Fourteen years on from “education, education, education,” Labour seems to have hit upon three new priorities for government: “Ashcroft, Ashcroft, Ashcroft”. Sure, we all knew that they would push this story as hard and as fast as it could go. But it still says a lot about how they will go about their election campaign, when two senior ministers are still going heavy on the Tory Lord this morning.
In interview with the Guardian, Peter Mandelson says that Ashcroft has got Cameron “by the balls”. And, in the Telegraph, David Miliband claims that William Hague “can’t be an effective Foreign Secretary,” after his role in the affair. Some of their arguments are valid enough – as when they ask why Cameron didn’t get to the truth of the situation sooner. But most are laced with a sharp dose of hypocrisy and disingenuity – as when Miliband talks about the unspecified “sins” of Lord Ashcroft:
“Surely if Labour so wished, it could have legislated long ago to end loopholes benefiting rich party donors.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in