Tory Tax Plans take Flight

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sun 3rd Apr 2005

The Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party, Howard Flight, has been ousted from his Arundel and South Downs constituency for being honest about Tory tax plans, and infuriating Michael Howard. Even Michael Portillo, a former Conservative minister, claims that the decision was draconian and unjust. Just when the Tories were trying to persuade the electorate to trust them, this over-reaction by their leader shows there must have been some truth in Howard Flight's comments, casting some light on the dark side of Michael Howard.

The Conservatives are playing fantasy politics with fanciful sums and can no longer be seen as financially disciplined and credible. Oliver Letwin has failed to acknowledge that tough choices need to be made on spending. The idea that the Tories can increase spending on health, education, policing, international development and defence, cut taxes and correct any budget deficit by removing waste in the public sector is laughably implausible. The James Review, commissioned by the Tories, claims enormous savings but raises serious questions over the impact on front-line services from such enormous cuts in administrative support.

The only conclusion that can be drawn from the Review is that the Conservatives do not believe they can win the forthcoming election and will therefore never actually have to try and meet all these savings. These proposals show that the Tory party is dishonest and opportunistic. The Conservatives cannot afford these plans without introducing serious cuts to our public services. It is the Liberal Democrats who are the real opposition, with fully costed and serious alternatives to the government's spending plans.