Irwin Steltzer, probably Rupert Murdoch's chief representative on Earth, made an unofficial appearance on the fringe last night. He wasn't on the panel of the Policy Exchange's debate on tax, but the American economist - lounging against a wall - was invited to give his view anyway.
What was his verdict on Malcolm Rifkind, Howard Flight (the Tory MP who was removed by Michael Howard after he suggested the party might be keen on cutting taxes) and the young(ish) Nicks Gibb and Herbert? Not a lot. "It's startling to me that a Conservative party is so ant-eye-tax cuts," said Dr Steltzer, pointedly. He was particularly unimpressed by Gibb and Rifkind's reluctance to reduce taxes until education and health were good enough to pass muster with the middle classes. "There's a kind of incoherence in what I'm hearing." He suggested the panellists might like to "sit down in a room for an hour" and sort themselves out. "You can't just say you're for lower taxes, you have to say which lower taxes are you for."
No wonder the Sun favours Liam Fox, who told the FT last week he wanted Republican-style tax cuts to stimulate economic growth. But will the Dr moot them tomorrow in his conference speech? Mr Murdoch will be listening.
