So, theresa May has made her first Big Mistake, in what is turning out to be a rather staid election campaign. The Tory Manifesto escaped on Thursday, and it was not good for the party and as recent polls would suggest Labour has gained from the mistakes contained therein with the wide gap closed between the two of them. Now standing at 35%, while the Tories are still 9% ahead on 45%. It would seem though that Jeremy Corbyn's distinctively socialist agenda has seen him and his party in its best poll position since before the 2015 election.
Hitting Young and Old alike
May plans to means-test the Winter fuel allowance and to wait until death for any care costs to be recouped for those with assets of 100K, and her vow to radically reform the care sector - a provision ignored by so many governments until now, and a ticking time-bomb awaiting everyone over 50 - has gone down very badly with the core conservative vote; the elderly. She also took a pop at the other end of the spectrum, those too young to vote; children. Free school meals for infants is to be scrapped, but replaced by free breakfasts instead. Appearing to be a slap in the face to the party faithful, they are none too happy with her cries for a 'classless society', - a John Major edict, which goes against her call own calls for for new Grammer Schools - which left many of her staunchest supporters saying that this was indeed a 'wobble weekend,' for all concerned.
Labour
Having already been pre- warned by the leak of the Labour manifesto, and knowing what to expect, little had changed. Re-nationalisation, re-nationalisation, and oh, re-nationalisation; Rail, Water, and the Royal Mail, so no great surprises there then? The one thing that must be boosting anyone feeling low at Party HQ in Brewers Green, SW1, is that the climb back up the greasy pole has indeed begun.
It is probably because they fare better on the NHS and Education - two weak spots that the Conservative Party chooses to ignore - and seem far more committed to solving a problem that really is not going to get any better anytime soon.
Labour still have two weeks to close that gap further but heads are certainly being scratched at number 10 as to how they have lost ground so quickly.
A little more radical thinking on key issues needs to be attempted, but one should not underestimate the PM, for she believes that it is she and she alone who can offer the UK the best way forward either pre or post-Brexit.
