Cameron strikes the right tone

Cameron’s statement on the economy to the Tory party conference was as good as it could be.  It won’t win the Conservatives votes, but that’s not the name of the game today.  The overriding drive is to look – and be – capable and cooperative.  The general message that “The financial system needs protecting; the taxpayer needs protecting; and that all the parties are in this together” will go some way to achieving that.

As Iain Martin points out over at Three Line Whip, the cooperation has already started.  Cameron spoke on the phone last night with Gordon Brown, and George Osborne is on his way to meet Alistair Darling in London today.  The question now is whether more drastic steps need to be taken.  The Tory conference may still be continuing for now, but there’s a strong case that Parliament should convene earlier than next week.