A good speech but not a decisive one
James Forsyth 5:11pm
The continuing inability of any politician to seize the moment produced by this financial crisis continues. David Cameron’s speech today was fine—well crafted and delivered with just the right amount of passion—but an opportunity to demonstrate his command of the economic question was missed.
It was always going to be impossible for Cameron to top the drama of last year’s effort and he was sensible not to try. The section on his personal values was strong and a reminder of how good he is going to be on the campaign trail during the general election. His remarks on the NHS conveyed the right amount of anger and passion. While his rebuttal of the experience argument—“The risk is sticking with what you’ve got and expecting a different result”—was effective. (For those keeping track of who is borrowing from which American politician, this is an Obama line).
Overall, I’d say the speech was seven out of ten—I thought Brown’s was a four. The drowning out of the conference by the financial crisis might suppress the Tory conference bounce but I suspect that by December the Tory lead will be back to its pre-conference level.
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Dirty Euro
October 1st, 2008 5:15pm Report this commentCameron said in his speech he sleeps with an entreprenuer so that is what they call the now LOL. Someone tell his wife. LOL.
The speech was not a disaster he did not vomitt over the audience.
David
October 1st, 2008 5:16pm Report this comment"... but an opportunity to demonstrate his command of the economic question was missed."
Do you know what Brown said about the economy in his speech? "Everything is fine, I'm great, here are some free laptops."
This was not an economics lecture, and Cameron laid out quite a few specific things that he wanted to do on the economic front. Big things, in fact. But you don't use a speech like this for figures and details; they are for ideas, and the economic ideas were clear for all to see. Would more stuff on the economy have made Cameron look like a stronger economist - yes. Would they make him look a stronger lead - no. And that is what this speech was about.
amandaP
October 1st, 2008 5:21pm Report this commentBack to 20 ppoints by christmas, that is a BIG AND BOLD prediction. Some would say arrogant?
I also think its wrong. The 20 point lead was based on a view of brown as hopeless and whilst he may remain unpopular I dont think hopeless will be the view after this crisis.
Steve Garner
October 1st, 2008 5:28pm Report this commentIf in December the Tory lead is back to pre conference levels I'd say it was pretty decisive!
I would not underestimate the significance of the 3 p cut in corporation tax paid for by the abolition of all those nonsensical and bureaucratic allowances. Great stuff.
TrevorsDen
October 1st, 2008 5:31pm Report this commentSeize the moment?
Like what is there to seize. At least he seized it better than Nancy Pelosii.
The truth is we are all doomed. Let me repeat - The Titanic is holed below the waterline and its a mathematical certainty that we will sink - and there are not enough lifeboats to go round.
Some people are going to suffer - who knows, one of them might be me. As finances get tighter maybe people will cancel their magazine subscriptions may be advertisers will cut back - I have taken great delight in cancelling my SKY subscription, maybe that will teach Murdoch for supporting Brown.
Just what do you want Cameron to seize any more than he has already done. Its a depressing story to tell and its going to get worse.
Oscar
October 1st, 2008 5:45pm Report this commentJames - as Cameron aptly said he's a man with a plan not a miracle worker. Any flash cure alls for the economy just now would have been unconvincing and ill judged. Cameron did what he does instinctively - spoke with sincerity, vision, compassion and integrity. Any pretence he has the decisive answer to our economic crisis would have been just that - a pretence. Leave that crap to Brown.
Sugar Free
October 1st, 2008 6:09pm Report this commentIt might not be decisive, but it was certainly a big step forward...most importantly for Cameron's standing with the public, he came across as a guy who does 'get it' and at last fully showed the anger that many people across britain feel about the pitiful government which Gordon Brown is 'leading'. I have to admit, I have been unconvinced with Cameron in the past...this speech went a long way to confirming that he is indeed the man, to lead this country forward.
The 'Brown bounce' is nothing of the sort, he is a beaten man. Compare the tone of his speech to Cameron's... Brown was dour, tedious and uninspiring, while Cameron spoke with genuine passion, it was inspiring. The truth is that Cameron speaks for the majority of Britain now...
I also liked the way that before Cameron's speech there were comments from PPC's such as Shaun Bailey, Adeela Shafi and Louise Bagshawe... people who are worth listening to in politics. Compare that to Labour shuffling out a prop in Sarah Brown to make their great leader look more of a family man...sums up the difference between the parties...
JimBob
October 1st, 2008 6:20pm Report this commentVoters care less about who has the best remedy for the crisis and more about who actually sorts it out. In any case, Brown will steal any good Tory ideas and claim them as his own (one of the few skills he possesses) so it is difficult to see how the Tories can benefit from it.
Travis Bickle
October 1st, 2008 7:29pm Report this commentNext year's speech will be the important one. He couldn't win any election today but could have raised the risk of losing one, since even the BBC didn't go on the attack I'd say a job well done.
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