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The Chancellor’s party ought to have been frightening the voters as to the consequences for local schools and hospitals if a Christian Democrat government were to cut spending.That is how Tony Blair will try to fight the next election in Britain. Anticipating his tactic, Michael Portillo has recommended that the Tories should commit themselves to match all the spending increases that Gordon Brown will propose for the first two years of the next Parliament. They believe that year on year, the state should spend a lower proportion of the nation’s income and own a lower proportion of the nation’s wealth. But as soon as any senior Tory confesses any ambition to cut taxes, Mr Blair sees a political opportunity.During the last German general election, the PM became anxious about Chancellor Schr?’s prospects. Tory economic policy is easily summarised: to bake a bigger cake.

Given sensible economic management and a reasonable growth rate, public-spending increases and tax cuts could both be financed out of a higher national income.Most of Mr Howard’s supporters are Fabian Thatcherites. In most other areas, where individuals should be allowed to take their own decisions, the state should stand back Under the current government, the reverse has applied. There has been a vast increase in the cost of government and in its powers – everywhere except where it matters, especially on law and order.Public discontent with the failures of policing is now becoming almost explosive. It should be easy for the Tories to argue that the Government is failing the nation But law and order will not be enough The main electoral battleground is bound to be the economy. In the fullness of time, there could be interesting television programmes about Mr Howard’s tastes In the short-term, he has other priorities. He must establish broad political themes and detailed policies.

At the end of last week he published a credo, arguing that Tony Blair has got it all wrong.It should not be impossible for the Tories to argue that Tony Blair has got it all wrong When only it can act, the state ought to be strong. They are about the struggle to find and sustain enduring values in a crumbling world.Michael Portillo is not the only senior Tory with a cultural hinterland. It is interesting that Tender Is The Night and Brideshead Revisited should be among his favourite novels; both are often misunderstood. The richness of the writing, the glamorous characters and events, can both deceive These are more than threnodies for doomed romanticism.