The Stalinism of Labour's high command is universally acknowledged. Jack Straw's determination to replace civil liberties with extended police powers has liberal opinion hopping mad. Yet Labour's lead seems untouchable. The answer lies in the state of the Conservative and Unionist Party. It was thrown out in 1997 because it was divided over Europe.
Divided parties are unelectable.
The sexual and financial sleaze that dominated the headlines during the Major administration only leaked out because the divided party suffered a breakdown of its once-invincible discipline. Since then, nothing has changed except that the noisier elements in the Tory Party have grown stronger. In short, the grounds for kicking them out in 1997 still hold good. The Conservatives have not been helped by their campaign strategy. They have failed to make headway on domestic issues because they are not saying anything significantly different from 1997.