Whilst many Tory supporters may be inwardly groaning at the latest twist in the parliamentary expenses saga (see today’s Telegraph) and be disappointed by the prospect of the party’s current popularity being dented by these revelations, it is instead distinctly possible that Cameron may well have been dealt a royal flush.
Brown can hardly sack half his cabinet without causing irreparable damage to the government, but provided Cameron himself is clean on the issue he could seize the moral high ground, and the political initiative, by sacking the shadow cabinet ministers accused of the worst of the perceived excesses now coming under scrutiny.
Not only would such positive action kill the story completely in terms of how it affects the Tories, it would allow Cameron to go on the offensive and keep landing punches on Brown and the Labour Party with the issue. It would also provide Cameron with a means of reinvigorating the front bench team with some fresh blood, such as the self-exiled David Davies, which could be critical in maintaining Tory momentum and the current poll lead.
So, played right, it might not be such a bad day for the Conservatives after all.
