Leaders fail to land killer punch in big job interview
LAST night was the big job interview and the first candidate up was Dave.
There was a seat but the “pumped up” PM was up on his feet straight away and addressed the audience fists clenched and legs akimbo.
The gaping policy hole was addressed immediately, helped along earlier in the day by one Danny Alexander; namely, the Tories plan to cut £12 billion from welfare and either do not know where the cuts will come from or do know and are simply not telling people. One audience member accused the Tory leader of “deceiving the public”.
Asked if he was offering an “absolute guarantee” not to cut child benefit or child tax credit, the Tory leader rambled on about having increased child tax credit and child benefit being very important. But this was not closing down the story.
In a dramatic flourish, Dave then produced the notorious Liam Byrne note from 2010, saying there was no money left in the Treasury. Stressing how there were more jobs and growth, he held up the note and declared: “I don’t want to go back there.”
As the questions on cuts continued, the perspiration on the Cameron lip grew as he rambled on about tax evasion, departmental efficiencies and wandered off on how he wanted to “stop taxing poor people”.
As His Dimblebyness began to move to another topic, the questioner could be heard, saying: “That wasn’t my question... .”
Questions were asked about why the public did not trust the Tories on the NHS, which prompted the PM to talk of not just care from nurses and doctors but also love. He looked at the audience and insisted the NHS “is my life’s work”.
Second candidate up was the happy warrior. Again, Ed was under immediate pressure from the audience this time over spending and that infamous note. “It’s his regular prop,” joked the Labour leader about Dave’s piece of paper but no one was laughing.
There was an ambush afoot with questioner after questioner insisting Labour had spent too much when it was in government, which contributed to the crash. But Red Ed, shaking his head, was having none of it, emphasising that the money Blair and Brown had spent built muchneeded schools and hospitals.
Hand in pocket, the chief comrade exuded relaxation and was trying hard to look in charge and prime ministerial. While he did not punch the air or clench his fists, Ed stepped off the podium and eyeballed the audience. At times, he was trying too hard to be chummy by asking questioners their name. “Shirley, it’s a great question.”
But one questioner, a businesswoman, received cheers when she denounced Ed Balls for saying that that note was “a joke”; it was not, she insisted, and if the Shadow Chancellor had been in business, he would have been sacked. But then came the zinger.
We knew Scotland would be a question but we were not expecting the answer.
Ed insisted there would be no deal with the SNP. Indeed, he made clear he would rather there not be a Labour government than do a deal with the Nationalists. His Dimblebyness had to take a second look; did he really say what I think he said?“If it meant we weren’t going to be in government, not being in coalition, not having a deal, so be it. I’m not going to sacrifice the future of our country, the unity of our country, I’m not going to give in to SNP demands around Trident or the deficit or anything like that.” Eyebrows were raised not just in the spin room but across the country. It was a polished performance but right at the end – was it an omen? – Ed tripped up and almost fell over.
Third candidate was Calamity Clegg. And in similar fashion, the Lib Dem leader came under pressure from the off on tuition fees; his millstone.
Nick tried his best to say sorry all over again. But the audience appeared unimpressed.
He was on much firmer ground, justifying why the yellow peril had got into bed with their erstwhile sworn enemies. “We could have been Greece,” insisted the DPM. In the end, banana skins had been avoided. There was no killer blow, no blood on the carpet. Just six days to go and all still to play for.