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 Allan Mallinson,

I think what surprised me most about your article in the Telegraph this morning was that you sounded surprised.  With Labour getting hammered in the polls week after week, it does not surprise me in the slightest that Gordon Brown is trying to appear more ‘British’ and provide some nice soundbites that suggest he gives a damn about the Armed Forces.

Cynical as it may be, Gordon Brown will obviously jump on any bandwagon he can to erase the memories of his government’s incompetence over the past few months.  The public have turned against him and he knows it.  When stuck in the middle of crisis, what safer way of trying to woo the public back to supporting the government than coming out in favour of our Armed Forces.  Thankfully after the debacle during conference season where he tried to play us all about the troop withdrawal from Iraq, people just don’t believe him anymore.  As you pointed out, his Christmas message to our troops rings hollow in their ears after years and years of underfunding and overstretching their resources as Chancellor.

I wish our troops a Merry Christmas, as I’m sure you do too.  Better luck next time, Gordon.

Yours sincerely,

A.Tory