Dave the Chameleon hits the Roadblock to Reform

Final proof, if any were needed, that the world has gone mad?

Actually I quite like this "Dave the Chameleon cartoon. (Available here.)

I remember the first locals after Michael Howard was leader there were a series of pretty strong attack ads against him used. I think the point of them at this point in the cycle is to create as much of a row as possible as early as possible in a new leader's time in office.

The aim I suppose is to cement an image of them in the public consciousness early - whilst people are still making their mind up about them. Probably very effective. I wasn't around during the mid 1980s but I imagine it was done pretty effectively against Kinnock - although the Tories probably didn't need PPBs to do it with, since they had every paper except the Mirror and the Guardian at his throat from the off.

If this gets the message accross loud and clear that you simply can't trust what Dave the Chameleon says since he's just abandoning evey appearance of being a Tory - whilst not actually changing at all - then it'll have been worth it. I think it would be fair to say this is about the next general election - as much as it is about the local elections. Which gives a lie to the fact that Tony and Gordon are squabbling with Gordon (as if!) trying to sabotage the local elections and Tony not bothered about the next general. This is a long term and agreed plan from what I can see.

And before anybody pipes up and says that it's negative and why are Labour doing this to poor David...

Why do you think he's harping on about how great Tony is all the time - and how Gordon is the "Road-block to reform"? That's their mirror image strategy. They're trying to make out that there's some mythical consensus where Chameleon and Tony love to frolick in the centre ground whilst Gordon is grumpily off to the left blocking common sense reforms out of some dogmatic fervour.

Well sorry chump. Gordon "Prudence" Brown is no rigid dogmatist. You're going to have to do better than that. Trying to paint Brown as that before he becomes leader is canny - but ultimately No. 10 is a hell of a platform from which to confound expectations. Especially in your first 100 days as a new PM. I don't know - I have no way of knowing - but I'd put a lot of money on some pretty radical stuff coming out pretty sharpish once Gordon gets his feet under the table. "Road-block to reform"'s going to sound a bit tired, and a fair bit out of touch, by the time that happens.

Meanwhile, Cameron's going to have to do a bit better than running round pretending he agrees with everyone without actually being prepared to stick his neck out on anything. As I've pointed out - it isn't enough to just ride a bike to work without pledging anything on the environment, to pledge to end child poverty without pledging the means, to waffle on about Africa. You've got to walk the walk as well as talking the talk. And right now - Cameron's doing no such thing.

And Dave, after the treatment you and your cronies in central office meted out to Kinnock in the 80s you're in no position to whinge.

It's Karma, Chameleon.