Compassionate Conservatives Win in Sweden

Here in the United States President Bush’s “compassionate conservatism” has disappeared in a hurricane of Bush hatred.

But in Britain Conservative Party leader David Cameron has given new life to the Tories with an emphasis on green, windmills, and work/life balance.

Now the Moderate Party in Sweden, led by Frederick Reinfeldt, has romped home to an election win in the world capital of the welfare state with a program that promises not to change too much too fast.

Yes, but what will Reinfeldt actually do? CNN has a run down. The main issue was the Swedish welfare system.

While insisting that he has no intention of dismantling the system, which is something of a sacred cow in Sweden, Reinfeldt has argued that, if the country is to compete economically, urgent reforms are needed.

What reforms? Well, a tax cut, for a start, “a reduction in unemployment benefit from 80 percent of previous income to 65 percent,” but above all a determination to “change things through safe steps.”

Lefties like Polly Toynbee in Britain can see the writing on the wall.

What an irony that the victors - 41-year-old Fredrik Reinfeldt's New Moderates - modelled themselves on New Labour...


Here's the other great lesson from Sweden. They forgot about women - yes, even in Sweden. New Labour has won the past three elections only on the strength of women's votes - yet Labour too has forgotten the importance of connecting with them...


But in opposition look how Cameron's campaign is devoted to pleasing women, in tone, style, words and demeanour: the polls tell him women are more green, family-minded and worried about work-life balance.

And the thing is, Cameron’s mood music is having an effect. The swing to the Tories is 6 percent among women but only 2 percent among men.

The last, brief rightwing government in Sweden left heavy footprints. It cut the welfare state and damaged education by bringing in private schools[.]

Oh yes, did you know? In Sweden they have school vouchers. You can send your child to the school of your choice. What a radical, woman-friendly concept! But safe, you understand, very safe.