How To Win An Election How To Avoid (Tory) Irrelevance
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Oct 2, 2025 Sir Craig Oliver, former Director of Politics and Communications for David Cameron, shares insights into the Conservative Party's struggles. He discusses whether the Tories have ever faced such challenges and the implications of Kemi Badenoch's policy delay. The conversation dives into Nigel Farage's rising influence, Brexit's impact, and the party's quest for a clear direction. The panel also grapples with the concept of digital ID and the public's perception of governmental clarity. It's a lively and critical look at UK politics.
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Campaigners In Charge Undermines Strategy
- Political actors are stuck in short-term campaigning rather than doing deep analysis of national problems.
- Craig Oliver warns this prevents credible long-term plans and forces reactive politics driven by polls and media cycles.
Set Strategy Before Detailing Policy
- Define a political strategy before detailing policy so policies reinforce a coherent story.
- Polly MacKenzie advises leaders to avoid publishing standalone policy without an overarching strategy.
Words Matter: Sound Money Vs Austerity
- 'Sound money' is too vague for voters compared with memorable campaign words like 'austerity'.
- Polly MacKenzie argues that concise, emotionally resonant language matters in political campaigning.