David Cameron’s new, more urban-friendly conservatism had its best showing last night in London. Elsewhere, fine but not spectacular. But the London vote matters. The Tories cannot regain national power or a majority without winning over the middle class professionals, especially in urban areas, who have supported them in the past. They’re beginning to do that. What they need now is a broad philosophical definition, gathered, in my view, around the theme of expanding individual freedom, to cement their gains. As for Blair, he saw his party reduced to third place, at 26 percent, far behind the Tories on 40 percent. These are local elections and may well not represent a solid national pattern for the next election. But if the anti-Tory parties split as evenly in the future as they did last night, then the uphill battle for Number 10 may be less onerous for Cameron than might be expected. Blair has just fired a bunch of cabinet members and reshuffled his team. Think of thm as deck-chairs. It would be better for him and his party if he didn’t drag his own scheduled resignation out for much longer.
(Photo of David Cameron by Andrew Parsons/AFP/Getty).
The Dish 