Labour’s spin machine needs a service

Nash

The letter from the 60 economists was pretty clever. The "independent" economist from LSE interviewed by the BBC today is a long-time Labour Party adviser and Labour Lord. The other letter signers will undoubtedly have previous form as Labour advisers. It of course begs the question why these guys did not write to the FT before we got into the mess we are in - especially since so many were MPC members who should have questioned the one dimensional CPI target given to them by Gordon Brown.

Nicholas

Oh dear. Another "launch" and more party political campaigning by the Fat Owl at the taxpayers expense. Has the date of the GE been formally announced yet?

It will be such a relief when it is finally all over and these deluded idiots come to terms with the fact that a) we don't like them and b) they ain't in power over us any more.

Andy H

"In his heyday, Labour’s spin was mesmeric.."

Only to people who did not have the guile to understand when they were being lied to.

I - like most people who are not journalists and in the Westminster bubble smelt a rat in 1997, if not before.

I am glad to see you are catching up - It is a shame that there was not more scrutiny to the spin (or lets call it what it really is - lies) from day 1, or we may not be in the mess we are in now.

welease woger

The point is we don't fall for the spin any more. Brown only has one trick left and that is to play to the large part of the country that has a vestigial hatred of all things Tory.

It is quite clever in its cynical way as it cashes in on the general antipathy to politicians, largely created by Labour, to say it's still the same old Tories, don't trust them.

We just need to hold our nerve now. Cameron is broadening the party's appeal as was needed.This inevitably means some disgruntlement and the loss of some of the self-styled "Thatcherites" who don't seem to appreciate that Thatcher was a canny politician who was both pragmatic and practical and all the better for it. In any case as a brief scan of the comments section here will reveal, these people are no great loss.

Vulture

welease woger:
Sorry ww, but your wrong. Cameron may think that he's 'broadening the party's appeal' but he's actually narrowing it.

He's attempting to appeal to people who won't vote Tory - ever. Guardian readers. Greens. Europhiles. The chattering classes. Lib Dems. But in doing so, and adopting left-liberal policies on the EU, AGW, tax,
and never mentioning 'i' words he is a) not appealing to the working classes who voted for Thatcher and are running to the BNP b) royally pissing off traditional Tories who are running to UKIP.

As I've frequently said, if by some miracle Dave gets to No.10 it will be because of the utter fury, disgust and hatred that Liebour and Bruin arouse.

Mr and Mrs Average Britain don't like or trust a squillionaire, out-of-touch toff who will say or do anything to get into office.

strapworld

remember how this ghastly individual got almost every labour MP to suport his candidature for leader!! Overkill.

Similarily with economists. BUT as for the general public they will be wondering where these people were prior to the run on banks etc. What advice were they giving then? Economists are in the same category as soothsayers and fortune tellers, absolutely useless.

Brown must be worried. Another sign of his insecurity and rather childish. I just hope Cameron, who I think is just as childish, does not answer with a letter from 160 economists.

Bruce, UK

The Tories are “hateful” and “rich”, so is Brown. I wonder if he realizes that he is one of the few he so detests?

John David Barnett

Poor sad old Vulture.

John David Barnett

Cameron is a mature politician who has the makings of a great leader.

James

Vulture:
I can't understand your analysis. How can Dave be narrowing the parties appeal AND at the same time, be broadening the parties appeal to non-tribal Tories.
Polling evidence (political betting is a good source) suggests conservatives turning out in numbers not seen since '92.
When the Tories ran on a right-wing core vote strategy in 01 and 05, they failed to make significant progress.
I accept a lot of the vote will be anti-Brown, but Blair was unpopular in 05, the Tories could not capitalise on that.
To get elected, you have to pitch to others than your core vote. Thatcher did this in 79 and 83 and her platform was not typically high Tory

Maggie

Brown also needs to divert attention from the havoc caused to industry by the inaction and rubbish decisions of the preening Mandelson. Cadburys and Corus are just the most recent and most high profile examples. There are thriving companies with bulging order books all over the country who are being forced out of business by banks refusing to extend their credit.

2trueblue

Protecting British jobs? Tell that to the Corus employees. I am surprised that Liebore have not pulled a dramatic rabbit out of the hat as we are so near to the election. Mandys quiet.

Ex-Tory voter

@James "When the Tories ran on a right-wing core vote strategy in 01 and 05, they failed to make significant progress." I would suggest that the country just wasn't ready for that message at the time. Now, post Neather and with all Labour's dirty washing not just showing but flapping in the breeze, it is. If Dave is trying to woo Guardianistas he's not making a very good fist of it; most of them, while reviling Brown, are aiming to vote LibDem. People like myself, who've always voted Conservative, are deserting the slightly blue socialist and personally, I'm heading for UKIP.

Y Caya

Alister Campbell was the one who created the media circus and now that the tables have turned he doesn't like it. So we get the emotions and tears.Does he think joe public is so stupid?
I remember the bully who barged into Channel 4 news!

Marcher Baron

With Labour's new slogans it's what they DON'T say that's important; "protecting future jobs [ABROAD]", "for the many [OF THE CLIENT STATE] not the few [WHO FINANCE THEM]".

Stronghold Barricades

In his heyday, Labour’s spin was mesmeric, with the godlike Campbell blowing smoke and manipulating mirrors

Maybe if most journalists had actually bothered to check out stories, rather than just being spoon fed copy then the scales would have fallen that much sooner

I hardly believe the MSM is going to stand up and say "Mea culpa" we were mislead

Beer Moth

Stronghold Barricades.

Don't be too hard on the old MSM. To get their degrees, those who staff it had to pass leftist muster. To get through interview and start getting paid, they had similarly to display 'the desired credentials'. And a home counties mortgage don't pay itself.

Paddy

Alistair Campbell and Mandelson's heart is not in it.

They must have realised what a loser Brown is.

John Bowman

After the spin cycle comes epmptying down the drain.

ajs

Campbell and Mandelson..almost a calypso rhythm there. But fading nicely, it seems.