Amber Rudd reports on yesterday's Conservative Women's Organisation Conference
The CWO's 75th Annual Conference was sold out five weeks before the date itself. Late arrivals to the hall found that there was standing room only. The atmosphere was enthusiastic, friendly and positive. And the Chairman Fiona Hodgson opened the Conference with an encouraging speech, about the contribution of Conservative Women and our ongoing commitment to helping women both in public office and in life in general. Noting how the organisation has previously been perceived she commented, "I'm not an ardent feminist but … I do wish people would stop referring to us as "the blue-rinse" brigade." She was right – there were very few blue rinses and many more women who are activists on behalf of the Conservative party throughout the country.
The theme for the day was "Reaching out to Women", and the three sessions were on "International Women's Human Rights", "Successful Women" and "Supporting British Food and Farming." This was no inward looking political focus group, but rather a gathering of women activists with Conservative values looking for information about subjects affecting women and for ways of doing something to improve all our lives. As the Suffragettes said, "Action, not words."
Caroline Spelman chaired the session on International Women's Human Rights. We heard from Shami Chakrabati of Liberty, who made a special plea for speaking out against arranged marriages; Steve Chalke from Stop the Traffik on international trafficking of women and children; Lesley Abdela on women as the victims of violence and prostitution in conflict situations, and finally William Hague on the international implication of the denigration of women's rights. There were some shocking statistics and depressing numbers and stories – none of the speakers pulled their punches. We learnt that the main users of prostitutes in post-conflict situations are the international community, leading to the growth of brothels in these areas. After the session I went to ask William Hague why the Conservative Party had not formally spoken out in support of signing the European Council's Convention to Stop Human Trafficking – which has been signed by 32 countries. Once he had got through the many women who wanted to have their picture taken with him on their phones, he told me that they were waiting for the Government to explain their position that they were against it for fear it would act as a "pull" for illegal immigration. Then they would take a view.
The session on British Food and Farming was enlightening, and lively at the question and answers that followed. The key message was to buy British to keep our farmers supported and to keep questioning where the food comes from, and to stay alert to food labelling. Clarissa Dickson Wright spoke about the absurdity of Section 38 of the Trades Description Act, which deemed food to be from the "last country that has had something done to it", and gave as an example Chilean salmon bought by Italians and finished off in Scotland and thereby legally labelled as Scottish Smoked Salmon. Stick to the farmers market, was her advice, and use your local shops.
Finally we had Dave. And what was impressive was that he seized on the issues that his audience were concerned about, without being prompted, and explained and sold the reasons for the Conservative party adopting them. The central message was "we do change, and we do it well" and it doesn't affect our core values. Margaret Thatcher changed the agenda, defeating the unions, allowing everyone to buy their council houses, participating in the sale of nationalised industries, and we can do it now, setting the Agenda by promoting the environment, putting families first and supporting communities in their struggle for better education and safer streets. As Conservatives he explained, we are optimists, wanting to trust people, compared to Labour with their constant interference that are the pessimists about people's values and instincts. The audience loved it. They left optimistic – about the CWO and about David Cameron leading us to a Conservative General Election victory.
A-lister Amber Rudd fought Liverpool Garston for the Tories at the last General Election.