Tories lack a Northern soul

This issue has been perplexing David Cameron since he became party leader nine years ago after his predecessor Michael Howard effectively wrote off this region by claiming – erroneously – that his party could win the country without making significant gains in these parts.

He could not have been more wrong. While Britain’s first-past-the-post electoral system and in-built bias towards inner-city seats means Labour can still win an outright majority without a strong presence in the South, as Tony Blair proved in 2005 when he defeated Mr Howard, the Tories are not so fortunate – Mr Cameron has to retain existing seats and then win a clutch of marginals along the M62 corridor.

If the party had convinced the Lib Dems to cut the number of Parliamentary seats to 600 as part of the now-forgotten electoral reform agenda, this issue might have been neutered. Yet the deal collapsed, hence this month’s reshuffle that saw promotion for MPs, like Keighley’s Kris Hopkins, who have well-defined roots in the North – and pronounced accents. Mr Cameron clearly hopes that such promotions will enhance his party’s profile – and reputation for economic competence.

If only it was so straight-forward. This is precisely the type of political “spin” and gimmickry that alienates plain-speaking voters in Yorkshire who traditionally favour leaders who champion aspiration.

Despite Rotherham-born William Hague’s high profile, Tories are still perceived to be out-of-touch, even though a majority of voters are sympathetic to the welfare reform agenda.

There is one glimmer of hope for Mr Cameron, however. Ed Miliband is making little or no headway in the South, an irony given how both men portray themselves as “one nation” politicians. However it would be regrettable if the next election was defined by a repeat of the negative campaigning that has so alienated voters. That is why the PM needs to look again at his strategy for the North – and whether future economic policies need to begin in the North, and permeate towards the South, rather than being solely driven by the City of London. It would be a start.

Gas guzzlers

IN many respects, David Cameron was right when he implored customers of British Gas to vote with their wallets after the firm announced a rise of up to 10.4 per cent in household bills.

Yet this is the problem. Instead of freezing prices, or imposing modest rises, there is an even greater likelihood that the other “Big Six” suppliers will match this above-inflation increase and leave customers back at square one.

The response from Westminster was predictable – the Prime Minister promised new laws so pensioners are automatically charged the lowest tariff while Ed Miliband said that this was a vindication of Labour’s proposed price freeze.

Perhaps the most rational intervention came from Tory peer Lord Forsyth, a Cabinet Minister in John Major’s government, who called on energy companies to provide bills which itemise the taxes paid by customers – and where this money goes.

He’s right. There’s not enough transparency – whether it be fuel prices or a breakdown of the taxes and levies that are paid by motorists whenever they fill up their vehicles with petrol or diesel.

Yet Lord Forsyth’s plan needs to recognise two other factors – the absence of a clear correlation between global wholesale charges and the pricing policies of the Big Six, and the urgent need for Britain to invest in new sources of power.

With the Royal Academy of Engineering predicting power shortages in the next five years, and the Government actively exploring the possibility of securing critical investment from China, time is running out for the Government to put in place an energy policy that is both effective – and affordable.

In very safe hands

IF the Duke of Cambridge had any nerves ahead of his first investiture, he was soon put at ease by Wimbledon winner Andy Murray who said that he was “incredibly honoured” to receive his OBE from Prince William.

If anyone understands the burden of expectation facing the second-in-line to the throne, it is the tennis titan who faced incredible pressure – both on and off the court – as he became the first British player since Fred Perry in 1936 to win the men’s singles on the hallowed lawns of the All England Club.

However Prince William’s easy-going manner, unstuffy approach to protocol and empathy with people meant he served an ace of his own yesterday and showed that the House of Windsor is in the safest possible hands as the transition from the Queen to the Prince of Wales, and Princes William and Harry, gathers pace 
like a magical Murray winner down the line.

Perhaps the more pertinent question is not the Duke of Cambridge’s credentials as a future king – he already has the respect of the country – but whether tennis-mad Britons face another 77 year wait for the next men’s winner at Wimbledon.