Comments on: Simon Heffer ignores the reality of the position that Cameron finds himself in http://www.lettersfromatory.com/2009/01/07/simon-heffer-ignores-the-reality-of-the-position-that-cameron-finds-himself-in/ 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. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 02:14:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Old Codger http://www.lettersfromatory.com/2009/01/07/simon-heffer-ignores-the-reality-of-the-position-that-cameron-finds-himself-in/#comment-5794 Old Codger Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:38:45 +0000 http://www.lettersfromatory.com/?p=1793#comment-5794 Dave is not winning, Gordon is losing, for now. In the event that Gordon loses sufficiently for Dave to be the next Prime Minister, appears likely at the moment but not inevitable, will the country be better off? I wonder. Tory policy appears little different to Labour and there is no indication that competence is any better. We could finish up worse off and the Tories out of power for a very long time. What is required are clear statements of Conservative policy and long term aims with the arguments to justify them followed by a plan of how to get there from here. Only then should these, possibly eye catching, bits be revealed along with how they fit into the grand plan. I am a pensioner, not poor but not rich either, a long way from paying surtax. How is this latest wheeze going to make a significant difference to me? Interests rates are near zero so the increased tax relief will be negligible. The increased age relief will be clawed back, just as the present relief is. Should he also exempt dividends the effect might just be noticeable but in the present climate few, if any, companies will be paying significant dividends. Appears to be copying New Labour, all headlines with nobody actually benefiting.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('5794','Old Codger'); return false;">Reply to this comment</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('5794','Old Codger','Dave is not winning, Gordon is losing, for now. In the event that Gordon loses sufficiently for Dave to be the next Prime Minister, appears likely at the moment but not inevitable, will the country be better off? I wonder. Tory policy appears little different to Labour and there is no indication that competence is any better. We could finish up worse off and the Tories out of power for a very long time.\r\n\r\nWhat is required are clear statements of Conservative policy and long term aims with the arguments to justify them followed by a plan of how to get there from here. Only then should these, possibly eye catching, bits be revealed along with how they fit into the grand plan.\r\n\r\nI am a pensioner, not poor but not rich either, a long way from paying surtax. How is this latest wheeze going to make a significant difference to me? Interests rates are near zero so the increased tax relief will be negligible. The increased age relief will be clawed back, just as the present relief is. Should he also exempt dividends the effect might just be noticeable but in the present climate few, if any, companies will be paying significant dividends. Appears to be copying New Labour, all headlines with nobody actually benefiting.'); return false;">Quote this comment</a></div> Dave is not winning, Gordon is losing, for now. In the event that Gordon loses sufficiently for Dave to be the next Prime Minister, appears likely at the moment but not inevitable, will the country be better off? I wonder. Tory policy appears little different to Labour and there is no indication that competence is any better. We could finish up worse off and the Tories out of power for a very long time.

What is required are clear statements of Conservative policy and long term aims with the arguments to justify them followed by a plan of how to get there from here. Only then should these, possibly eye catching, bits be revealed along with how they fit into the grand plan.

I am a pensioner, not poor but not rich either, a long way from paying surtax. How is this latest wheeze going to make a significant difference to me? Interests rates are near zero so the increased tax relief will be negligible. The increased age relief will be clawed back, just as the present relief is. Should he also exempt dividends the effect might just be noticeable but in the present climate few, if any, companies will be paying significant dividends. Appears to be copying New Labour, all headlines with nobody actually benefiting.

Reply to this comment – Quote this comment
]]> By: jameshigham http://www.lettersfromatory.com/2009/01/07/simon-heffer-ignores-the-reality-of-the-position-that-cameron-finds-himself-in/#comment-5777 jameshigham Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:03:59 +0000 http://www.lettersfromatory.com/?p=1793#comment-5777 The Conservatives seriously need a leader bit more importantly, a way to preselect so that real young talent comes forward and moves up in the process.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('5777','jameshigham'); return false;">Reply to this comment</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('5777','jameshigham','The Conservatives seriously need a leader bit more importantly, a way to preselect so that real young talent comes forward and moves up in the process.'); return false;">Quote this comment</a></div> The Conservatives seriously need a leader bit more importantly, a way to preselect so that real young talent comes forward and moves up in the process.
Reply to this comment – Quote this comment
]]> By: Bobsheadrevisited http://www.lettersfromatory.com/2009/01/07/simon-heffer-ignores-the-reality-of-the-position-that-cameron-finds-himself-in/#comment-5773 Bobsheadrevisited Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:33:16 +0000 http://www.lettersfromatory.com/?p=1793#comment-5773 Cameron is in a tricky position. If he were to announce bolder, more radical Thatcheresque policies, Labour would either steal them or accuse him of reverting to being a nasty Tory toff, and the press would tear Cameron a new arsehole. Instead, he is more cautious, and everyone accuses him of being a clueless, directionless suit. Actually it's easy to forget that many of his tirades against Brown have been superb. And he genuinely does seem to hate the man. I can appreciate his circumspection, but at some point he is going to have to step it up. Should he build up gradually, or wait till the election is announced, then go for it? Or not at all?<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('5773','Bobsheadrevisited'); return false;">Reply to this comment</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('5773','Bobsheadrevisited','Cameron is in a tricky position. If he were to announce bolder, more radical Thatcheresque policies, Labour would either steal them or accuse him of reverting to being a nasty Tory toff, and the press would tear Cameron a new arsehole. \r\n\r\nInstead, he is more cautious, and everyone accuses him of being a clueless, directionless suit. Actually it\'s easy to forget that many of his tirades against Brown have been superb. And he genuinely does seem to hate the man.\r\n\r\nI can appreciate his circumspection, but at some point he is going to have to step it up. Should he build up gradually, or wait till the election is announced, then go for it? Or not at all?'); return false;">Quote this comment</a></div> Cameron is in a tricky position. If he were to announce bolder, more radical Thatcheresque policies, Labour would either steal them or accuse him of reverting to being a nasty Tory toff, and the press would tear Cameron a new arsehole.

Instead, he is more cautious, and everyone accuses him of being a clueless, directionless suit. Actually it’s easy to forget that many of his tirades against Brown have been superb. And he genuinely does seem to hate the man.

I can appreciate his circumspection, but at some point he is going to have to step it up. Should he build up gradually, or wait till the election is announced, then go for it? Or not at all?

Reply to this comment – Quote this comment
]]> By: LFAT http://www.lettersfromatory.com/2009/01/07/simon-heffer-ignores-the-reality-of-the-position-that-cameron-finds-himself-in/#comment-5772 LFAT Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:37:55 +0000 http://www.lettersfromatory.com/?p=1793#comment-5772 You say that, Andrew, but do you remember how George Osborne found himself on the front pages for days just for talking with a rich Russian bloke? Imagine what would happen if he lost his job.... (don't forget that Mandelson and Campbell are back in town)<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('5772','LFAT'); return false;">Reply to this comment</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('5772','LFAT','You say that, Andrew, but do you remember how George Osborne found himself on the front pages for days just for talking with a rich Russian bloke? \n\nImagine what would happen if he lost his job.... \n(don\'t forget that Mandelson and Campbell are back in town)'); return false;">Quote this comment</a></div> You say that, Andrew, but do you remember how George Osborne found himself on the front pages for days just for talking with a rich Russian bloke?

Imagine what would happen if he lost his job….
(don’t forget that Mandelson and Campbell are back in town)

Reply to this comment – Quote this comment
]]> By: Shaun Pilkington http://www.lettersfromatory.com/2009/01/07/simon-heffer-ignores-the-reality-of-the-position-that-cameron-finds-himself-in/#comment-5771 Shaun Pilkington Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:37:21 +0000 http://www.lettersfromatory.com/?p=1793#comment-5771 I think the NoW readers know who Osbourne is due to the near constant interviews with the S&M hooker from the Bullingdon parties.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('5771','Shaun Pilkington'); return false;">Reply to this comment</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('5771','Shaun Pilkington','I think the NoW readers know who Osbourne is due to the near constant interviews with the S&M hooker from the Bullingdon parties.'); return false;">Quote this comment</a></div> I think the NoW readers know who Osbourne is due to the near constant interviews with the S&M hooker from the Bullingdon parties.
Reply to this comment – Quote this comment
]]> By: Andrew Duffin http://www.lettersfromatory.com/2009/01/07/simon-heffer-ignores-the-reality-of-the-position-that-cameron-finds-himself-in/#comment-5770 Andrew Duffin Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:22:56 +0000 http://www.lettersfromatory.com/?p=1793#comment-5770 You make some good points but I really don't see how moving Osbourne would be an "electoral disaster". Most people have no idea who he is, let alone what he thinks.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('5770','Andrew Duffin'); return false;">Reply to this comment</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('5770','Andrew Duffin','You make some good points but I really don\'t see how moving Osbourne would be an \"electoral disaster\". \r\n\r\nMost people have no idea who he is, let alone what he thinks.'); return false;">Quote this comment</a></div> You make some good points but I really don’t see how moving Osbourne would be an “electoral disaster”.

Most people have no idea who he is, let alone what he thinks.

Reply to this comment – Quote this comment
]]> By: The Great Simpleton http://www.lettersfromatory.com/2009/01/07/simon-heffer-ignores-the-reality-of-the-position-that-cameron-finds-himself-in/#comment-5769 The Great Simpleton Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:22:42 +0000 http://www.lettersfromatory.com/?p=1793#comment-5769 I'm not saying he should make earth shattering statements (I suppose that comment was misleading) just that what he has done, announce something that costs less than 1% of government spending isn't really that big a deal. Neither do I want to see him making grand sounding Thatcher like statements, that was a different problem at a different time. The problem with getting in to detail is that he is making himself a hostage to fortune. We all know that the economy is shot and probably worse that we realise. Many of us also think that the treatment that Gordon is handing out is likely to be making things worse, if not in the short term then definately in the long term. The danger is that when he gets in to No10 and opens the books they find the financial position is worse than they thought and have to abandon plans to make these cuts and possibly even increase taxes. As you all say, the MSM doesn't want to give them the benefit of the doubt so what will it look like if their first move is to renege on these commitments?<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('5769','The Great Simpleton'); return false;">Reply to this comment</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('5769','The Great Simpleton','I\'m not saying he should make earth shattering statements (I suppose that comment was misleading) just that what he has done, announce something that costs less than 1% of government spending isn\'t really that big a deal. Neither do I want to see him making grand sounding Thatcher like statements, that was a different problem at a different time.\r\n\r\nThe problem with getting in to detail is that he is making himself a hostage to fortune. We all know that the economy is shot and probably worse that we realise. Many of us also think that the treatment that Gordon is handing out is likely to be making things worse, if not in the short term then definately in the long term. The danger is that when he gets in to No10 and opens the books they find the financial position is worse than they thought and have to abandon plans to make these cuts and possibly even increase taxes.\r\n\r\nAs you all say, the MSM doesn\'t want to give them the benefit of the doubt so what will it look like if their first move is to renege on these commitments?'); return false;">Quote this comment</a></div> I’m not saying he should make earth shattering statements (I suppose that comment was misleading) just that what he has done, announce something that costs less than 1% of government spending isn’t really that big a deal. Neither do I want to see him making grand sounding Thatcher like statements, that was a different problem at a different time.

The problem with getting in to detail is that he is making himself a hostage to fortune. We all know that the economy is shot and probably worse that we realise. Many of us also think that the treatment that Gordon is handing out is likely to be making things worse, if not in the short term then definately in the long term. The danger is that when he gets in to No10 and opens the books they find the financial position is worse than they thought and have to abandon plans to make these cuts and possibly even increase taxes.

As you all say, the MSM doesn’t want to give them the benefit of the doubt so what will it look like if their first move is to renege on these commitments?

Reply to this comment – Quote this comment
]]> By: LFAT http://www.lettersfromatory.com/2009/01/07/simon-heffer-ignores-the-reality-of-the-position-that-cameron-finds-himself-in/#comment-5765 LFAT Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:59:37 +0000 http://www.lettersfromatory.com/?p=1793#comment-5765 Fair point, Bill. I have no problem with him weaving in some hints of Conservative philosophy, but now is certainly not the time to start praising the 'Thatcher glory days' Heffer-style.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('5765','LFAT'); return false;">Reply to this comment</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('5765','LFAT','Fair point, Bill. I have no problem with him weaving in some hints of Conservative philosophy, but now is certainly not the time to start praising the \'Thatcher glory days\' Heffer-style.'); return false;">Quote this comment</a></div> Fair point, Bill. I have no problem with him weaving in some hints of Conservative philosophy, but now is certainly not the time to start praising the ‘Thatcher glory days’ Heffer-style.
Reply to this comment – Quote this comment
]]> By: Bill Quango MP http://www.lettersfromatory.com/2009/01/07/simon-heffer-ignores-the-reality-of-the-position-that-cameron-finds-himself-in/#comment-5764 Bill Quango MP Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:58:21 +0000 http://www.lettersfromatory.com/?p=1793#comment-5764 The Tories have to be so very careful as the media does them no favours on policy.Dave was asked to justify how he would find the money. Being asked to explain where you would find a wallet full of cash, when the Prime Minister hasn't had to answer where he would find a vault full of cash, shows the problem of opposition. He should carry on mixing core and floating announcements and let the economy bash Labour's clients for them. It was a good announcement within the context of strategy as LFAT makes clear. He should have just tagged "Its the right thing to do" onto the end of it.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('5764','Bill Quango MP'); return false;">Reply to this comment</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('5764','Bill Quango MP','The Tories have to be so very careful as the media does them no favours on policy.Dave was asked to justify how he would find the money.\r\nBeing asked to explain where you would find a wallet full of cash, when the Prime Minister hasn\'t had to answer where he would find a vault full of cash, shows the problem of opposition.\r\nHe should carry on mixing core and floating announcements and let the economy bash Labour\'s clients for them.\r\n\r\nIt was a good announcement within the context of strategy as LFAT makes clear. He should have just tagged \"Its the right thing to do\" onto the end of it.'); return false;">Quote this comment</a></div> The Tories have to be so very careful as the media does them no favours on policy.Dave was asked to justify how he would find the money.
Being asked to explain where you would find a wallet full of cash, when the Prime Minister hasn’t had to answer where he would find a vault full of cash, shows the problem of opposition.
He should carry on mixing core and floating announcements and let the economy bash Labour’s clients for them.

It was a good announcement within the context of strategy as LFAT makes clear. He should have just tagged “Its the right thing to do” onto the end of it.

Reply to this comment – Quote this comment
]]> By: Shaun Pilkington http://www.lettersfromatory.com/2009/01/07/simon-heffer-ignores-the-reality-of-the-position-that-cameron-finds-himself-in/#comment-5762 Shaun Pilkington Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:05:03 +0000 http://www.lettersfromatory.com/?p=1793#comment-5762 Maybe I'm a weirdo (okay, no maybe about it) but I don't want eye-catching, earth-shattering policies. I want sensible solutions that propose rational policies, free from ideology and media grandstanding, that will leave our Country in a better economic state. If I want glitz and glamour I'll watch Celebrity Come Dancing and vote Labour!<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('5762','Shaun Pilkington'); return false;">Reply to this comment</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('5762','Shaun Pilkington','Maybe I\'m a weirdo (okay, no maybe about it) but I don\'t want eye-catching, earth-shattering policies. I want sensible solutions that propose rational policies, free from ideology and media grandstanding, that will leave our Country in a better economic state. If I want glitz and glamour I\'ll watch Celebrity Come Dancing and vote Labour!'); return false;">Quote this comment</a></div> Maybe I’m a weirdo (okay, no maybe about it) but I don’t want eye-catching, earth-shattering policies. I want sensible solutions that propose rational policies, free from ideology and media grandstanding, that will leave our Country in a better economic state. If I want glitz and glamour I’ll watch Celebrity Come Dancing and vote Labour!
Reply to this comment – Quote this comment
]]>