DAVID Cameron has tried to brush aside recent political flak bombarding the Coalition, insisting he is concentrating on the "big picture" – jobs, the economy and public services.
However, today the Prime Minister will meet Cabinet colleagues, suggesting he needs to boost confidence following last week's resignation of Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell, the row over Chancellor George Osborne's first class train ticket and the lack of clarity over the UK Government's intention to guarantee householders the lowest energy bills possible.
"We need to focus on the big picture," declared Mr Cameron. "What actually happened last week is unemployment fell, inflation fell, waiting lists in our hospitals fell, crime fell, the right decision was made about Gary McKinnon. Those are the important things that are happening in an economy."
At the weekend, Tory grandee Lord Tebbit was scathing about "this dog of a Coalition government", saying its abiding sin was not that some ministers were rich but that it "seems unable to manage its affairs competently".
Meanwhile Oliver Dowden, the PM's deputy chief-of-staff who oversees domestic policy, admitted "most of my time is spent on day-to-day crisis management". Yesterday, Mr Cameron attempted to get back on the front foot with a speech on criminal justice, insisting the Coalition would be taking a "tough but intelligent" approach to law and order in England.
The PM later also defended sticking by Mr Mitchell, who last Friday resigned as Chief Whip over "plebgate". Mr Cameron said: "It is the easiest thing in the world just to sack someone at the drop of a hat when something goes wrong. The right thing was to make sure there was a proper apology."
However, Michael Dugher, the Shadow Cabinet Office Minister, responded: "David Cameron has not learned any lessons from this shambles. While everyone else can see how wrong Andrew Mitchell was, the Prime Minister is still completely out of touch."
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