The Tories must not lose their nasty streak

Politicians should not be too anxious about being 'nice' because part of the job requires a willingness to do the nation's dirty work: locking up criminals, shooting terrorists, collecting taxes, declaring war and, nastiest of all in the current era, keeping foreigners out.

As the French philosopher de Maistre famously said: "Behind it all stands the executioner". Politics without pain are as ineffectual as guns without ammunition.

In the old days the Conservative Party's historic record of not shying away from these painful duties was a great source of strength and the Labour Party's reluctance to soil its Utopian hands, a great source of weakness. Indeed it is because of these contrasting reputations that in times of national danger it was to the Tories that most voters turned.

Ever since Enoch Powell's notorious

Ever since Enoch Powell’s notorious speech, the Tories have been fearful

speech on immigration, however, the Tory party has become as fearful of realistic speech as the other parties, and - judging by Cameron's sacking last week of a Tory who dared to say that Enoch might be right - that taboo still very much holds.

Tactically, this may make sense. Current worries about immigration are not about race, they are about white immigrants from eastern Europe. This, however, is a short-term problem. As soon as east European economies get going, pressure from there will subside, while pressure from Asia and Africa will go from strength to strength.

What worries me is that when this happens Cameron's make-over policy will prevent the Tories from rising to the challenge. Just when their nasty streak is needed, it will not be there for the nation to call on, unless by then New Labour has decided to risk causing the pain itself.