Sunday Politics - Is David Cameron losing his way?
After the smoking ban it's a good question as to how far the nanny state can or should go. Labour is already planning a clampdown on alcohol, with new warnings and the banning of aclohol sponsors on replica football shirts. These measures are the brainchild of Caroline Flint, who for those who don't know (and it will probably come as some suprise to her that anyone wouldn't) is the Minister for public health. She is the current nanny of the nation, she know whats good for us, because of course we don't. In the light of Miss Flint, it would be nice if we had an opposition that did not want to lecture us all on how to live our lives.
Well I'm sorry to inform you that we can only dream. This morning samples of a new report commissioned by the Conservative Party, a report that David Cameron, the Conservative Party leader, has said he supports 'the thrust of' suggests a new tax on alcohol that would increase the price beer by 7p a pint, 20p on a bottle of wine and 70p on a bottle of whisky. Apparently this alcohol tax is, according to Tory MP for Chingford and Woodford, Iain Duncan Smith, 'required to improve the health of the nation.' Mr Duncan Smith did of course lead the Conservative Party once, and many argue he was the worst leader in the history of the party.
It should said this idea has not yet been adoprted as party policy. But given opinon polls now put Gordon Brown and Labour back in the lead, it will be interesting to see what Cameron does. Cameron set this report up in the first place, if he rejects these proposals he will be open to ridcule about his judgement of setting the report up, but the idea that forcing low income people to pay more for the night out through higher alcohol taxes is going to reduce alcohol consumption is nonsense. All it will due is add to the financial pressures which create the very social breakdown this report claims it wants to get to the heart of. It also smacks of moralistic undertones that have damaged the Conservative Party's image for so long, and reverses the trend Cameron himself has been trying to move into over the last year.
After the devisive Grammar schools row, and the new Prime Ministers impressive start in his new role, the fair wind Cameron has had so far is now turning cold. The positions is not a disaster, but it depends on him holding his nerve. This report is one of a number of traditionalist forces trying to move Cameron into a more old-fashioned direction, which will only lead to the wilderness of a fourth election defeat. Enraging drinkers (of which there are plenty) into voting against him, will not help his cause.
