Who’d have guessed that David Cameron would go into his conference speech on the
backfoot? This was supposed to be a moment tinged, if anything, with jubilation: the first Tory PM for thirteen years addressing a party that seems to have fallen in love with him. But instead we’ve got the child benefit row,
and with it apologies, rebuttals and hasty repositioning. It is to Cameron’s credit that he can breath the two words that evade other,
more culpable politicians: “I’m sorry”. But on the eve of his big speech? Far from ideal.
This exercise in damage limitation may have slightly eased Cameron’s situation today – but it has put him in a more difficult long-term position. If the Tories had stuck completely by their original line – that this is “tough but fair” – then they would have attracted a similar amount of ire, yes.
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