Why is the Times providing a platform for Labour now, with a non-existent row over the NHS? As a non-story, it lost its legs over the weekend and has had no impact upon the public mood, unless you count a flurry of tweets. Nevertheless, Andy Burnham, Health Secretary, has tried to stoke the fire by calling on David Cameron to ban all critics of the NHS from the Tory Party Conference.
Set up an obvious and foolish trap. When Cameron ignores it, use this 'fact' to display your cunning and berate the Tory leader for not defending the NHS by closing down debate about it. This does not count as an "August godsend" for Labour.
It does display the paucity of tactical ability on their side. If this is the level of low cunning that they can muster, then they are truly heading for defeat. As an exercise in political stupidity, it cannot be bettered. At a time when your activists are demoralised, and the lack of debate within your party has contributed to your demise, is it creative to try and get the Leader of the Opposition to act in the same way as yourselves.
Labour's secret weapon: call on David Cameron to act like New Labour...