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Lamont urges focus on core voters Lamont urges focus on core voters
(about 8 hours later)
David Cameron must balance attempts to win over new voters with retaining the party's core support, former Tory Chancellor Lord Lamont has said.David Cameron must balance attempts to win over new voters with retaining the party's core support, former Tory Chancellor Lord Lamont has said.
Lord Lamont told Parliamentary Monitor it was "very dangerous" for any party to alienate its core supporters.Lord Lamont told Parliamentary Monitor it was "very dangerous" for any party to alienate its core supporters.
He said core voters had the option of abstention and abstention "is a rapidly growing party" in Britain.He said core voters had the option of abstention and abstention "is a rapidly growing party" in Britain.
However, he stressed he did not believe Mr Cameron was seeking a battle with the party's right. However, he stressed he did not believe the Conservative leader was seeking a battle with the party's right.
'Mistaken philosophy''Mistaken philosophy'
Lord Lamont told the magazine: "It would be extremely foolish for David Cameron to try and engineer a Tory equivalent to Labour's 'Clause Four moment', and I don't believe that he is trying to do that.Lord Lamont told the magazine: "It would be extremely foolish for David Cameron to try and engineer a Tory equivalent to Labour's 'Clause Four moment', and I don't believe that he is trying to do that.
"Clause Four was the embodiment of a very mistaken, foolish philosophy - there is nothing comparable for the Conservative Party.""Clause Four was the embodiment of a very mistaken, foolish philosophy - there is nothing comparable for the Conservative Party."
Mr Blair fought the Labour left in order to ditch Clause Four of the Labour Party constitution, which committed the party to a programme of nationalisation.Mr Blair fought the Labour left in order to ditch Clause Four of the Labour Party constitution, which committed the party to a programme of nationalisation.
If naturally loyal voters of any stripe feel they don't have a natural home in their party any more, it is a very dangerous thing Lord LamontIf naturally loyal voters of any stripe feel they don't have a natural home in their party any more, it is a very dangerous thing Lord Lamont
Lord Lamont added: "To say you want to seek a quarrel, regardless of the merits of it, would be a mistake.Lord Lamont added: "To say you want to seek a quarrel, regardless of the merits of it, would be a mistake.
"You have to balance your appeal to open-minded voters, who can be persuaded to switch their vote, with keeping one's core voters as well."You have to balance your appeal to open-minded voters, who can be persuaded to switch their vote, with keeping one's core voters as well.
"Core voters have the option of abstention, and abstention is a rapidly growing party in the British political system."Core voters have the option of abstention, and abstention is a rapidly growing party in the British political system.
"If naturally loyal voters of any stripe feel they don't have a natural home in their party any more, it is a very dangerous thing.""If naturally loyal voters of any stripe feel they don't have a natural home in their party any more, it is a very dangerous thing."
Mr Cameron worked as a special adviser to Lord Lamont during his time in government.Mr Cameron worked as a special adviser to Lord Lamont during his time in government.