Karl McCartney

By Karl McCartney Karlmccartney

Being in Parliament at this time, is both exciting and bears a heavy responsibility. Exciting because of the need to execute the decision made by the Great British public in the European Referendum last week and sadly the need for a new Prime Minister. And responsibility, because of the need to make the right decisions.

It is also a rare time, often for the only time, Conservative backbenchers are the kingmakers.

Within Parliament, many (not all) backbenchers spend most of their time acting as if they are on “Parliament’s Got Talent” in the vain hope that at some time the wheel of political fortune will land on their number.

Some flutter their eyes at the whips, march through the government lobby come what may (extending Sunday Trading anyone?) and even during the referendum debate, campaign for Remain despite being selected by their associations on a clear Eurosceptic/Leave ticket.

Some even changed sides on the eve of the referendum when it looked like Remain would win just to improve their chances of being plucked from the supposed obscurity of the Commons backbenches.

This time, the roles are reversed. William Hague said in the Daily Telegraph on Monday that “Each MP is besieged with calls, testing, probing, recruiting, as the candidates try to assemble a credible team of followers or decide, with as much grace as they can muster, to bestow their support on another.”

It is certainly true, my mobile is permanently on charge and buzzing. Suddenly I am transformed from being a part of the audience (I was never one for fluttering my eyes at the whips) to having Simon Cowell-like status.

In fact, all Conservative backbenchers can claim “We are all Simon Cowell now!” … but without the high waistbands.

For me as a Conservative backbencher in a marginal seat, there are four questions that I will be asking all potential leadership candidates this week.

My first question relates to the outcome of the European referendum and whether during their negotiations with the European Union, they are fully committed to asserting our national sovereignty.

This includes the issue of our borders, our economic trade and our parliamentary sovereignty as well as on other issues such as our fisheries, agriculture and taxation.

The Great British people have spoken and they have given a clear message to Parliament that they want to regain control of our lawmaking, our democracy and on those who govern us.

They want to elect those they can remove. Any candidate not fully committed to this will not receive my support.

The second question is whether the candidates will be more collegiate and listen to the views of real backbenchers before they make big political decisions, including on matters that were not in our manifesto and also on what will be in our 2020 manifesto.

We already have had attempts at railroading big political matters through without backbench consultation such as an extension to Sunday Trading and also compulsory schools’ academisation.

And when I talk about listening to backbenchers, I do not just mean those from the “same old same old” backgrounds and professions, I am talking about those who have real world experience, who have stayed close to their roots and who have to fight for every single vote at general elections in their constituencies.

Those backbenchers have, and maintain, a real authenticity and their views chime with many of those who voted Leave last week. It is time their voices are heard more, and given more responsibility in the party many have fought for years in.

The third question to ask is whether they believe we need another general election.

Any candidate proposing such a move will not be receiving my support and I expect will not be receiving many other votes from marginal seat backbenchers either.

The general election last year gave a clear mandate for a Conservative government to maintain its path of economic growth, reducing government debt and improving our public services.

It also voted for a Conservative government to deliver a European Union referendum.

Whoever the new Prime Minister is will not change that path or direction. The manifesto we were elected on remains the central pillar of government policy, whoever the leader is.

Finally, and some may say this is a parochial Parliament issue, but we need reform of the supposed Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA).

No one can argue that there is not a need for independent oversight of Members of Parliament given the terrible expenses scandal of 2008-09 but the way that the current IPSA behaves needs reform.

There will barely be a backbencher (from any party) who is not unhappy with their offhand negative attitude, their belief that MPs are an inconvenience and not experienced the hurdles they place in the way of MPs which prevent them from being able to serve effectively.

They have a core belief that all MPs are millionaires and are only in it for themselves. Anyone wanting to know why many MPs have not taken up all of the personal security options available should understand that to arrange for Lone Workers’ Devices means entering a world that even Franz Kafka would not dream of.

Many of us have complained bitterly about their attitude and the need to reform their culture and attitude.

This is an issue that must be tackled by any new Prime Minister on behalf of the whole House and the future of our democracy.

Reform will help attract the best people to want to be a Member of Parliament.

These four questions are those that all Conservative backbenchers should be asking those who seek our support to be the next leader of our Conservative Party and Prime Minister of our country.

They are questions that need to be answered and any candidate will need to give those commitments if they want to make it through to the final round and go before the wider Conservative membership.

Karl McCartney was the Conservative Lincoln MP between 2010 and 2017. He is now the Conservative candidate for the city for the next general elections.

By Karl McCartney Karlmccartney

As your elected Member of Parliament, I have been asked by many of my constituents over the past number of months, and more so in recent weeks, and days, about how I will cast my vote in the forthcoming European Union Referendum. Firstly, let me say I am loyal to my party, but I am also loyal to my country – that I am proud and lucky to be a part of.

As one of the original 81 Members of the Conservative Party in 2011 to have defied my Party Whip, and voted in the House of Commons to let the people of our country have an EU Referendum, I am very pleased that my party and our Prime Minister have delivered that promise following the 2015 General Election.

I have decided, due to the disappointment generated by the lack of changes renegotiated in the current European Union Deal, that I will be voting for the United Kingdom to leave in June as I feel our great nation will be more prosperous and successful outside of the European Union as it is now, and how it will be in the future.

As a matter of respect to all of my constituents I have set out my reasons below. I realise of course that there will be a number of people across Lincoln, Bracebridge Heath, Skellingthorpe and Waddington who will campaign and vote for us to stay in the European Union.

I am sure that some of these individuals may be disappointed with my decision, but the beauty of a referendum is that we all have one vote each. My vote counts in exactly the same way as everyone else’s, whatever their view, and mine, might be.

What makes this constituency the best in the country though is the respect most of us have for each other and I hope that the debate will be conducted in an honourable and respectful manner.

We are all good friends inside the Conservative Party in the main, and I want to make sure we remain good friends, whatever the result.

My three tests for a better Britain

Lincoln MP Karl McCartney. Photo: Steve Smailes/The Lincolnite

During the General Election campaign last year, a key manifesto commitment of mine was a commitment to have an In-Out referendum on whether we should leave or stay in the European Union.

It is worthy of a reminder that the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats campaigned against a referendum and even now, they still believe and collectively hold this negative view.

As a country we had not had a referendum since 1975. This means anyone under 59 in age has never been given a say in our relationship with the European Union – and so much has changed in 41 years.

Sadly, the European Union Deal, as is, does not go anywhere near far enough in addressing the fundamental change that I, and I believe the vast majority of my constituents in Lincoln, want over the way the European Union currently operates now, let alone in the future.

This change is not about Europe itself, the European people or individual European countries, it is about how both Lincoln and the United Kingdom can be even better – economically, culturally and socially. My conclusion is that leaving the European Union will bring more benefits to Lincoln, The City of London and our national economy, and the United Kingdom as a whole, than staying in.

I have set out my reasons briefly below and these are based on three key tests. These are tests I have always measured my stance against.

1) The need for stronger controls on immigration and our borders

There has been much debate about in-work benefits, especially the outrageous situation where we have to pay child benefit to children of European Union nationals working here, even if their children are still living abroad. In many respects, this has been a red herring because for the most part European Union nationals coming to the UK want to work and are not here just to access benefits, overly generous as they are.

The key for me is whether we have full control on who can live and work here. This country is filling up fast and every year our population grows by the size of Nottingham’s. This places a huge strain on housing, public services like schools and hospitals in Lincoln and Lincolnshire, and also we have to take into account how we can integrate so many people so quickly into the British way of life.

We also have a problem with the number of people who are not European Union nationals but have managed to enter into the European Union somehow and are now wanting to come here. The scenes at Calais are testament to this.

Of course, we want people with skills and experience to come here if we do not have those skills available. There is a feeling that perhaps we should bring in a points system like Australia has. In many respects this is the nub of the problem.

We can look at different types of immigration and border control systems ‘til our heart’s content, but unless we have ultimate control of our borders and can decide who lives and works here, it is a fruitless study.

We need to have complete control on and of our borders and also who lives and works here. By remaining a member of the European Union we cannot gain that control.

2) Increased ability to choose not to introduce regulations and decisions that are not in the interest of British people or businesses

Having been a businessman before I became a MP, I know that without businesses of all shapes and sizes, our country would not be the success it is and the high standard of living and public services we enjoy would not be possible. So why would we place obstacles in the way of those who set up and run successful companies bar ensuring a good level of employment and consumer protection? This should be the case, but it is not what we have now.

Every time I visit businesses in my constituency of Lincoln, the level of red tape, bureaucracy, regulations and their associated costs are always top of the agenda. Nearly all come from Brussels, whose attitude seems to be that business should be controlled and not allowed to flourish. This is not something I can stand idly by and let continue.

Lincoln is in many respects an international city with so many of our businesses selling their goods and services abroad, and of course, so many people work for international companies based here.

The European Union is a vital exporting area for us with many people in the city and the county being employed on that basis but this will not change if we leave.

I do not believe that it is true that leaving the European Union will put Lincoln jobs at risk.

The rest of the European Union sells more to us than we sell to them so it is inconceivable that they would want to place any restrictions on us that could be reciprocated.

3) A clear answer as to who actually governs Britain – the British people or the European Union?

Lincoln is one of the United Kingdom’s most historic cities, one of the last remaining homes of the Magna Carta, the foundation stone of modern democracy and law across the world. The fact that last year we celebrated its 800th anniversary and the year after we are able to decide who we are governed by, is a historical link that we should not forget.

I had hoped that the European Union Deal would fundamentally change our relationship with the European Union so that our Westminster Parliament which represents every single person in our great country would be the ultimate arbiter on the laws and rules that govern us.

The growing rush to a political union from the vast majority of the countries in the European Union is understandable, it is why so many joined in the first place. It is not for Britain though, with our different history, culture and trading pattern.

Ever since the Maastricht Treaty some 25 years ago, subsequent treaties and the introduction of the Euro, no matter how much we have tried, we have been drawn ever more towards a political union. It is almost like there is a magnet based in Brussels continually drawing us, and everyone else, in.

We have to now make a decision whether we feel a positive future for the United Kingdom lies with laws being decided in Brussels, or Westminster. My view is that it has to be Westminster.

Read more about how Lincolnshire residents, politicians and leaders have reacted to the announcement that an EU referendum will be held on June 23. 

Karl McCartney was the Conservative Lincoln MP between 2010 and 2017. He is now the Conservative candidate for the city for the next general elections.