Scene change
Like one of those toy theatres where a sudden change of backdrop transforms the interior of a manor house or castle to a lakeside or hilltop the vista of the political scene a year on from the accession of Gordon to the Prime ministership bears little resemblance to the bright dawn that briefly greeted him.
Gone are the reputation for toughness and decisiveness as a pliant dithering temperament is revealed. Gone is the reputation for prudent economic stewardship in the face of spiralling prices and the debacle of the 10p tax rate abolition. What seemed briefly like the exciting novelty of a new team now seems like a group pressganged into service for Gordon and for the most part hopelessly out of their depth.
The danger for us for the Conservatives is twofold, in my belief. Fortunately the leader and senior figures are well aware of this. The first danger is complacency. Labour has messed up and bigtime but there is nothing inevitable about a Conservative victory let alone a massive one. However, the omens are good and sensible moderate policies of help for those who need it most in any tax policy and a halt to the growth of an overbearing state sector will strike a chord with Middle Britain. These policies together with an emphasis on localism–decisions are most effective where they are taken as close as possible to the peoiple that they affect will I believe guide the party and capture the imagination of the electorate.
The other distant danger of which the leadership is equally aware is that of deserting the middle ground of British politics. I do not believe thankfully that there is any real peril of this– the leadership by instinct goes for the middle ground and that instinct is right. The more so when lleft wing Loreleis are trying to lure the Prime Minister onto dangerous rocks with siren chants that the electorate would value Labour more if it was really red in tooth and claw. No prizes for spotting the non sequiturs in that line of argument.
Expect to hear more of localism, targeted help, tax policy that takes proper account of the poorest in our society and a lighter touch from the public sector with a halt to its remorseless growth.
