Cameron and Reid make most of August opportunities - but is Brown happiest?

It's been a good week for David Cameron:

• He returned from holiday and responded to the public mood by emphasising his homeland security credentials after focusing on civil libertarianism for too long;
• Built to Last Mk II was then launched - still missing appropriate commitments to lower taxation and controlled immigration - but a big improvement on the motherhood and apple pie of Mk I.
• And, then, there was an emphasis on encouraging home ownership and opposing garden grabbing (a popular policy that owes everything to the backbench industry of Greg Clark MP).

But if David Cameron has enjoyed a good few days it is Home Secretary John Reid who has fared best while Tony Blair has been holidaying.  This week's Economist is particularly positive.  Describing Dr Reid's handling of the terror plot as "highly impressive", The Economist suggests that the Home Secretary was able "to convey both calm and menace with an aura of almost super-human confidence in his own ability."  The weekly magazine believes that he has become one of the most articulate exponents of Blairism - "muscular interventionism abroad and public services reformed by market disciplines at home".  "What's more," The Economist continues, "in his gravelly Lanarkshire tones, he has the ability to express essentially right-wing policies in the language of Kier Hardie (the first leader of the Labour Party, who was born in the constituency he represents). Islamist terrorists, he says, are “fascist individuals” who are determined to destroy the “biggest achievements of democratic socialism"... Tories think that his brutally populist instincts could make him a more formidable opponent than the dour chancellor."

Writing in yesterday's Independent, however, John Rentoul believes that Gordon Brown's position has rarely been stronger and offers two reasons.   First, according to Mr Rentoul, Alan Johnson - because he's English and laid-back - is the main threat to Gordon Brown becoming Labour leader and the Education Secretary has had a bad summer.  Mr Johnson helping a constituent into a private school angered the class war left and his indifference to marriage enraged the Daily Mail right.

John Rentoul also believes that David Cameron isn't yet strong enough to worry the Chancellor: "The Conservative leader - although he has yet to hit real turbulence - does seem to lack thrust. His plane has taken off, but it seems to be struggling to gain height."

Comments

[christina speight]

'Private Eye"
under the title:-
***
"How I would solve all the World's Problems" by Tory Leader, David Cameron

"People keep asking me what I would do about war in the Middle East.

"Well, I've got one simple answer. We could start by saving water when we brush our teeth.

"The only thing that matters in the world today is that we save the
planet for future generations.

"And it's up to each and every one of us to make a contribution.

"Do you realise, for example, that if everyone in the country turned
off their television sets at night, we would save enough energy to
light a city the size of Birmingham?

"Just think about it.

"And here's another thought if all businesses provided bedrooms for their staff, then no one would need to go home at night.

"Not only would this produce a massive saving in the cars and trains which would no longer be needed to get people to and from work.

"If people weren't at home in the evenings, they wouldn't need to turn on their television sets at all - thus saving enough electricity to light and heat a country the size of Africa!

"So there you are.

"Let's make a start today in building the world of tomorrow!"

©David Cameron 2006,

[david]

You say its been a good week for David Cameron, do you have any polling evidence to back this up?

[TomTom]

I think Gordo Brown is looking very much time-expired. He has run one department for 10 years almost and interferred in every other - yet all the waste comes from Brown - tax credits, gold reserves, PFI, spending cuts, under-equipped armed forces, benefits fraud, tax increases, pensions disaster, means-testing..............

I just don't see Brown as anything more than a Gollum figure trying to recover the ring but doomed never to get it back

[william]

It seems like the Murdoch/Blair/USA axis is outmanoevring the Brown/Prescott/EU camp, as regards the Labour leadership battle.

But public opinion is swinging the other way. Only 15% want strong alignment with the USA now, and 45% want to align closer to the EU's position on terror.

Cameron is running with the hare and the hounds - criticising Israel for being 'disproportionate', and demanding more security measures at home - a win/win as regards public opinion, with little clue as to which of the foreign power bases he will finally opt for. No wonder Murdoch, when asked what he thought of Cameron, said,'not much'.

[malcolm]

John Rentoul is a very biased observer.Good to see Christina Speight being reduced to quoting Private Eye when criticising DC.PSI thought you'd changed your name to Tapestry ,Henry.

[NigelC]

The performance of the economy over the next year will undo Gordon Brown.

[christina speight]

Malcolm - I quoted Private Eye to show the contempt the public have for such a limp-wristed, weak-kneed apology for a leader.

[tapestry]

I have

[malcolm]

No Christina, the public don't.As any poll will show you the Conservatives are the most popular political party at the moment and Cameron is the most popular leader.This may upset you but that's tough.
Amusing that you have to use Private Eye as some sort of justification ,

[christina speight]

Malcolm - I'm glad it amused you as it amused me. ~I thought you'd predictably rise to the bait to defend the darling Boy

[Editor]

David (11:23): "You say its been a good week for David Cameron, do you have any polling evidence to back this up?"

No polling evidence - just my own view. For the reasons I gave the other day I happen to believe that the public wants a Government that will protect them in these dangerous times and Cameron's post-holiday emphasis on border security, homeland security minister and use of intercept evidence (for example) will help the long-term health of the party (although there must be much more of of the same kind of thing). Addressing the aspiration to own a home is also particularly good politics.

[Matt Wright]

Credit where credits due. Cameron has had a good week. This week he has focused on practical issues of concern to most people. Feedback is good,

Matt