Blog 2023 Malcolm Blair-Robinson

An idea to stimulate economic growth without further government borrowing. Written in plain English and very easy to follow, this is the only really fresh approach out there to the intractable problems of the UK economy, and it is just beginning to be noticed in important places. Buy! 

Kindle or Paperback  UK        US                

There is no doubt that the Tories began with the better campaign theme and a clear message. They had a narrative that Labour lacked, but it is becoming pretty clear as the days go by that they are losing their advantage among the floating votes they must gain to win.  The simplistic and negative derision of everything Labour says or does with the word ‘chaos’ flying everywhere, is just not good enough for a modern sophisticated electorate distrustful of politicians with access to its own information. This is playing into Milliband’s hands as both his personal rating and polling shows improvement.

Take today’s cry that Labour will bargain Trident away to get the Scot Nats to support them in Downing Street. First this is a Tory invention and second guessing other party’s policies is the game of political fools. Second Sturgeon has said  that her party would vote against a Trident renewal. Most of the Labour party would vote for it as would most of the Tories, the DUP and any UKIP, so it would pass anyway in a hung parliament. Third a good chunk of the electorate, and especially the floaters, think it a waste of money. An even bigger chunk would agree if money goes to Trident instead of their public services. The Tory core vote applauds this stuff but that core vote is nowhere near big enough any longer to win an election. It all depends on the floaters.  So today is without doubt a wasted Tory day.

The campaign headquarters of the Tory party needs to pull itself together  and organize a campaign built around the dynamics of 2015, not the nineteen fifties. This is not Australia. I know quite a bit about Australian politics, which are clunky and old fashioned and driven often by fear of the future and prejudice about new ideas. I heard one politician declare in 2012 ‘who wants broadband?’

Cameron and Osborne need to take a serious audit of affairs then sit down with Lynton Crosby and tell him to measure up or go home. That is if they want to win. They still can. I think.