John, yes, it probably did win some votes and it would have been fine if compassionate conservatism had been kept as a slogan garnished with a few carefully targetted initiatives. The problem is that subsequently it has been used to grease the way for a massive increase in the size, reach and the spending of government. Has that won over many (any) votes? I doubt it, and sorting out the consequences of this binge is likely to be unpleasant – and very bad politics indeed.