tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post5198259091370622780..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: The Challenge Facing David CameronIain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-57443190680739125632010-03-01T16:22:35.977+00:002010-03-01T16:22:35.977+00:00Thatcher was stupidly stubborn
Blair was stubborn...Thatcher was stupidly stubborn<br /><br />Blair was stubbornly stupid<br /><br />Cameron reckons he is Blair's heir.<br /><br />He is stupidly stupid.<br /><br />Tory electoral fortunes rest in England. However, Cameron barely mentions the words 'England' and 'English', unless it it is to disparage both.<br /><br />He sucks up to the Irish, Scots and Welsh promising them more and more. The Tories don't have a prayer in any of those places. To rub Celtic salt into the English post-devolution wound the Tories field Scottish, Welsh and non-British Irish candidates all over England.<br /><br />And they wonder why they are polling so badly.<br /><br />It's the English, stupid!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-28310984655867110552010-03-01T13:30:07.569+00:002010-03-01T13:30:07.569+00:00"I'll ask you again - why does Cameron to..."I'll ask you again - why does Cameron tolerate Osborne losing the argument on the economy when he has Clarke to call on?"<br /><br />Because Clarke agrees with the Government.Jimmyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01542633492362670045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-39278021658654115952010-03-01T09:53:17.374+00:002010-03-01T09:53:17.374+00:00@The Random Punter
Could it be because Ken would ...@The Random Punter<br /><br />Could it be because Ken would have us in the Euro before you could blink?Twighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16698620636313191152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-84005407367742377452010-03-01T01:26:12.050+00:002010-03-01T01:26:12.050+00:00Iain, I've asked several times about Osborne w...Iain, I've asked several times about Osborne without response. Several others have made the same point here. I'm prepared to believe that he's very intelligent and gifted, and I'm prepared to believe he may make a fine Chancellor.<br /><br />However, he has singularly failed to sell himself to the country as the best answer to our economic problems. He's not even managed to convince us of Brown's and Darling's uselessness. This will be an election fought on the economy and the Conservatives are losing the argument.<br /><br />All this while the last Tory chancellor, who bequeathed a great economy, is respected by the electorate and who can connect with the electorate, is being underused.<br /><br />I'll ask you again - why does Cameron tolerate Osborne losing the argument on the economy when he has Clarke to call on?The Random Punterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16862478828540538403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-7423428825603557792010-02-28T22:24:22.184+00:002010-02-28T22:24:22.184+00:00@Twig That's Ok I'll just point them in th...@Twig That's Ok I'll just point them in the direction of Hampstead HeathUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10574081059364644191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-22567842966793832402010-02-28T22:00:46.297+00:002010-02-28T22:00:46.297+00:00@Martin
"Anyone turning up at Dover hidden in...<i>@Martin<br />"Anyone turning up at Dover hidden in a lorry should be sent straight back to France. <br />If needed the port of Dover should be closed down."</i><br /><br /><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/dover-rallies-against-french-invasion-threat-1578279.html" rel="nofollow">Government sell-off plans could see the tricolour flying over Kent's white cliffs.</a><br /><br />Do keep up Martin.Twighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16698620636313191152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-4011232175016029622010-02-28T21:43:43.293+00:002010-02-28T21:43:43.293+00:00Stop being jittery, you lot. Opinion polls are clo...Stop being jittery, you lot. Opinion polls are closing because of lack of clarity on Tory plans. But the clarity will come during the campaign. We're going to win this, but we do need to stop bickering and face the enemy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-7831283081356341882010-02-28T21:14:11.809+00:002010-02-28T21:14:11.809+00:00The problem is this: Cameron has gone flat.
I am ...The problem is this: Cameron has gone flat.<br /><br />I am really sorry to say this, as I was an early supporter (before he became leader) but the parts of his speech shown on Sky News a few minutes ago had neither the content nor the tone to convince swing voters.<br /><br />Where is the positive, simple message? Lost in a mass of policy wonkery.Seanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03234085314662011091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-60014160533629443142010-02-28T20:55:52.939+00:002010-02-28T20:55:52.939+00:00Some more issues the Tories should address.
Don&#...Some more issues the Tories should address.<br /><br />Don't be like Labour and be afraid to say England when talking abut England.<br /><br />Commit to consultation on an English Parliament.<br /><br />Pledge to do something about the Barnett Formula that values Scots at >£1500 more per person, per year from central government than the English.<br /><br />Promise to attack British Govt inequality on prescription charges, tuition fees, care for the elderly, eye tests, dental check-ups, road tolls, school meals, council tax etc etc etc<br /><br />In short - make the change - stand for England.<br /><br />A big vote winner, and Labour with their record can't do a thing about it.Wyrdtimeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16640021224868439090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-48416953129331357092010-02-28T20:54:03.407+00:002010-02-28T20:54:03.407+00:00How do policy pledges rank against a "cast ir...How do policy pledges rank against a "cast iron guarantee"?<br /><br />Why are they not doing better? because the visible major shifts in policy have trailed public opinion by a mile, they appear no more competent than Noo Labor and, in many ways look like a poor imitation of Blair's Noo Labor.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01879760164934979224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-75765778247960103162010-02-28T20:50:08.214+00:002010-02-28T20:50:08.214+00:00Had Cameron a track record of a couple of years as...Had Cameron a track record of a couple of years as a credible opposition leader holding the Government to account he would have a bumper crop of performance to rest his shiny laurels on. He hasn't. The steamroller has largely squished them. The Conservatives, for whatever reason, have been consistently outplayed by this malicious, malevolent and miserable Government. Every argument has been on Labour terms. The Conservatives simply haven't done enough to get the media away from Labour.<br /><br />Were Dave to promise a referendum on the EU I'd vote Tory in a heartbeat.(And perhaps even a referendum every 10 years or two Parliaments so it is not saddling future generations with the decision of past ones.) It's a really, really easy way to get shedloads of support regardless of what Dave himself thinks the country should do.<br /><br />There are *no* downsides to having a referendum. If In we can get on with being good Europeans, fully committed to the Project and fully accepting that Westminster is less important and can be vastly slimmed down. If Out we can stop importing a load of nonsense from the Continent and insist that our directly elected representatives get on with the job they abandoned to unaccountable Eurocrats years ago. What is the EU, and Dave, so afraid of; hard work and democratic accountability?<br /><br />On financial matters again the Conservatives are losing the argument. George can be all for cutting. Cut loads. Cut hard and deep imo. The key thing to say is they'll cut waste. Labour have been in top form at controlling the language of political discourse by sticking with cuts = cuts in services. George could even take on that challenge and produce a big long list of services that taxpayers shouldn't even be funding like five a day monitors and real nappy co-ordinators. Hell, fake charities would be an ideal target. Why are taxpayers paying lobbygroups to lobby the government to make life more expensive and more miserable for taxpayers? Charity begins at home. We know best how to spend our money. Simple messages. If we want to donate we will. The Conservatives seem unable to play that game to such a fine degree. <br /><br />If they want public support for cuts the politicians need to own the decision making process rather than hand out arbitrary budget cuts that the bureaucrats will make sure get inflicted on the frontline services.(The pen pushers are never going to sack themselves.) Something, anything to show they are not only prepared to make decisions but take clear responsiblity for them. We have had enough of MPs using the EU as a handy patsy, using quangos as a whipping boy and any mug within arm's reach to distract from their own poor decisions.<br /><br />Ditch the AGW rubbish. Wind turbines are not the future. 'Green jobs' are a cost not a benefit. Commit now to nuclear power and loads of it for reasons of energy security. Tried and tested designs please not ones which no other bugger dares build or that private enterprise wants taxpayers to fund the prototypes thankyou. How about some more hydroelectric plants? Any plans to build new roads? Freeze fuel duties.(They alone already raise far more money than even UN approved levels of green taxes should). If the Conservatives want Britain to get back on it's feet making life more expensive for everyone is not the way to do it.<br /><br />Dave and the Conservative Party represent a change of face not a change of direction. That is the problem. Fighting the 1997 election 13 years late is doing no one any good.<br /><br />The comment from Dylan Jones-Evans is also bang on the money. It doesn't matter how many or how good the Conservatives policies are if you are no good at getting the message across, which does require highlighting what your opponent will not do as much as what you will do. Putting the policies into a Labour context is perhaps the missing piece of the Conservative strategy. What have Labour done? What won't Labour do? Why are Labour wrong?Garethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11182144080955551878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-57289008936847879282010-02-28T20:16:49.680+00:002010-02-28T20:16:49.680+00:00@danbrusca: Written like a typical liberal. Can I ...@danbrusca: Written like a typical liberal. Can I ALSO point out that people are supposed to claim asylum at the first safe country they arrive at, NOT I repeat NOT travel through half of western Europe to queue up at Calais trying to hop on a lorry over to the UK. you left that bit out of your mad ramble.<br /><br />Anyone turning up at Dover hidden in a lorry should be sent straight back to France. If needed the port of Dover should be closed down.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10574081059364644191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-33109612815111087802010-02-28T20:07:38.125+00:002010-02-28T20:07:38.125+00:00barnacle bill: Correct, the Tories decline in the ...barnacle bill: Correct, the Tories decline in the polls started when Cameron went back on his word, people expected it from McBust but Cameron made it a CAST IRON PROMISE.<br /><br />All Cameron had to do was say we'll have the referendum and if people vote it down we'll raise hell in Europe and there's nothing Liebour or the Limp Dems can do as the people have voted for it.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10574081059364644191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-4878604892827707502010-02-28T20:06:47.567+00:002010-02-28T20:06:47.567+00:00"1. Replace Osborne with Ken Clarke"
Wh..."1. Replace Osborne with Ken Clarke"<br /><br />Why Osborne rather than Cameron?<br /><br />How serious are you about winning?Jimmyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01542633492362670045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-19522795782377141772010-02-28T20:05:30.163+00:002010-02-28T20:05:30.163+00:00jaybs: Spot on there are too many wet Tories getti...jaybs: Spot on there are too many wet Tories getting airtime, Pickles, the dopey woman (can't remember her name the one with the shoes), Osborne, Gove and Hammond. The Tories have few decent attack dogs, Hague and Clarke are the only two that can take on the likes of fat boy Prescott and Mandy.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10574081059364644191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-20938124202258508532010-02-28T19:43:31.044+00:002010-02-28T19:43:31.044+00:00Your problem(s)
*Gideon
*Gove
*IDS
*and especiall...Your problem(s)<br /><br />*Gideon<br />*Gove<br />*IDS<br />*and especially ...HagueJimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08154883691100377834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-77853551419382398142010-02-28T19:41:07.197+00:002010-02-28T19:41:07.197+00:00Iain,
As for opinion polls, do try taking a stati...Iain,<br /><br />As for opinion polls, do try taking a statistics course sometime, and learn why many polls and surveys, particularly those with biased samples, loaded questions, false causality and data manipulation are not taken seriously by statisticians.happyukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02459558077829920642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-90381036133445310472010-02-28T19:40:51.797+00:002010-02-28T19:40:51.797+00:00Ive had to resort to ID as Guido is now restricted...Ive had to resort to ID as Guido is now restricted. Freedom etc etc<br /><br />JONAN CAMERON STRIKES AGAIN. ALL OVER THE PRESS IN BIRMINGHAM LAST WEEK, DECLARING TO BE A VILLA FAN !!<br /><br />Hope to connect with Worcs woman and midlands man<br /><br />YEAH thanks DAVE 2-1 ...JONAN.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08154883691100377834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-79534536044099055442010-02-28T19:19:47.542+00:002010-02-28T19:19:47.542+00:00Just to be clear, I have never not allowed a comme...Just to be clear, I have never not allowed a comment from you.Iain Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-41142522855905919322010-02-28T19:18:32.863+00:002010-02-28T19:18:32.863+00:00I posted on a previos topic that:
"The probl...I posted on a previos topic that:<br /><br />"The problem is Osborne."<br /><br />That post was not allowed.<br /><br />I have to say that I also cringe every time Osborne appears on TV.<br /><br />It's probably too late now to change him for KC but please, please keep Osborne out of it as much as possible.<br /><br />Maybe, just maybe, you will allow this post this time and the advice will be heeded.<br /><br />Another problem where have the Conservatives been these last few weeks. A strong media presence is required every day.Jim Arnotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14356635992356879870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-81834963365904974502010-02-28T18:36:23.921+00:002010-02-28T18:36:23.921+00:00@MoK
"...the Tories face the very real possib...@MoK<br /><i>"...the Tories face the very real possibility of another five years in opposition."</i><br /><br />Do you call that opposition?<br />The LibDems put up more opposition than the Tories and they're basically the Labour wets!<br /><br />Get Nigel Farage in there and then you'll see what opposition means.Twighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16698620636313191152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-74392962386636656192010-02-28T18:30:27.041+00:002010-02-28T18:30:27.041+00:00I do get concerned how weak Michael Gove comes ove...I do get concerned how weak Michael Gove comes over as, he may be a thinker but not a communicator same with George Osborne.<br /><br />At least Ken and William come over as strong! in the Campaign itself when it starts we must Use our best communicators to get our policy over!jaybshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11517623111345462638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-2591027687164916592010-02-28T18:26:47.977+00:002010-02-28T18:26:47.977+00:00I always had my doubts about Cameron, believing hi...I always had my doubts about Cameron, believing him to just be Blair-lite, but kept these doubts to myself in the hopes he might mature into a half decent leader.<br />Unfortunately as soon as he reneged on his Lisbon Treaty referendum promise, I knew he was just another fecking politician after my vote.<br />Not a man of principle, nor having the backbone to stand up for his country.<br />Probably more interested in the gravy boat than the gravy train.Barnacle Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17257546424880537005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-68053808731006183532010-02-28T18:26:17.652+00:002010-02-28T18:26:17.652+00:00@John Hunt
"...a manifesto pledge to suspend...@John Hunt<br /><br />"...a manifesto pledge to suspend all asylum claims indefinitely and summarily reject all outstanding claims would get the Tories 20 points in the space of 48 hours."<br /><br />Aside from the fact it <i>wouldn't</i> have that large an effect (though it would have some), it would also breach article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 1951 UN Convention on the Status of refugees, EU directive 2003/9/EC on the minimum standards for the reception of asylum seekers, among other instruments of international law.<br /><br />It's a mark of a civilised society that we honour both our international obligations and our obligations to those with a genuine case to be granted asylum. To suggest withdrawal from those obligations would make the Conservative party no better than the BNP.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17061130472980076141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-64789664375219704442010-02-28T18:08:41.002+00:002010-02-28T18:08:41.002+00:00It looks like most people simply do not know what ...It looks like most people simply do not know what the conservative stand for anymore. May I suggest sticking your 11 bullet points on billboards all over the country? Lots of warm whoolly words are no substitute for laying out policies. People are not daft. But they do need to know what is on offer.Bill (Transcriber)https://www.blogger.com/profile/15619489315159751657noreply@blogger.com