Here's something I never thought I'd say...

... but I actually agree with what is written in The Independent today. They correctly observe the odd phenomenon of a traditional Tory press that doesn't seem to be able to cotton onto what their readers are thinking. It is a time-honoured tradition that newspapers mould public opinion in order to influence policy.

For the last week the traditional Tory press has been cool to the verge of cold in its coverage of the Conservative conference in Bournemouth. Everything from the new logo to tax cuts has been criticised. The non-Tory press, much smaller in circulation, have been fairly neutral or, in the Independent's case, rather supportive. Years ago, before the advent of 24 hour news media, the public would only have the printed press to go by when it came to coverage of these conferences. Today this is totally different and a working class, 9-5 conservative inclined voter would be able to watch coverage of the conference on freeview, the internet or even (if they were that interested) podcasts. Times have changed and so has the power of the newspaper.

In my rather humble opinion, twats like Simon Heffer and Peter Hitchens are trumped up little turds with a vastly over inflated opinions of themselves. However, what they used to be were influential journalists whose articles could provoke a flurry of replies to the letters page. Those days have seemingly gone. Politicians read newspapers just like you and I, sometimes pandering to their demands. This conference was different to the last two. Each of these gatherings was followed by hugely supportive coverage from the right wing media. Both times we saw a negligable shift in poll ratings.

In fact that has been the case after each of the last 5 or 6 conferences. I can only think of the IDS conference of 2003 when we had a poll bounce, and that one was after a string of extremely negative headlines from the right wing press.

Could it be that the old power the Tory press has had over Conservative Party policy making and intellectual thinking is at an end? If this is the case then David Cameron's policy-light long game is surely working wonders.