Theresa May must spell out why voters should choose her – not being Jeremy Corbyn is not enough

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THE time has come for Theresa May to spell out why her optimistic vision for ­Britain is worth voting for.

Not being Jeremy Corbyn simply isn’t enough. Few outside his crowds of naive young zealots and wrinkly old Trots think the Labour leader is a future Prime ­Minister.

But Mr Corbyn is selling a wonderland. And even if his promises are practically impossible and economically catastrophic, set against the Tories’ unnecessarily defensive campaign it’s small wonder he appears to be picking up support.

Two weeks ago Mrs May launched a manifesto that was serious, honest and bold in its vision for Britain’s future. We’ve heard far too little about these plans or the Government’s record since.

The Conservatives have presided over an incredible jobs boom since 2010 and taken millions off welfare dependency.

Almost three million new jobs have been created, a national living wage implemented and four million low-paid workers lifted out of income tax.

While Labour want to hike taxes and stifle small business, Mrs May plans to cut corporation tax and raise the ­personal allowance for those on low incomes and those paying the 40p rate.

Voters need to hear the Tories will let workers and businesses keep more of what they make. Labour will steal it to fund bonkers projects like re-nationalising the water industry.

The plan to put workers’ reps on boards is a regulatory nightmare, but only the Tories understand the need to free-up business to trade worldwide.

Mrs May has come up with a coherent plan for tackling the social care crisis, shifting the burden onto those who can afford to pay.

She will raise the state pension, but it’s also right that the expensive triple-lock is ended and winter fuel payments means-tested.

Crucially, the Conservatives’ plan to build a million new homes by the end of 2020, with new powers for local authorities to create more social housing.

This would be a revolution in house building in Britain. It’s sorely needed and only possible when backed by a prudent Government presiding over a stable economy.

Mrs May has also shown she’s solidly on the side of the consumer. Her plan to cap energy tariffs will enrage the power company fatcats, but should finally end the spiralling bills con.

Similarly, the Tories’ ­passenger ombudsman proposal is more likely to stop train fare rip-offs than a ruinous re-nationalisation of the ­railways.

These aren’t pie-in-the-sky promises like those of a Labour Party who never expected to be within spitting distance of No10. Instead they form a sensible, carefully considered prospectus for an incoming government.

Now the Conservatives must start shouting about it from the rooftops.