The Tories' final onslaught
Peter Hoskin 4:10pm
"Where's the popcorn?" I thought, as I joined a bunch of journos
to watch the Tories' final broadcast of the election campaign. It was a good nine minutes long, and might as well have been titled The Downfall of New Labour. The opening shots were of
Blair and Brown in 97: "a new dawn," and all that. But Blair's image soon faded to black-and-white, and we were bombarded with a montage of headlines, quotes and images which highlighted
the failures of the Labour years. 10p tax. Falling education standards. MRSA. The misdemeanours of Peter Mandelson. Defence spending. Purnell's resignation. Gillian Duffy. Even Manish Sood's
comments today. Depending on your disposition, it was all gorily nostalgic stuff. Negative, yes. But quite powerful nonetheless.
Speaking afterwards, and in response to questions, Jeremy Hunt was keen to emphasise two things: that a (tactical) vote for the Lib Dems could mean five more years of this, and that the Tories also have a positive message. The latter point is undeniable – as demonstrated by Cameron's contract with voters this week. But it's striking that the party has chosen to round out its campaign with an all-out assault on Brown and his compatriots. Deep down, you suspect, they always knew he was their biggest asset.
We'll post the video for CoffeeHousers as soon as it's available.
Previous
charles hercock
May 4th, 2010 4:43pm Report this commentMRSA sums it up.They have poured billions into the Health service and the Hospitals are a disgrace.Satisfaction of patients with the emergency out of hours provision is also rock bottom.Honestly can we let Labour ever again squander your and my money
laverda
May 4th, 2010 4:45pm Report this commentAbout time. Good strategy being positive, but this is leaving things really late and missed postal voters.
The 10 pence tax should be stressed is a doubling of tax on the lowest paid (How many labour core votes there?).
Gold sale loss.
The list is almost endless, no wonder Mandelson said speak about the future not the past, labours past is the worst record in history and the tories need to show it big time for a large majority.
John Steeples
May 4th, 2010 4:47pm Report this commentThe problem is everyone knows that a vote for the LibDems does NOT mean 5 more years of Brown. Whatever it does mean it doesn't mean that. Probably it means 5 more years of Clegg.
Coeur de Lion
May 4th, 2010 4:47pm Report this commentPity not earlier
Chris lancashire
May 4th, 2010 5:03pm Report this commentI'm surprised they managed to compress New Labour's mess into 9 minutes.
Michael
May 4th, 2010 5:40pm Report this commentWhy so late?
Fergus Pickering
May 4th, 2010 5:43pm Report this commentYou really think, John Steeples, that Labour with 200 seats will let Cleggie, with 100 seats, be Prime Minister. Gordo is not a nice man, but he has had more substantial people than that fellow for breakfast Libdems are terminally wet. Look at steele. look at Ashdown. Both pissed on from very great heights by Labour PMs. Get real, fellow. We need a proper politician and a proper party. And it ain't young Yellowbelly and his mates.
Willie de Peepul
May 4th, 2010 5:54pm Report this commentWhile we're at it . . .
Isn't an exhortation to vote tactically an offence against the Representation of the People act, 1949?
(Along with asking someone how they voted, so that gets rid of exit polls.)
Informed Giant
May 4th, 2010 6:15pm Report this commentSo late, as many people don't make up their mind, or turn their mind to who they will votre for until the three or so days before the election...remember 1992
TGF UKIP
May 4th, 2010 6:33pm Report this commentBut Pete, it doesn't matter a toss if nobody's going to see this other than you London journos and us anoraks. So will it be seen elsewhere and if so, where?
Pecunia
May 4th, 2010 6:36pm Report this commentThe public needs to be reminded again and again. So why isn't this being circulated nationwide? Why can't Sky screen it if it's too long for an PEB. There's still time.
There is a lot at stake here, remember the 'New' Labour Gang lack integrity and will stoop to any level to hold on to power.
Back to top