UK NEWS

TORIES TO BLAST 'HUG-A'HOODIE' IMAGE

No more hoodie hugging for Tories

Sunday August 19,2007

By Julia Hartley-Brewer

Comment Speech Bubble Have your say(9)

TORY leader David Cameron returns from holiday this weekend to launch policy proposals that will form part of his party’s long-awaited summer offensive against Labour.

Mr Cameron will oversee the launch this week of policy proposals for the National Health Service, which is set to be a key battleground for the next general election.

Former health secretary Stephen Dorrell will publish proposals for the health service as part of the party’s public services policy review. Mr Dorrell has already raised the idea of giving patients a reward card for adopting healthy lifestyles.

This week will also see an important announcement on law and order in the wake of the spate of knife attacks by teenage gangs.

A party source said: “We want to nail the ‘hug a hoodie’ image once and for all. While we want to show that we are tough on crime, we won’t be backtracking on the need to tackle its causes.”

That announcement will be followed next week by the publication of the environment review chaired by former Cabinet Minister John Gummer and the party’s environment adviser Zac Goldsmith.

After polls last weekend saw Labour take a 10 percentage point lead over the Conservatives, many Tories are increasingly concerned about the prospect that Prime Minister Gordon Brown will call a snap autumn election. And while MPs and activists on the Tory right have criticised the leadership’s decision to put off announcing formal party policy too soon before a general election, leftwingers fear that talk about tax cuts will undermine the party’s softer image with voters.

The environment review will force Mr Cameron to tackle head-on the conflicting demands from different wings of his party over key issues such as environmental policy and taxation.

If, as expected, the environment review recommends “green” levies on polluting activities such as aviation and gas-guzzling cars, and more road tolls, this will be seen as undermining any promises from Shadow Chancellor George Osborne to cut taxes – a key issue for many Tory supporters, but a turn-off for floating voters who fear public services will suffer.

But former cabinet minister John Redwood, author of the party’s economic review published last week, denied there were any conflicts between different wings of the party.

He said: “I think David Cameron will be able to accept a lot of both sets of policy recommendations.

“What Zac Goldsmith and John Gummer want is entirely compatible with my policy review. Quite a lot of my proposals on energy and public transport are green friendly.”

A senior party source said: “The fight is on and we’re up for an autumn election. If Gordon Brown wants to go for it, we’re ready.”

MORE SUPPORT THAN THE LIB/DEMS?

20.08.07, 8:34pm

Well Ming thats two of us ,Looks like a Guy Fawkes appreciation party would finish at least third in a autunm election?

• Posted by: diddleydoo • Report Comment

TORIES TO BLAST 'HUG-A'HOODIE' IMAGE

20.08.07, 8:27pm

Guy Fawkes was a much Maligned Man.

• Posted by: EmperorMing • Report Comment

TA TA DAVE

20.08.07, 8:13pm

Cameron has shown himself to be,a poor Blair imitator.He has also shown he has nothing to offer the country that is any different to nulab.They all share the same luvvie values and the same total contempt for the British electorate.Also all of the main parties know the country is bankrupt,so all adhere to any loony and unwarranted green tax enforcement.What a mess this lot have led Britain to,any Guy Fawkes devotees out there you will have my support.

• Posted by: diddleydoo • Report Comment

HUG-A-HOODIE-IMAGE.

20.08.07, 9:51am

I think the writing is on the wall, another term of office for the Labour government. Cameron made a grave mistake when he suggested Hugging a Hoodie and do away with Grammer schools! It completely 'tarred' his image and you know what they say, 'Give a dog a bad name' and it 'sticks'. His leadership is now a complete liability to the Conservative party and it's probably now even too late to contemplate a change! So for those who wish to make an impact in this countries direction on immigration and multi-culturism there is no alternative than to create a huge change in the politcal arena! The BNP will never in a hundred years be in a position to form a government, but can you imagine the impact it would have on any future government policies! I am not a member of the BNP party nor is it likely I shall ever be, but it is already increasing in popularity with the electorate! The countries political situation needs a complete change of direction and I believe the influence of a few BNP representatives in Parliament will shake the foundations to the chore, so much so they would have to listen us for a change! For those of us who are sick and tired of watching this country of ours go to the dogs we have to make a stand.. or suffer the consequences, it's your choice!
alroy.

• Posted by: alroy • Report Comment

HUG A HOODIE

20.08.07, 8:33am

what we need in the governments is men like
DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER hate the program
but what bit i have seen will do me, no hold`s barred and no tolerance i am very fortunate to live in a place where we don`t have to many
hoodie`s ""just yet"" and what few we have are bad enough more of an irritation than ""trouble"" and that is bad enough but I do have great concern as to what is going on in the rest of the country,

• Posted by: ANNR • Report Comment

TORIES TO BLAST 'HUG-A'HOODIE' IMAGE

19.08.07, 6:37pm

The tories have an ideal opportunity to go even further right than New Labour have gone under President Blair and Co. We need a strong opposition to the government who are more right of centre than their name implies. Cameron is not a strong enough leader to revitalise the Tories so it looks like another 4-5 years of liberal, right on PC fanatical Labour.

• Posted by: Vymnto • Report Comment