Tory party's true policies lie behind the slogans (From Halesowen News)

Tory party's true policies lie behind the slogans

3:54pm Thursday 21st May 2009 in Letters

James Morris's Conservative leaflet, 'Now for Change', is pushing the same false claim as his leader, David Cameron.

The Tories cannot present themselves as the party of change since New Labour and the Tories have become virtually indistinguishable,.

His focus on rising unemployment in Halesowen and Rowley Regis is made in the hope that our memories will not stretch back to the 1980s and early 1990s when the Tories were in power.

I can remember the recession of 1979-82 which had a devastating effect on the country and was particularly bad in the West Midlands.

The main parties appear to have believed that when the economy finally came out of the 1980s, our problems had been cured.

It is true that from 1992 to 2007 the economy was on a rising curve.

But there was an underlying weakness, the economy had become heavily dependent on banking, property and retailing.

It was about consumption, borrowing and debt, the clever banking wheezes were hiding a serious deficit on manufacturing trade.

Now, it has all fallen apart again because it wasn't built on very firm foundations.

And New Labour and the Tories don't appear to have any plan for real change.

They are simply hoping for a return to the pre-credit crunch times.

That's why James Morris's leaflet is false.

However much he identifies with local businesses, schools and youth centres, he remains a Tory candidate. It is his party’s policies that belie his slogans.

John Payne, Halesowen