TORY leaders arrive in the city tonight for their spring conference - and we want you to put leader David Cameron on the spot! From education reform to anti-social behaviour, and from immigration to Iraq, the subject is entirely up to you. Send us your questions - and we'll endeavour to put the pick of the best to the man in charge.
Already the conference is sparking controversy, as it emerged that police in Manchester will foot the security bill for the event - despite a é14m budget shortfall forcing them to cut up to 200 jobs.
Some 1,500 delegates - including new leader David Cameron and his entire shadow cabinet - are descending on the Manchester International Conference Centre for the two-day event.
It is understood police chiefs have decided the cost of the low-key security operation, estimated to be "in the low five figures", will be massively outweighed by the benefits to the Manchester economy.
Contrast
But the situation is a marked contrast to the é4m security cost of the Labour conference in Manchester later this year, paid for by a Home Office grant.
The Tory conference officially opens tomorrow, but the majority of delegates are expected to arrive tonight. The programme will include David Cameron's first keynote speech as Conservative leader on Saturday - an event set to generate huge media interest.
Extra police will be on patrol, but GMP will not cordon off either the MICC or the Midland Hotel.
However, the Labour conference in September will see a "ring of steel" around the MICC, the Bridgewater Hall and the G-MEX. All will be closed off to the public.
* Email your question to the link below, including your name and email address.
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What does Mr Cameron think about the Big Bang/ Little Whimper that is our Metrolink expansion? Did Labour not make a pledge before the election? And if they did surely more should have happened by now!
To my mind Labour have failed miserably where anti-social behaviour is concerned. What will the Tories do to combat the problem which is rife in the region if they get into power?
Could Mr. Cameron clarify what if anything Boris johnson has done since he was appointed to the Shadow Cabinet? Apart that is from another affair with a different journalist. How does he intend to solve a problem like Boris?
Does Mr Cameron believe in an armed and proactive police force like we see in the rest of Europe, such as in Switzerland, Holland or Sweden?
And does Mr Cameron believe in listening to victims instead of the army of liberals speaking up for every thug and selfish act in the country, for example by halting "early release" and the untouchability of under 18's?
best wishes for the conference
Please can you ask Mr Cameron if he can sort out the avalanche of bureaucracy and "good ideas!" inflicted on our Police Service. We have now become a statistic gathering service for the Government rather than a crime fighting force. Only today I have seen an e-mail threatening officers with disciplinary action should they fail again to record the "self defined ethnicity of a crime victim". Surely investigating the crime should be more important. Stop search forms are now an epic requiring full personal details from all those even just spoken to by the Police. We are being smothered in a sea of pointless bureaucracy and officialdom rather than polciing.
Mr Cameron - Would you mind if your grandchildren were black? Would you like your family name to become, for example, an Asian one? Do you want your National Religion to be Islam? Do you agree with Positive Discrimination, especially for those proper British people whom you think are going to vote for your NewTory-Lib Party?
We think the answer to these questions is 'Yes' to enable you to enter the rooms of power. What is your truthful public answer, Mr cameron?
Manchester is a solid Labour City. Manchester is ambitious and Manchester is successful. The Tories have been away for far too long, scarcely campaigning at all. Sending a mailshot to a few thousand city centre voters a couple of weeks before the election isn't going to fool anyone really is it? The three Lib Dem councillors there have scarcely been seen it is true, but Labour have been grafting away. There has scarcely been a week go by without a couple of letters from the Labour man in the Postbag and there is a real buzz from Labour's regeneration. Why on earth don't the Tories stand your people (a) where they actually live? and (b) after doing a year or two's work to show they are not more lightweights like these Lib Dems?
Dear Mr Cameron
Just a few short months ago, this time last year in fact, the Conservatives unveiled what was probably the most right wing manifesto in the party's post war history. Certainly the most right-wing "dog whistle" slogans and hoardings including a nasty immigration campaign that actually went as far as your friends in UKIP ever go.
My understanding is that you, David Cameron, were personally responsible for developing and drafting this manifesto and this campaign.
You certainly stood on it with no objections and with no sign of the green or compassionate agenda either.
You were also there lurking in the shadows when we had the Poll Tax and you were holding the hand of Tory Chancellor Norman Lamont when the Black Wednesday gloom descended wiping billions from our economy.
Why should anyone in Manchester believe a word you say now? Same old Tories, whatever the story.
Many of us remember that it was George W Bush who last stood on the platform of "compassionate conservatism" and we all know where that led. More oil wars, and more poor folk drowning in the swamps.
Isn't there a terrible credibility gap when you say you're now nice not nasty?
Chris Paul
City Centre Residents' Labour Party
07962 802648
If elected to Prime Minister, will Mr Cameron offer any assurances that the levels of Inheritance Tax will be reduced?
Why does any government think that a tax on death, which is the only way to look at it, offers any incentive for people to save for later life (as the Government asks us to do), if they only do it so they can cream off the tax on any major savings?
Bearing in mind that at the last General election only 36% of voters voted for a party with more than 50% of the seats in parliament, do you believe the time is right for us to have a more democratic, and representative electoral system for all elections?
How does mr. Cameron propose to reform the so-called honours system? Is it appropriate for britain to retain "British Empire" in awards in the 21st century? Shouldn't political awards be exempt from the honours system after the scandals of Archer, Ashcroft etc.
How would Mr. Cameron tackle the blight that is 'fuel poverty'? People, who for no specific reason, are unable to work ARE suffering. Would the answer be to make these companies more accountable for the recent 22% price hikes - which is seen as unjust, unfair and out of the reach for some people?
Chris Paul, of the Labour Party. I thought this posting was to invite the people of Manchester to put questions forward to Mr Cameron with regards to his parties policies. Not to do some blatant electioneering and perform an attack on the conservatives, also it is not to promote your own personal agenda. We want to hear what Mr Cameron and the Conservatives plan to do, after all, it cant be any worse than the fiasco of a government we currently have to live. Also, I find your comment about Bush and moderate conservatism leading us to a war with regards to oil a little confusing? Isnt it the leader of your party that lead us into Iraq? Not George Bush! Lets get back to using this as an oulet for people to ask questions.
Mr Cameron why are you not taking the Labour Party to pieces. The NHS is in crisis, lots of people are losing their jobs, our transport system is a mess, we're worried about our pensions, there are thousands of people waiting for council homes and affordable homes are you the man to sort it out?
it makes me laugh to hear all these labour zombies saying manchester is a solid labour city.i talk to lots of mancunians as i travel around manchester a lot in my work,and the fact is lots of people are waking up.
Cafod, Christian Aid, Friends of the Earth, Tearfund, World Development Movement and others are currently very concerned about the government's refusal to revise the bill currently going through parliament to make directors of companies legally responsible for identifying, considering, acting and reporting on any negative social and environmental impacts caused by a company's activities in the UK or overseas.
It appears that the labour government, in saying that it should be left for self-regulation through the "enlightened self interest" of shareholders, is anxious not to offend big business and puts profit above the principle that we should not make others poorer in making ourselves even richer.
We don't allow commercial activities here to be uncontrolled in relation to environmental damage or social exploitation and harm. So why have a double standard when dealing with poorer countries?
Does Mr. Cameron agree with this, and if so will he support the CORE (Corporate Responsibility) Campaign? If not, why not?