Cameron himself made an interesting point regarding the Tories that neatly summised their problem.
Research has shown that if you explain a certain policy to people, and they like it, if you then tell them that it is a Tory policy a large number of the same people will then decide they no longer like it !
The Tories obviously have a serious image problem. Major image surgery is the only answer to this - even more than Labour required in the mid 1990's. Cameron is making the right noises re this, but I'm not convinced that the Tory party itself has the appetite to make the changes that are required without fragmenting.
As someone who is regularly out canvassing in South London council estates, I can confirm that Labour in general, and Blair in particular, are deeply unpopular in what should be their guaranteed traditional heartlands. The problem for voters, however, is that there is no acceptable or viable alternative at the moment. The Tories are considered unacceptable, and whilst the Lib Dems are popular they're not seen as viable contenders for government. I doubt this situation will have changed to any great degree by 2009/10, so I think we'll be stuck with Labour for yet another term that would bring them close to Thatcher/Major's 18 year period in office. They'd doubtless be reduced in numbers, but still in power.
Having said all that, politics is a funny aul business, and you never know what could happen in an instant to change all that.....!
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