|
Tories begin to target Brown
Richard Parsons
If there is one thing that is a near certainty in the Conservative leadership election, its that the winner will go head-to-head with Gordon Brown at the next election.
Indeed, the chancellor has been something of a spectre at the feast for this Blackpool gathering.
In his Labour conference speech, Tony Blair made it clear that he is not ready to step down as prime minister just yet.
But if the repeated Tory attacks on Brown are anything to go by, the focus is already switching to Number 11.
Attacks on the chancellor have been stepped up as the party begins looking to the next election.
And that has been most noticeable in the keynote speeches from the leadership contenders.
Fox and Rifkind
Only Liam Fox made no direct reference to Brown, while the other four have already begun sharpening their knives.
Indeed, being able to land a serious punch on the chancellor became something of a necessity for proving that a candidate is up to the job of party leader.
On Monday, Sir Malcolm Rifkind held the chancellor personally responsible for Britain's pensions crisis.
But his references to Brown were usually to remind the party that it must fight Labour on the centre ground.
And he took a different tack in actually enhancing the chancellor's reputation with a warning he would be a "formidable political adversary".
Cameron
In contrast, David Cameron painted a picture of Brown as the one-man roadblock to desperately needed public service reform.
"Everyone knows that education, like our other public services, desperately needs radical reform," he told the conference.
"And who's the man standing in the way? Gordon Brown, the great roadblock.
"Everyone knows that our economy needs lower and simpler taxes.
"Who's standing in the way? The great tax riser and complicator, Gordon Brown.
"Everyone knows that business needs deregulation to compete with China and India.
"Who's standing in the way? The great regulator and controller, Gordon Brown."
Clarke
Later on Tuesday, Kenneth Clarke focussed his attack on the chancellor's economic record, saying this would be the key issue at the next general election.
"Up until now, Gordon Brown has had a good run, on the back of the tough decisions which we took a decade ago," said Clarke.
"But today the British economy is at risk. At risk from big spending, from high taxes and from too much debt.
"He's already spending tomorrow's taxes today. He is keeping the economy afloat on a sea of debt."
Clarke also sought to capitalise on his own performance as chancellor, saying Brown had only met his 'golden rule' on borrowing by "sticking to my spending figures" during Labour's first two years in power.
"I suppose you might call it a compliment," he said.
And in a reference to his own heavyweight political status, Clarke said that Brown's legacy would haunt him when he becomes prime minister. "I'll make sure of that," he vowed.
Davis
David Davis used his address to take a sarcastic dig at "the sunniest character in British politics".
Branding the chancellor "gloomy Gordon", he warned that "the prospect of Gordon Brown running the country is no joke".
"He talks about opportunity. But he's spent eight years entrenching welfare dependency," said Davis.
"He talks about reform. But he's spent eight years lining up with the unions.
"He talks about ownership. But he's destroyed the value of pensions.
"Gordon Brown is rooted in the past. He's driven by a socialism that's out of date, out of time and out of place in today's world."
Striking home
Barring upsets, it will be either Clarke, Davis or Cameron who faces the chancellor at the next election.
Given Brown's status as one of the political giants of the age, taking him on will be no easy task.
Clarke's argument that the Tories need an "even bigger beast" in order to win is an attractive one.
And Clarke certainly has the character to take on Brown at the Commons despatch box.
Cameron's image of Brown as a roadblock to reform also stands up given Brown's lukewarm support for reforms such as foundation hospitals and university top-up fees.
But this line of attack will need to be sharpened up significantly if it is to hit home strongly.
Davis's attack on the gulf between Brown's words and deeds also has merit.
But his description of Brown as "driven by a socialism that's out of date" is at odds with the chancellor's own conference call for Labour to fight on the centre ground.
And for a public that tends not to see New Labour has a hotbed of socialism, it is unlikely to strike any chords.
When the next Tory leader is chosen in December, he will have around three years to prepare for the next election campaign.
That will provide plenty of opportunity to experiment with different lines of attack.
But on the basis of these conference performances, the Conservatives are already training their sights on Brown.
The chancellor should begin preparing his rebuttals.
|
Published: Thu, 6 Oct 2005 10:00:00 GMT+01
Submit Comment
|
| Name |
|
| Email |
|
| Location |
|
| Comment |
|
|
Remember Me |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
