Me and Alistair: like that.

When I heard the news last night that DC had anointed his preferred successors my first thought was: Say wha? Shortly followed by: that's a bit, inept, isn't it?


So I was surprised and gratified when later that night on Newsnight Alistair Campbell, high priest of spin and general political savant, expressed those self-same views. Cameron's choices are not exactly shocking: George Osborne, Israel's best friend in Britain and the best friend of  laissez faire capitalism outside the Russian oligarchs club and the American Tea Party. Theresa May, a woman of even less charisma than Osborne, if such a thing is possible, but undeniably possessing that great quality of durability, and Boris, as big on charisma as the other two are lacking in it, but unfortunately little else; a triumph of style over substance if you will.


No, the interesting thing is Cameron's timing. One's first thought was we were witnessing some piece of political machination worthy of Machiavelli, but on reflection, as Alistair concluded, it seems it was simply dumb. Which doesn't say much for his political nouse nor his advisors- if indeed they had any part in it. More likely they were as gobsmacked as the rest of us and wondered what the hell he was thinking in making an announcement of this sort barely two months ahead of a General Election.


To me the whole thing speaks to the intellectual poverty of the Tories in general and DC in particular. If they do actually win in May it will only reflect the fact that the electorate are as stupid as they are.