An ill-timed attack from a Tory grandee

Last updated at 23:22 05 September 2007


As his hasty apology suggests, Tory grandee Michael Ancram - never the brightest star in the political firmament - has seriously mistimed his attack on David Cameron.

Only a few weeks ago, his complaints would have sounded fully justified.

Yes, Mr Cameron did appear to be 'trashing' his party's Thatcherite past.

Yes, he did seem to lack 'an overall sense of vision and direction'. And, yes, many of his initiatives did sound 'vacuous', as if he wanted change for the sake of it.

But hasn't Mr Ancram noticed the great change that has come over Mr Cameron himself since then?

Suddenly, the party leader appears to have rediscovered his Tory soul. He's talked robust good sense on crime, social breakdown, immigration and the pressing need to support stable families.

Meanwhile, he's hinted strongly that he'll abolish inheritance tax, while keeping up pressure on Gordon Brown to call the promised referendum on the European constitution.

Isn't all this exactly what Mr Ancram - and countless other Tory traditionalists - have yearned to hear?

What's more, Mr Cameron's change of tack is paying dividends in the polls. On the very day Mr Ancram launched his attack, a Populus survey showed the Tories catching up fast with Labour.

So was this really the moment for the grandee to lay into his leader, handing Gordon Brown and the BBC a wonderful excuse to gloat at the Tories' discomfort?

Certainly, there remains a great deal about the Cameroonians to make traditionalists deeply uneasy.

Take yesterday's report from the party's policy review on public services, chaired by the dripping-wet former Health Secretary Stephen Dorrell.

Buried in its 150 pages, you'll find some excellent recommendations. But you'll have to hunt hard for them.

This paper heartily agrees with Mr Dorrell that we should have more small schools, offering the discipline and sense of belonging that many of today's vast impersonal institutions can't.

We also applaud his call for more rigorous school exams, less bureaucracy and greater freedom for professionals in running our public services.

But why should any Tory want a nurse in every school to advise on sexual health? What has bussing pupils from the inner cities to do with improving education?

And what does a Tory committee think it is doing, suggesting 'Health Miles Cards', with discounts on visits to the gym for those who obey the Government's command to lead healthier lives?

If Mr Cameron wishes to continue his recovery in the polls, he'd be well advised to disown huge chunks of Mr Dorrell's report at once.

As for Mr Ancram, he should reserve his criticism for when it's deserved. Meanwhile, he should give Mr Cameron the credit he is due.

Science and morality

In their quest to cure deadly human diseases, scientists venture yet more deeply into a disturbing moral maze.

Today, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority is expected to approve in principle the creation of parthuman, part-animal embryos to assist in stem-cell research.

Many will say there's no point in railing against 'progress'. Others will welcome anything that may ease suffering from Alzheimer's or Parkinson's.

But don't most of us instinctively recoil from this tampering with nature?

In matters as momentous as this, shouldn't parliament - rather than a handful of quangocrats - decide where to draw the line?

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