DAVID CAMERON AND THE TORIES

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME

What is David Cameron for? Is it saving this
economically imperilled nation, which is
experiencing the deepest recession for a hundred
years, or, acting as an instrument of social change?
The formation of the Downing Street Policy Unit 
underlines that question. It is a conundrum to which
the Prime Minister, generally to the left of  many of
his Party, seems unsure of the answer.

The appointment of Jo Johnson, the Orpington MP, to
head the Unit, to harden - the word unfortunately implies
sclerosis - Tory thinking and build bridges with back-
bench malcontents, is a step in the right direction. It is
to be hoped that this will mark a turning point for the Tory
leadership. 

Vacuous words have been aplenty: on Europe,
immigration and the tsunami of socialist legislation coming
out of Brussels, gold-plated by civil servants, who are
politically averse to the Tories. Lack of strong leadership
by the Conservative high command led to the departure of
Steve Hilton, the Prime Minister's director of strategy,
and other key advisers, whom the Tories could ill-afford
to lose. They left because of what has appeared to be David
Cameron's growing reluctance to act on their advice,
influenced by the unrealistic welfare objectives of the
Liberal Democrats and, perhaps, by his own social
liberalism.

So, what will be different when the new policy unit
proposes similar Thatcher, free-market solutions to those
proposed in the past, but not translated into Government
policy? We have been here before and the arrival of 
Lynton Crosby, the Australian political strategist, will
do little to save the Conservatives if they are perceived to
be not really sure of what they stand for.  

This uncertainty is set against the background David
Cameron knowing that he has little chance of achieving
growth before the General Election. Continuing in
government post-2015 will depend on making
common cause, either with the Liberal Democrats,
who could well decide to tip the electoral scales for
Labour, or, indeed, UKIP.

The Prime Minister is, at heart, a pragmatist, rather
than a leader in the Thatcher mould, driven by principle,
capable of inspiring and taking the country with him.
Groucho Marx would have had it in one: "If you don't
like my principles...."  Influenced by focus groups he
trims his sails according to the political weather,
attempting to be all things to all people. 

Coerced by the Liberal Democrats he is bringing
fundamental change to our society in ways that are not
understood by his Conservative Cabinet colleagues or
the rank and file of his Party. They see their country
becoming a place that they hardly recognise.