Hello. Thank you for visiting the Positive Politics! homepage.
Positive Politics! is a campaign to promote a new type of politics, founded by myself and a group of friends of all political persuasions (and none) who had become disillusioned with mainstream politics. In 2003 we formed a group called 'Mind the Gap!' to explore the causes of people's disillusionment and in 2005 we launched Positive Politics! The campaigns a number of core themes set out below. If you agree with the ideas set out here and want to get involved, or simply want to find out more, please contact me at
- Politics matters. Disillusionment and cynicism is dangerous. All of us who cherish democracy have a duty to fight for it.
- Politics done well should be a positive force for good in a society and a community. Politics done well should inspire hope and trust. Politics can and should be again a virtue.
- All democratic politics starts locally - with the people and place you represent.
- Politicians should practise what they preach. Actions matter as much as words. Politicians should try and give a lead. But politicians are also human and entitled to a private life.
- Politics in Britain today needs to re-learn the virtues of leadership from the worlds of enterprise, sport, and the voluntary sector where inspirational leaders are showing what can be achieved with a positive approach.
- Too heavy reliance on the state to solve social problems can undermine our basic human responsibilities to each other. Politics should be about encouraging everyone to exercise responsibility and promoting active citizenship.
- Politics should help to bind a community together by involving and uniting the different 'tribes' of an increasingly factional and dislocated modern Britain (young and old, rich and poor, black and white, Muslim and Christian) to work together around shared local goals.
Following the 2005 General Election, I made a short film 'Positive Politics: Campaigning in an age of Cynicism' based on interviews with members of the public about their views of politics and politicians. I presented the film at the 2005 Conservative Party conference with a series of recommendations for changing the way Conservative Candidates are encouraged to campaign. Click below to view the film and read my speech and recomendations.
Video
Speech
Click here to download George's speech to Conservative Party Conference on Positive Politics!.