If someone new to politics wanted an example of electoral opportunism it might be difficult to come up with a better example than the change of heart suggested in this report in today’s Guardian
If the media-types at the paper are right the Conservatives will drop longstanding plans to reform the BBC from their manifesto. It seems they have decided in the wake of last months show of support for the BBC
that it would be better off positioning the party as the friend of the BBC in the wake of the fallout from the Hutton report. Well-placed Tories believe that the widespread public anger at the Hutton report, which exonerated the government and censured the BBC, shows there is great political mileage in standing by the corporation.
David Davis, the shadow home secretary who is in overall charge of the party’s policy on the BBC, made a show of support for the corporation by lunching with Greg Dyke within days of his ousting as director general. Mr Davis is understood to believe that it would be foolish to float plans for the break-up of the BBC at the very moment when Mr Dyke will launch a stinging attack on Downing Street in his forthcoming memoirs
Let’s wait and see.
