The Tories are quite right to point out that, when it comes to repairing the public finances, Labour are making it up as they go along. Unfortunately, so are they. Pete thinks that, despite this, the Tories still have the advantage and he may well be right. But if, for now anyway, a hung parliament looks more likely than it did a month ago, that’s surely because of Tory mistakes rather than any brilliant manoevre from the government or any game-changing shift in the underlying economic fundamentals.
And there have been Tory blunders. Consider the famous poster*:
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At first glance, it looks good doesn’t it! But no, it’s a terrible poster because…
1. It’s too complicated and too clever by half. It bundles four ideas in a single package: A) The country is fucked, B) And almost bankrupt, C) But the NHS needn’t worry about this and D) I’m the chap who can sort it all out.
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