Policies or Principles?
A standard attack from some commentators on David Cameron normally reads: “David Cameron has completely sold out and betrayed Tory voters by refusing to [fill in policy from list below]
(a) pledge to abolish inheritance tax
(b) bring back grammar schools
(c) introduce school vouchers
Given that no previous Conservative government introduced any of these three policies, why is David Cameron betraying Conservatives? Indeed, sad to say, a previous Conservative government abolished more grammar schools than its Labour predecessor; Keith Joseph flirted with vouchers and rejected them; and David Cameron, on pretty much his first day in the job, changed Conservative policy on tuition fees so that it is much more in line with, dare I say it, Conservative principles, something neither of his two more “right wing” predecessors had done.
So what, exactly, are these people objecting to? Or are they simply spinning, by dressing up what are essentially policy proposals as timeless Tory principles?
Cllr Mike Flower said on January 7th, 2007 at 2:44 pm:
I think David Cameron has been right not to pledge to cut any specific taxes so far. I have a lot of elderly people in my ward and during the recent by-election inheritance tax was raised by them as an important issue. But bearing in mind that Labour traditionally spend and borrow, and are plunging our country and its citizens into terrible debt, Conservatives are right not to promise specific tax cuts. We do not know what mess we will inherit! What I would like to see is a promise that we will cut taxes once we have sorted out Labour’s mess - although perhaps it is time for the tax system to be overhauled?