Cameron speech - Live Blog
David Blackburn 1:56pmStay tuned for coverage from 14:00
The word is that Cameron will not provide details of any new policies; the speech will be hearfelt and probably spoken without notes. He will stress that the nation faces a critical choice: salvation or ruin. Cameron is at his best with his back to the wall, but he needs to produce something to eclipse the 'we will fight, Britain will win' speech. It is, he professes, his 'patriotic duty' to beat Gordon Brown.
14:06: He's late....
14:07: James has just reminded BBC News that the Conservatives are doing well in the marginals and that Cameron will speak without notes, a bold move to get Cameron plastered across TV news this evening.
14:20 Here he is, walking into the Killers. Cameron opens be invoking 2007's Conference. Stresses he's never been complacent and immediately draws the comparison between himself and Brown and then is clear that it is his duty to beat Brown. Rousing stuff, but the stage is too small for it., looks a bit overblown.
14:24: Cameron does the rounds of the much-maligned and up to now compeltely marginalised Shadow Cabinet. Special mentions for Osborne, Fox, May Clarke and Hague. Cameron quips that they all get on and like each other. It is heartfelt and genuine and it leads him into praising the armed forces in Afghanistan. Very powerful stuff for the gallery, he uses the phrase "best of British".
14:27: Really on to the patriotic duty stuff now, with the applause building. Do you want another five years of this? It's a better, more clear and direct line than 'We can't go on like this.' Cameron is adamant that he will not the nation down, 'trust me' is the message, reaching out beyond the conference hall. There is a sense that Cameron is addressing the nation, selling his party.
14:30: Here comes a sort of five point plan about Cameron's radicalism and how the Conservative party has embraced and enacted it. 'We've changed'. The Tories are now the party of the NHS, the Environment, and controversially Cameron talks about candidate selection. And to make up for the white middle class Oxonian Shadow Cabinet he's mentioned, how now illustrates how the Tories represent multi-cultiral Britain - Shaun Bailey and Baroness Warsi are mentioned. The Conservative party has changed and it is not turning back. Cameron is being direct; this is really good. Straight and to the point and he's kept his quick-fire wit in the cupboard largely.
14:36: Cameron now lays out the choice: Britain is broken, I'm the man to fix it. The deficit and debt crisis is explained with the example of a small business keeping its accounts in order - clear and direct and stressing the enormous threat Britain now faces, thanks to Brown and Cameron demolishes Brown's economic record which he describes as: 'not genius, but incompetence.' Cameron assures that you need to get to grips with debt a deep recession with rising interest rates and inflation, hence the Emergency Budget Osborne announced yesterday. Cameron wants to sell Britain to the world. This is the most powerful argument that Cameron has made on the economy for months - it is hopeful. To be honest, doing this off his head, it is quite extraordinary.
The welfare trap/broken society argument is revealed through a litany of appalling stories and Cameron wants to hand power back to people with a family friendly manifesto. Nothing new here but coherent. I have reservations about the sensational terminology he adopts but the message is reasonable without being of the 'back to basics' stuff. Also, judging from the reaction in the hall, the tribes like it.
14:45: On to the NHS. Stafford Hospital is Cameron's current hobby-horse, and fair enough it is unacceptable. Cameron will set doctors and nurses free of targets and concentrate on results. 'I love the NHS and will always stand up and protect it'.
14:47: Gove's education reforms. Cameron frames the argument in terms of choice and realising potential, which is currently lost by an inept system. Cameron views this as his 'patriotic duty'. I still feel he needs to elaborate quite what he and Gove are planning: it is the best policy the Tories have and I feel they should make more of it.
14:50: The welfare reform gets a brief mention, not as emphatic as the 'Don't you dare lecture us on poverty Mr Brown' that he delivered at the Conference.
14:52: Cameron for the grey vote on pensions - link pensions to earnings which is both sensible and popular.
14:52: Cameron proves that he can reform, that he will reform. It's the expenses scandal stupid. Cameron charts a progress of demolishing the state, from the Commons' subsidised bar all the way to QUANGOS. This is brave stuff considering the size of the public sector and its vested electoral interests. But Cameron's delivery sells himself as a radical, he convinces that such reforms are necessary. Perhaps the public sector's vested interests will be limited...
14:57: Now for the radicalism. that people expect from Cameron and the Tories. 'We will be radical from day one.' But Cameron is clear that the sunlight uplands are round the corner, providing that radical programme is enacted. Cameron's optimism is enthralling; there is the greatest contrast between him and Brown. He ends with 'Let's get out there and win it for Britain'.
VERDICT: Cameron's rhetoric was arch, his demeanour confident, but it wasn't a barnstorming speech. The setting was too small for that in any case. That this was a speech to the nation and not the audience was clear in that the EU and immigration were not mentioned. I'd like him to talk about these issues, he should do as they are not inconsistent with his overall message. But, of course, he has to win an election. This speech was hugely inspirational in places, speaking without notes will cause great waves. Kevin Maguire argues that Cameron remains vacuous, I disagree: this speech was consciously radical. Cameron's politics can't be reduced to a soundbite beyond being patriotic and offering a genuine and necessary choice, but he has a vision with hope at its end. Cameron's optimism is the greatest contrast between him and Brown. I watched the speech with three uncommitted voters; they are committed for Cameron now.
Previous
Noa Zrk
February 28th, 2010 2:10pm Report this commentAnd there's me, out with the rose petals and the rosary beads...
Bobby Lobster
February 28th, 2010 2:15pm Report this commentLet's hope it's a good one.
2trueblue
February 28th, 2010 2:15pm Report this commentWaiting, Cameron must beat the Liebore lies and manipulation that have been inflicted on us over the past 13yrs. We do not know how much we owe, we do not know who is in the country and we do not know what Liebore intend to do, apart from lie to us more and take more of our freedoms from us.
Vulture
February 28th, 2010 2:15pm Report this commentYou keep saying he will 'speak without notes' as though its a Nobel-prize winning feat. Ye Gods..
Frank P
February 28th, 2010 2:18pm Report this comment"Cameron is at his best with his back to the wall". That's my default position in Brighton.
Bobby Lobster
February 28th, 2010 2:19pm Report this commentI'm hoping all the poll participants are so bored with the voting thet they are just trying to confuse the outcomes.
Frank P
February 28th, 2010 2:21pm Report this commentIf he doesn't get his finger out soon he'll clash with the Carling Cup final and be talking only to his coterie
Richard
February 28th, 2010 2:27pm Report this commentwith the shadow cabinet sitting behind him nodding like the churchill dog in the back window of someones car...yuk
Who hand on heart can name more than 8 of them???????
Frank P
February 28th, 2010 2:33pm Report this comment'kin Hell. He's a Kamikasi pilot!
teledu
February 28th, 2010 2:38pm Report this comment"Power and control over their lives...."
"People power not state power.."
How does that square with our not getting a referendum on the Lisbon constitution?
denis cooper
February 28th, 2010 2:38pm Report this commentCameron has very little credibility when it comes to "patriotic duty", his own or that of anybody else.
This is the man who tried to persuade Tory MPs that they shouldn't vote to affirm and protect the sovereignty of our Parliament, and told the whips to send them home minutes before the vote, Division 120 on the evening of March 5th 2008:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080305/debtext/80305-0024.htm
His primary loyalty is not this country and its people, but to the EU.
Verity
February 28th, 2010 2:44pm Report this commentDoes. this. man. honestly. think. Britons. are. demanding. multiculti? Does he think they will breathe a sigh of relief because there's an entity called "Baroness" Warzi in the shadow cabinet? It simply points to the question: why was this individual made into a baroness if not her religion?
2trueblue
February 28th, 2010 2:55pm Report this commentOK so far, but no mention of immigration or the EU yet. Big mistake if he misses it out. Big, big, big mistake. OH Dave.
2trueblue
February 28th, 2010 2:58pm Report this commentWhat about the EU?
Justicia
February 28th, 2010 3:03pm Report this commentWow. His cadence at the end was clearly meant to ride the applause, but he didn't get any till the very end. The only enthusiastic applause there was for 'getting rid of everything'.
Frank P
February 28th, 2010 3:04pm Report this commentDon't let him anywhere near Brighton Beach after that codswallop, he's not Blair II - he's Kinnock II!
Tarquin Superbus
February 28th, 2010 3:05pm Report this commentOh grow up about the EU. Seriously, you derailed one perfectly good PM, destroyed the last Conservative government, threw the party into the political wilderness, dealt it the damage that it is just barely recovering from and you're still not happy? You still want to bang on about Europe? Why?
What happened to Conservative pragmatism? We have to actually work with these people, you realise. We have a predominantly right-wing Europe, so why are you determined to alienate them?
Sceptism is one thing, but this is just hostility.
Beer Moth
February 28th, 2010 3:05pm Report this comment"Cameron wants to sell Britain to the world."
Bloody hell, which bit's going now?
JONNY
February 28th, 2010 3:08pm Report this commentIt's not the speech
it's the Comments here
Seriously what can you do with this lot?this whole thing's (this whole Party's) past mending.
Marbury
February 28th, 2010 3:17pm Report this commentIt's so sweet that you find him "enthralling"!
Anne Wotana Kaye 1
February 28th, 2010 3:21pm Report this commentDelayed my Sunday lunch to listen to Caring Dave, so consequently ruined a good meal and have indigestion. This pale shadow of the Great Leader fell down on many issues. What personally aroused by gall was when he almost wept for the poor unmarried father who cannot shack up with his girlfriend and their child. Caring and compassionate Dave thinks it unfair that if this man moves in, the woman will lose her benefits. Why should she have benefits? Nothing was mentioned about her being blind, lame or otherwise disabled. Why can't this wimpish couple be self-reliant, have some self respect if they know what that means) and support themselves and their unfortunate offspring by hard graft? Most of our parents did, most of us did, so why should Cameron want to continue this vile benefits system? Hardly a true Conservative value, more a desperate attempt to claw in more votes. Lord help us.
Frank P
February 28th, 2010 3:22pm Report this commentWhat happened to his normally rosy complexion. He looks like a ghost. The powder puff, or clenched sphincter?
Gawain
February 28th, 2010 3:25pm Report this commentJonny, don't be put off by the UKIP, Liberal and Labour Trolls on this blog, they're just trying to wind you up and make themselves even more miserable than they already are.
Cameron's speech was in my view, probably the best he has given. It showed his grasp of the issues, it showed that he can speak from the heart and it gave an opening into his personality (calm, optimistic and competent). It will put the focus very heavily on Labour's miserable record and Brown's manifest unsuitability for office !
Anan
February 28th, 2010 3:26pm Report this commentGood speech. Not Great. But the public don't want greatness, and neither do they deserve it. He can win, just keep it up!
The best thing the anti-Cameron grey-conservatives that populate this forum can do is shut up and go vote ukip. Your vote is not needed. Now hush and begone!
Justicia
February 28th, 2010 3:27pm Report this comment@JONNY: Completely agree.
Its the conservative base who need to change. Labour die-hard lefties accepted blair's repositioning to the centre ground, and it made them successful. As much as the leadership of the tories tries to appeal to the mainstream electorate, the hard base still, insanely, think that massive tax cuts, slashing popular government programs and dumping the NHS and the EU are popular with the electorate.
The fact that so many people on here call for the removal of the single most popular Tory post-Thatcher is telling of how unyieldingly hopeless the party's base are, and how they will scuttle the Tories election chances.
Right On
February 28th, 2010 3:30pm Report this commentJohnny - got to agree, never heard such nonsense. I can understand people having a bit of hesitation about changing the government but the choice ahead of country is pretty start. A failed Prime Minister who has trashed the economy, is remarkably untrustworthy, has no new ideas, destroyed the pension system, jobbed off the gold reserves, overseen a huge increase in the size of the state, devastated small business with red tape and regulation, spent an unbelievable amount to achieve minimal improvements in the health service.
Anyone who doesn't get out and vote Tory on May 6th (or whenever) will wake up to a living nightmare the following day. Is Cameron perfect? No Do I disagree with him on somethings? Yes Am I prepared to allow my belief that he should be stronger on immigration and the EU to let us drift into 5 more years of Brown & Labour? Get real......
kein
February 28th, 2010 3:32pm Report this commentwhen's the budget?????????????????????
2trueblue
February 28th, 2010 3:32pm Report this commentIt is clear that we only have one choice, kick out Liebore whilst we have the chance. We may not get another. If you start to mend the basics you get a good foothold and can go from there. After 13yrs of being lied to I am ready for anything. There are no quick fixes when someone has spent 13yrs destroying everything and it is idiotic to think that there is a quick fix.
Anne Wotana Kaye 1
February 28th, 2010 3:35pm Report this commentFrank P: Goodness gracious me. Perhaps Lord Mandy had a go at him!
AdamR
February 28th, 2010 3:37pm Report this commentTotally agreed. Wait untill we get some abuse from the likes of Vulture or Verity for not agreeing with them. I suppose they would like to think that their fantasy crusade of 'patriots' who do nothing but snipe at the party are right. It is they who are deluded, just take a look at some of their comments - hilarity will ensue.
David Blackburn
February 28th, 2010 3:38pm Report this commentMarbury,
If you're going to be sarcastic, do try to understand how the subject and predicate of a sentence work. I didn't find him enthralling, I found his optimism enthralling. You I find tedious.
Fees Office Clerk
February 28th, 2010 3:46pm Report this commentLet's concentrate on getting Brown and New Labour out of power and then we can have as many arguments as we friggin' like over future Tory policy.
Divided we LOSE, United we WIN!
The Cat Anan
February 28th, 2010 3:49pm Report this commentCameron's a real bow wow.
Rosie
February 28th, 2010 3:51pm Report this commentDo you all (well, not quite all) WANT 5 more years of Gordon Brown?? If so, why? (answers on the back of a postage stamp, please).
paulg
February 28th, 2010 3:55pm Report this commentKevin Maguire displays all the symptoms of some one who has copenhagen syndrome, he knows brown is mad, bad and dangerous to know. But like a battered spouse he can't seem to acknowledge this.
Confronted with reality KM chooses not to listen to reality, conservative principles outlined by DC today are the only way society can be fixed.
The problem with Kevin Maguire is he knows this and reality hurts.
SUSAN HILL
February 28th, 2010 4:01pm Report this commentMy daily help is a single mother. And she works. She was also on some benefits. Her bf moved in (not her husband and the father of her child, he scarpered long ago.)She immediately came off all benefits and they are paying their way.
GET THAT CAMERON.
teledu
February 28th, 2010 4:24pm Report this commentWell, full marks to Cameron for being able to give a speech without a prompt for 30 or so minutes without including lots of "you knows" and "to be honest" - a rarity today.
The speech itself? It was okay - nothing more.
I'll vote Conservative, not because of anything that Cameron has offered but simply to help get Brown and his party out. It's rather like a Portsmouth fan, who, being told he must support another Premiership team is given a choice only of Wolves or Sunderland or Bolton. Some choice.
The urgent issue to be addressed is the economy; maybe Dave & George will do better than Gordo on this (it would be hard to do any worse). But our membership of the EU, unchecked immigration, and the threat of extremist Islam within our society (see Sunday Telegraph today) are the biggest long-term threats democracy here faces. They are the cancer and need to be addressed.
The economy is the broken-back that is serious and painful now and needs immediate attention, but it's the cancers that will ultimately destory our democracy and way of life. They seem to be forever pushed into the background by short-term, short-sighted politicians. Our grandchildren may wish these issues hadn't been pushed into the long-grass by a generation of spineless, milquetoast politicians of blue and red hue.. Show me the political leader who'll grasp these nettles?
I rather hoped a Conservative one would at least acknowledge that these were REAL problems, even if he/she didn't know the answer. (Although with our EU membership, trusting the people might have been a good place to start. Dave failed on that.)
Thomas
February 28th, 2010 4:25pm Report this commentCameron as a politician is clearly light years ahead of anyone in the game right now. He would be better for the country than anyone in the race. Whatever the misgivings about the extent of his radicalism people might have, to even consider voting for anyone else is irrational. And I am a UKIP member, by the way.
Justicia
February 28th, 2010 4:26pm Report this comment@paulg: It's called stockholm syndrome.
To be perfectly honest, I think its more the case that Brown is a known degree of incompetence, whereas Cameron is vacuous and bereft of policy. Hard core tories may be confortable knowing that they'll do something vaguely right-wing, but that's simply not enough for the electorate.
Michael Greaves
February 28th, 2010 4:27pm Report this commentOf course, no mention of the EU or of immigration: why would he make any remarks about subjects concerning which he already plans to betray the British People?
Since early November 2009 the decline in the Tory opion poll lead has been remorseless: and what happened then?
Why, 'Old Cast Iron Pants' did the long planned u-turn on a referendum on Lisbon and announced how much he loved the EU.
So no tricky nights in Brussels defending the British interest, just abject surrender whenever Von Rumpy-Pumpy demands.
Pity the poor Tory activists and PPCs who have to sell such duplicituousness on the doorstep to their core vote.
denis cooper
February 28th, 2010 5:19pm Report this commentTarquin Superbus @ 3:05 pm - It's people like you who've destroyed the Tory party as a patriotic party and rendered it unfit to govern the country. What happened to Conservative patriotism? And, yes, we will continue "to bang on about Europe", as you so stupidly put it, so you'll just have to get used to that.
Frank P
February 28th, 2010 5:51pm Report this comment" I watched the speech with three uncommitted voters; they are committed for Cameron now."
Committed to where? Give me their names and the institution and I'll visit with a box of chocolates and some good advice. Could probably get then released to Care in the Community on the proviso that they are forbidden TV during the election campaign.
John David Barnett
February 28th, 2010 5:57pm Report this commentDenis Cooper
There is a difference between patriotism and xenophobia. You appear not to be aware of this.
denis cooper
February 28th, 2010 6:03pm Report this commentYes, I do know that - do you?
Anne Wotana Kaye 1
February 28th, 2010 6:05pm Report this commentdenis cooper: My party right or wrong?
Tarquin Superbus is a little annoying, but you sound terribly authoritarian. Actually Europe might appear more right wing of late, but they are only too ready to want to dump all the illegals onto our shores, and make sure all the 'burkahs' fill up our overcrowded social housing. I am very sceptical of Europe. We are fine when they want allies to fight their battles, but bloody useless when we want their moral support.
John David Barnett
February 28th, 2010 6:08pm Report this commentAnd you prefer the latter?
denis cooper
February 28th, 2010 6:55pm Report this commentIs that the best you can do?
No, John David Barnett, I do not prefer xenophobia to patriotism.
OK, pillock?
denis cooper
February 28th, 2010 6:56pm Report this commentI don't have a party, Anne Wotana Kaye 1.
2trueblue
March 1st, 2010 12:09am Report this commentJustica, I think none of us really know how incompetent Brown is. We do not yet have the full figure of our indebtedness, but we do know that the devil will be in the detail.
If you have an incompetent bunch of people in power who have managed to invade and destroy a large portion of our freedoms, culture, pensions, economy, and you still think they are an option to rule for another month, never mind the next 5 years, good for you. You may not get the chance to protect our democracy again. Protect it whilst you can. Remember who were in power and promised us a vote on the EU constitution/Lisbon Treaty ? Your choice.
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