What should they do next...The Conservatives
Here's the thing. What David Cameron has been doing works. The modernisers were right. Their critics were wrong.
The critics claimed that if Cameron was doing the right thing the Tories would be miles ahead. Now the Tories are miles ahead I hope the critics draw the appropriate conculsion.
And I hope David Cameron does too.
The Tories should not interpret the result as indicating that the modernising phase is over, but as suggesting that a moderate, liberal, compassionate Conservative Party can win office. He should be repeating the messages of change every day.
He should also assemble policies designed to do two things - enable the Tories to govern effectively and reassure swing voters that Cameron will not abandon them.
On policy there will be a temptation to produce large volumes in order to satisfy the media that there is a programme for Government. This would be a mistake. The aim should be quality and not quantity. Having too many policies risks tying the party to small but silly ideas that look incoherent.
David Cameron does need to settle on his big themes - but he won't do this through micro policy ideas. And certainly not by a big shift to the right.
