The Tories’ desperate election campaign

The Tories are running one of the most desperate campaigns for generations. They have embraced UKIP, turned their back on fiscal responsibility, spraying around billions of pounds of unfunded spending commitments, and they are now talking up the SNP which puts our Union at risk.

Here’s how David Cameron’s positions have become increasingly desperate as he knows he is losing the argument.

David Cameron used to say that UKIP were fruitcakes…

“UKIP, well, you know, it’s just a bunch of, well, fruitcakes and loonies and closet racists, basically.” – Nick Ferrari’s LBC radio show, 4 April 2006

…Now he makes regular overtures to UKIP supporters, saying they should go “home” to the Tories and that their supporters should “get together”

“With one month until the polls open, Mr Cameron made his most emotional appeal to people who have flirted with supporting Ukip and said: “Now please, come on, let’s get together and take the country forward.”” – The Telegraph, 6^th April 2015

The Tories used to be scathing about unfunded spending commitments, saying “no policies will be adopted until they have been properly costed”…

“In some areas, hard choices will have to be made between competing priorities. And, of course, no policies will be adopted until they have been properly costed by the shadow chancellor, George Osborne.” – David Cameron, Daily Telegraph, 16 July 2007

…but this is now a thing of the past

The Tories have abandoned their past commitment to fiscal discipline and are desperately making unfunded and undeliverable spending commitments. The Tories have now made almost £25 billion of unfunded commitments per year by the end of the Parliament.

David Cameron once condemned personal attacks and insults in politics…

“I do not think that it is right to make personal insults or personal attacks, and that is certainly not the approach that I took…I absolutely agree that personal insults should play no part in this.” – David Cameron, Hansard, 30 June 2014, Column 611

…but he is now firmly in the politics of the gutter (as is the Lynton Crosby trademark)

The Tories have launched personal attacks on Ed Miliband, about which even Ken Clarke said, “I disapprove of personal attacks on your opponents. I’ve never done that. I also think it costs you votes. If either side goes in for personal attacks on the other side.”

And he used to condemn nationalists and champion the importance of the UK…

“One incomparable United Kingdom…we love this country and all it stands for – so let’s win this referendum for all our futures. And let’s be bold in taking apart the Nationalists’ arguments.” – David Cameron, 5 April 2014

…but he is now desperately relying on their success to boost his panicking campaign…

The Tories have no argument about the future of the country and so are banking the house on talking up a party which wants to break our country up.

David Cameron’s face rarely features on Tories’ leaflets dropping on doormats, but Alex Salmond does.

Even his grandees have warned Cameron against playing a “short term and dangerous” game that threatens the future of the UK by building up the SNP.

The Tories are losing the argument about the issues which face the country and looking increasingly panicky, with reckless and dangerous tactics. This is the most one of the most desperate campaigns for generations because the Tories have no plan for Britain.

By contrast, each day Labour outlines our better plan for a better future will build a strong economic foundation, deliver higher living standards for all and will build and NHS with the time to care.