In the Daily Telegraph today, he makes a case for traditional Tory values, distancing himself from New Labour thinking.
Thank goodness for common sense, at last. But what caused this? Was it the threat by Professor Tim Congdon to defect to Ukip? Perhaps the news that one major Tory donor has had a meeting with Nigel Farage of Ukip, while another is considering voting Ukip?
Whatever it was, David Cameron has emerged in the Daily Telegraph, heaping praise on Margaret Thatcher, and associating himself with her legacy.
What an about-face of dizzying implications. This, remember, is the same David Cameron who has used every opportunity in the past to distance himself from the Thatcher legacy (see here, for example). What’s the matter, David? Have you now discovered that the Blair mantle wasn’t as desirable as you had first thought? You believed it to have been knit from the purest wool, but have now discovered it to be no more than a threadbare, filthy rag.
But I must not be cynical. I am glad you have seen the light, David. The only thing is, I remain unconvinced about the strength of your ‘conversion’. To prove yourself the heir of Thatcher, there are a few things to which you must commit. For starters, commit yourself to a low tax economy, and to the building of more grammar schools. Do that first, and I will begin to take you seriously.
January 15th, 2007 at 4:39 pm
Telling it like it is as always Bel. Good stuff. I just wonder how sincere he is and whether he’s left it too late?
January 15th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
Thank, UKDP
I hope for his sake he hasn’t left it too late. Reading the article, I got the distinct impression that he was talking to only one group of people, those on the Right who may be considering defecting to Ukip. Somehow I doubt whether such people are easily moved by a few platitudes, some genuflection towards Lady T, plus a few anti-New Labour words.
He will have to try harder.
January 15th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
Whatever it was, David Cameron has emerged in the Daily Telegraph, heaping praise on Margaret Thatcher, and associating himself with her legacy.
What an about-face of dizzying implications.
This is themost worrying thing about the man. He shifts position so quickly, for pragmatic reasons, precisely as Blair did. The most enduring Tory leaders always came on strong with basic principles which they refused to deviate from.
January 15th, 2007 at 10:04 pm
read Newmania’s defence of DC at Croydonian.. Is very good, almost convincing.
January 15th, 2007 at 10:32 pm
‘threadbare, filthy rag’ ……….Bel there’s nobody better!
January 16th, 2007 at 6:18 am
I’ve been trying to think about how to post on this subject, you’ve covered it pretty well here, so it’s difficult to write anything myself now.
January 16th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
The right man for Cameron to model himself on, who showed the clear direction for the future of the Conservative Party has unfortunately left politics after his own party rejected him and elected the hapless IDS.
That man was Michael Portillo. Portillo showed you could reinterpret old fashioned small state yet inclusive policies in a post-thatcher world without ‘hugging a hoodie’ or riding around London on a bicycle. He was a man with style, charisma and intelligence, but seen as a bit too flash by the old guard and the blue rinse brigade. Nevertheless he was able to speak to people like myself who incline to market liberal policies, but also socially liberal policies, believing the two to be linked and not mutually incompatible.
I look at the squiggly tree and I ask myself would I put my cross by it? The torch never put me off!!
And I’m under thirty!!!
Touchy feely is all very well but we do want to see someone who likes like they can lead the world’s fifth largest economy- someone with some grit.
If Cameron had any sense, he would start asking for Portillo’s advice. He would be a better guru than the focus group clique that lead him by the nose at the moment.
If Twigg hadn’t won southgate in 97…