Shadow cabinet questions Cameron's strategy

The Observer

22 July 2007

Shadow cabinet questions Cameron's strategy after poll reveals voters are rejecting party

Gordon Brown has presided over a surge in support for the Labour Party that today breaks through the politically symbolic 40 per cent barrier for the first time in nearly two years.
As David Cameron faces the first signs of a shadow cabinet revolt after the Tories slumped to third place in two by-elections on Thursday night, an Ipsos MORI poll for today's Observer puts Labour on 41 per cent, a six-point lead over the Tories on 35 per cent. This is the first time Labour's support has risen above 40 per cent since November 2005. The Liberal Democrats remain unchanged on 15 per cent.

The poll will provide a strong backdrop for the Prime Minister, who will this week lay the ground for a summer offensive against the Tories with a series of policy announcements to Parliament before the Commons rises for the recess on Thursday. Brown will hold his first Downing Street press conference tomorrow and will launch his anti-terrorism strategy later in the week.
Downing Street is feeling confident amid signs that the 'Brown bounce' in the polls is holding firm. The Prime Minister will also be encouraged to learn that members of the shadow cabinet have started to voice unease about the Cameron strategy after the Tories' poor performance in the Ealing Southall and Sedgefield by-elections.

There were also reports last night that up to two Conservative MPs have signed letters expressing no confidence in Cameron's leadership. These are understood to have been deposited with Sir Michael Spicer, chairman of the backbench 1922 committee.

The Ealing Southall result came as a particular blow to Cameron because the Tory leader visited the constituency five times during the campaign. Ballot papers were also marked with 'David Cameron's Conservatives'.

This was strongly criticised by senior Tories. 'It is astonishing that ballot papers were marked with David Cameron's Conservatives,' one said. 'That was a silly mistake.'

In an ominous sign for Cameron, some senior frontbenchers are voicing criticisms about the leader's entire strategy. One said that Cameron was proving no match for Brown in the Commons, even though the Tory leader's polished performances have prompted opponents to award him a victory on points.

'All that matters is the 17 seconds that appear on television,' the senior frontbencher said. 'When people see Brown they will think one word: serious.'

Cameron, who is saying that he is 'completely unrepentant' about running a strong campaign in a constituency that would once have been all but abandoned by the Tories, will tomorrow make clear that he is pressing ahead with his modernising mission. He will fly into the Rwandan capital Kigali to take part in a major Tory aid project and will launch the second of six major policy commissions - on globalisation and poverty - in the Rwandan parliament on Tuesday.

'This is when the modernising approach is tested,' a senior Cameron ally told The Observer. 'Normally at this time we retreat to our comfort zone and talk about immigration... This is the moment to hold our nerve.'

But one senior Tory voiced strong criticism of the policy commissions: 'Having lots of policies is no good if you do not have the philosophy to underpin that. If we can't answer "Where do you want to go?", then the policy means nothing. We have been weak on that.'