they have now found their voice to roll out the usual trays of financial goodies for all, like children breaking into the “tuck shop”. Who will pay for these, no one knows.

Also cutting the returns of evil big businesses and energy companies and pandering to those who want something for nothing, which the wicked Tories, who have been sorting out the last Labour economic mess, have denied them.

Jobs to keep people off the streets will once again be manufactured in the public sector to satisfy the vocal belligerents.

In between that the novelty of a Ukip gathering has paraded the fact that it is somewhat lacking in suggestions as to how the country will manage without the benefits of being part of the European group, or indeed explaining why we need to leave it in any case, but beer sales might have increased.

So, what for the Conservatives? In his speech, David Cameron will do its best to brighten the coming months but is likely to be brutally honest in saying that the need to get it right will not fade away overnight. No doubt Europe will get a mention as well.

How naive can voters be if they believe that what is said at any conference bears any resemblance to what will happen?

As Harold Macmillan is alleged to have said, events affect decisions which have to be made by governments, staged performances are of little use other than to feed the journalists.

It would be much better for the parties to revert back to the practice of conferences being private meetings of the members; doing away with the American style grandstanding to the public at large.

It would also serve the purpose of enabling the BBC to reduce its political commentators and putting the savings towards producing new programmes instead of the endless repeats.

From: Fr Neil McNicholas, St Gabriel’s Parish, Middlesbrough.

Given that the companies that manufacture cars spend thousands, perhaps millions, on designing vehicles to be as streamlined and efficient as possible, how come by now all cars don’t look identical?

The thought occurred once again as we heard the usual monumental pronouncements at the various political party conferences.

Given the economic and social problems and difficulties that are facing the country at the moment, how come every party has a different set of solutions? Would it stick in their throats to admit they agreed on certain policies? Wouldn’t that be a more constructive way forward?

As it is we know that as soon as one party says one thing, like Pavlov’s dogs the others will instantly and automatically disagree just for the sake of it.

And yet surely if these people are worth their salt, they must see that while their cars may differ in colour, their design doesn’t need to be different because they’re on the same road. It’s not a race after all, but a destination.

Merkel model of a leader

From: David Quarrie, Lynden Way, Holgate, York.

The German Chancellor Angela Merkel has just been re-elected with something near 43 per cent of the total vote, a stunning victory.

How and why is she so successful? She can be summed up in six words: a good listener, tough but reasonable. She lived in the old DDR (East Germany) for many years, working as a scientist.

She saw how Communism and Socialism did not work, but kept her real thoughts tightly sealed. When the Wall came down, she moved to the West and saw her chance.

Most Germans like and respect her, if not always agreeing with what she says. Most people inside and outside of Germany agree that she is very German, hard-working, efficient, calm, patient, gets things done but not in an aggressive way.

She speaks several languages fluently, and is very good at seeing the positive points in people’s views.

She always tries to help all parties to thrive but is adamant that the German people and Germany must come first.

She keeps out of other people’s wars, but offers much aid in humanitarian forms.

The world as a whole is slowly but surely recognising that her unflappable centre right policies are the most likely to deliver wealth, goodwill, happiness and success. She fully appreciates the need for trade and exporting quality.

She now has to form some sort of coalition with the SPD, difficult and tricky, but she will achieve a good balance.

If only we had leaders like Frau Angela Merkel.

The officer entertains

From: Ken Brooke, Main Street, Leconfield, Beverley.

HAVING read the article on Mike Lester by Sue Wilkinson (Yorkshire Post Magazine, September 28), it reminded me of one of the sergeants in the old East Riding Constabulary.

Sergeant Bernard Gray was a very talented organist and loved to perform in public. While stationed at Bridlington, he instructed his shift to inform him immediately if ever the cinema on the promenade was found insecure. Inevitable, the lads on the night shift (no police ladies on nights in those days) were very diligent in checking that particular cinema. Sure enough, it was found insecure, and Sgt Gray was summoned to the scene immediately.

Upon his arrival he immediately went straight into the auditorium. Suddenly the large Wurlitzer organ lit up from top to bottom and rose out of the well with Sgt Gray seated at the keyboard. He then commenced to play with great gusto a number of well known tunes of that era. After about 20 minutes and apparently fulfilling a lifetime ambition, he ordered the constable to call out the ‘keyholder’.

In the meantime, while Sgt Gray was well able to light the organ up and raise it from the well, he was unable to reverse the procedure. So with the imminent arrival of the ‘keyholder’, the sergeant left, leaving the constable to explain that he had found the cinema insecure and the organ in a ‘live’ state.

The manager was somewhat mystified as to why the organ was in the ‘up’ position and fully illuminated and was unable to offer any explanation to the constable. The constable bade him good night and left after giving him a friendly warning, saying: “Please don’t let it happen again, or else I will have to inform my sergeant.”