Thornbloom during the Press Conference
Mr. Thornbloom, are you concerned with the harsh language used by some Trade Unionists, including the General Secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers, regarding the Repeal of the Industrial Democracy Act and the Fiscal Conservative policies proposed by you and your party?
Of course it is concerning that some militant trade unionists completely shun the democratic process practised in Westminster, calling some of my colleagues fascists in the process. Those militant minorities, because that is what they are - the Great British Public understands the perils it faces today - need to understand that putting their own interests above those of the entire country and even their own industries will in the long run bleed the British Industry dry from investments and competativeness, which it both needs to maintain the employment and livelihoods of the working class Britons.
Would a Conservative Government have to wage a war of attrition against these unions?
I very much doubt that, the British have always been a problem-solving people and it was my great friend and colleagues, John Chips, who negotiated very stable compromises with many unions, including the NUM. Furthermore, I believe that many of the union members know the fragility of the British Industry at the moment and the dangers that industrial actions presents to it and will therefore not risk the livelihoods of their colleagues and friends to gain an ultimately unfavourable settlement of disputes.
There has been some opposition to the Conservative Economic Policy from Labour Economists and Lawmakers, saying a government spending spree should provide an economic stimulus to reinvigorate investment and economic growth.
"In the long run we are all dead", this sentence form the basis of their argument as debt weights less on their mind than the notion that all government stimuli will cause explosive economic growth, but I wish to add to that sentence "and our children are burdened with our bad debt!" A large government stimulus might increase growth with a few decimal percentage points for a year, but the accumulation of debt and interest weighing down on our treasury will hurt the economy in the long run. The British Economy must regain its competativeness, which can only be guarenteed through wide-ranging reform of the labour market and labour rights after, to guarentee any investment to have a constructive positive effect on the British economy. When a good business environment has been created with the overhaul of these ultimately ineffective systems, the investment by citizens themselves shall reinvigorate the economy, without the Government having to accumulate debt and interest.
How extended would such a push for competativeness be?
It would mean a realistic Government Policy towards Labour Rights, which has been forshadowed by Mr. Fitzpatrick's and the UUP's excellent new Bill of Rights. Unlike what some Labour Campaigners might want you to believe, the Conservatives will still protect the rights of pensioners, teachers, nurses and industrial workers when in Government, as they have done under Eden, Jacobs and Gibbons. Such a push would also mean the overhaul of the apprenticeships and education system, to teach British citizens, especially those learning to become craftsmen, the skills needed to allow them an easy transition into the Labour market, thereby lowering youth unemployment, which is an awful effect of uncompetative economy.
Lastly, what is your opinion of Labour's Foreign Policy Agenda?
Again, the Labour Party wishes to deny the enourmes mistakes they made during their time in office. Their actions in Cyprus are inexcusable, as is the continued disintergration of the Commonwealth. Combine these factors with the fact that the Labour Party is divided over the EEC - and trying to mask it by attacking the Conservatives - it shows us a picture of a Party unwilling to fullfill Britain's role on the International Stage and a Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister made incapable of doing anything meaningful on the international stage save accuse the Opposition of failure.