As He Goes Along

The pro-Cameron blogosphere is deafeningly silent on the Chosen One's view that there should have been a General Election when Major took over from Thatcher, when Douglas-Home took over from Macmillan, when Macmillan took over from Eden, when Eden took over from Churchill, when Churchill took over from Chamberlain, and when Chamberlain took over from Baldwin. The Queen must rue the day that the Palace wangled him that first job, since he now proposes to depose her by declaring her choice of Prime Minister, even if possessed of a Commons majority, to be illegitimate and invalid. Whatever happened to the Tory cry of "King and People"? Cameron intends to sack them both at the same time.

But The Northern Echo, the nearest thing to an Official Opposition to the Labour Establishment in County Durham, is far from silent about Cameron. No doubt the same is true of local and regional papers across the North East. It certainly is of The Belfast Telegraph, up to now the house organ of Cameron's UUP allies, who must be even more rueful than Her Majesty. Not only is Sylvia Hermon safe after last night, but so is a Sinn Feiner in Fermanagh & South Tyrone. As safe as the Labour MP for Tynemouth, which it beggars belief is not a Tory seat. As safe as the Labour MPs for several seats on either side of the Tees. And as safe as the Labour candidate for Sunderland Central, probably the first seat to declare on the night.

Here in North West Durham, meanwhile, we can vote for Watts Stelling. So let's do that. This time.