Labour’s new dividing line is a gamble

Alistair Darling has long suggested that the original dividing line between the Tories and Labour concerned Labour spending, which will stimulate growth, versus Tory inaction. And last week, Darling was quoted in the Mail on Sunday setting out a new dividing line between the parties by framing the “debate in terms of our cuts being better than their cuts”. It is a stance that presupposes Britain is returning to growth thanks to the government’s strategy. And that is the message of an opinion piece, titled ‘The cure is working’, penned by Darling in this morning’s Guardian. Here’s the key section:

‘The Tories have opposed our measures every inch of the way, but I make no apology. For me the cost of doing nothing, far from being “a price worth paying”, would have been morally indefensible. Governments can and should make a difference. That’s the clear division between our approach and that of the Conservative party.