What Cameron achieved
James Forsyth 9:44pm
A few hours on from the end of conference and the new political landscape is becoming clearer. David Cameron has succeeded in uniting the Conservative party and the right more broadly behind him. The policies announced in Blackpool mean that Conservatives of all stripes now have positive reasons to want a Tory government. The leadership has also succeeded in distilling the work of the policy groups without anyone’s toys disappearing out of the pram.
The more challenging bit comes now: they have to win over the country. As Tim notes, the news segments on the speech have been positive but watching them it is hard to feel that the case for change has been made.
What Cameron has secured, or regained to be more accurate, is the right to be heard: the next election will be a genuine contest. But it is crucial that the Conservatives capitalise on this opportunity. Any unforced errors will squander all the progress that has been made this week. Equally, the Tories need Brown to make some mistakes if they are to have a real chance in November. But the Tories can take cheer from the fact that while Cameron is at his best under pressure, Brown tends to be at his worst.
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Eric Blair
October 3rd, 2007 10:32pm Report this commentIf the election is now, it seems too soon for Cameron.
So if we are going to the polls, might the real question about today: did he achieve enough to stay on and have another crack, if he keeps Brown's majority to around 70 or reduces it? Or not? Or does he have to get it down to 25 or so, or remove the majority, to get the chance to lead for another term and to have a chance to be PM next time around?
Joe
October 4th, 2007 12:56am Report this commentThis guy is Britain's Bill Clinton
Ted Leddy
October 4th, 2007 11:04am Report this commentNot quite Bill Clinton Im afraid. It probably should not matter as much but as we all know personality and charisma are essential for successful leadership. The only Tory characters that possess these traits sufficiently are Michael portillo and William Hague. There is no other conservative figure capable of becoming Prime Minister.
Oscar Miller
October 4th, 2007 11:31am Report this commentCan we now officially designate Dave a 'have a go' hero?
Slats McGonigle
October 4th, 2007 4:26pm Report this commentOne speech and you are all talking abour Cameron as the next immediate Prime Minister. There doesn't have to be an election for three years. The Tory Party was wiped out and but for a handful of wealthy donors, it wouldn't exist today. There is no evidence that the voters feel any differently about the Tory Party than they have for the past fifteen years, at least. It would have been been bettr to allow the Tory Party to fade away into history and by now we might have had a proper conservative party in its place. While the Tory party exists as at present we conservatives are going nowhere.
hugahoodie
October 4th, 2007 8:23pm Report this commentOMG - what a fuss about nothing. Cameron has pretty words, but ultimately he a man more concerned with presevering the rights of the few at the top over the many. Same old tory, same old policies, only now we have some words to disguise his real intention.
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