Don't just appeal to the rich

10:41am Friday 18th January 2008

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I SEE in a recent issue of your newspaper that Tatton MP George Osborne has been named Politician Of The Year, in a swift and unanimous decision by the editor of the Spectator and his judges.

This award was largely due to Mr Osborne's astonishing policy statement to cut inheritance tax.

There is plenty of work for a Conservative government to do in the area of public services, transport, pensions energy policy, law and order and relationships with the EU and other world powers.

The dramatic reduction of inheritance tax will play well in Tatton and similar wealthy constituencies.

The old saw about a monkey with a blue rosette, from the time of Sir Walter Bromley Davenport, still applies and Mr Osborne does not need more votes from this constituency.

The Conservative Party needs to take votes from the Labour heartlands.

The tax proposal will not cause great joy in Northern Rock-on-Tyne or sway the hordes of bureaucrats, advisers and council jobsworths that are client voters of the present Government.

For Mr Osborne's party to be able to make a difference and actually implement some fresh policies it must first appeal to a broader spectrum of the electorate and then persuade the people to vote.

H CATE Smith Lane Mobberley