Michael Portillo devoted a large part of his speech to the social values of modern Conservatism. He seemed to display a view that eliminating the view that the Conservative Party is hostile to minority groups is of pivotal importance to its electoral prospects. Conventional wisdom dictates that all 'floating' voters are people on median incomes trying to pay a mortgage and bring up children. Hence the greater emphasis on cutting taxes and improving standards in education. But London has many constituencies where the votes of homosexuals, for example, could be of critical importance.
Many homosexuals are highly educated professional people.
They tend to earn high salaries and do not have to worry about the cost of children. As a result they are perhaps less likely to be worried about Gordon Brown's 'stealth tax' agenda and more concerned about a hostile culture emanating from a party running for the government of Britain. It was as important to address these concerns, as it was to outline the principles of fiscal policy. Some commentators seemed to regard an 'inclusive' message as incongruous in a speech centred on cutting taxes and keeping the Pound. But there was a deeper political significance.