You’re great Dave, so take on the Conservative party

I thought we’d left the days behind when Tory politicians would stand before us on TV and attempt to justify a ridiculous position. (Remember Michael Howard & Paxman all those years back, it’s still great viewing - see it here. ) I’m not suggesting this is in the same league but David Cameron’s position on the Lisbon treaty is dangerously ambiguous. I understand and agree with the Conservatives’ position on Europe as “being part of Europe but not ruled by Europe”, but surely that means that you therefore either renegotiate, or don’t sign up to the Lisbon treaty. Done deal, all policies joined up, sorted. (OK, renegotiating the treaty could be fun, but you have to stand up for what you think is right, and Europe needs us anyway!) However, on Saturday night Cameron told the BBC that the Tories can't say whether they would sign up to a referendum because it would prejudice the voting prodedures of other countries (i.e.: Poland and The Czech Republic) which were still to ratify the Lisbon treaty.  Come again? What a load tosh! To be fair by Sunday morning, on Andrew Marr, the Tories appeared to have dropped this ridiculous position. However, an interesting element to this is why Cameron feels so nervous about the Lisbon treaty? His crazy positioning is because he doesn’t want to take on his own party. But why? He’ll never be more powerful within the party than he is now and without him their leadership cupboard looks positively bare. (Hague? Nice guy but no way a leader. Osborne? His presentation style makes Gordon look positively flowing!) No, without Cameron I think there is a very strong argument that the Tories would manage to lose the next election. So come on Dave, you’re the man; you’re the future leader of the country, step up to the plate. Tell the party what you want and if they don’t agree, tell them where to go. This lot didn’t look like winning an election for 12 years before you came along. They need you, more than you need them. So lead us Dave and don’t try and treat the county like fools, you’ll end up with a bloody nose.