<iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-K3L4M3" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden">

World

Trump flies home as Tories breathe a sigh of relief

5 December 2019

5:37 AM

5 December 2019

5:37 AM

Donald Trump is on his way back to the US, and—as Katy says —they’ll be breathing a large sigh of relief in CCHQ. The great disruptor has not been that disruptive on this visit. He has, largely, kept out of the election. He hasn’t said anything to add fuel to the fire that Labour is desperately trying to get going on the NHS and a US trade deal. He hasn’t picked a fight with Jeremy Corbyn despite the provocations of the Labour leader; Labour would have loved to have turned this election into a question of whose side are you on, Corbyn or Trump’s as that is that rare thing a popularity contest that Corbyn could win. He has also not gone after Sadiq Khan, which would have been particularly unfortunate given the London Mayor’s role in responding to the London Bridge attack.

With Trump’s departure, the Tory path to election day has become that much clearer. Of the known unknowns, there is now just the Corbyn / Johnson head to head debate on the BBC to come between now and polling day.

As we enter the final seven days of the campaign, the Tories will try and get back to their core messages: ‘Get Brexit Done’, a vote for anyone else is a vote for Corbyn, do you want two referendums next year. These messages are much more potent than the Tory closing argument in 2017.  The Tories hope that this can prevent any last-minute switch back to Labour.

Got something to add? Join the discussion and comment below.


Comments

Don't miss out

Join the conversation with other Spectator Australia readers. Subscribe to leave a comment.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Close