ConservativeHome: Friday 5th October 2007

David Abbott on the Platform says that Cameron is missing a trick on the size of the state:

"In Cameron’s refusal, or inability to think more deeply and creatively about the state, is he neglecting what could be his biggest vote winner? Cameron’s approach is surprising for what has happened to the state under New Labour should have any self-respecting Conservative rubbing their hands with glee."

"Polls cast doubt on early election"

Cameron asks to meet civil servants in case he wins an early election

"David Cameron today increased the pressure on Gordon Brown to reveal if he is planning a snap election by calling on the prime minister to allow senior Tory frontbenchers to meet civil servants in preparation for a possible handover of power." - Guardian

Brown's strategy is starting to fail

"Most of Brown's strategy since taking office in June has been based around two requirements: to put distance between him and Blair (without actually repudiating an inheritance he, too, was instrumental in creating), and to marginalise Cameron. The first has worked a treat. The second was very successful, too – at least, it seems, until the Blackpool gathering." - John Kampfner in the Telegraph

The triumph of the And Theory of Conservatism

"In the same hour, it gave enthusiastic applause to both the president of Rwanda, who thanked the shadow cabinet for helping his country this summer, and the idea of zero tolerance for criminals. An elderly moustachioed man smiled as the woman next to him breastfed her baby while they were listening to a speech about encouraging tax breaks for married couples. Being a new Tory doesn't mean giving up on issues such as crime and the family." - Alice Thompson in the Telegraph

"The story of this week has been the broadening of the Conservative offer to the public. The greenery has not been dropped, but it is no longer the only tune the modernisers play. In his speech on Wednesday, Mr Cameron spoke of the Tories as ‘the party of sensible green leadership’ — words that were clearly carefully chosen. ‘Social responsibility’ remains central to his politics. But there was much more this week about opportunity — the foundation stones of Conservatism, such as lower taxes, personal freedom and deregulation — and security. When he spoke of a ‘clear, balanced programme of change’, he signalled a welcome correction in his own strategic approach." - Spectator leader

"In the soul-searching which followed the Brown bounce, the Cameron high command concluded that the approach which won him the leadership election in 2005 had exhausted itself. There needed to be a change — and this is it. The party recognised a new face this week, and cheered up immensely. It senses the demise of the species identified by Mr Osborne in his interview with me last week as the ‘über modernisers’. The hoodie-hugging, Polly-praising, huskie-drawn days are over. Their wake was held this week at Blackpool... The Conservatives may still lose the next election, but at least they have found an agenda. And for many in Blackpool, this was the greater accomplishment. - Fraser Nelson in the Spectator

Covering his retreat from calling an election

"As at Basra Palace there are plenty of available cliches to cover a tactical retreat. How much of a hit would his credibility take as a result? Mr Cameron will say it is an irrecoverable blow [...] Labour loyalists counter that it is a chattering classes issue which will quickly evaporate." - Michael White in the Guardian

Who to blame for post office mess

"You could blame the greedy, incompetent, £1million plus a year management who have steered the Post Office into this quagmire while pocketing ever larger bonuses. But the real culprits are two generations of pusillanimous politicians, Labour and Tory, who have ducked the hard choices needed to secure the future of our once great Royal Mail, and now wring their hands at its death throes." - Daily Mail

The smears that make people ashamed of voting Tory

"Perhaps David Cameron should actually be hoping that he has not succeeded in "decontaminating the Tory brand" – and rely on a hidden wave of support from Conservative voters who, for no very good reason, feel that they can confess their own opinions, like penitent Catholics, only in the dark obscurity of the ballot box." - Dominic Lawson in the Independent

IHT proposals increase allure of luxury houses

"Under the Tory proposals, the inheritance tax threshold would be raised from £300,000 to £1 million, knocking £280,000 (40 per cent of £700,000) off the tax bill for £1 million-plus homeowners. Will these now choose not to sell and instead, in time-honoured fashion, leave their homes to their children when they die? Estate agents seem to think so." - Times

Policies for farmers

"Reduced red tape and increased trust to achieve environmental goals, plus a commitment to domestic food production, were just some of the promises laid down to farmers by Shadow Agriculture Minister Jim Paice. He told the conference on Wednesday, that food security was at the core of the party’s Quality of Life report which lays out its policy proposals for farming, the environment and other issues." - Farmers Guardian

The significance of Jimmy Cliff

"Little is left to chance at a party conference, so the Conservatives presumably pondered a while before closing David Cameron's speech with a blast of Jimmy Cliff." - Guardian

The makings of a great speech

"David Cameron impressed the Conservative conference and television audiences by delivering a heartfelt speech at Blackpool without extensive notes or an autocue. Neil Tweedie sought expert advice in an attempt to discover what separates outstanding orators from the ranks of the tongue-tied..." - Telegraph

The benefits of marriage

"Marriage may be out of fashion but it still confers considerable benefits to adults and children, according to a comprehensive study on the state of the family. The Office for National Statistics has published definitive proof that married couples live longer, enjoy better health and can rely on more home care in old age than their divorced, widowed, single and cohabiting peers." - Times

"Married parents could be outnumbered by single mothers and cohabiting couples within a generation, with serious implications for the health and education of children, official figures show." - Telegraph

Please use this thread to highlight other interesting news and commentary...