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Transplant rejected

The news that Gordon Brown’s “bounce” is continuing is reflected in the latest polls showing a substantive lead for Labour over David Cameron’s Conservatives, and the by-election results last week have precipitated more bad news for the Tories with George Bridges, Cameron’s policy director resigning to find a better work/life balance. In a party which is becoming accustomed to playing musical chairs with it’s leaders the plotters are at work again this weekend calling for a vote of no confidence in “Dave”.

The heady days of the local government elections in May feel as though they were years ago as voters see Gordon Brown as strong and dependable as he goes about doing what many of us wanted - the dismantling of Blair’s fascia on government, yet the Conservative leadership does not appear to have realised that the upturn in fortunes in May was a huge and final kick in the slats for Blair rather than a real welcome for alternative politics. I have stated in this blog and in other forums that the Conservative Party needs to be formulating attractive policies sooner rather than later, the process being used by Cameron is too drawn out, too centrist, and too out of touch with grass roots opinion and traditional Tory voters. Where we wanted to hear about stronger defence, tougher anti-crime initiatives, more stringent controls over public spending, smaller government, and tax cuts we got family values and “hug a hoody” instead. By trying his hardest to replicate the face of Tony Blair, Cameron has created a “rejectionist tendency” amongst a growing and vocal group within his own party and whilst he is away in Rwanda (what a time to go) the grumblings of discontent at home will continue to gnaw away at his authority. Certainly he has charisma, but he must understand that the days of PR and news management a la Campbell are as popular now as a suicide bomber on a bus!

It’s time to start harnessing the power of the party to offer real alternative policies that attract support from traditional Tory voters as well as disaffected Labour supporters, it is time for Cameron to reflect on how he is to counter the puritanical stuttering Brown after the Parliamentary recess and to be wary that the PM may call an election in the autumn.

Cameron MUST begin to start listening to the grass roots now!