Stephen Taylor – a blog on Canadian politics » Running away from the brand

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June 18, 2010

Running away from the brand

In Canada, the Conservatives unapologetically spend, while in the UK, they are about to cut — but not without apology.

An email I just received from the UK Conservatives addressed to party faithful:

Dear Stephen,

Ahead of next week’s budget, it’s important to remember that the debt crisis that threatens us is Labour’s legacy to Britain.

Labour left us with no money – only waste and debt:

- They left every man, woman and child owing £22,400
- They gave us one of the worst budget deficits in Europe
- They left 2.47 million people out of work
- And they sold off Britain’s gold at a 20-year low in the market.

Unless we act now to deal with this crisis, interest payments in five years’ time could end up being higher than the amount we spend on schools, climate change and transport.

That’s why we have to do something about it. The cuts that are coming are Labour’s cuts.

So before Tuesday’s crucial Budget, take a look at this document outlining Labour’s Legacy to Britain.

But don’t just keep it to yourself – please send this email on to your friends and family to help make sure Labour are never allowed to leave such a rotten legacy again.

Sayeeda Warsi
Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party

The legacy of Britain’s debt is Labour’s to be sure, but in an email to those that elected you, claim credit for taking action. These cuts are your cuts and you should proud to implement the plan to address the crisis.

And gosh, no money to address climate change?

This entry was authored by Stephen Taylor at 01:32 PM | Tweet this | Comments (5)

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http://twitter.com/tjfriese Timothy J. Friesen

“In Canada, the Conservatives unapologetically spend.”

Really, you could have ended the blog post with that simple sentence.
Tedbetts

But the two situations are completely incompatible.

Cameron campaigned on promise to be a fiscal conservative and… oh, wait. Nevermind.

You can't blame Harper for breaking so very many promises and fundamental conservative principles because we have a minority government and so…. er, forget I said that.

You can't expect a conservative party to make a deal or work cooperatively with a party that has criticized it extensively during the campaign… say what? Politicians can bury the hatchet for the good of the nation? Hmmm.

Look, the two situations are completely incompatible because they have silly accents over there.
Powell Lucas

There are no conservative parties in Canada.
real conservative

Kenynes a socialist prescribed the role of government years ago as: spend surplus money in bad times and save by taxation in good times. Even socialists got it wrong according to their own guru. (real conservative)
kenn2

The conservative “brand” has been severely damaged in North America. Since Reagan, US conservative presidents have spent more and increased the size of government without exception. They have also used huge amounts of capital to engage in ill-considered wars.

In Canada, the “progressive” was chased out of the PCs, leaving an unapologetically right-wing party that looks admiringly at their US counterparts.

In this still centrist and progressive country, Harper needs the support of the hard right fringe to remain in power. In terms of broad economic policy, there's little to distinguish them from a Liberal government, but Harper has to occasionally play to the right-wing gallery with micro-controversial issues like abortion. He's also put his personal stamp on the government, imbuing it with his indifference towards transparency and accountability. This last trait is what will ultimately drive him from office.