The Wardman Wire

Tories take centre stage in opening scene
Happy New Year one and all! And here we go again with another year of political shenanigans, plotting, scheming, fighting and perhaps even a few rolling heads. The irony of politics is that there is as much truth in the old adage that “a week is a long time in politics” as much as there is in saying nothing changes. Well, 2009 will be no different – and the Tories look like they will be taking centre stage during Act one, Scene one.

The one thing that never changes about the Tories is that they are always just one row from imploding completely, and in a very short time indeed we could (perhaps just a week) see dramatic changes.

The beast, Ken Clarke
First up is the continuing speculation over Big Beast Ken Clarke. Is David Cameron really just about to bring him back into the shadow cabinet? If not, why has he not done more to scotch the rumours? And who will he come into replace? Has George Osborne’s chance meeting in the sun with the Prince of Darkness seriously stalled his budding career? Surely Cameron will not stab his old pal in the back because parts of the party are getting restless?

David Davis the plotter
And what of David Davis? The man who so gallantly acted on principle last year to save the country from the tyranny of this Labour government (ahem) – has he decided that actually there is nothing he can do outside the shadow cabinet after all? Is he pushing for a place back at the top table as a result?

All these questions have the distinct whiff of something not right behind the scenes in the Tory party. Bringing back Clarke is a massive gamble. Sacking Osborne is just plain stupid. Personally, I would leave Clarke where he is. The Tories need to ride out this mini storm, now is not the time for knee jerk reactions.

Time to hold tight, not overreact
I believe Cameron is actually playing things fairly well. He knows that Brown sooner or later will hang himself if the economy does not recover anytime soon. When that happens he can go in for the kill, but in the meantime he needs a united party. He does not a bunch of kids who get all whiny when they are not the flavour of the month; and he certainly does not need opportunists like Clarke and Davis rocking the boat.

Osborne must stay
If Cameron is intent on or bullied into bringing Clarke back, then he should shadow Mandelson at BERR not Darling. Osborne not only deserves more time but until his foolish summer time prank was doing a very good job. He has a vision and it is too late in the game for the Tories to waiver. This week he offered Britain a choice - a Labour party to spend its way out of the economic crisis or a Tory party that will tighten its belt. Let the voters decide now, not a few hubristic men behind the scenes.

The biggest threat of all
While Labour may be back in the game and perhaps a little ahead, the biggest threat to the Tories this year is not the economy, Brown or Mandelson. It is something that has blighted them now for a generation: the biggest threat to the Tories in 2009 is themselves.