Michael Howard's Track Record in Government

11.23.10am GMT Sun 5th Dec 2004

Michael Howard was elected on 6 November 2003 as the third leader of the Conservative Party in as many years, and has now held that position for over a year. With a general election likely in the next six months, people should consider his past record in government, before deciding how they should vote.

This is the man who as Minister of State for the Environment introduced the Poll Tax to Parliament as a 'fair system of paying for local government,' while at the same time refusing concessions for pensioners and others on low income. After a public outcry, the Conservatives replaced the Community Charge or Poll Tax by Council Tax on 1 April 1993, but it has ceased to be a joke any more!

As Employment Secretary he argued that a minimum wage was a job destruction policy that would put 2 million people out of work. During the same period he resisted efforts to introduce the 48 hour week and fought against women having statutory maternity rights. In Parliament he voted for rail privatisation, and we all know the disastrous effect this has had on the rail network.

As Home Secretary he cut costs by reducing police numbers, seemingly impervious to rocketing crime, while removing everyone's right to the privacy of their personal details. Violent crime rose every year he was Home Secretary.

This is the man the Conservatives are proposing as a future Prime Minister. A man we can judge on his record. In a BBC survey of people's reaction to Michael Howard's speech at Bournemouth, a contributor from Harlow stated, "The only things we can 'trust' Michael Howard to do are to return this country to the bad old days of high unemployment, investment starved public services and social division."