Labour spikes its own guns
James Forsyth 1:18pm
Stephan Shakespeare had a smart post up on Centre Right over the weekend, arguing that Labour were weapons-testing the class issue in Crewe. But it seems that Labour’s clumsy-premature use of the issue has actually forced them to remove it from their general election arsenal.Today’s Standard reports that
This is good news for the Conservatives. David Cameron and George Osborne’s respective decisions to join the Bullingdon are a—potential—election weakness. But Labour by having played the class card so early and so crudely has made it far less effective should they choose to use it in future. It will, if Labour loses Crewe, be viewed as a failed tactic and so if Labour use it in the general it will be seen by the media as a sign that they are panicking and expecting to go down to a heavy defeat.“Labour is to abandon plans to attack David Cameron’s privileged roots because of a fierce backlash over the “class war” tactics in the Crewe& Nantwich by-election.”
Labour’s mistake was to attack Timpson for who he was, not his own actions. This meant that their attacks came over as pure prejudice, which is what they are.
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Comments
David
May 19th, 2008 1:35pmWith respect James, they can't attack Timpson for his actions because he hasn't done anything wrong. A local man who works in family law, and who generally comes across quite well. They don't have anything on him, and that annoys them so they lash out in this nasty manner.
Dennis
May 19th, 2008 2:26pmI simply don't believe Labour is smart enough to learn this lesson.
Besides, the inverted-snobbery/ class war / politics of envy agenda is the only shot left in their locker.
CCHQ would be better occupied preparing how best to handle it than fooling themselves it will all go away.
Has anyone thought of going down to Oxford to persuade the current Bullingdon members to spend part of their summer vacations cleaning up after Alzheimers patients or working in an AIDS hospice?
TrevorH
May 19th, 2008 2:27pmBullingdon?
OK is a posh Oxford student club, but its activities and style have been grossly overstated. There are other Oxford (and probably Cambridge) student drinking clubs with likely as not worse reputations and likely as not a great many socialists were members.
I cannot help but think many Coffee Housers know this and might put it into the public domain.
C Powell
May 19th, 2008 2:49pmThe Left likes to think of itself as moral and its opponents as somehow immoral and illegitimate. Hence the charge made against Tories that those who don't want to pay more tax are somehow greedy for wanting to keep their own money. It's easy, of course, to be charitable with other people's money which is why Socialists love taxing and spending and getting the credit for that spending. The truly charitable person is the one who gives of his own time and money which is why Timpson's parents, fostering 80 kids, are so admirable. When faced with real charity and real care for the underprivileged Labour have revealed their true - and thoroughly nasty - face. I hope they lose badly this Thursday if only to show them that the voters are more decent than Labour appear to believe.
paul freeman
May 19th, 2008 3:05pmClass issue politics springs from the hard left of the Labour Party, which spells bad news for centrist New Labour. To acquire respectable wealth is most decent individuals' and families' aspiration, certainly it is the aspiration of the middle of the road voters whose support Labour needs to stay in power.
david
May 19th, 2008 3:28pmThe attack on Timpson doesn`t work because, obviously, it is a load of cobblers.
Mary Mead
May 20th, 2008 12:47amShouldn't those 'class war' Labour boys be sporting a pair of gloves to go with their top hats and canes? I've seen smarter barrow boys in my time.
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! for Timpson!