Should the Tories lie low?

mac

Jenkins would be extremely hard pressed to find a historical precedent for this profane New Labour project with lying and spinning its sole guiding precept, and including as it does a menagerie of ministers who are so cynical, consumingly ideological, mendacious and/or inept.

The Tories certainly should not 'do nothing', and mustn't give free rein to the spin of Mandelson and Campbell.

Gordon Musgo

It's a sad perspective the the actions of the opposition should be dictated only by political advantage or the lack of it. The duty of the Opposition is to oppose. That's why shadow cabinet memebers get more money than run of the mill MPs. There is a constitutional duty to be satisfied. If the government is screwing up, somebody has to say so, in parliament, on the record.

Gordon Musgo

Oh yeah, forgot to say, why the FH should the tories take any notice of what Simon Jenkins says, or anybody else from the Guardian for that matter?

Thomas Cussans

Lying low is about the worst thing the Conservatives should do. Osborne above all must tackle the McManiac and his cohorts head on. This, after all, is what another shadow chancellor, one Gordon Brown, was spectacularly effective in doing.

Think back to sterling's ignominious exit from the ERM in 1992. Gordo, in the face of continuing opposition from large sections of the Labour party, was a fearsome advocate of the ERM. When the policy crashed, he was left in the position of having to attack the government for a policy he had aggressively supported.

His response was classic Brown: to emphasize the 'huge gulf' – his words – between the Labour and Conservative economic policies when, in fact, none existed.

Osborne needs to be aggressive in this way, not least as he will have the advantage of not lying through his teeth as Gordo so shamelessly did in 1992.

Ben

As a Tory voter I wonder whether it is no bad thing in the long run if Labour wins the next election, just like John Major won in 1992. I think the medicine this country will have to take in the next five years will be so painful that it could put Labour out for a generation after 2014.

I dont think that anyone has the solution to the problems we are about to face. Labour dont deserve to win the next election. They have ruined this country.

Let them feel the pain and stress another five years in government with a small majority. I will enjoy seeing them squirm. I would not like to see David Cameron go through that.

I am not too bothered anymore. My children have left this country as has many of their friends.

Slim Jim

What they must do is highlight the 'eye-watering' levels of debt that this nation is incurring. They must also prepare for the 'Tory cuts' attacks from the incompetents. Emphasis should be on fiscal responsibility and exposing the myriad scams and cronyism (quangos, consultants, procurement contracts, etc.) and the absolute waste of taxpayers' money that could be eliminated WITHOUT affecting service delivery. Use FOI requests to government departments and expose the reckless expenditures. Rich pickings, and the public will appreciate HONESTY. Above all though, the media must support this and stop falling for the spin.

ChrisD

"Political commentators have widely attributed Cameron's fall to the vagaries of his economic policy and the vacillations of Osborne. History offers no support for this analysis. It suggests that the behaviour of an opposition at such a time is irrelevant."

I was a keen follower of politics back when we had the ERM crisis, but, even I had almost forgotten who was shadow chancellor back then. But not quite, George take heart!
And although I still have vivid memories of the big players in government and the unfolding drama on that crazy day. I have not the faintest memory of Labour's position or behaviour during or after that period at all.

The media here built up a wonderful narrative of Brown as some sort of global superhero, saw some classic examples of it too.
They moaned about the lack of response from the Tories at the height of it. I still think that Cameron and Osborne called it right during the Banking crisis etc.

And I predict that a few months from now, no one will remember who said what, when at this time.
Recession will be here, and we will be too busy trying to deal with it.

Governments implement their economic policies, and that is why they get hammered when it goes wrong.
ERM = loss of the Tories reputation for economic competence. On hindsight, the upsides of what happened afterwards, and the golden legacy inherited by Brown was never really trumpeted or appreciated. But that's life.

CS

How about a gentleman's agreement not to use the word "narrative" on Coffee House for a period of six months? Of course, that'd halve the number of pieces written for Coffee House but you can't make an omelette without a spatula.

Ian Walker

I think the response to the 'Tory Cuts' charge should be to, judo-like, absorb it and turn it to your advantage.

Every time Labour brings it up, just say "Absolutely! Tories would cut police paperwork and get bobbies out on the streets. Tories would cut unnecessary middle management from hospitals and spend the money on patients, doctors and nurses. Tories would cut the armies of bin patrollers, dog mess inspectors and catchment area spies that criminalize decent law-abiding people. And maybe, when we've made all those sensible cuts, we'll have a bit left over for a sensible, properly funded tax cut, rather than Labour's pathetic electoral bribe that our children will have to pay for."

Tiberius

I think Jenkins is right.

I've opined before that time is the Tories' friend in this crisis. And if Brown did go to the country early, I think the hustings would allow the Tories to move the polls back in their favour, as they are able to concentrate on the issues that have been so well argued on here. So I think the odds are against an early election.

I have found the QT audience to be a reliable source of opinion over the last 11 years. Last night, all the more so that is was in Scotland, Labour were clearly out of favour, this despite Phillip Hammond failing to put up a convincing argument against the Keynsian option, particularly against Mel, who seems to have swallowed Brown's arguments hook. line, and sinker.

So Osborne has got to put in a performance and a half next week, to give the new Tory policy the credibilty it deserves. There is no opt out there.

Then let Labour take the flak for what is surely to come, with the odd intervention that if only they had chosen our new policy...

John Ware

If the Tories truly believe that the Government's policies are wrong, they should oppose them constantly and vociferously, whatever the short-or long-term political cost.
If on the other hand they are not sure what they think, they should stay stumm

Nicholas

I have noticed too, exemplified by QT, that Labour are increasingly peddling the spin that to speak out against them, particularly on the economy and what they have done to our society, is "playing party politics" and/or somehow unpatriotic. Both Murphy and the Lib Dem panel member spoke indignantly when Phillip Hammond used the toxic phrase "broken society" and accused him of "playing party politics". I might understand that from Murphy who personifies New Labour arrogance and hubris - but from the Lib Dems?

Gordon Musgo makes a very valid point about the duties of the opposition and it is frustrating to see how the very concept of parliamentary opposition is being twisted to silence by this government and stupid mouthpieces who bleat about "punch and judy politics".

I was appalled to watch Melanie Phillips launch a blistering attack, not against the Labour government but against the Tories. With friends like this David Cameron needs no enemies.

JONNY

'As a Tory voter I wonder whether it is no bad thing in the long run if Labour wins the next election'

What 5 more years of Brown and Labour?
In regard to that one Ben, I suspect you may be in a minority of one.

Travis Bickle

Good grief, 5 more years of Brown and his tinkering, interfering, intrusive and completely clueless cohorts. Go and sit in a darkened room Ben, before you do someone some serious damage in that state of mind.

Summer

The Conservatives' job is to oppose. To hold this Government to account, and stand up for us.

Labour and their media henchmen must not be allowed to spin the lie that they 'must be obeyed' and not opposed - is that what Simon Jenkins wants?

If Cameron and Co don't speak out then we are an autocracy. And they have to get rid of the lie that they are playing party politics, whilst Labour are thinking of the country. The opposite is true.

Get out there Tories and attack, as far as I am concerned this is war - Labour vs the British people.

jennywren

Oh Ben! I'm sorry but if they win again we're leaving the country and taking what of our assets remain with us.
It may be irrelevant to the ultimate outcome of the election but the opposition must oppose!

Ray

The truth is it requires a bit of both.

The Conservatives should vigorously oppose the Government for its general incompetence on the economy, immigration, law and order, etc, whilst remaining as vague as they can until closer to the general election. That way, their specific policy ideas will remain fresh in the voters' memories. Meanwhile, let Tory MPs have hours of fun taunting Brown as the recession bites and his credibility implodes.

After all, this strategy seemed to work for New Labour between 1994 and 1997.

Philip Wright

I don't think that "lying low" is really the right strategy as, for sure if they, the mendacious Brown and his spin machine will point to this as either a) the Tories tacitly agreeing with NuLabour's strategy, or more likely b) that they have no credible alternative solution to offer.

Where I do agree with Jenkins is that there may be limited electoral advantage for an opposition party at times like this as they have no real power to do anything for the ailing economy. However, the Tories must offer up a cogent and strong narrative as to the dangers of what Brown and Darling are proposing and continue to press home these points the closer we come to the next election. This would be even more important if Brown were to call a snap election early in the New Year. Not to construct a strong anti-debt and waste narrative now building to a crescendo at the election would leave the danger of the public seeing Cameron as being purely opportunistic.

BTW I don't think it likely that Brown will call a snap election as he is a great big fearty, but like last year when he took over as PM I think this is the only way he is ever likely to win.