Cameron fires a broadside at ‘petty’ Brown
David Blackburn 10:43am
David Cameron has written an apoplectic editorial in the Times condemning Gordon Brown’s partisan hijacking of the Queen’s Speech. Here is the key section:
As details of Labour's strategy emerge, accompanied by yet more calls for spending increases, it is clear that Labour is heading left. Some of their proposals are admirable but unworkable; others are merely cynical. It is impossible to object to free homecare for 350,000 of the neediest people except on the grounds that such initiatives are peacetime luxuries. On the other hand, hikes in national insurance and Tobin taxes endanger recovery for the sake of Labour patching things up with its cuckolded core vote - a strategy designed solely to limit defeat.‘We are mired in the deepest and longest recession since the Second World War, with deep social problems and a political system that is held in contempt. The State Opening of Parliament tomorrow ought to be about radical ideas to deal with this triple crisis.Instead, by all accounts, the Queen’s Speech will be little more than a Labour press release on palace parchment. Don’t take my word for it. As The Times reported yesterday, a Cabinet minister has been boasting about the contents of the speech. What was said? That it was the most ambitious since Labour had come to power? That it was the most likely to help the poorest in our society? No. The boast was that this will be “the most political Queen’s Speech for 12 years”. Apparently, it’s all going to be about dividing lines between Gordon Brown and the Conservatives.
That tells you all you need to know about the character of this Government — and, indeed, this Prime Minister. Dig deeper into any of his plans and you’ll find pettiness masquerading as principle. What we need is radicalism and the Conservatives have proved that we are the only party to possess it.’
Certainly Cameron is correct to be so angered that the Queen's Speech is to be used for electioneering, but he need not worry about such self-service. The most recent ICM poll puts the Tories 13 points clear, despite Gordon Brown’s insistence that we’ll wake up in six months time and find ourselves in a land of milk and honey. The centre ground has not bought the government’s rather obviously sugared pills.
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Draft Crunt
November 17th, 2009 11:17am Report this commentI see a major difference in your definition of apoplexy to mine. That seems to be a very measured and considered condemnation of the politicisation of the Queen's Speech, to me.
But, then, I'm not a Labour luvvy.........
Alfred T Mahan
November 17th, 2009 11:20am Report this commentIt most certainly is possible to object to free home care for 350,000 of the neediest people - a National Care Service as proposed by Labour will end up as an inefficient monster just as the NHS has. It's a truly terrible idea. It's only merit is that it suckers in the naive who can think warm comfortable thoughts about helping the poor and sick. But there are better ways to look after them, believe me.
Dorothy Wilson
November 17th, 2009 11:25am Report this commentApart from anything else it is an insult to the poor Queen forcing her to read out such garbage.
peter
November 17th, 2009 11:31am Report this commentWouldn't it be marvellously unconstitutional for the Queen to state that as she finds the speech at odds with the nation's interests she is unable to read it at the State Opening of Parliament. In fact it is interesting to speculate what might pass between the Queen and her First Minister at this afternoon's audience.
A J Scott
November 17th, 2009 11:34am Report this commentOne hopes the Queen's Private Secretary will put the kybosh on this: but has the legal/constitutional adviser to HM got the balls to deal with it? Presumably it is not the Noble Baroness Scotland??
Michael
November 17th, 2009 11:36am Report this commentI don;t care Dave. I still won't vote Conservative because of your dissembling over the Lisbon Treaty. You should have been raising merry hell about this 6 months and rousing the people to force an early election on the basis of this critical moment of loss of sovereignty. We could then have had our referendum but you didn't want that so you soft soaped Brown because it suited you to blame him for Lisbon. I for one will vote UKIP unless something radical changes. As will my brother, father and just about every friend I have. You can dismiss me as a Little Englander if you like but you'd be wrong. I'd rather see Brown bring the house down with another term so we can effect some real change than just a touch on the tiller from a snake oil salesman.
Bob Dixon
November 17th, 2009 11:38am Report this commentAs labour has ignored the constitution could the queen take a sickie?
Kevyn Bodman
November 17th, 2009 11:45am Report this commentThis is nonsense.
Political parties should welcome their opponents putting clear divisions between them,especially in the run-up to an election.
In fact they should be setting out those differences and divisions clearly themselves.
This is a great opportunity for Cameron but it looks as if he is going to blow it.
The Bellman
November 17th, 2009 11:50am Report this commentGreat. I bet almost as many people read The Times oped pages as watch PMQs.
On the subject of PMQs, the Glashuette advertisements peppered throughout the magazine say 'sponsors PM question time'. Can this not be corrected? It looks very sloppy, and doesn't exactly fill you with hopes for the accuracy and precision of the product, which must be a bit awkward for an horologist
Stepney
November 17th, 2009 11:53am Report this commentIn light of Peter White's* outburst yesterday surely Labour should be introducing this as the Vermin's speech?
* Labour Candidate for Havering Council
Frizby
November 17th, 2009 12:03pm Report this commentCould Prince Philip top up her morning brew with a few drams of the good stuff and switch her speech to read: "I am going... hic... to dissolve ... cup.... Parliament... as is the wish of the people... [gaining clarity and bolstered by "hear hear-ing" in the background]... let's have an election and get this rotten corrupt mob out! [aside] Do I still have the power to exile morons?
Victor Southern
November 17th, 2009 12:09pm Report this commentBrown will tax employment still further by his NI increase at a time when the reverse should be happening.
In return he promises an unaffordable level of home care for the disabled and very aged. This is totally cynical since we know full well that he will not be around to implement it and we also know that there is no money to do this with. It is just constructing a rod with which to beat the Tories when they announce a necessary row back on this policy.
From day 1 Labour has always governed with party interests first and national interests last. In between came patronage and personal aggrandisement.
JONNY
November 17th, 2009 12:20pm Report this commentcameron's blowing it so much Kevin Bodman that the Guiardian tells us (with what reluctance you might try to imagine
Tiberius
November 17th, 2009 12:23pm Report this comment"Labour politicizes the monarchy as well as the civil service" shock.
Surely another reason,if one were needed, for overlooking them in the Speccie awards?
JONNY
November 17th, 2009 12:26pm Report this commentuh uh uh I was trying to say (before my piece was untimely ripped)...........
that Cameron is so far from 'blowing it' as Kevin Bodman suggests
that the Guardian (with what extreme reluctance you might imagine) announces today that he is well on his way to
'sealing the deal'.
Knocking the Scottish oaf out of the ring on all the key leadership essentials.
Ian Walker
November 17th, 2009 12:32pm Report this commentThe queen could refuse to read it, on the basis that she is entitled to freedom of expression by the ECHR.
I wish she would just walk in, declare the current govermnent's actions to be treasonable, and dissolve parliament. It might cause a constitutional crisis, but surely if a constitution is worth anything, it should protect the country from the scorched earth policies of the outgoing Labour scum.
Verity
November 17th, 2009 1:07pm Report this commentCAMERON FIRES …
Michael, no way would Cameron raise merry hell about Lisbon. He is committed to the EUSSR and committed to getting his seat at the top table after his notional term – which won’t happen – as prime minister of the province of Britain. Cameron is self-centred, greedy and more than a little bit thick.
Holly ......
November 17th, 2009 3:42pm Report this commentYou can always tell a leftie by the PERSONAL attacks on a person.
They are unable to state their case...usually because there isn't one, so make personal jibes.
A little more elucidation please.
Cast Iron Blah.
November 17th, 2009 4:28pm Report this commentWhere have the big people gone?. What did Cameron expect in the Speech. He really should be running a local Conservative Association and filling it full of little people like himself.
For God's sake grow a spine.
Naomi Muse
November 17th, 2009 6:06pm Report this commentNever mind the politicians!
It is a great opportunity for the Queen to say that she's not reading any more, so called, 'Queen's speeches' until parliament has cleaned up its act, and therefore they have until Christmas to do it all.
Holly ......
November 17th, 2009 8:41pm Report this commentIf I were DC I would say my bit and then sit back and watch the speech.
Only time will prove that Brown is full of bull....Cameron DOES NOT have to go out and start screaming..he is very wisely leaving the smearing to Labour and the press.
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