Letters From A Tory Daily views on British politics and the Conservative Party from a centre-right thinker who writes letters on his blog to politicians, journalists and many others.

Dear Rachel Sylvester,

Some of your points in today’s Telegraph voiced what a lot of people are feeling about Gordon Brown at this moment in time.  The confusion and disillusionment is there for all to see.

I certainly agree with your assessment of events over the last few months.  No-one seems quite sure who Gordon Brown is fighting these days; I’m not entirely convinced Gordon Brown knows who he is fighting.  He stormed into office with promises, sometimes supported by backing away from Blair’s policies such as super casinos,  in a clear attempt to fight off the shadow of Tony Blair’s reign as Prime Minister.  It was not long before he also started fighting the Conservatives, as exemplified over the conference season and beyond.  His need to steal policies was a huge feather in the cap for the Opposition, and shows how desperate he is to fight them off and nullify their threat. 

But amongst all the political posturing, the voters are still unsure of what he stands for, as he seems to spend a lot of time fighting himself.  He talks about British jobs for British workers, making him sound like a fascist, and yet behind the public persona he starts to reign back public service reform designed to introduce the market and refuses to lay a finger on the Tube, train and postal unions - conjuring images of a rampant socialist.  In theory, his simultaneous movements to the Left and Right cancel out and leave him somewhere in the Centre, but we just don’t know. 

The last thing a Prime Minister wants to do is sow seeds of doubt in the minds of the electorate.  At least with Tony Blair we knew where we stood; he was a lying, deceitful scumbag, but at least we knew that.  Gordon Brown is nothing more than an empty vessel floating on very choppy political waters.

With respect,

A.Tory