Some observations on yesterday's by-election victory for Chloe Smith and David Cameron:
Positive campaigning can triumph: The Conservatives fought a relentlessly positive campaign in Norwich North and won. As we noted yesterday, massive efforts by the parliamentary party contributed enormously to the success of the campaign. This checklist records the scale of the Conservative victory.
Voters are not believing Labour's lies on spending cuts: David Cameron described Labour's campaign tactics as "despicable". He was referring to the ways in which Labour leaflets attempted to frighten pensioners and vulnerable voters with the idea that the Conservatives would cut and Labour would not. This haunting image of a frightened pensioner was a Labour low point.
If Labour is being punished for its dishonesty the Conservatives are being rewarded for their truthfulness about the budget deficit: Matthew Parris captures this in his Times column and wonders how much more honest the Tories will be: "How much dared they say about spending cuts? Tightening their course slightly, they spoke of “constraints” and “tough decisions” — and still the sails stayed firm. Then the Shadow Chancellor, sailing into a stiffening breeze, spoke openly of “cuts”. Still the sail did not flap; the craft held her course. Two recent polls, one in this newspaper, have suggested that the electorate are not flapping either, and perfectly ready to hear talk of the tough times ahead. Well, Norwich North was the first real-ballot test of how well this honesty is working. And the result suggests that Tory support is staying firm. So now — in the remaining months before the end of the year — is the time for Conservatives to keep their nerve and, emboldened by how sanguine the electorate has so far proved, set as stiff a course as they dare in preparation for government."
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