Darling sells himself as a cost-cutter

Alistair Darling’s speech today gives one a good idea of what Labour’s pitch is going to be this autumn. He stresses the importance of a strong, active government and argues that Labour will cut costs but not services. As he puts it, ‘Some seem in a hurry to cut services. We are focussing on cutting costs.’ He also takes a pop at the Tory position on inheritance tax: “I cannot accept that cutting inheritance tax for the few is a greater priority than getting people into work or investing in public services.”

The inheritance tax pledge is fairly small beer in revenue terms but it is a big issue in terms of perception. Labour thinks that it can use it to get over the message that the Tories are more interested in looking after their well-off friends than protecting services. As David Cameron’s decision to wear a lounge suit, not a traditional morning suit, to his brother-in-law’s wedding demonstrated, the Tories remain nervous about the toff factor.