Why is it proving so difficult?

[Zeuhl]

After 13 years, unpopular wars, huge debts and a leader with zero charisma, you'd imagine the country would be more than ready for a change. And yet the Conservatives are struggling to achieve a totally convincing lead in the polls.

Is this because;

Labour are credited with actually doing some good things while in office?

They are at least 'the devil we know' and have experience in troubled times?

They are widely distrusted and disliked but The Conservative challenge is inept and unconvincing?

[rov1200]

Mostly its the propaganda put out by Labour. First they say he's an Eton toff and have coupled this with the removal of inheritance tax for the wealthy.

Then they class them as novices when it comes to the economy with no real answers how to tackle the £178bn deficit.

They don't have much faith in either party so are willing to clutch at straws by looking towards the Liberals. But their policies are even worse. Vince Cable is overated and to suggest limiting bank bonuses to just £2500 is ridiculous when they travel abroad and earn £millions.

The makor factor is the economy. Why is it that Germany has no problems with its banks and has handled it well. We bring in Italians to show how football should be played. Maybe we should recruit some German financiers to advise or run our economy?

[jake-the-peg]

I think a lot of people simply don't trust the Tories

[Androcles]

There are few politicians with any trust in them left after the various scandals, especially expenses. The polls just reveal people are p*ssed off with all of them and see them all as bad as each other rather than seeing this disaster of a government doing anything good.

[jake-the-peg]

What did you say rov?

http://www.telegraph....ing-crisis-looms.html

Germany no problems with their banks?

[Davethedog]

I think the Tories lack substance they don't appear to have any policies. There is also this threat of Thatcherism in the background.

I think its better the devil you know.

[Gromit]

Blair moved Labour from the left to the Centre, a d Cameron has moved the Conservatives from the right to the centre. The result is that there isn't a great difference between the two. The Conservatives supported going into Afghanistan and Iraq, and most people know the financial crash was a global event, and only rabid Tories believe it was Brown's fault.

But the population is fed up with Labour and want a change. However, the Tories have only looked electable again for a short period, and people still remember them as the Nasty Party. Cameron has to convince the voters they have changed.

[Kromovaracun]

I actually think a large part of it is the Cameron factor. While Brown and Clegg aren't exactly very compelling leadership candidates, Cameron practically oozes insincerity from every pore. Does anyone else remember some of the things he was coming out with after becoming leader? I certainly remember him talking about some kind of half-baked compulsory citizenship/coming-of-age ceremony thing, which has been hastily swept under the rug. Then inevitably the cycling-but-being-followed-by-a-car and other such cringe worthy events. He is just impossible to believe in.

Speaking personally, I'm not intrinsically anti-Tory at all but it's overwhelmingly the Cameron factor that's deterred me, and I've certainly heard other people say it - so I reckon it does to an extent play a part.

(Well, plus the Conservative track record on recent gay rights legislation. But that probably doesn't put off so many people.)

[Everhelpful]

I wouldn't believe Cameron if he said the sky was blue.

[madmaggot]

The fact is that if you're someone who wishes to get on in life; either by starting your own business or training for a profession, you have no choice but to vote tory. Social mobility has of course stagnated under labour due to their policy of keeping everyone equal - at the bottom of the pile! Don't dare to try to make a success of your life under a labour government; you're better off having lots of kids and claiming benefits.

[craft1948]

I intend to vote Conservative, but must admit that is despite Cameron being leader, not because he is the leader. I wish Hague was leading the party at this moment in time.

[dundurn]

My problem is a mismatch of policies and people. I don't think Cable is over-rated but the SDP's slavish attachment to Europe is worrying. If Cameron hadn't found a sinecure in poiltics he'd be a wide-boy hedge fund merchant - actually there's still time and then there's the foxhunting! Brown's fabled financial image has feet of clay and I don't care how much ability Mandelson may have, any party that continues to employ Mandy can't expect much respect from the electorate. I want Alan Johnson, Vince Cable and William Hague to persuade Dennis Skinner to join them in a new party of National Unity - if they can get Dennis to leave the Labour Party, the problems of the economy will be child's play and Dennis would keep any group of MPs honest!

[VINNY100_2]

There's something about cameron thats very pretentious.If the CONservatives get in, you can say goodbye to the national minium wage.Mind you ,it would be fun watching them stab each other in the back again.Now who was the one who wore a bin bag, a pair of tights while sucking on an orange.I wonder how many tory MPS will end up in her majestys prison this time.:O)

[ludwig]

//Labour are credited with actually doing some good things while in office?
They are at least 'the devil we know' and have experience in troubled times?
They are widely distrusted and disliked but The Conservative challenge is inept and unconvincing?//

It's a combination of all of those, plus the expenses scandal reinforcing the belief that they're all as bad as each other, and therefore that a change of government wouldn't achieve anything much.