David Cameron is trying to turn this month's Crewe and Nantwich by-election into a referendum on Gordon Brown's disastrous decision to abolish the 10p lower rate of tax. At his monthly press conference this morning before heading off to Crewe, he said: "The people of Crewe know that the more of them vote Conservative on May 22, the clearer the message will be for Gordon Brown to do more to help those who suffered from the 'tax con Budget'." He warned that if Labour wins, Gordon Brown will breathe a sigh of relief and tell Labour MPs demanding compensation for the losers from the change to "get lost".
You can hardly blame the Tory leader for shooting at an open goal. The 10p tax decision hurt Labour badly at last week's local elections. Despite the Tories' triumph, there's not a moment for Cameron to relax: he knows that the doubts about whether his party is yet a government-in-waiting will resurface if it doesn't overturn Labour's 7,078 majority in Crewe. Today he said it would be a "tall order" and even that his school report for parliamentary by-elections is "could do better".
Cameron was in confident mood at his press conference. But something was missing. He accepted that his party's policies would come under more scrutiny following last Thursday's elections. But he repeatedly refused to say what it would do to help those affected by the tax shake-up. Tactically, he is probably right to let Brown stew in his own juice. But I suspect the voters of Crewe (and elsewhere) will demand answers to the "Well, what would you do?" question. If the Tories are to maintain last week's momentum, they will need more convincing answers.
P.S. I was right! Cameron was accosted in Crewe by Nick Burn, an unemployed former teacher, who repeatedtly asked him whether he would promise to bring back the 10p tx rate. Cameron would not (as it would cost £7bn). Burn was unimpressed: "I just think he's jumped on a bandwagon, it's electioneering."
The way I see it Gordon Brown has stabbed himself in the front. In Japan I believe they call this Hara Kiri, in short, suicide. All Cameron and his supporters need to do on the doorsteps is keep reminding the low paid just how Labour took money from them in order to give the more comfortably off a tax break.
Posted by: Neil | Tuesday, 06 May 2008 at 01:38 PM
A shadow cabinet cannot come up with as detailed plans as a government with its hands on Whitehall. All they have to do is look half decent and not your fathers party.
Posted by: Steve Bush Cirencester | Tuesday, 06 May 2008 at 01:56 PM
I recommend that the 10p tax be kept but is Mr Cameron going to have a cabinet of sleaze free politicians? will they look at their expenses and agree with the country that they are well paid enough? Will we see any politician pay for their own pesion from the salary they receive and will we see real honesty and integrity?
I think the answer to that is already in everyones mind who reads this. NO!
Posted by: John Finningham | Tuesday, 06 May 2008 at 07:59 PM
Harold Wilson said that a week in politics is a long time Gordon Brown has gone from being the best Chancellor ever(according to labour) to Calamity Brown in just one week.
Posted by: ian McCann | Wednesday, 07 May 2008 at 04:10 PM