Cameron’s u-turns come at a price

David Cameron hasn’t wasted much time since his return from holiday in dealing with the government’s two biggest political vulnerabilities: its policies on the NHS and criminals. The u-turns have got Cameron into a better place politically but they come at a cost.

On the NHS, Cameron has had to water down the Lansley reforms and accept the temporary creation of a two-tier NHS and a highly bureaucratic structure. While on sentencing, Cameron has removed one of the ways that Ken Clarke was trying to save money.

But, perhaps, the biggest problem with these u-turns is that they add to the impression that he’s not prepared to stand and fight, that when the going gets tough he gets going. This perception is already influencing the behaviour of some ministers. They are not coming forth with radical but controversial plans because they fear that Downing Street will leave them hanging if the press turn on their proposals.