The Tory position on airport expansion appears to have hardened following David Cameron's speech last week. Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers subsequently suggested of a third runway at Heathrow: "The government needs to go back to the drawing board and do its sums again."
We may discount the idea that Cameron's remarks were tailored for the audience of environmental leaders he was addressing - somewhat unlikely in any case. The Conservatives see being anti-Heathrow expansion as a vote winner - which is bad news for BAA, British Airways and most other carriers at Heathrow. It won't please the CBI either, which generally has few problems with the idea of a Tory government. What on earth is going on?
The Tories have taken a leaf out of New Labour's book, which pinched the idea from Bill Clinton's Democrats. Political strategists call it triangulation. Basically, take your core support for granted and appeal to those on your opponent's side.
Cameron has decided Labour is vulnerable on the environment, which heaven knows it should be, and that is to be the ground on which he swipes sufficient of those who might more naturally side with Labour and sweeps into Downing Street. Tony Blair pulled off a similar trick by embracing Margaret Thatcher and her policies - although he probably always did.
The Financial Times suggested the Tory position threatens "a serious rift between David Cameron and business". I doubt it. Business wants stability more than anything. That is part of the reason why the City and the CBI has fallen out of love with Labour - they have been taken aback by the recent gyrations in policy of which the U-turns on tax are a symptom.
The travel industry's fury at the doubling of APD, announced in December 2006 and introduced in February last year, might now be a seen as a portent of the end of the affair between business and New Labour - at least as far as Gordon Brown is concerned.
Comments (34)
Thank you for this article, and wait for more on this subject and I like to ask the site manager that may appear to the Post, I admire this wonderful site and articles
Posted by Adam | March 1, 2012 3:59 AM
Posted on March 1, 2012 03:59
koYLOQ Thanks a lot for the article.Thanks Again. Will read on...
Posted by google+ circles | March 22, 2012 4:41 PM
Posted on March 22, 2012 16:41
Hi interesting blog
Posted by Mike | April 3, 2012 5:05 AM
Posted on April 3, 2012 05:05
Hi awesome blog
Posted by Joe | April 23, 2012 5:01 PM
Posted on April 23, 2012 17:01
Hi terrific blog
Posted by PaulTanja | April 27, 2012 11:14 PM
Posted on April 27, 2012 23:14
WEguNA Wow, great article post.Much thanks again. Keep writing.
Posted by cheap oem software | May 1, 2012 2:18 PM
Posted on May 1, 2012 14:18
Hi interesting blog
Posted by Lawren | May 3, 2012 1:33 PM
Posted on May 3, 2012 13:33
Thanks again for the article post.Really thank you! Want more.
Posted by definition of credit line | May 3, 2012 5:01 PM
Posted on May 3, 2012 17:01
Thanks for the article.Much thanks again. Cool.
Posted by medjool dates | May 3, 2012 8:05 PM
Posted on May 3, 2012 20:05
Thank you for your blog article.Really looking forward to read more. Want more.
Posted by business loans | May 3, 2012 9:09 PM
Posted on May 3, 2012 21:09
Enjoyed every bit of your blog. Really Great.
Posted by rights | May 3, 2012 10:12 PM
Posted on May 3, 2012 22:12
I really like and appreciate your post.Really thank you! Really Great.
Posted by forex robot review | May 3, 2012 11:09 PM
Posted on May 3, 2012 23:09
I really liked your blog article. Cool.
Posted by personal loans singapore | May 4, 2012 12:10 AM
Posted on May 4, 2012 00:10
I think this is a real great article.Really looking forward to read more. Really Cool.
Posted by Gold | May 4, 2012 12:17 AM
Posted on May 4, 2012 00:17
A big thank you for your blog.Thanks Again. Cool.
Posted by costume | May 4, 2012 1:10 AM
Posted on May 4, 2012 01:10
Im grateful for the blog.Really thank you! Really Cool.
Posted by Feedback Generator | May 4, 2012 2:27 AM
Posted on May 4, 2012 02:27
Really informative blog article.Really looking forward to read more.
Posted by Adult Business | May 4, 2012 3:34 AM
Posted on May 4, 2012 03:34
I really liked your article.
Posted by usability testing | May 4, 2012 4:40 AM
Posted on May 4, 2012 04:40
Very neat blog.Thanks Again. Really Cool.
Posted by Radio Producer | May 4, 2012 8:04 AM
Posted on May 4, 2012 08:04
Very informative article. Will read on...
Posted by Craigslist Cars For Sale | May 4, 2012 9:12 AM
Posted on May 4, 2012 09:12
I really liked your post.Really thank you! Great.
Posted by spruce grove homes | May 4, 2012 10:22 AM
Posted on May 4, 2012 10:22
Very good post.Really thank you! Fantastic.
Posted by alcoholic behavior patterns | May 5, 2012 4:13 PM
Posted on May 5, 2012 16:13
I really enjoy the post.Much thanks again. Really Cool.
Posted by jersey shore season 5 | May 6, 2012 1:20 PM
Posted on May 6, 2012 13:20
Hi interesting blog
Posted by Lawren | May 7, 2012 8:36 PM
Posted on May 7, 2012 20:36
Hi good blog
Posted by PaulTanja | May 8, 2012 1:56 AM
Posted on May 8, 2012 01:56
Hi terrific blog
Posted by Mike | May 8, 2012 9:34 PM
Posted on May 8, 2012 21:34
Hi nice blog
Posted by Joe | May 9, 2012 7:51 AM
Posted on May 9, 2012 07:51
Hi awesome blog
Posted by Joe | May 9, 2012 5:10 PM
Posted on May 9, 2012 17:10
Hi great blog
Posted by Lawren | May 10, 2012 12:10 AM
Posted on May 10, 2012 00:10
Hi good blog
Posted by Lawren | May 10, 2012 2:25 PM
Posted on May 10, 2012 14:25
Hi awesome blog
Posted by PaulTanja | May 10, 2012 3:31 PM
Posted on May 10, 2012 15:31
Hi nice blog
Posted by Lawren | May 10, 2012 4:37 PM
Posted on May 10, 2012 16:37
Hi interesting blog
Posted by Lawren | May 10, 2012 7:28 PM
Posted on May 10, 2012 19:28
Y7HSS6 Thanks for the article post.Much thanks again. Fantastic.
Posted by seo | May 17, 2012 3:44 AM
Posted on May 17, 2012 03:44