GARDERMOEN (VG) The editorial committee in Høyre tried to get the party to join the statement about schools being free to move. There is strong disagreement about that – and opponents eventually reject the entire statement.

– Dear national assembly, you don’t mean that, said Conservative leader Sveinung Stensland of Rogaland, who was one of several people urging the party to reject the statement on cell phone use in schools.

Here’s the result: The party strongly disagreed with most of the content.

Mobile ban

In a statement submitted by the editor, the use of cell phones and social media by children is problematic. This suggests that it has been documented that increased use of screens and use of social media negatively impacts children, and contributes to mental health, impaired ability to concentrate, and poorer reading skills, among other things.

The majority of the editorial committee believes that schools should be free to move, but that school owners should be responsible for managing them.

A minority believe that national regulations require that primary schools be free to move around – both during lessons and breaks – and that high schools should have free movement of teaching, unless cell phones are used for teaching purposes.

Both of these proposals were initially rejected – before a national meeting Høyre finally decided to cancel the entire statement.

Conservative leader Erna Solberg voted against the cell phone ban and is glad that it went that way:

– I believe that the use of screens should be limited, but I believe that we as parents, and municipalities, are closer to deciding how this will work in practice, he told VG after the vote.

– Don’t weaken

– This settlement raised an important issue, and there was discussion going on around the kitchen table, in the teachers’ lounge and among parents. Leave the discussion there, urged Jan Tore Sanner, former Conservative co-chairman and Education Minister, during the debate

He warned against bringing the rules of order into the parliamentary chambers.

– It’s not about yes or no to cell phones, it’s about whether we should hold schools and parents accountable or powerless.

Conservative leader Mathilde Tybring Gjedde fired back – and said he himself doubted that there should be a national guideline.

– I doubt until now there should be national guidelines. It’s really about how seriously you distract yourself with social media and the addiction it creates, he says.

Full impact for coastal rebellion

The Conservative Party’s national gathering also voted unanimously on Saturday to say “no to government taxes on aquaculture”. The road to this decision was long:

First brewed coastal rebellion of those who think the party isn’t clear enough on the salmon tax. Then management proposed to “reject government tax on aquaculture, who have been sent for consultation”.

That led to another round: coastal counties got together to ask the party to remove the last sentence, because they believed it was a loophole. By removing it, they believe that all doubt will be dispelled that the Conservative Party will say no to the government’s proposal for a land rent tax on aquaculture – even if they turn it into a new variant and propose it.

But before the Conservatives could vote on the proposal, littoral states reached an agreement with the editorial committee to set a time before the final sentence, to make things clear. Thus, they were completely successful.

– We have experienced that the Conservative Party has not been clear enough and left the door open for negotiations. But we’ve seen a change in communication in recent days, says Monica Molvær, the Conservative mayoral candidate in Ålesund.

He said it was difficult for Conservative politicians along the coast to defend the party’s position.

– The national debate is about the big salmon barons – but it’s about the common man.

Now he thinks the Conservatives are clear.

Previous rights have critical of the salmon tax the government has proposed introducing, but they have long said they want to make a final decision about government proposals for such a tax when presented.

Jungle drama

the day before creating forest decision confusion at a national meeting: Rogaland Høyre wanted to include the following words about counting forests in his climate statement:

“Høyre will include forest CO2 sequestration in climate targets in the same way as the EU does in its climate calculations and adjust Norway’s climate targets so that the level of ambition is maintained”, said the formulation – which received a majority, and was adopted.

Then Conservative Party leader Erna Solberg stepped onto the podium and warned loudly about it. He and environmental and energy policy spokesman Nikolai Astrup believe that doing so could undermine climate goals, and the national assembly is not considering these ramifications. The national assembly then voted once more, and the proposal did not gain a majority.

After that, said district leader Ane Mari Braut Nese Stavanger Aftenblad that Erna did not follow the rules of the game.

– I think the national assembly knows exactly what they first decide, he said