Fraser Nelson Fraser Nelson

Pulling back the curtain

The drama of the last week in politics defies analogy – but one celluloid parallel has stuck in my mind. As it is Friday, I thought I’d share. This clip from the Wizard of Oz encapsulates for me the psychological change in the Tory party. The pilgrims (Tories), having reached the Emerald City (the election), are standing scared, knees shaking, in front of the Powerful Courageous Clunking Great Wizard. But thanks to Toto (George Osborne) they soon find he’s not enigmatic and all-powerful after all – just a small man pulling levers behind a curtain. When Cameron challenged Brown to that election, he pulled back the curtain. And the Tories are not at all scared by what they see.

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