Cameron’s moral obligation

Good timing from David Cameron.  On the day the papers preempt the official notice that unemployment has risen above 1.8 million – its highest level since 1998 – the Tory leader gives a speech on the subject of mass joblessness.

The main message is of how the Tories “will not stand aside” as people lose their jobs, and of how they have a “moral obligation” to help those who become unemployed as a result of the downturn.  It’s resonant language, which goes well beyond “we feel your pain”-style platitudes.  And, what’s more, it’s most likely backed up by a policy package – although we’ll have to wait for more details of this Tory tax cut to see what form that will take. 

But the problem remains for Cameron that, whilst the rhetoric and even the policy approach may be getting up to scratch, it could all be overshadowed by what Brown does next.