Over on the TaxPayers' Alliance blog Glyn Gaskarth argues that it is time for the Conservatives to make it absolutely clear that Polly Toynbee is now persona non grata:
"In an Evening Standard debate on 15 September Polly Toynbee said “we've seen rather a dearth of bankers jumping out of window ledges and maybe we could see a bit more of that.” Poking fun at city bankers is something those not blessed with their salaries can all enjoy but making light of suicide is something quite different. Suicide is a tragedy. It is not a fitting subject for such levity. The fact an individual could make such remarks reveals her deep seated hatred for the very people whose eighteen hour days have created the wealth Toynbee is so keen to redistribute
Polly Toynbee’s outburst would not matter had not the Conservatives, in one of their darker moments, embraced her as a Tory icon. In 2006 Greg Clark MP suggested that "It is the social commentator Polly Toynbee who supplies imagery that is more appropriate for Conservative social policy in the 21st century." He called Toynbee a “serious thinker” who provided “effective analysis”. Absurdly, the Conservatives were advised to ditch Winston Churchill, recently voted Greatest ever Briton, by the British people, in a BBC poll, because his ideas were outdated."
David Cameron has shown admirable statesmanship in calling for the centre-right to rally in defence of capitalism. A good first step would be to make clear that there is clear blue water between the Conservative Party and the awful sentiment expressed by Polly Toynbee.
