Cameron switches focus as Lib Dems surge in polls
In an apparent indication of concern among Tory top brass at polls which have seen them challenged — and even pushed into second place — by Nick Clegg’s party, Cameron scrapped a film attacking Labour.
Instead, he recorded a new statement warning a hung parliament would result in indecision and could leave Britain “stuck” with Gordon Brown.
The prime minister himself yesterday recognised that Clegg was enjoying a “political honeymoon” sparked by his widely-praised performance in last week’s TV debate — but he predicted it would be short-lived.
Both Labour and the Conservatives sought to pick holes in Lib Dem policy, with Brown denouncing plans to cut back on child tax credits, while Cameron attacked the party’s policies on immigration and tax.
But Clegg said it was only to be expected the two parties which have dominated British politics would “lash out” as soon as voters showed they were ready to choose “something different” in the May 6 general election.
“The general election campaign is starting to come to life for the simple reason that a growing number of people are starting — and it is only a start — to believe, starting to hope, that we can do something different this time,” said Clegg on a campaign visit to Cardiff.
“That the old tired choices that they have been given by the old parties of the past no longer need to govern the way in which we run politics in the future — I think that is exciting.”
A YouGov poll for The Sun yesterday put the Lib Dems on 33% (up three points since a similar survey published on Saturday), ahead of the Tories on 32% (down one), with Labour trailing on 26% (down two).
And an ICM survey for The Guardian saw Clegg’s party soar by 10 points over the week to 30%, three behind the Tories on 33% (down four) but ahead of Labour on 28% (down three).
They were the latest in a string of polls suggesting last Thursday’s debate has turned the 2010 election into a three-horse race.
In last night’s broadcast, the Tory leader acknowledged that the historic debate had “really shaken up this election campaign”.
But he warned a hung parliament would leave Britain “stuck” with a Labour administration.
Voters are “desperate” for change, said Cameron, adding: “The only way we’re going to get that change is through a clear, decisive result at this election.
“Any other result would lead to more indecision and more old politics — we might even be left stuck with what we have now. That’s why we need a new, Conservative government with a strong mandate.”
Former Conservative chairman Norman Tebbit told the BBC that Cameron was being too “shy” in taking on the Lib Dems and urged the Tories “not to hang around because there is a Clegg bubble and the imperative is to puncture the bubble before the 6th of May — the 7th would be too late.”
But London’s Conservative Mayor Boris Johnson played down the threat, writing in the Daily Telegraph: “I am certain that the Tories will win and that the current fantasy of a Liberal Democrat resurgence is the biggest load of media-driven nonsense since the funeral of Diana.”
Brown said Labour had “common ground” with the Lib Dems on political reform but disagreed on other issues. He shrugged off questions about possible co-operation in a hung parliament, saying: “We are putting forward our programme and asking for a majority.”
