Thatcherite Cameron to provide good UK housekeeping...

Is England set to revert to the bleak and grubby austerity of the Thatcher years? If the recent reports of David Cameron taking cue from his iron-balled mentor are anything to go by, then perhaps so..

According to numerous news sources today, the Leader of the Opposition has decided that Britain has 'reached the limits of acceptable taxation' and that he is the only man capable of doing anything about it. Many will remember the 'trickle-down theory' that Thatcher loved so much, the idea that lower taxes for the rich would produce extra spending, and therefore an improved economy with more jobs for the plebs and other ass holes. Is Cameron hell-bent on taking the UK back to its Conservative and class-based roots? Or does he have something else in store for us?

Today's reports claim that in a speech on the economy to be made in Birmingham today Cameron will announce that:

"After a decade of reckless spending under Labour, Britain needs good housekeeping from the Conservatives. We need to start living within our means."

Which echoes the famous speech made by Thatcher after she was first made Prime Minister in 1979:

"Any woman who understands the problems of running a home will be able to understand the problems of running a country."

and another, soon after, in which she stated:

"My policies are based not on some economics theory, but on things I and millions like me were brought up with: an honest day's work for an honest day's pay; live within your means; put by a nest egg for a rainy day; pay your bills on time; support the police."

Naturally, Westmonster understands that Cameron isn't a woman but the sentiment shared amongst the New Right does seem to be that providence is the key to solving the majority of national problems. It comes at a time when UK debt is at highest levels in decades and public spending on things such as Olympic stadiums constantly seem to be spiralling out of control.

Have the class-free illusions of Blairite Britain officially concluded? Read more of Cameron's thoughts on Miss Thatcher here.

Photo: Flickr

Written by Oli Anderson on 19 May 2008 11:28 AM. Permalink