No room for complacency
Some interesting and contrasting points of view over the weekend.
In the Sunday Times, Michael Portillo warns here against complacency, observing that while Labour seems to be heading inexorably to defeat, the Conservatives must not take victory or the electorate for granted.
Meanwhile on Conservative Home, Tim Montgomery looks at the ghastly mess which the Labour government is leaving for whoever wins the next election, and puts forward some suggestions on how the Conservatives can avoid losing in 2015.
His argument is that after winning in 2010 a Cameron administration will be forced to take painful and unpopular measures to deal with the toxic legacy from that of Gordon Brown, which could easily cost him the following election
I understand what Tim is saying, but we have to concentrate on winning the next election first, or there won't be a Cameron administration. And because the electorate is well aware what a mess the country is in, to win the election we will have to be honest about the fact that whoever wins that election will have to make some very painful decisions.
As Neil Kinnock found out, anyone who goes into an election thinking he or she has victory in the bag tends to find out that he hasn't.
Mind you, this cuts both ways. Any Conservative who thinks a Tory victory is guaranteed should be warned not to be so complacent. Any Labour activist who still thinks a Labour victory is guaranteed is so disconnected from reality that they should be detained under section II of the Mental Health Act.
In the Sunday Times, Michael Portillo warns here against complacency, observing that while Labour seems to be heading inexorably to defeat, the Conservatives must not take victory or the electorate for granted.
Meanwhile on Conservative Home, Tim Montgomery looks at the ghastly mess which the Labour government is leaving for whoever wins the next election, and puts forward some suggestions on how the Conservatives can avoid losing in 2015.
His argument is that after winning in 2010 a Cameron administration will be forced to take painful and unpopular measures to deal with the toxic legacy from that of Gordon Brown, which could easily cost him the following election
I understand what Tim is saying, but we have to concentrate on winning the next election first, or there won't be a Cameron administration. And because the electorate is well aware what a mess the country is in, to win the election we will have to be honest about the fact that whoever wins that election will have to make some very painful decisions.
As Neil Kinnock found out, anyone who goes into an election thinking he or she has victory in the bag tends to find out that he hasn't.
Mind you, this cuts both ways. Any Conservative who thinks a Tory victory is guaranteed should be warned not to be so complacent. Any Labour activist who still thinks a Labour victory is guaranteed is so disconnected from reality that they should be detained under section II of the Mental Health Act.
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