Labour vs Big Business: the row that keeps on giving
Cameron goes into TV debate with more business leaders signing up to anti-Labour message
David Cameron has the ammunition for two lines of attack when when he appears against Ed Miliband in tonight’s seven-way TV election debate.
The Telegraph letter
Cameron’s team are delighted by the success of their propaganda coup in mobilising 103 chief executives – including such household names as Duncan Bannatyne and Stuart Rose - to sign yesterday’s letter to the Daily Telegraph saying ‘Red Ed’ was "anti-business" and his election would threaten Britain's recovery..
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Telegraph has followed up with 17 more signatories eager to support the Tory case for lower taxes on business. They include Pascal Soriot, CEO of AstraZeneca, Michael Grade, chairman of Pinewood Studios, and Michel de Carvalho, chairman of Citi Private Bank.
Egging them on, Telegraph commentator Janet Daley claims Miliband has turned Labour back to the pre-Blair 1980s: “They just want a ruck – an anti-capitalist grievance campaign. This is not only pre-Blair and pre-Mandelson: it is pre-Kinnock. We are back with Michael Foot and the great sectarian wars of the early Eighties.”
The Ed Balls 40% tax question
Cameron was handed more ammunition last night when Ed Balls refused to rule out lowering the starting point for the 40p tax band on middle-earners.
Balls said: “What I’d like to do is find ways I could have fewer people in the 40 per cent tax bracket. Of course I would.
“But I have to be honest with people. The deficit will be £90 billion. I have to find a way to get the deficit down in a careful, staged, balanced way.”
Cameron will be keen to point out that the Tories are promising to raise the threshold to £50,000 while Labour are threatening to drag more middle-income earners such as teachers, nurses and policemen, into the higher rate tax net.
Balls and Miliband have tried to turn the tables on the Tories by issuing their own “letter from the people” last night, signed by a mix of celebrities, business people and workers on zero-hours contracts.
The message was that only Labour would “speak for the many, not the few” and “put working people first”.
However, The Independent was quick to point out that one of the signatories, the designer Wayne Hemingway, is known for advertising for unpaid interns – exactly the sort of practice Miliband is promising to stamp out if he becomes prime minister.
According to the bookmakers, Nigel Farage goes into tonight’s ITV debate as the man most likely to “win”. But Cameron won’t give a monkey’s how the Ukip leader does: his sights are set on Miliband as he seeks to ensure that the Tories come out on 8 May as the larger party.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'Make legal immigration a more plausible option'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
LA-to-Las Vegas high-speed rail line breaks ground
Speed Read The railway will be ready as soon as 2028
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel's military intelligence chief resigns
Speed Read Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva is the first leader to quit for failing to prevent the Hamas attack in October
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Is David Cameron overshadowing Rishi Sunak?
Talking Point Current PM faces 'thorny dilemma' as predecessor enjoys return to world stage
By The Week UK Published
-
Will Aukus pact survive a second Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question US, UK and Australia seek to expand 'game-changer' defence partnership ahead of Republican's possible return to White House
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Can Cameron put the Falklands sovereignty dispute to bed?
Today's Big Question Foreign secretary says issue 'not up for discussion' ahead of visit amid renewed push from Argentina
By The Week UK Published
-
It's the economy, Sunak: has 'Rishession' halted Tory fightback?
Today's Big Question PM's pledge to deliver economic growth is 'in tatters' as stagnation and falling living standards threaten Tory election wipeout
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Will America recognize a Palestinian state?
Today's Big Question Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu opposes the move. Some see it as the only route to peace.
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Fasting to burger buffets: the weird and wonderful diets of politicians
Why Everyone's Talking About Rishi Sunak reportedly starts his week with a 36-hour fast
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Why your local council may be going bust
The Explainer Across England, local councils are suffering from grave financial problems
By The Week UK Published
-
Rishi Sunak and the right-wing press: heading for divorce?
Talking Point The Telegraph launches 'assault' on PM just as many Tory MPs are contemplating losing their seats
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet, The Week UK Published