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IT HAS been a busy week for the Tories, who must have block-booked Great Figures in British History from Westminster Library on their party lending card.
We’ve had Boris Johnson attempting to evoke Churchill (again) and even sitting at the war desk at RAF Uxbridge, barking fake orders down the phone to an imaginary Roosevelt.
As if that were not enough to strike fear in the hearts of millions, Cameron then got his hands on the obviously much-thumbed volume and now seems to be doing his best to imitate everyone he can think of.
We’ve already had St George and a passable imitation of Admiral Nelson’s “I see no ships.” Now he seems to want to be the Emperor Hadrian.
Speaking yesterday, the Tory leader revisited one of his favourite topics and claimed that if elected he would ensure English votes for English issues — or, as its more commonly known, getting revenge on the Scots — within 100 days.
He insisted that ensuring English MPs have the final say over income tax and other key policies is “vital” to hold the United Kingdom together.
It was not about having a purely English P arliament (he still needs the DUP), but there was a “basic constitutional unfairness” about Scottish politicians being able to decide on issues that did not affect their constituents, he said.
The comments came as the Tories rolled out their English manifesto at an event in Lincoln. “It is simply unfair. And with English votes for English laws we will put it right,” he said.
Well, it might neuter the SNP if it enters into a pact with Labour, which was transparently the point.
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon was quick to brand this a clear breach of the referendum deal and a sign of increasing desperation on the part of the Tories.
While Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood described the policy as “half-baked.” Which, if anything, was being generous.
And speaking of desperate and half-baked, Lib Dem Danny Alexander wasn’t happy about it either. The Chief Secretary to the Treasury called Cameron’s campaign strategy “disgraceful.”
And he’s someone who knows about disgraceful strategies.
