William Hague will attempt to give them a clearer idea tomorrow, in what is being billed as a crucial pre-election speech on Tories and taxation. He faces a daunting challenge, given the torturous zigzag Tory policy has followed since the last election. But two years on, again at Blackpool, all this changed, with their common sense manifesto bristling with extreme rightwing ideas, including tougher welfare rules, longer prison sentences, a reduced role for the state and local government, and lower taxes. From the leaks to yesterday's and today's papers, more confusion looks likely.
Real programmes have to be attacked.
And indeed yesterday's list included scrapping the New Deal, reducing the housing programme, cutting the already reduced time unemployment benefit is paid. Cynically, the Tories do not mind being seen to cut welfare, or Labour's anti-poverty programmes that should make Britain a fairer society. What they are at pains to avoid is being seen to be cutting health or education, the public's top two spending priorities. It does not. Michael Portillo, when chief secretary, always emphasised the long-term timescale of any such change.