“The government is to look again at the HS2 high-speed rail line between London and Birmingham, which could mean a new tunnel being built in the Chilterns”    BBC news 03.12.11

A pattern is becoming clear with the libo-conservocrats, which is on the following lines

* The government announces some policy

* A lobby group of (typically) conservative leaning voters becomes vocal

* Claiming to be a ‘listening’ government, Dave backs down.

The Forestry Commission fiasco was another example of this  at a minor level and NHS changes at a structural one.

The government presumably believed they were following a sound policy when they announced it, with it no doubt having been having been pored over by teams of policy wonks at No 10, lawyers, and whoever in the cabinet was responsible for the area – oh, and I guess Dave sees most things before they go out.

So why didn’t they foresee the protests? Surely they were expected – and it smacks of incompetence if they were not ? If Dave thought he was right first time, why the change of heart – something Lady Thatcher would never have done. It doesn’t bode well for when times get tough in the near future, as they surely will.