U-turns matter less than journalists think, especially if voters like the result

This is the latest in a series of posts that could be entitled ‘things I could never say when I was a political journalist but now I can.’  Today’s topic: U-turns. The bottom line: they don’t matter, or at least, they don’t matter anywhere near as much as most of the coverage of them suggests.

Theresa May has changed her mind on social care. Political Twitter is still, as I type, in the sort of excited spasm that suggests that this is an event that will change EVERYTHING. 

To some, Mrs May has shattered forever her image as a strong, steady leader. A slightly more sophisticated take suggests that she’s shattered her relationship with the Conservative Party, which will never trust her again. 

I’m not convinced by either of those arguments, to be honest.  I think the May brand among voters can survive this.  As for relations in the Conservative Party, this will simply persuade those colleagues who believe Mrs May governs through a small, opaque clique that they were right.