Article

2005-05-02 Britain

U.K. Opposition in Freefall As Vote Nears

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Posted by Fred 2005-05-02 00:00:00|| || Front Page|| [1 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 I don't think the Conservatives are going to win this election.

Thing is that Blair has spent all his political capital with the backbenchers in his party over the last 8 years. All the *real* reforms, like getting the National Health Service in some semblance of order by introducing private capital, have been thwarted by the hard-left in his party. Gordon (financial prudence) Brown, the chancellor, will have to raise taxes to pay for his public spending plans. I do believe that this is the high point of the Labour party, Blair had a chance to bring the Labour party out its hard-left past. He blew it.

The Conservatives should concentrate on putting *real* blue water between them and Labour - for example, a flat tax, a strong defence, re-introduction of real civil liberties (the ones we've had in this country for 800-1000 years), disengagement from Europe, strong borders and privatisation of 'public' services (such as the NHS and the education system). Will they do it though?

Posted by Tony (UK) 2005-05-02 2:05:57 PM|| 2005-05-02 2:05:57 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 "Blue water" (distance) excellent.

Posted by Shipman 2005-05-02 2:13:33 PM|| 2005-05-02 2:13:33 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 Will they do it though?

They might start to think about it when (as seems likely) they lose yet again having spent too much effort trying to out-New Labour New Labour and little effort offering, as you say, a significantly different alternative. Perhaps it's also necessary for the statist Tory Old Guard to relinquish its grip on the party.

In another five years there might be an un-ignorable example set by those Eastern Europeans who have adopted flat taxation.

Howard's early campaign fixation on immigration killed the Tories chances, IMO.

Posted by Elmoluling Gratle5118 2005-05-02 2:27:16 PM|| 2005-05-02 2:27:16 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 Elmoluling was me.

Posted by Bulldog 2005-05-02 2:28:18 PM|| 2005-05-02 2:28:18 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 Tony's chances of changing Labour were amply demonstrated by Clinton's permanent changes to the Democrat party in the U. S. Now if only the Torys could find a Bush...

Posted by Mrs. Davis 2005-05-02 2:42:11 PM|| 2005-05-02 2:42:11 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 find a bush, oh yeah, thats the ticket. Count on Tony having a Monicagate to dominate the term before Gordon Browns first election. Then count on Gordon Brown being a stiff, wooden campaigner, who fails to directly take on the monicagate, but also avoids talking about economic gains under Labour. You want to find a Tory who will then proceed to win in a squeaker. I dont think even Howard is that bad. :)

Posted by Liberalhawk 2005-05-02 3:25:32 PM|| 2005-05-02 3:25:32 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 The economy should slide into the gutter during the next parliament, given Brown's continuing profligacy. I don't think we'll need a Monicagate to bring down the Labour government next time. The 'economic gains under Labour' are drying up.

Posted by Bulldog ">Bulldog 2005-05-02 19:34|| 2005-05-02 19:34|| Front Page Top

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