A good story to tell

Philip Hammond, the Chancellor, said yesterday that the economy did not feature enough before the general election. It is hard to think of a statement more obvious, or more damning of the conduct of the Tory campaign. The truth is that almost nothing was heard about the role the Conservatives have played over the last few years to encourage growth, rebalance the books, and avoid the catastrophe of mass unemployment that has enmeshed so many of continental Europe’s young people in its toils. True, there are those, this paper among them, who would wish a Tory Chancellor to do more to foster self-reliance and encourage wealth-creation and entrepreneurialism. But even so, the Government’s record of economic probity and job creation remains strong. And unless it is prepared to stand up and defend that record, then Jeremy Corbyn gets a free pass on a subject where, instinctively, the nation’s voters know he cannot be trusted. That is why Mr Hammond must continue to put clear blue water between the Conservatives and Labour. Of course, he should not be shy of trumpeting the point that in recent years the poorest have seen their incomes grow more than the richest. But he must also remember that the Conservatives are a party of low taxation and low spending, and not get into a competition to outbid Labour on either. For when it comes to sweet promises of central government cash, the Conservatives will always lose to the economic fantasists on the opposition benches – fantasists whose model for a well-run country is Venezuela: currently enduring street warfare, food shortages and hyperinflation. Yes, Mr Hammond, let’s hear more about the economy. But make your message a Conservative one, please.