Ah, yes, the golden years of Tory representation for St Ives (2)

The Conservative candidate for St Ives, the nice Mr Derek Thomas, recently bewailed the lack of a Tory MP for the constituency since David Harris left parliament in 1997. Anyone who is thinking of voting for Mr Thomas and a return to the Golden Age of Tory representation for St Ives, perhaps needs reminding of the tenacity with which the Tories fought for the interests of Cornwall when they ‘spoke’ for the county.

Here is David Harris, in a question in the House on 6 November 1996, fighting the good fight for the low-paid of the county:

Oral Answers to Questions — Trade and Industry: Business Support (Cornwall) (6 Nov 1996)

Mr David Harris: …. Does he agree that grants are not the beginning and end of everything, and that what industry in Cornwall would fear, probably above all else, is the imposition of the social chapter and the minimum wage—policies advocated by the Liberal Democrats?

Ah,yes, in the current economic climate, Cornwall’s workers could do with a bit more of that.

Ah, yes, the golden years of Tory representation for St Ives

If nothing else, we can thank Derek Thomas, Tory PPC for the St Ives Constituency, for reminding us of the time when St Ives last had a Tory MP.

In a letter to me, Mr Thomas  says:

‘Since David Harris retired we have lacked the influence of an MP in the governing party or main opposition. Electing a Conservative MP would address this and be good news for West Cornwall and the Isle of Scilly.’

Ah, yes, the good news for West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly when Mr Harris was the MP for this low wage constituency, was that he and the Tory party robustly opposed the introduction of the minimum wage on the (false) grounds that it would result in the loss of hundreds of jobs in West Cornwall.

Now some people might think that perhaps at a time of high unemployment and recession, the last person you would want to defend jobs and pay was another Tory MP in the constituency.

In the remaining weeks to the general election, TBH will be taking the occasional walk down memory lane to the golden age of Tory representation for St Ives – and inviting Mr Thomas to join us.