Cameron's CBI snub is a blunder

Having said only last week that the Tories were mounting an increasingly impressive charm offensive in the City and wider business community, their leader, David Cameron goes and pulls the carpet from underneath his hardworking team by snubbing the CBI's prestigious annual conference today.

His decision to fly to Iraq for a few pictures with "our boys at the front" is an error of judgement. He has put short term headline grabbing before longer term bridge building. The Tories need big business to swing behind them in the run-up to the next General Election, having lost alot of ground with what should be a natural supporter base for them. Dropping out of the CBI conference at the last minute will not help their cause. After all, can you recall Tony Blair, pre- or post-1997, making the same mistake?