The Sun shines on the Tories

Last week, the Sun’s editorial strongly implied that it wasn’t endorsing any of the main parties for the Euro-elections. The Sun said, “If the established parties have their way, the prospects for change in Brussels vary between fat chance and no chance.” But today, The Sun urges its readers to vote Tory, saying “If you want your vote to count in Europe, vote Tory.”

The endorsement is a sign of the increasingly close relations between the paper and the Tories, something that former Sun man Andy Coulson has plated a key role in. All the signs are that The Sun will campaign hard for the Tories at the next election.

One can speculate about how much newspaper endorsements matter, whether it really was The Sun wot won it. But considering that one of the biggest weaknesses in Project Cameron is its limited appeal to what Margaret Thatcher used to call ‘her people’, the Sun’s support will be useful to the Tories.