We are a modern and radical party

Comment by Graham on February 27, 2010 at 2:28 pm

We must address the electorate in a way that makes sense for them. They are worried if they will still have a job next week; they are worried about whether their children will ever have jobs; they are worried about poor educational standards, poor health and poor pensions. They despise most politicians. I guarantee that none will say “we need a modern and radical Conservative Party”. Cut to the quick. Explain that we must fix the finances first and give an engaging and realistic conservative vision for the next 5 years. Put yourselves in the minds of the electorate not the elected.

Comment by PC Dhanasekaran on February 27, 2010 at 2:38 pm

I am a strong supporter of you and your party. People wants to know about your economical and immigration policies in details. Please make strong stand on immigration policies as majority of the population are worried about this. You need to bring the call center jobs/service sector jobs back to UK.

Comment by William Turton on February 27, 2010 at 2:40 pm

keep up the momentum David cant wait to get rid of this current lot on election day

Comment by Averil Styles on February 27, 2010 at 3:10 pm

Immensely disappointed that you have not addressed the issue of mass immigration. We implore you to raise this subject and explain how a Conservative government would tackle this problem – to many millions of voters the two most important issues are immigration and the benefits culture. You keep on and on about the economy and nothing else.

Comment by Wee Liang Yong on February 27, 2010 at 3:21 pm

I have been been disappointed time and again by promises made by politicians before elections. No sooner when elections are over and politicians get into power, all promises made are quickly and conveniently forgotten. Excuses and justification why this or that cannot be done as promised. I have been very disappointed by the performance of the Labour Party under Blair and now this PM Brown. How can you convince me that if I do vote for you Mr Cameron, that you would not betray me too??

Comment by Graham Willard on February 27, 2010 at 3:24 pm

David you are not radical enough, if you would listen to what most of the people are saying is that we have had enough of being bossed around by Brussles, why do not get out and ask the what they think of being ruled by people who have not been elected by us, they have taken away our sovereignty, and we fed up you politicians not anything about it

Comment by John Butler on February 27, 2010 at 3:32 pm

Disappointing video. We know that New labour = Old socialist an has broken Britain
- family life
- the business pension system
- the health service
- unelected head of state
- war in Afghanistan
We cannot fix all that at once but our party should at least give a fair deal to England

Comment by Margaret Fairlie on February 27, 2010 at 3:38 pm

Dear David,

I really hope that you are sincere in your commitment to the NHS. It is top heavy in management, dangeroulsy low in front line staff, fragmented and in decline due to its steady privatisation. Moral – among front line staff is desperately low.

I truly believe that when hospital domestic services were contracted out – and we now all know the outcome of that; that this was the first step towards the ensuing chaos.

We had something to be proud of all those years age and I agree it was not perfect. But its heart was in the right place. Now it is an embarrasment and somewhere to fear if you are admitted as a patient.

Please put it right!

Mags.

Comment by Alan Mackenzie on February 27, 2010 at 3:48 pm

This is all good, sane, logical argument but, what worries me greatly is that, in today’s Britain, it does not seem that it is sane, logical argument that gets the voters’ attention.

What we have to ask, is WHY is the worst government in living memory, only a few points behind the Conservatives in the polls? They should be twenty points behind, not six!

The answer, I fear, is one that Labour seem to have grasped and we/you have not – what grabs attention are emotive headlines and endless attacks (often unfounded) on your opponents; in other words, cheap, dirty campaigning.

We are NOT going to win this election by appealing to the good sense of the electorate – this has been proved three times already, in 1997, 2001 and 2005 and it is already looking doubtful in 2010.

What they seem to want and respond to, is to be told what they want to hear and honesty and integrity can go hang. It’s a lousy way to behave, but Labour have it off pat and, given half a chance, that’s what they will do again.

They will pull out every dirty trick in the book to lie, deceive and twist their way back into office and, if that happens, God help this country.

If Labour get back into power until 2015 we can kiss Britain goodbye and say hello to a bankrupt, third-rate backwater of the EU. In addition, it can be guaranteed, that they will complete the job they have begun, in gerrymandering and distorting the political landscape such that, after another five years, they will be almost impossible ever to dislodge.

This election is absolutely CRUCIAL, for, if we do not get rid of Labour this time, there probably will never be another chance.

Comment by David Ludwig on February 27, 2010 at 3:51 pm

I only hope that, come the next election,you givve that miserable ratbag Brown a good hiding.Surely the electorate cannot be so stupid as to vote him back in. In the last period of government he has pput this country back ten years or more.

Comment by Margery Hallesey on February 27, 2010 at 4:09 pm

Give it to us straight David, none of this shillyshallying that we have had from Labour. May I suggest something please? With regard to the horrible amount owed by the banks to the British taxpayer, can legislation be put in place to tell them in no uncertain terms that money used to bail them out MUST be paid back before they even think of paying bonuses. Thank you.

Comment by Sue Hudson on February 27, 2010 at 4:19 pm

Actually, if you want to do something about the NHS, why don´t you scrap targets – which seems to ensure that patients don´t get care, but the hospitals get more money to waste. Why don´t you talk to the nurses and doctors in hospital and, whilst you´re about it, take a look at the private medical sector. It has one administrative person, whereas the NHS has three! Money can be saved and spent on patient care!

Comment by Maurice Tull on February 27, 2010 at 4:42 pm

There is a seventh theme you need to address which would win the election – greed.

Greed has resulted in this mess and greed is making it worse. I am due to retire next year and already I cannot do the things I enjoy, what a prospect! Companies and retailers have increased their prices beyond my means. I am talking about food, petrol, electric, gas, water and so on, every basic requirement. There is no need save to assuage the shareholders. People will rebel. We have already had the bankers raising two fingers to the government and public and insurers stealing endowment bonuses and pension entitlements. Now we have retailers, energy providers and others imposing excessive price increases without justification. Standard of living has been dramatically reduced for those earning less than the obscene salaries of the richest 10%. We need a price freeze and a period of consolidation whilst the country is turned around. Companies would still produce massive profits. Where do they go? Not in developing businesses but in excessive salaries and bonuses, making the rich richer.
I used to support the Theatre Royal, Windsor by attending six/seven productions each year. First the Council eliminated the free parking adding £4 to the cost of each visit and then ticket prices were increased (there have been several more since). I will be lucky to attend one production per year, if any. Just one example of retailers increasing prices – a box of washing powder is now £10, twice the amount of not so long ago. Every household expenditure has increased without commensurate increase in income. At 64 and with the prospect of poverty in retirement, what are the Conservatives going to do for me?

Comment by Matthew on February 27, 2010 at 4:50 pm

It’s been said your a fairly ruthless leader, which can indeed be a major asset – we need a leader of the stature of Thatcher to get us out of this grind.

What does concern me, is that it’s also been said your personal career ambition comes before all else. One would hope that ambition has always been aimed squarely at leading this country and that should you “get the job”, you’ll be ruthless and radical in shaking and waking this country up.

God knows, we need it.

I hope you have the guts to make the deeply unpopular decisions, to cut nanny’s apron strings, to kick the backsides of the work shy, to make life fairer for the beleaguered middle classes, who always seem to bear the brunt of economic decline.

Radical?

You bloody better be, because this country needs a great deal more than Talk, it needs a swift, hard kick in the backside, an ice cold shower – a severe dose of reality.

I suspect your going to be the most unpopular prime minister for some time – in fact, I hope you are – and I hope that’s because you take a hard line on those who have no respect, on those who are lazy and on those from the EU claiming benefits from the UK whilst living in their own countries!

Comment by Michael on February 27, 2010 at 4:54 pm

Straight way, No Turning, Not blown about by the winds, Not Forgetful, Upright in Heart With Truth , With Patiences, Fare Weight, Measure and Balance,

Comment by Irene Neill on February 27, 2010 at 5:40 pm

Please, please, please get this message out LOUD and CLEAR. I don’t think the public is aware of any clear direction by our party at present.

Comment by Louise Jolson on February 27, 2010 at 6:19 pm

I’ve just watched the speeches this afternoon at the Spring Forum and was inspired by every one, especially by William Hague and George Osborne. Let no-one level the criticism that they don’t know what the conservatives stand for or don’t know what they’ll do when in gvmnt – they made it very clear this afternoon what they stand for and explained in detail what their plans are. It’s now absolutely clear to me what a complete no brainer the choice will be at election time …..conservative, and a chance for the country to get back on track at last or more labour and every chance of crash or at least de-railment. If anyone deserves to be in government right now it’s David Cameron & co, and if there’s ever been a time and a place that sooo deserves a change of gvmnt it’s the UK and its right now.

Comment by Andrew Parsons on February 27, 2010 at 6:37 pm

I agree that we need to be radical.
We need something new with no more of the disastrous same given to us by this Labour government.
The electorate however need a clear and precise message. They need our policies to be articulated clearly.
The only message they are currently hearing is that a Cameron government would cut expenditure and pay back the deficit quickly.
This is not enough. Tell us what the country will look like after a first and second term.
How would health and education change? How will we address social issues, and what are the radical options in our manifesto.
This is an opportunity to change the path of the country.
Get on the TV and make a clear statement please.
People like you and want to hear what you say.

Comment by evelyn price on February 27, 2010 at 6:40 pm

Go for people – we’d like more of a chance to run our own lives and spend our own money

Comment by evelyn price on February 27, 2010 at 6:43 pm

People power! we’d like a lot more choice in our living – schools, healthcare, finance whilst contributing to essential infrastructure.
Good luck!

Comment by Roland Addy on February 27, 2010 at 6:47 pm

Dear David I wish you and the Convervatives a very good result. Roland Addy

Comment by russell roberts on February 27, 2010 at 7:08 pm

At last we have a vision for the countries future which is based on what is right for the people not what will get me elected. Stand firm and all will be well.

Comment by Richard on February 27, 2010 at 7:23 pm

Message for Eric Pickles:-

Dear Eric, Are you monitoring the balance of BBC output? Listening in recent weeks it is striking how many more Labour & even Liberal politicians are interviewed than Conservatives. They also get a much more sympathetic ride, except on Andrew Neil’s programmes. Nick Clegg is put on on any and all subjects with some fatuous soundbite. Vince Cable is treated as if he were a neutral eminence gris on any economic issue & never questioned as a politician standing for office should be. The BBC no doubt has it as an agenda to disadvantage us in the hopes of a hung parliament. You & your team need to watch them like a hawk – as we all should – and make it clear this bias is being noticed. A hung parliament would be a disaster – we need the chance to bring about equal-sized constituencies otherwise its a Lib-Lab pact for ever.

Best wishes
Richard

Comment by alistair leslie on February 27, 2010 at 8:50 pm

When the Labour party came to power they inherited a “golden” scenario .Remember the Sunday Times headline at the time .
So what did Brown do with it and the cellar full of gold bars we left him .?
He is the man who spent our kids inheritance!

Comment by I.Cole on February 27, 2010 at 9:00 pm

Please let us have politicians who work for the good of the country instead of people who are looking at Party popularity.We have had enough of posturing,now let us see reality in facing up to problems.The general public are sick of being treated like idiots.We want the truth.
People don’t want choice in education or NHS.We want the nearest school to be excellent and available and the same with our hospitals.
Let us have some good house-keeping.If we cannot afford something we do without or find a cheaper option and this must apply to everyone.
I am worried about all these “good ideas” that are being rushed out.Let us take what we have in education,NHS,housing etc and make them work.
I want to support the Conservatives but I need convincing that they are working for the common good.

Comment by Ted Jewell on February 27, 2010 at 9:59 pm

Dear Mr Cameran.
The only way any Goverment will get into power you have to listen to the people of the country,
The trouble is 90% of the youth of today think they can do just what they like they have no respect for any one or there propety, and they get away with it , if they want to fight on the streets and beet up old people send them in the army, when we were 18 we dident want to go but we had to and i can tell you now i am glad i went as it made men of us, and if i knew then what i know now i would have stayed in for 21 years.
What this country wants is discipline until this is reinstated we will be in a sorry state im sorry to say,
If these youth want to fight send them to help our boy,s that have volunteered there lives for us remembered they have not been called up.
your,s E G Jewell.

Comment by Mike Stallard on February 27, 2010 at 10:02 pm

For God’s sake don’t lose the election.
Please.

Comment by Shantanu on February 27, 2010 at 10:25 pm

Dear David

I have thought long and hard about the new radicalism. Please do not be put off from the strategy that the budget deficit is the single most important thing that needs to be reduced considerably to restore confidence in the economony and the strength of the nation. The economists advising the Labour Party are wrong. The vibrancy of an economy needs a government to ensure that the country is creditworthy and not the laughing stock of the world. There can be no recovery of real growth of the economy at say 2.5 to 3.5 per cent per annum if the budget deficity is not reduced first.

I am sure that more needs to be done to convince the electorate that the United Kingdom should not become the sick man of the developed nations requiring handouts from the International Moneyary Fund as under Labour.

Comment by Chrisic. on February 28, 2010 at 12:24 am

David.
Im 24 years old and my police career is starting. Why are you looking to cut back on public services? The title gives it away in what they are there for. The public.

Why should the emergency services and the army have restricted budgets? if the country needs it let the country have it.

Im close to voting for your party, however. My future and retirement will be depending on it.
I, and like millions other other uk citizens want to see change.

We want a decent criminal justice system.
we want national service in plan for petty criminals.
We want to stop tax after tax being added. ( lets be realistic, the cost of living is going up and wages are not.)

I could go on all day about what needs to be done in this country and certainly getting ruled by brussells dont help. but most importantly.
GIVE BACK THE UK TO THE UK CITIZENS.

Open a public vote on changes instead of advisors “advising” who sit behind a desk all day on dont see the real world.

Good luck on the elections.

Comment by ron mejka on February 28, 2010 at 10:41 am

We need action not talk about what needs to be done. The British voters know what what they want. They don’t need any more politicians telling them what they will do. We’ve been listening to your promises and excuses for years. Give us our jobs back. Give our children their future back. Give politicians who represent all constituents a realistic salary ( average wage + expenses). Make them accountable and subject to recall. If politicians cannot operate under these conditions, they are unsuitable and should be doing something else.

Comment by Trevor Galley on February 28, 2010 at 1:04 pm

David you must put social housing higher on the agenda. Get your MP’s out there and see what is not happening. We need increased investment particularly in the North West. Many social landlords are more and more getting involved in wider community issues in terms of sustainable communities – health, reducing worklessness etc and we don’t have the capacity or resources to deliver even in partnerships, local authorities freezing management fees for ALMO’s does not help.

Comment by A Kean on February 28, 2010 at 1:53 pm

If you dont highlight Labours deception on immigration and the proposed re-banding of houses,and the crimminal justice system,you will lose this election

Comment by frances Hamilton on February 28, 2010 at 2:03 pm

It is sad that the general public are so dis-engaged with politics because we have to live together. Fundamentally we need to take more responsibility for ourselves – that was a key message when you first became leader and I think it needs re-iterating. As other bloggers have said keep it simple. And we are not politicians or living in the bubble which is Westminster so please make it relevant.
Get us to give you ideas; how to address the growing social services bills as we get older – how do we tackle that bill for example?
Please do it as we all want you to win but there is still the seed of doubt!

Comment by V.Attenborough on February 28, 2010 at 3:21 pm

Just watched Mr. Cameron on TV.

Thank-you. Given me reasons to go out and vote.

Comment by MRS E HAMILTON on February 28, 2010 at 4:09 pm

Dear David Cameron,

The Conservatives have pledged action in six key areas: dealing with the deficit; boosting enterprise; shoring up families; backing the NHS; raising standards in schools; and cleaning up politics.
These issues hare not for the majority the critical ones. The majority of British do not find any problem with NHS because they do not use health services until late sixties. Besides people feel they are going to stay healthy for the rest of their lives. Few cases make headlines but these things are never going to happen to us. Next, standards in schools is believed that is not a bad problem and most consider that is a transient problem and that definitely will improve with some more resources. Next, shoring up families is not perceived to be a problem for most who live away from problem areas. Middle classes are sheltered by expensive housing and do not come into contact with problems and do not feel things that happen next door are never going to affect their families. Next, dealing with deficit is considered to be a temporary ill; we are told that government can borrow more and spend a lot more on temporary job creation; we are told they are going to find finances sources by selling assets. Most are convinced on this. Finally enterprise growth: Is the majority of the economically active working on private enterprises? Most believe the state will provide jobs!

However, the most pressing problem and impressive need the families have now in february 2010 is: how to secure a house or a roof over their heads in the present market. It is talked as the only serious thing!!. How to keep the value of their property rising. Most or all have a secure feeling that the state will take care of all the rest, the education the NHS and that the framework is there and will never change. So you need to address this reality.

Comment by Paul Wilson on February 28, 2010 at 5:33 pm

Mention of multiculturism which has proved to be a failure. Immigration is bothering the electorate far more than than the Tories. The Governments record is appalling on the economy, education, crime, attack them on that.

Comment by Carol (Windsor, UK) on February 28, 2010 at 6:30 pm

Having read some of the blog, I would like to say I went to the local conservative AGM last Friday, and our MP and MEP were there and gave very possitive talks about the future and most of all Their (and David Camerons) Values. If you talk to most people and ask about their Values they will say things like Freedom from high taxation, debt, more money to spend on education, health (not just the NHS) but also health education of the nation, good food, time for fun and laughter.
That the government is there to serve the people of the country, and to make everyone be proud of the country their live in. Support our troops who are fighting for Freedom.
Values are important to everyone.
This country needs a leader who has COURAGE, HONESTY AND HUMILITY, we were told on Friday that David Cameron is the man. Our main focus should be firstly to get rid of Gordon Brown and his debts.
The way to pay any debt is to get everyone working again. It is an attitude in the people not the government. We can turn this country around and be proud to be British again.
David Cameron promised to give the power back to the people and that is the way forward away from the control freaks of the Labour Party.

Comment by mike chard on February 28, 2010 at 7:21 pm

Message understood but insufficient detail.
What about our membership of the EU and the benefits derived?
What about the contingent liabilities from being a member of the EU now that various member states(Euro currency) are in financial difficulty having been less than truthful on their financial status when joining?
What will happen if the Euro crashes and their are deflections from the EU; will our sponsorship funding be protected or will this be used to bolster what remains of the EU?
What about the ongoing problems with the innability of the Government Department to control illegal, immigration – what changes are being researched?
The Civil Service who actually run the Country are being threatened with redundancies, due to your commitment to reduce the size of Government; does this not mean that embarrassing leaks will appear in press releases that will place the Conservatives on the back-foot from undertaking the necessary cuts?
These questions are genuine concerns as to whether the Conservatives have researched the complete mess that has been created through 13 years of Labour rule. Freezing the Euro payments for a few years would almost return the UK plc back to basics without the possibility we will be called upon to support the Euro against the £Stirling. You state that SMALL is better and that local people should have more control. The British Government would be in a better situation if it were ro take back from EU control of its own frontiers. EU should be accountable to the member states not as at present member states being accountable to the EU an un-elected body of self serving faceless wonders. In case you are in any doubt, from the information the British Public have; I am not a great believer in anything EU that is unable to balance their books like every other organisation World Wide

Comment by colin rowley on February 28, 2010 at 7:25 pm

Please don’t stop now David. We need heaps more of your radical ideas. The polls are beginning to look very disturbingly like a hung parliament, or God forbid, 5 more years of Brown. It really is time to ramp things up David, if we are to see you in number 10.

Comment by ian widddows on February 28, 2010 at 7:51 pm

Dear Dave
I fully agree with you 100%.
Iooking back at my working life { always worked for private enterprise } 65 years of age. The Labour Governments ,present & past , have almost bankrupted our country
Mrs Thatcher did a marvellous job in putting the country straight. I am sure you will do the same.
I listened to your speech today Sunday. Well done. I don’t know how you do it without a script.

Good luck

Ian

Comment by Ray Lamb on February 28, 2010 at 8:10 pm

Yes Britain needs you now – and please present has a TEAM – let’s hear more passionate assertions; more Haig, more Osborne yes, and it’s the team that will win. I believe the public need this perspective rather that the continuous references to individuals with the danger that all the talented people, (leaders all of them), get hidden behind a single face. In the run up to the election let’s get to know you all well; your passions; your fundamental beliefs; your reasons for being in service to others; please don’t let your political leadership be ordinary – make it extraordinary and capture the hearts and minds of the people.

Comment by David Knight on February 28, 2010 at 9:44 pm

David..I watched your speech and I liked what I heard. I particularly liked the promise to really go to town exposing Gordon Brown’s economic record, and that you would replace it with something positiver based on aspiration. Labour talks about “fairness” when what it means is mediocrity..this country deserves better.

Having said that, I find the closeness of the polls hard to understand, how can ANYONE in their RIGHT MIND actually be contemplating voting Labour ? We have some convincing to do….lets go do it for our country !

Comment by Gavin on February 28, 2010 at 11:28 pm

A good video, and there’s no doubt that the messages behind ‘mending broken Britain’ are well grounded in principle. However we need to see the principles behind economic recovery better explained. We have a society now where the majority of the population is either working for the Government, or dependent on the Government for welfare. The tax base on which this edifice rests is too narrow and systemically unstable. We must therefore create a nation of wealth generators by removing intermediation at all possible levels and returning power to people, in order to release entrepreneurial potential at a local level throughout the country. I am sure the party does have these ambitions when it speaks of de-centralisation, but it needs to do so with more conviction: and at an economic, as well as a social level The economic agenda is vitally important but, as other commentators correctly point out, it sounds confused and uncertain. If you bed it iinto reliable principles it will take shape and build resilience, as opposed to allowing the media to interpret it as just ‘when and how much to cut’.

Comment by zalim bekir on February 28, 2010 at 11:37 pm

Things can get changed very quickly. It is best to be on guard at all times as the election approach.
In my opinion right thing to do in this election;

1. Keep criticizing Labour Government’s incompetents in past 13 years.

Labour spent 6 billions to millennium dome and sold it free.
Gordon Brown emptied Britain’s gold stock at rock bottom price.
Labour Government invested Britain’s fund abroad instead of Britain and made lost all of it.
Labour Government bankrupted Britain’s banks
Labour Government retired bank chief at the age of 50 with million quid pension
Unemployment is worse than 13 years ago
GDP is worst than ever before.
Labour Government killed British manufacturing.
So called socialist Labour rescued tycoons billions with tax payers money.
Those tax payers owned banks still playing gamble with tax payers money and Labour Government hasn’t learnt lesson, still paying money to gambling bank employees billions as bonuses.
Who is going to rescue those banks if they bankrupt this time tax payer’s money, again?
In Financial and economic terms Britain going to disaster under Labour party.
Labour party’s list of incompetence is endless.

2. Talking about Conservative policies would not attract any vote. There is always danger. Someone who decided to not to vote for Labour, after listening Cameron policies may decide not to vote conservatives. Therefore, it is better to avoid talking about policies expect finance and economy.

In this election there is one thing is quite important and that is the prosperity that people are in. Unlike other elections there isn’t much thing that people are complaining about their prosperity. Cameron should not tell “these things are bad, I will make it better”. Because there aren’t much things that people are actually complaining. They won’t believe it.

3. It is crucial in this election to make people believe that if Labour party continuo, their prosperity would be in danger because Labour government would not keep it things going on as it is. 13 years ago people’s benefit paid by Britain’s own sources. Labour government brought Britain to its knees. Gordon Brown wouldn’t be able to pay people’s benefit nor salaries without borrowing money. If voters do not get rid of incompetent Labour party in this election, they will only get paid until Gordon Brown’s run out of options to borrow more money. Basically, Labour government keep British people’s dream going on by borrowing money. It is unsustainable. If you do not wake up from your dream with nightmare. Do not vote for Labour party.

4. It is most important that Cameron must bombard Labour party about their incompetence about economy and finance. Cameron must not allow public to forget about the Labour party created economic and finance crisis in Britain. Labour party by using tax payer’s money bombarded public with Government service ads to make them forget about economic crisis. Cameron must be furious right now with government’s borrowing, after all Gordon Brown was the man who used to defend balanced Government budgets. Gordon Brown only cares about one thing and that is to stay in number 10 at any cost. Who cares about Britain? You got to care Cameron.

Comment by andrew berry on March 1, 2010 at 7:41 am

The thought of Labour staying in power makes my blood run cold. I think they are so misguided and wasteful, but I don’t think that the Conservatives are getting a strong message across. Using soft words like ‘Deficit’, rather than ‘waste’ . Please strengthen your words and stop the rhetoric please. Even the slogan ‘Time for Change’, has no real meaning ?

Comment by Emma Newman on March 1, 2010 at 8:43 am

I moved home to send my son to a ‘good’ state school and paid over the odds for my house as a consequence. I was bitterly disappointed at parent’s evening with the message that I received was “average is acceptable”. Whilst I know not everyone is destined for a top class degree, surely striving for ‘average’ is not what we as a nation aspire too. A good education is one of the most important things a parent can give to their children [after a secure, loving environment, teaching them right from wrong and responsibility] and I am saddened that despite all my best efforts I am not getting the support I need from the school. I trust that under a Conservative government this will change.

Comment by alistair leslie on March 1, 2010 at 8:57 am

Most of all above everything the electorate want to feel SAFE.
Some of the rhetoric is similar to the failed “red eyes of Blair ” plan .
Concentrate on safety and it will chime with the public .
Throw away your script -you are best at being yourself.We are sick of the phoneys and want the genuine article.
IMO

Comment by Ian Maxwell on March 1, 2010 at 9:38 am

David, this country is in trouble – has been since Labour came into power but would it have been any different if they hadn’t been? I will be voting Conservative but i don’t believe this talk of being radical is going to swing voters your way.
It’s decisiveness we are after; it’s about righting so many of the wrongs Labour have inflicted. The biggest mistake Labour made was to sign up to the Human Rights Act. While it was a noble thought it wasn’t well legislated and all the headlines are about it’s abuse by criminals & illegal immigrants. We need your party to take the ‘modern & radical’ approach of withdrawing from this failed legislation – we are about the only country who actually adheres to it. You need to get tough on crime & border controls – how many countries must people travel through to get to our country where they could claim asylum or try and find work before they get to ours? Is it because we are the land of opportunity? No. it’s because we have one of the ‘best’ (term loosely used) healthcare and benefit systems in the world and you don’t need to work to get by on the state. This is only one part of a wider malaise in society of which i could wax lyrical for hours (I believe, in parliamentary terminology, it’s called filibustering!) and i don’t want to hear what you are planning to do – I want to hear what you WILL do.
Good luck in the election and i hope you get in. Whether you are in for one term or more than one will depend on Actions not words…

Comment by John Barker on March 1, 2010 at 10:08 am

Very impressed with David Cameron’s speech – just hope he will be able to pull us out of the doldrums. I am a consulting engineer and travel oveseas quite a lot. Currently in Kazakhstan I was approached by a Dutchman proudly showing me a cutting from the NY Herald showing UK at the bottom of the league as far as trade deficit goes (well below Greece) We are in a similar position as far as our reputation in the World is concerned as when M T took over in 1979. I was working overseas at the time and within 2 years our standing in the World made massive improvements. Hope it happens again.

Comment by richard bullman on March 1, 2010 at 11:16 am

David, I’m a committed supporter,…no question, but read the very first comment by Graham. Brown deserves to lose, however, many undecided votes cannot yet find a reason why You should win,… It’s now time for details, clear, simple, understandable and intellectualy solid. Get angry man, because we certainlly are. Decide and do it, before it’s too late!!

Comment by John Makoni on March 1, 2010 at 11:17 am

Dear David,

Thanks you for your speech it was a job well done to let the people know that the conservative is really for change.

EU enlargement of the eastern block countries like Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia
Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia joined in 2004 (Bulgaria and Romania joined the European Union on 1 January 2007) is a bad thing and these people are bringing disaster to the EU, it’s a drain on our resources. It just makes a bad situation worse. These countries are characterised by high levels of corruption and organised crime, employment rates, literate rates, poverty rates, when they come to UK they don’t bring any benefits, they have overflooded the UK Labour markets and they have made everybody unemployed because they come here mainly for search of employment and nothing else. This has resulted in employers giving low wages and saying they work hard than the British people. People need real jobs and good payments. Not every body will work in farms. How was UK doing before 2004?. This is really a thorn issue which must be addressed when going to people making the final campaign.

In London and many other UK cities people claim to be robbed by these people of the EU enlargement of the eastern block countries. When they come to UK through the Ports of France they bring in more illegal immigrants with the trucks which bring goods to UK. People need to know the position of the Conservatives regarding this worse mistake made by Great Britain under labor government. These countries when they come here they don’t come the way other normal former EU states come. The entire nation comes to UK for search of jobs this is wrong. The foreign policy for UK is not only for the EU enlargement of the eastern block countries.

We still need to deal with other countries we still need to deal with other countries a well, which will give more benefits to UK rather than the EU enlargement of the eastern block countries which have caused more hardships. Also the war in Afghanistan is not doing any good. More Muslims are now coming in the UK with more drugs on the streets and this poses a danger for the future of Greater Britain. When campaign people need to know how is the conservative going to quickly move out of this war and let the people of Afghanistan deal with their problems. Lots of money is being wasted in this war yet Britain needs more things to do both here at home and abroad.

Comment by Margarida on March 1, 2010 at 12:51 pm

I’m portuguese! As you know well Portugal is doing the same wrong policies as we have the soclialist party in gouvernment since 1995. Now we are with an economic situation similar to the Greece situation. We are seeing the EU doing policies in the way to attempt to create protectorates in the case of Greece and then to Portugal. With the election of DC we can hope someone who requires responsibilities to Brussels, which wants to impose their socialist policies, which allows minorities imposing policies on the will of the majority. The EU was an idea to create an economic block in order to be more competitive. But when it cames a political union we see different errors and we find many nations may be at stake. It is not acceptable.! 1st Greece and after Portugal. I think there is only hope in the David Cameron election. Many portuguese see in you an hope to the future.

Comment by Pauline Anne Badger MSc on March 1, 2010 at 4:37 pm

Because we have a never ending conflict akin to Vietnam in two places we cannot put our money or efforts into the country.

As a veteran and academic I watch the coffins come off the Herc and cannot stomach it, frail bodies who are limbless are put out to grass. But males and females come into the jobcentres for ‘dole’ – not ‘jobseekers’ allowance.

The point is in WWII men were shattered by munitions and could not work, could not find work, or employment. Now we have a major tabloid charity making the funds with the visionary for such shattered bodies of men and women who want to work and cannot.

The fact that Conservatives should embrace the Thatcherism ideology as a strong nation that will not be bullied by other nations is crucial.

Our towns are derelict pits of graffitti seen from the train coming into London and in most cities.

Our pride is gone.

In place is lethargy and scroungers, plus white collar psychopaths with a temper.

I hope lessons are learned where our economy is beaten due to the egotistical stance of a man who has nothing to loose except totalitarianism ideology.

Are you David Cameron going to see Britain as it is, a Titanic that is taking in water on all sides?

Are you radical enough as I would be to put the brakes on spending that is caused by manipulation and listen to the right voices?

Elitism is not a genre.

Elitism is a failed personality who wants to retain power at all costs. Therefore, elitism and socialism are a cancer for Great Britain and our economy.

Take the ‘brown shirt’ out of politics and replace with ‘transparency’ not ‘opaque’ colours to the electorate who pay for the very dinners that the politicians have.

Above all stop the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Let there be a Conservative Party that stops the sight of coffins coming of the back of a Herc.

Let politicians have sons serving so they know the cost of their errors as death is what this means as the final solution.

Not good with the gravy is it??

Support ‘HELP FOR HEROES’ where our politicians have failed them. Sand is a good ballast for empty coffins that have blood shed on arid soil.

Comment by Clive Landis on March 1, 2010 at 6:23 pm

Dear Mr. Cameron, I am still worried that you are unable to put into a simple phrase exactly what it is the Conservative party actually stands for. Being “radical” is hardly going to resonate with wavering voters, nor is it going to galvanise the Conservative army of supporters that are just waiting for you to issue the right command.

May I suggest that the Conservative party’s aim is, quite simply, TO SAVE BRITAIN

That will certainly galvanise Conservative support, undercut UKIP and allow you to attack Labour on multiple issues. For example:
- saving Britain from its overbearing debt
- saving the Union
- fixing “Britain’s broken society”
- saving us from Labour’s gerrymandering immigration policies

Not only that, it will allow you to lampoon Labour’s (stated) aim TO SAVE THE WORLD (with our taxpayer money of course)

Yours sincerely, Clive Landis

Comment by Windhover on March 1, 2010 at 6:42 pm

Dear Mr Cameron
In this spirit of being bold and radical, I think it’s about time you broke tradition and led PMQs on Wednesday, even though Mr Brown will apparently be absent _again_. It would show your respect for the house, and you might even surprise a few answers out of Ms Harman. It must be so frustrating for you that our current unelected leader just refuses to answer questions. Is there no parliamentary way to stop him launching into party political broadcasts at every opportunity?

Comment by Karma on March 2, 2010 at 1:25 pm

David,

I respect the changes that you have made but I really would love to see some radical policies from the Party.

Recently in the news about cuts that need to be made, I really think you should privatise it. Make it: democratic, economical and less of a burden.

If we need public broadcasting it can always be purchased from a number of channels and this would stimulate competition.

Comment by Alan Johnson on March 2, 2010 at 1:38 pm

David, I am convinced and you can count on my vote. However, it seems to me that Labour is getting away with ‘murder.’ They appear to have managed to persuade many of the public to ignore the manifold failings of Labour over the last 13 years, and instead to look to you and your Party to explain yourselves, as if you are the party in power, and the media, the BBC in particular appear to have jumped onto the bandwaggon. You need to regain the advantage, and show Brown for the failure he is.

Comment by Mervyn Wilson on March 2, 2010 at 2:18 pm

Dear Mr Cameron.

I have read all of the above blogs and can only agree with everything that has been stated so far.
I am a retired engineer and have been a tory supporter for more years now than I care to remember. I have seen both good and bad times but nothing that compares to our situation at the present time. This has all been caused by a party that relies on spin and deception then throw money at it and everything will improve.
I see you and you team as genuine,sincere people that have a great deal to offer but at this moment I see the entire party as ‘nice people’ .Having owned factories and employed many good people I earned a great deal of respect from being positive , honest and a firm hand leader. At times this meant standing up and being counted.
During your latest party speech (impressive) I only saw your face colouring once toward the end when your blood levels started to rise and show signs of aggression. I would like to see all of your team show more hard talking with raised voices so that the electorate will stop and listen.
When you mention taking the labours actions over the past 13 years apart this will fall on deaf ears if spoken with the teams soft gentle approach. Adopt the old British Bulldog that has just swallowed a wasp approach showing real aggression not worrying if you upset the opposition.
I would also like to see some of your policies explained in greater detail with real conviction.
You are going to be radical so be ‘REALLY RADICAL’ re-introduce 10p tax to help low earners.
Tackle immigration and assylum situation Head on.
Sort the benefits system so that we are not a soft touch. Help people that really need help.
Attack the national debt showing the world that you are not just a ‘nice party’ and let all your voters see that you mean business.

I come from the Great Britain era. Please can you put the ‘GREAT’ back in irrespective of upsetting all the PC brigade.
If you lose the election it wont matter.
If you win, we as voters know ,and the rest of the world ( incl EU) will know that we are on our way back to being the best.
Just remember that being loud and forthrght does not make you a ‘BULLY’ but it will turn heads and get the votes we need.

Best regards Merv

Comment by Nigel Walker on March 3, 2010 at 1:20 pm

Due to reductions in Labour Govnmt funding to town councils public services,which was in the order of 75% with Council Tax making up the other 25% , town councils have recently announced that cuts to services and the attendant job losses are inevitable . The mendacious Gordon Brown only some days ago promised there would be no cuts. Have you spotted this opportunity to HIGHLIGHT LABOUR LIES AND EXPLOIT IT ? It was an ideal trap for Brown which you seem to have missed. I’ve seen nothing on the news about your reaction to this. Golden opportunity yet again missed ! You are a nice guy Mr. Cameron BUT you are dealing with the ‘ Darth Vader ‘ of politics in someone like slick Peter Mandelsson who is ‘ masterminding ‘ the Labour campaign. PLEASE FIGHT LIKE WITH LIKE OR YOU WILL SURELY LOSE. BE QUICK TO REACT STRONGLY AND SCORE . I don’t want another 5 years of Marxism by stealth.

Comment by Arnold Whittle on March 3, 2010 at 4:43 pm

Yes I agree with massive change as I stated in my last email to you, this Country needs to be turned around 180 degrees away from this present direction of utter distrunction that a none functioning Government has taken us down for the past 13 years.
There are many areas of need and urgent attention is required in order to try and put this Country back on the road to recovery, this Nation has never been in such bad shape, this Government has damaged this Country its infrastructure and the British people, more than the event of the second world war ever did, the British people under the Labour control are suffering very badly and urgent action is reqiured to solve this problem.

Comment by Michael Benson on March 3, 2010 at 5:57 pm

You will certainly have our votes in the coming election – good luck on the day.
We are rapidly becoming more and more like a third world country and what Gordon Brown and his crew have been wasting all our money on over the last 13 years, apart from an overblown bureaucracy on gold plated pensions, escapes me; what is there to show for it all!
There is one thing which is worrying me and which does not seem to be being discussed at all so far as I can see. That is the gradual takeover of our great companies by foreigners. Some say it is harmless and a two way business which it is not – the balance is against us .Further it makes the businesses vulnerable to foreign politics – close a British plant rather than a French or American one for instance! Other EU countries, especially the French, severly control what companies are sold abroad. Our utilities and our airports, to name but a few are foreign owned. In their present state and coupled with the weak pound both British Airways and BAE could be vulnerable. I hear that Cadburys was taken over by Kraft with the help of a loan from a British “nationalised” bank – how crazy is that! I would hope a Conservative government would put a check on this trend before we lose all ” the family silver”
Best wishes and good luck.

Comment by Janet Silverwood on March 4, 2010 at 12:09 pm

I am still not sure who I am going to vote for.
If you want to increase your lead in the polls you need to inform the electorate about the specifics of your policies. At the moment it is just generalisations.
Eg: How are you going to improve the NHS?. How are you going to improve job opportunities and training for ALL AGE GROUPS.? How are you going to improve social mobility and opportunities for all? What is going to happen to all those people who can’t afford to pay a “one off payment” for their care in old age? Will they be left to fend for themselves?
These are the real worries of the nation. You need to address them if you want people like me to vote for you. I have never voted conservative in my life. I need a firm assurance that you are not going to abandon the poor. I am old enough to remember the Thatcher years and I take my voting rights very seriously.
I am working class. I am also a graduate and an ex Careers Adviser. The Labour party destroyed my profession and I will never vote for them again.
If you can’t persuade people like me that I can trust a conservative government; the best you can hope for is a “Hung Parliament”.

Comment by Roy Leech on March 6, 2010 at 12:16 pm

I’m afraid to say that you are wasting your time sending these emails with wonderful videos to the people of rural Northumberland (where you have a lot of supporters),as, with broadband download speeds of 130Kbps – thats right 130Kbps! – we cant get Utube or iplayer downloads, and emails can take an hour to download. We need a government that KEEPS the promises that it makes not one that lives on sound-bites Totally frustrated!!!

Comment by Fred on March 27, 2010 at 5:34 pm

The latest State Pension scam?
I couldn’t find an item on State Pension so I am posting my comment here, as it clearly reflects on the ‘nature’ of the current Government.
We have all heard it trumpeted that the State Pension is being increased by 2.5% from April this year. Wonderful surely? Well, perhaps not if like my wife you put off taking the State Pension for a few years to try to make up for ‘lost’ years. Having finally managed to get her State Pension back up to about £100 per week (roughly the standard basic pension), do you think she gets the 2.5% increase. Certainly NOT. The small print – which is as usual not mentioned alongside the headline grabber – is that the 2.5% does not apply to Graduated Retirement Pension, Additional State Pension, Increases for adults or child dependants and, of course, any Extra State Pension earned by prudent people who put off taking their State Pension. What increase do they all get – well, NOTHING actually.
Giving that there is positive encouragement to defer taking the State Pension, arguably a case of misselling? Probably, if it was a company but no chance with this lot.
Let’s get rid of this bunch a.s.a.p and get a Government that does not believe that conning the people of Britain is the way to govern this country!

Comment by Sean Malone on April 26, 2010 at 11:42 am

Dear David
Well done on the campaign so far.
There is one big point which I think you should focus on during your next TV debate.

When you listen to what Gordon Brown is saying it can be summed up as: “vote me back into power, or something bad will happen.” It’s essentially the language of the playground bully: “do what I tell you or you’ll regret it.” The content of some of the Labour Party leaflets are simply an extension of the same subtle, underlying threat “we’re in power and you better not try and vote us out, because if you do something really bad is going to happen to you.”

Big point: Gordon is frightening people because he is bullying them.

Kind regards
Sean Malone

Comment by Erin Hoskins on May 3, 2010 at 9:57 am

‘I have been been disappointed time and again by promises made by politicians before elections.’ I couldn’t agree more. I want to desperately believe in your comments about women and equality David. Will same sex couples finally have all of the same rights as everyother human being? because I read somewhere that you took same sex couples out of one of your speeches and I’m not too sure why. Also, although I am a British citizen I was raised in Canada and one of the things that struck me when I moved here was that there are no womens shelters for abused women leaving their spouses, a safe refuge for them and there children, nor are there transition houses where they can stay and receive group counselling and one on one counselling to BREAK the abuse cycle. Such a transition home changed mine, and my childrens lives for the better. Has anyone thought about this????

Comment by john organ on August 17, 2010 at 11:30 am

daer PM you are indeed a breath of fresh air,and your actions for new policies is no doubt the right way to go ,but i feel that your little show of face to the nation will not be enough to instill the right amount of faith into the people of this great nation,i have a few ideas that will help people rise to your way,and i believe that these methods will help form one party,one people,one planet, however i have to reinforce the point that unless the homeless are housed and the hungry fed the wicked rehabilitated ,the problems will only become greater. yours faithfully j.organ. p.s ,i know these things because i have experienced them first hand,and at the moment i cannot afford to eat i hope that we can speak again more personally good day and may the lord guide you .