Conservative Manifesto

According to Lord Cooper, the Conservatives should be prepared to form a minority government, rather than entering another coalition,  if they fail to win the next election.  I applaud this strategy if it means that the Conservative will be offering a conservative manifesto instead of engaging in a popularity bidding war with the other parties. I hope for a manifesto which looks to the long-term good of the country rather than short-term electoral advantage and, at its heart, advocates a smaller state that lives within its means. The manifesto should not compromise on doing the right thing.  Meantime, if the electorate falls for the superficial gimmicks and ruinous spending plans, so lauded by good old Mary Riddell yesterday, then so be it - our turn will come!  Once the electorate has stared into the abyss, a Conservative Government will be elected with a clear mandate for the future rather than another 5-year coalition ham-strung by emasculating compromise.