Labour to attack the "same old Tories"

CS

***They believe in unfettered free markets, cuts in public services to fund tax cuts for the richest, and a smaller, less effective government.***

Swap "smaller" for "bigger" and that quote is almost a definition of the current government.

Mike. Brighton

On the basis of the Guardian article, this attack will only increase Tory support from those seeking an alternative to the failed big government and the "man in Whitehall knowing best" approach that we have had for the fast 11 years.
Accusing us Tories of believing in free markets, tax cuts and a smaller MORE effective goverment is like accusing a fish of being wet. Thanks for the free PR....!

Bruce, UK

Labour are the nasty party, 10p anyone?

Ted Tedford

I think Britain would be far stronger if the 'we' of the article - the Labour party, and all their pinch-faced, spiteful, killjoy accomplices in the news media - did indeed stand alone, on the electoral naughty step, and for as long as it takes until they are prepared to act like adults.

Alex

I may have said this before but ... maybe Labour should concentrate their energies on Governing, as opposed to spending an inordinate amount of time attacking the opposition?

... just a thought

BCS

The fatal flaw in this Labour attack is that it is directed against Thatcherite conservatism, and Cameron is not a Thatcherite conservative. He emerged from, and seems to espouse, a more High Tory paternalist politics very different from the philosophy caricatured in the Labour briefing.

Puncheon

Alex - You are right. Someone needs to point out to Brown, Balls et al that the job of Government is to govern, not attack the opposition. It is the job of the opposition to attack the Government. They have only got away with this nonsense so far largely because of the partiality of the mainstream media and the incompetence or worse of the Speaker. They are truly pathetic - they are presiding over the worst economic disaster in living memory and all they can think of is more attacks on the opposition party.

John Page

So the "smaller government" theme continues. Ed Miliband got memorably skewered by John Humphrys when he claimed the Tories were the party of small government, Humphrys simply asking him, "So you believe in big government, do you?" - leaving Miliband floundering. This rubric seems quite easy to rebut.

john miller

The problem with the Labour Party is that they never really recovered from being put into government.

The eternal opposition has never been comfortable in office.

I'm sure they will be really effective again in the period 2010 to 3010...

Nick Kaplan

I hope Labour are right, the only reason I am planning on voting conservative at the next election is because I believe the changes are merely cosmetic. If it turns out the Tories are now genuinely “compassionate conservatives” (a sad euphemism for closet socialist) I will be forced to switch my allegiance to UKIP.

Liz Brown

I think that we have all seen where big government and high taxes have lead us and it certainly won't be leading those, misguided enough, to have voted for this ghastly lot in the past, into voting for them again. The sooner zanulab buggers off, the better we shall all feel

Marian C

Alex & Puncheon - well said, I agree with both your comments.

Oscar

This is yet another sign that the Brown camp are retreating to their comfort zone and that Stephen Carter has been well and truly sidelined. If this is to be their line of attack then there's yet more reason for rejoicing in Conservative ranks.

Cogito Ergosum

'Cameron's popularity and the "decontamination" of the Tory brand both seem solid enough', writes Hoskin. They were not very solid last summer and could evaporate as quickly as they appeared.

The europhobe sentiment that prevails in the party is seen by many uncommitted people as a narrow selfishness that disqualifies them from government. Cameron realises this even if he is far from pro-europe, and therefore wishes to keep that topic hushed up.