No Loss

To say that the Conservative Party has "lost its reputation for economic competence" is to assume that it had ever had one. If it has, then it has "lost" it numerous times that I can remember. It has certainly never deserved to have it.

Many people have an oddly rosy impression of the economic records of Conservative Governments. Six of the seven recessions since the War have at least started under the Conservatives, and five have been entirely under them.