The Final Furlong

In politics as in sport, the final furlong leading up to the winning post is often peppered with a minutae of sub-plots, ebbs and tides. It would seem that this year is no different. In football, Chelsea have been most people's bet for the title since before Christmas. The same applies for the Conservatives in politics. Is it just a coincidence that both are associated with the colour blue? After a week-end bursting with surprises, Chelsea's impregnable position at the summit of the Premier League now appears precarious and the Conservative lead is no more. The difference here is that Chelsea have surrendered initiative to their main rival, Manchester United. The Conservatives, however, have surrendered their initiative to the Liberals. Unthinkable surely? Well, not really. Consider the evidence. The incumbent party of government have made themselves completely unelectable a long time ago. Had Brown gone to the country three years ago when he should have done, had the Labour party ditched Brown when it should have done (God knows they have created more than enough opportunity to do so!), had the government dealt promptly and properly with the business of MP expenses and the out of control behemoth that is the banking sector, they may have had an outside chance. That they did none of these things is their own folly. Which leads us on nicely to the only two viable parties left; The Conservatives and Liberals - seems quite like old times. However, herein lies the difference: At his manifesto launch, David Cameron presented the Conservative approach of involving the people more in Government whil Nick Clegg outlined in graphic detail what he intended to do if elected. While the latter may not have appealed to everybody, it was at the very least clear. The trouble with the Conservative message is that although I felt involvement of the people is long overdue, the British people now expect to be spoon fed. Ridiculous really. On the one occasion the people are offered a proactive role in the government of their society, they would rather stick with the current system and continue to whinge and whine when the politicians get it wrong.

We are only just into the final furlong at this stage, but I hope that David Cameron sticks to his guns. A hung Parliament may well be looming -but I doubt whether it will last. After we have all got the concept and taste of a coalition out of our system, the Conservative prposals will be seen for what they are: Long overdue and the only viable way forward to address the majority of the problems facing us today. For my money, I would back Cameron's Disraeli against Clegg's Gladstone. Lets see how the play unfolds.