Something to hide? Or no-one at home?

Tabman — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 22:41:35 +0100

Tony Blair posted today in the Guardian's Comment is Free blog, examining the Conservative Conference:

The reason that they are making a virtue of having no policies is that they are still caught between the two wings of their party. The Tories want to postpone a decision on direction, but if we have confidence both in our achievements and future programme, they will be forced to decide. That will be their real test of leadership. There is no evidence from this week that they can pass it.

Blair may be wrong on many things, but on this he is right. Many warm and fluffy words may have been spoken, but nothing of any real solidity or substance emerged from Brighton this week. The reason for this is what has been characterised as the Cameron Conundrum: the centre of British politics may be liberal, but the Conservative Party and its core support isn't. Its irrelevant whether Cameron believes his platitudes or not; he can't please his core support and the people he wishes to convert at the same time. One might even imagine Mr Blair at question time, positing the following*:

“Why won’t they tell us? The Tories have got something to hide, but what? Is it that they are no longer the Conservative Party at all, and if so shouldn’t they be honest with their members? Or that Mr. Balloon does not believe a single word of his liberal rhetoric? There is a difference between not committing to tax cuts and not committing to a tax policy. Someone has something to fear from Cameron’s Conservative Party, but is it the right or is it the rest of us? You sweet talk the ladies with your commitment talk, but you make none at all. So tell us Mr Cameron who you really love or are you too weak to upset someone?”

[Update - I see Oliver Letwin is described on Question Time as Conservative Head of Policy. No wonder he has the time to be "something in the City"; he can't be over-worked!]

* - hat tip to Paul Lloyd for this "quote"