Sunday 6th December 2009

Tory leader David Cameron this morning slammed Gordon Brown for bringing the issue of class into politics, but I think Labour need to do this if they are to have any chance of winning next year's general election.
The PM said that the Tories tax policy had been "dreamed up on the playing fields of Eton" and lets face it, he's not exactly wrong there. Shadow Chancellor George Osborne claimed in his autumn party conference speech that "we're all in this together", yet he would give the wealthy a break by raising the inheritance tax threshold. This benefits the 18 millionaires in the shadow cabinet, their fellow well off friends and of course, the party donors. So how are we all in this together then?
With the general election due to take place in the next six months, Labour have to play dirty if they are to catch up with the Conservatives in the polls.
Osborne's inheritance tax plan puts a real cog in the wheels of motion in Cameron's attempts to re modernise the Tory party and this policy is designed to appease the old, traditional wing of Conservatives. But these sort of policies put off the non wealthy floating voter such as myself, who in troubled economic times such as now want to see the rich taxed slightly more heavily (I'm talking about minimalistic measures here, before any one starts calling me a communist!).
Osborne wants to reduce Britain's budget deficit, but he's not going to achieve this with his inheritance tax plans, which will benefit just 2% of the population. Instead he will cut vital public services which will effect more than 2% of the country.
Gordon Brown needs to capitalise on these questionable Tory polices, even if he has to "petty" and "spiteful" to do so. There are other Tory weaknesses that can be exposed and I'm sure with Alastair Campbell aiding Labour's cause these weaknesses can identify areas to attack. Whether you love or hate Blair's former spokesman and spin doctor, you can't argue that he will be important in manipulating the media and thus persuading floating voters not to vote Tory.
The New Statesman have been able to identify Conservative weaknesses, with one of them being the inexperience of George Osborne. The shadow chancellor has no real background in economics, yet in six months time he could be running the country's finances. I for one would rather see shadow business secretary Ken Clarke moved to the post, as he has experience as Chancellor of the Exchequer in John Major's 1990s government, but Osborne is a close ally of Cameron, so I can't see this happening.
Gordon Brown appeared to have the upper hand over David Cameron in Wednesday's Prime Ministers Questions, but with the pre-Budget report due this week he faces a tough task of maintaining Labour momentum.