Michael Meacher MP

The most revealing point about the Tories’ position this weekend is not that they’re inching into the lead, but rather that they’re not streets ahead.   With Brown’s failure to regulate the banks prior to the financial meltdown, the year and a half of economic decline, the enormous deficit in the public finances, the fall in real incomes during this parliament, and a fragile recovery still lacking in jobs, Cameron had an open goal.   Yet he is still seen even after the third Leaders’ debate as more spin than substance, he has repeatedly made the wrong call on the economy, and despite Labour’s intense vulnerability he has no convincing alternative. (more…)

The ironies abound.   The only reason that Clegg was there in the debate at all was that Cameron agreed it.   The only reason that the debate took place at all was that Cameron insisted on it.   It was he who threw down the challenge in the first place, and when his own advisers strongly recommended against it – on the very good grounds that he was ahead in the polls and had everything to lose and nothing to gain – he overrode their advice.   For Cameron is a vain man and was sure he would triumph, and didn’t want to miss an opportunity of proving it.   He must be ruing it now. (more…)