Who can trump McCain?
Britain’s Conservatives are currently re-branding themselves in a desperate effort to shed the “nasty party” label that has clung to them in recent years. Under their new photogenic leader, David Cameron, they have abandoned support for selection in schools and vouchers for the use of public services and pleaded the fifth on tax cuts. The ...
Britain's Conservatives are currently re-branding themselves in a desperate effort to shed the "nasty party" label that has clung to them in recent years. Under their new photogenic leader, David Cameron, they have abandoned support for selection in schools and vouchers for the use of public services and pleaded the fifth on tax cuts. The emphasis has instead been on environmentalism, general well-being, and flexible working. This desire to avoid being seen as "right-wing" has colored Conservative foreign policy too, with both Cameron and the party's foreign affairs spokesman going out of their way to criticize Israel during its recent conflict with Hezbollah.
So, on one level it is mildly surprising that they are over the moon to have secured John
McCain’s appearance will benefit both Cameron and himself. It will enable Cameron to demonstrate that he’s seen as a serious player on the world stage and a potential prime minister. And it enhances McCain’s image as the president in waiting. (Aspirant foreign leaders aren’t beating a path to Mitt Romney’s door – let alone George Allen’s.) The person who’ll be peeved about it is Tony Blair’s likely successor, Gordon Brown. He’ll be furious to see Cameron being treated as a power player and he’ll loathe the fact that the Conservatives will use the McCain visit to paint Brown as the past.
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