Key speeches
Speech to Welsh Conservative Party conference on Law & Order - "Security at home and abroad" -
http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=news.story.page&obj_id=128320&speeches=1
Articles for Conservative Home on - 1) Localism; 2) Africa; 3) Doorstep Lenders -
http://conservativehome.blogs.com/platform/matt_wright/index.html
Interview for the Guardian newspaper as part of the Progressive Tory series -
Matt Wright, Vale of Clwyd Target seat no 138 Tuesday September 09 2008
1. Perception: Do you consider yourself to be a progressive?
"I do though I'm not quite sure exactly what it means. I think for me it means being perceived as a party that cares. We always did care I think but the public perception is that we have been a harsh party, good with money but not so interested in social issues. I think progressive means we are moving into areas of social justice and that is quite exciting.''
2. Tax: Should David Cameron offer more tax cuts than he has outlined already?
"It is very difficult to say that because we don't know what the state of the economy would be when we got into power. We have made noises that we are the party for lower taxes. By the time we may get into power it may be that business needs a shot in the arm, so lower taxes is certainly something we should be looking at – that is the direction we should be moving in but we can't make promises at this stage."
3. Tax: If yes to the above, do you think they should be funded by
(a) cuts in public spending, or
(b) increases in other taxes
"I think we have to be looking over the long term, looking for ways of doing things more effectively. At the moment the problem is that people are running around ticking boxes and trying to meet targets – we have to introduce a new culture. As far as public services are concerned we should be looking at how we can make public services more efficient rather than where we can make cuts."
4. Tax: Should so-called "green" taxes increase?
"Some green taxes may make sense but I don't think we should be taxing people without offsetting that elsewhere. The tax tent is at its limit and I think our instinct is to reduce the burden but in a sensible way that doesn't damage public services.
"Personally, I don't like seeing lower paid people heavily taxed. I think it gives less incentive to those who are on the edge of the workforce to go out and enjoy the world of work.
"But also we have to look at things in terms of energy security. Even in the past few weeks the whole agenda has changed and we have to find some way of making sure we have a reliable energy supply from our own country."
5. Tax: As a share of GDP tax is currently around 37%. After four years of a Conservative government would you expect it to be:
(a) substantially lower – at least 2 percentage points
(b) slightly lower
(c) much the same as it is now
(d) higher
"I think over a four years period we should be looking to bear down on the tax burden, but I think it would be foolish to give a figure of how much.''
6. Europe: On balance has Britain lost out or gained from its membership of the EU? If it has lost out, should it withdraw?
"I think we have gained a lot from the economic community but I think it has gone too far in terms of the laws coming from Europe that bypass the House of Commons. We need to bring some of those powers back to Britain. I'm a big believer in the localism agenda. People in Britain feel powerless and we have to empower people so they can solve their own problems on a local level.
"We have to look at how we can get those powers back to a lower level. I don't think we need to leave the EU but we do need to think seriously about our relationship with Europe, which I don't think anyone has really done since Margaret Thatcher."
7. Family: Which of the following statements most reflects your view:
(a) The tax system should be reformed to recognise and promote marriage
(b) The tax system should help parents regardless of their marital status
"I think that a fiscal system that rewards a stable family can only be encouraged.
"I don't think we should say that you have to be married. I think marriage is a good thing but what we really should be saying is that we reward stable relationships.''
8. Abortion: The House of Commons recently voted to maintain the upper limit of 24 weeks on abortion. Do you believe it should be reduced? If yes, by how many weeks?
"I think it should be reduced, I think what we saw from the debate is that the science has moved on. I think we have got the slightly too high at the moment and it should be reduced to 20 weeks, or even lower, perhaps 18 weeks.''
Interview by Alexandra Topping
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