OK, I'm exaggerating. But I still thought this exchange on the new licensing laws in yesterday's Tory leadership debate was pretty revealing:
"We have a situation where the centres of many towns and cities in this country are no-go areas for decent people," Mr Davis said. "We have to recognise that, and recognise that what the Government is doing today is actually making that much worse."
Mr Cameron retorted: "When you say 'no-go areas for decent people' you are almost implying that anyone who does go out is not a decent person. "You have got to be very, very careful, David. That's something the Conservative Party has got to understand. We have to show we understand people's aspirations and not sound all the time as if we are preaching to people."
Mr Davis came back. "That doesn't help somebody who has got somebody vomiting in their front drive. If you go talk to people in many of these towns and cities and ask them, 'Can you go to the centre of Nottingham or Manchester after eight o'clock at night?' they say: 'No, and I want you, the politicians, to sort it out, not to give us platitudes, to sort it out.' "
Aspirations...What a weasel word that is. I suppose it's what you'd expect to hear from a politician who was happy to pocket a £28,000 directorship from a drinks firm. We all like a beer or two or three, but the idea that getting sloshed and then disgorging the remains of a kebab over someone's car is the equivalent of going scuba diving is more than I can take.
I presume that Cameron's backroom team know that this will all work with voters - or at least those who are sober enough to make their way to a polling station. Me, I'm still totally unconvinced by him. Whenever I see his face I have the same sinking feeling I had when Norman Lamont was made chancellor. (Yes, it somehow seems appropriate that DC was one of his advisors.) The idea of electing a leader who makes Charles Kennedy look like a heavyweight statesman baffles me, but I assume the people in the know think it will all look different ten years down the road. I feel very uncomfortable being out of step with Stephen Pollard on this one.
Conservative Home has more on the latest TV showdown. DD supporter Wat Tyler is doing his best not to be discouraged by the Telegraph and Sun endorsements. Oh, and if you're still interested in the Old Etonian angle, I recommend this article by Nick Fraser, author of the forthcoming The Importance of Being Eton:
Etonians are the ultimate pragmatists, totally free of ideology. Other than the imperatives of getting - and gaining - power, no conspicuous motives inspire them. In power, they mostly behave as other politicians, which is to say that they make compromises, cut deals and often end up telling half-truths, all the while talking of public service. It's not clear that Etonian politicians really believe in much except themselves - and this is one reason why Thatcher disposed of them so easily.
(Via Pootergeek)
Is that entirely fair? I'm not sure. But the piece is worth pondering anyway.
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