COM RES AND YOUGOV OPINION POLL'S SHOW TORY LEAD DOWN TO 7 POINTS
Editorial
Reading the opinion polls this week, YouGov in the Daily Telegraph are showing a narrow 7 point lead for the Conservatives, confirming to many, that a hung parliament is highly likely in May or June, when we are likely to have a general election; adding further salt to the wounds of the Conservative high command, that something is not right about the Conservative strategy, and the message that is being sent to Britain.
The internal battle that is taking place within the Conservative party over the reasons why the Tories have yet to win over the British electorate rages, with confused messages being sent out over the level of public sector cuts, and tax breaks for being married. Only last week in Davos David Cameron in what was described as a possible u-turn on public sector cuts said:
"Early action doesn't have to be particularly extensive, but it's got to be early."
But why are the Tories not in a commanding lead, and why despite having lost three general elections, have the "spin-doctors" at CCHQ not won the "hearts and minds" of the British public? The attack on the Tories, that they are party of privilege, which is unfair given the number of women, ethnic minority candidates selected to stand for seats; but this is hurting the Tories. The British public is in a dilemma. Do we keep the current lot of incompetent muppets, or do we replace them with a group of politicians who will be asked major questions from day one of taking office, with no real experience in dealing with these types of problems?
Logically, the Tories now should be racing ahead in the opinion polls, with the economy stuttering out of recession, the Prime Minister not viewed favourably by the British electorate; but it’s just not happening for the Conservatives, they are simply not connecting with the British public.
Today's Daily Telegraph op-ed by Mary Riddell should send shock waves at CCHQ, with a strong argument made that Gordon Brown's standing as Prime Minister is rising, only because of his main hypothesis that making deep cuts to public spending too early will "cripple a vulnerable economy". This is counter to the argument made in Manchester by David Cameron at his party's conference who advocated immediate cuts to the deficit. The FT and The Guardian have run leading articles attacking David Cameron and George Osborne, with the FT "Tories in 'complete confusion' over cuts" focusing on the conflicting messages sent by various members of the Tory frontbench over public spending cuts.
The primary issue that must now be dealt with by Tory high-command is how to win over, a largely apathetic tired electorate, who regard all politicians as tinged with corruption and self-opportunism. David Cameron has less than 118 days to turn the campaign round of his party. Londoners have been hit hard by the recession, with record levels of taxation, rising crime, its time for clear and brave policies.
The Tories have to go out and speak to the people, argue their case, listen to the problems of the electorate and then understand what has to happen in government. If things continue as they are now, we are looking at 1992 again, with Cameron "doing a Kinnock" and fluffing it on the last lap.
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