Kennedy looks to Thatcher for inspiration

[emad]

Kennedy looks to Thatcher for inspiration
By Marie Woolf, Chief Political Correspondent
Published: 13 September 2005

Charles Kennedy is to urge his party to emulate Margaret Thatcher by developing a "convincing" story line that could include further cuts in public spending and a rise in taxes that could hit the middle classes.

A major review of policy, published today, suggests the Liberal Democrats build a "national image in the minds of the electorate" focusing on the principle of "individual freedom".

The consultation document suggests more cuts in public expenditure to pay for "spending priorities". But a review of Liberal Democrat policy on tax suggests putting up national insurance contributions for higher earners to raise a total of £8.5bn.

The prospect of tax rises is likely to face opposition at next week's party conference in Blackpool. Some MPs believe the policy of 50 per cent taxes for high earners put off Tory voters in the last general election and want the party to resist more tax rises.
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article312201.ece

[LeftishBrit]

1. To be fair...

and though I don't find Kennedy exactly inspiring, it sounds as though he is suggesting emulating Thatcher in terms of presentation and spin-technique, rather than in terms of policies.

I wish they'd concentrate more on policies and less on spin, in any case, but it may not mean that they are going to adopt Maggie's entire platform.

[Taxloss]

2. (Clears throat.) Yellow Tories! n/t