Tories and Labour to make pledges knowing they are bad policy

This week, the two main parties plan to make iconic pledges that they hope will appeal to their core vote, but that are pretty poor policy. David Cameron will today pledge to keep ‘pensioner perks’ – universal benefits for older voters such as the free bus pass and the winter fuel payment – while Labour expects to announce its new tuition fees policy. The only thing that gives the Tories any sense of moral high ground in this is that they have at least worked out how to fund their pledge, while Labour is still scrapping over the money for and detail of its plan to cut tuition fees.

Why are these bad policies? The winter fuel payment and free public transport go to pensioners who are very wealthy, as well as those who genuinely benefit from the perks and who do spend their winter fuel money on winter fuel, rather than winter wine.