Our country needs a change of course

Comment by Patricia Tabor on March 13, 2010 at 1:57 pm

I know there are many pressing problems for our next government. But what I want to know is when the English will get their own parliament. We have the first ministers of Scotland & Wales rubbing their hands together like a Uriah Heap Duo, can’t want for a hung parliament, do they can blackmail the next government and get more for their citizens. Who fights our corner? Most of the time, we are not even spoken of as English but British, when they are always given there nationality. I would like to put this question to the televised debate, but I cannot find any information as to how to apply!!

Comment by Harald Wright on March 13, 2010 at 2:01 pm

If there is someone with a smidgen of knowledge around he/she should tell Mister Cameron that the recession will not be over for at least 3 years.
I know it and so should someone in mr. Cameron’s inner circle know it too.
Teally a shame, Mr. Cameron started so well.

Comment by GeraldDavies on March 13, 2010 at 2:02 pm

If unscrupulous, criminal, greedy people in a market economy run up debts why should you ask the ordinary citizen to pay those debts for them. The ordinary people of the UK do not owe this money.

Comment by ryan spier on March 13, 2010 at 2:02 pm

i hope DC likes a challenge, he’s certainly got one. i don’t see how labour can possibly get in again. i’m boring people i know by saying they should vote tory. this country has lost so much under labour. the mood of the country is so low i sad to think about. DC’s mesages are realistic and not full of guff like Blairs and shallow lies like Brown’s.

Comment by James Taylor on March 13, 2010 at 2:09 pm

Remember the “Brown Bottom” when Gordon Brown as Chancellor sold gold reserves as the price dropped to around $260/oz?

Comment by Mai Griffin on March 13, 2010 at 2:21 pm

I think it would be a good move to publish a list of EVERYTHING Gordon Brown/the Labour Government has done wrong since 1997, including the 100+ stealth taxes introduced after their first manifesto promised NO tax rises! Better publish it soon, otherwise people won’t have time to assimilate it before the election.

Comment by John on March 13, 2010 at 2:22 pm

YES! and I will tell you what that change is – we need to put a stop to faceless people in Brussels making 75% of the laws that govern our lives. Anyone prepared to bring that change in I will support them. It abhorent that we having an election on May 6th to elect MP’s that can only make 25% of the laws that govern us, that is not a democratic country.

Comment by Wilson on March 13, 2010 at 2:37 pm

As a lifelong Conservative I agree with our leader’s views, but we really must stop talking to ourselves and bring those views home now to the urban heartlands who are not Tory and have never voted Tory (or have never voted), but who typically decide elections. My operative word is now, and not just when the election starts because the evidence suggests we are still some way from winning over those voters (not you or me) who will decide the next election.

Comment by Daniel case on March 13, 2010 at 2:48 pm

David it is up to you to prove to the public just what an utter mess we are in and it is up to you and George to pin this blame where it fairly belongs which is, of course, on Gordon Browns shoulders. Unfortunately the Labour machine has been very effective in drowning the Conservative message on the economy and as a result Brown has narrowed the lead that we had held for so long.
I believe an opportunity is coming up for you and George to slaughter the Brown message on his economic proficiency and to hammer the Labour poll ratings down to where it should be be in the low 20%. That opportunity is the dire UK economic performance in the first quarter 2010. I believe the first projection forecasts that comes out in April will shown little or no change over the final quarter 2009 and could even possibly prove to be negative. That will be the time, no matter what the cost, to use these figure as prove that the Brown economic policy is just not working and we are not coming out of this ression. You MUST mobilise a massive and robust campaign on all fronts and this must persist so that there can be no doubt left in anyone mind that Brown is not and never has been the genius he firmly believes he is.
You must, for all our sakes win the next election with a large enough majority to avoid any deals with the those Liberal fools who are currently trying so hard for a hung parliament and a chance to influence policy.

Comment by Robert on March 13, 2010 at 2:52 pm

Dear David

It is my personal and very perposeful view that I do agree that a change at the helm of government needs change. One key point I would like to bring to your attention as I know from my limited knowledge of economics is that a fine balance of income and expenditure nationally needs to be established.
On the expenditure, the costs of MP expense issues is rather high on the agenda. Having £9000 per MP which will mean a yearly cost of expenditure of excess of un-measured costs of over £5 000 000. Further to this the expenses that MP’s which were only for managing supplying services to their constituencies. I do not see how furniture (not office furniture) Televisions,dvd players and other entertainment systems can be approved reimbursement or justified.
This needs to be tightened up to such a degree that it is not possible to abuse the system ever again.

Comment by Hugh Thornton on March 13, 2010 at 2:53 pm

Seems to me there is insufficient emphasis on how Brown wrecked the economy prior to the economic crisis by building up a huge structural budget deficit. He got his reputation for prudence by following Conservative spending plans for a year or two after 1997 and then went berserk – but noone realised because of the benign world conditions and general feel-good of boom. Brown really lucked out being able to blame the bust on global conditions and has escaped relatively unscathed, even though he is a disaster. Cameron is right, the only hope is to foster enterprise. And we have to reduce the public sector too.

Comment by mike chard on March 13, 2010 at 2:53 pm

What benefits at present are there for manufacturing organisations to move business TO the UK. We have watched UK companies move business away from the UK because costs elsewhere are lower.The present Government relied upon the financial markets to gamble to produce large amounts of income to support Government spending. Now that the Financial institutions are considering their options, due to the increased taxes being talked over in the Treasury Departments of Government; it is becoming a case of squeezing the juice until the pips squeak, which will encourage more financial institution to base their headquarters abroad or go bankrupt
The Government states that after six months they will assist unemployed people to find work – Where? There are no jobs available as companies cut their workforces to maintain their shrinking profit margins. I do agree there is an urgent need to audit everything the Government is doing to cut back on the tremendous overspend the present Government has had to do to meet the unrealistic commitments they have made to keep the voters happy. Had we not sold the gold, increased the dependency on handouts to maintain a core vote for the Labour Party and allowed immigration,, both legal and illegal, to run riot, perhaps the Good Housekeeping and balancing of budgets would have been achievable. As and when the election is called I sincerely hope there will be more meat on the bone regarding Conservative policies to remedy the large holes within the present income and expenditure. I understand why there is reluctance to release information as Labour are now long on word and short on action and will steal gold fillings if any Conservative is foolish enough to leave their mouths open! Come on Mr. Cameron, attach your blue wings and become the Bluebird of Happiness who will hopefully deal with the crap Labour have stockpiled and talked over their years as Government

Comment by moyra hardy on March 13, 2010 at 3:04 pm

Just what l have been saying ever since brown took over !!!

Comment by dave hodson on March 13, 2010 at 3:08 pm

too right, lets get this shower of liars, thieves an spivs out for good, what an embarrasment to the rest of the world they make us look.

Comment by John McDonagh on March 13, 2010 at 3:20 pm

Gordon might have both hands on the tiller, but he is heading for the rocks!

Comment by A Gidlow on March 13, 2010 at 3:30 pm

I fail to understand why anyone would be voting for the current Labour Party at the next general election. However the current opinion polls suggest that this could happen. What are you able to do to convince voters to support the Conservative party?

Comment by Graham on March 13, 2010 at 3:41 pm

I agree, I am fed up of the champagne ‘socialism’ that has wrecked this country. It virtually took Thatcher her entire term to rid us of the mess Labour got us into. How long will it take to unravel the mess the last two clowns have got us into? I mean the economic ‘genius’ that is Brown??? Have people forgotten that he is one of Jimbos government?

Spending has to be curtailed, yes. But at teh cost of law and order, health and defence???? No, I disagree. However, its not pounds in the pocket its how it is spent ….. I mean if the Chancellor can’t decide on the colour of his hair and eyebrows …. what chance does our enconomy have????? )

However, I am rather old school when it comes to Conservativism, and I have yet to be convinced by what I have heard so far. How will the policies hurt my pocket? Look at fuel costs at the moment 113p! Will Dave and co also be a motorist hating government?

Comment by Sheryl Simmons on March 13, 2010 at 3:45 pm

While I appreciate that change is necessary the most important message to emphasize in the lead up to the General Election is the fact that the Conservatives can and will get the country out of the mess it is in. The Conservative Party have done it at least twice before when the Labour Party left the country virtually bankrupt. People may have forgotten this and I get the feeling that a lot of voters are feeling helpless and hopeless and they need reassurance and confidence rather than the frightening thought of too much change. It really is just a case of adjusting the message so that voters feel confident that the Conservatives can save the country yet again. Once the Conservatives are in power they can then explain how change will improve things.
Sincerely,
Sheryl Simmons (Mrs)

Comment by patricia on March 13, 2010 at 3:51 pm

what i am worried about is the 20k death tax that the 3 main parties will be discussing shortly, what right has anyone to take money off the sale of my home when i die

Comment by michael goodwin on March 13, 2010 at 4:01 pm

hi david i would like to know why the coubcil have told me that i am only allow a one bedroom flat, i am in a 2 bed flat and the wife is a 68 and the stair are getting two much being on the 4th floor, we have a lot of grand kids and family who live up north and aboard, so we need 2 bedrooms but they say no only 1, so in my mind they are telling me that my fanily can not stay with us, they stay with us a lot, i do not think this is fair, can you please give me your outlook on this matter, i will not leave a 2 bed for a little 1 bed, i pay my taxes and have done all my life, hope i can get some good news for once. m. goodwin

Comment by ianwallace on March 13, 2010 at 4:10 pm

It needs to be pointed out to the electorate, that during the boom decade created by the Tories who left labour with a the golden legacy – that was the time when money should have been saved for a rainy day. Brown was the chancellor then, and he wasted TENS of BILLIONS annually.

Comment by Richard Powley on March 13, 2010 at 4:19 pm

I know the country needs a change, much more must have a change before it is totally ruined. Time for the Conservatives to be far more clear on their proposed changes to the public on matters of the NHS, Immigration, unemployment, pensions and policies towards the EU. Those are the things which worry the british voter the most. If you dont want a hung parliment Mr Camerion and Mr Hague, get on your soapboxes and let the typical man in the street know what he is voting for.

I want to see a tory governm,ent from the 7th May 2010 ans for all, a prime minister who doesnt answer every direct question by stating what the opposition would have done!.
Go for it David, there are more behind you than the opinion polls would lead us to believe.

Comment by Mahmod Asgher on March 13, 2010 at 4:26 pm

Please do correct the mistake for me.

Great. benefit system (GBS) project would like to introduce under 18 financial program, One trustee house, one trustee credit card, one trustee lone, and one trustee crisis lone for 18 years term interest free

Comment by Robin on March 13, 2010 at 4:35 pm

You HAVE to look at Lords reform – Ashcroft and the rest – looks a mess and about time a Tory had the courage to sort out our parliament – you started well but since then…………

Comment by Alan Mackenzie on March 13, 2010 at 4:36 pm

This is all true, but I feel very strongly, that the time has come to set out specifics – facts and figures, so that people will be able to see clearly, just HOW the Conservatives are going to tackle the debt crisis and get more for less. Details, say, such as “we will abolish Quangos X,Y,& Z and this will save xxx millions/billions per year and this money will be used for…”

Things like that, so that it is crystal clear how things WILL change under a Conservative government.

On another tack, how are we responding to the latest Labour nonsense of “No Tax Rises under Labour after the Election”? Anybody who believes this, needs their brains testing but, unfortunately, there are those out there who WILL swallow it and vote accordingly.

Brown needs to be put on the spot about this and forced to declare his true intentions – more fiscal drag no doubt, coupled with endless “stealth” taxes. He must NOT be allowed to peddle this lie to the electorate in the hope of using it to cling on to power.

Comment by P Redmond on March 13, 2010 at 4:43 pm

I agree. The sooner the present administration leave office the better. It is an ill-managed, ill-organised shambles. Vote Conservative. They will have a hard time but it will be better than Labour. We need someone to look at the books properly and sort the problems we have.

Comment by Gillian on March 13, 2010 at 4:43 pm

Its about bloody time. Get up there and DO IT…I don’t know why you want to be PM, (I wouldn’t) but you seem a genuine honest person, so no blarney, if you say it, mean it, and DO it. Just for once I would like to put my x in the right place.
Gillian

Comment by David Overment on March 13, 2010 at 4:45 pm

A suggestion (from a University Director of Estates with 35 years experience in Construction).
Insurance Companies should be encouraged to invest in flood and coastal defences. This has an economic benefit to the Insurance companies because it will reduce their claims and allow them to generate building land. It will also stimulate the Construction Industry which is one of the root drivers of the economy.
Happy to discuss in detail.

Comment by John Drage on March 13, 2010 at 4:58 pm

I totally agree with your comments received today, I like many other pensioners am feeling the pinch under the current governments miss-management and welcome the opportunity to make changes on Election Day. I am sorry that I cannot afford to make a financial contribution due to other commitments.

Comment by Philip on March 13, 2010 at 5:02 pm

Britain manufactures practically nothing. Mrs Thatcher made sure we became a ‘service economy’. Mr Brown then set about bankrupting it. But without producing something we have nothing with which to generate income. Therefore recovery will be longer than even the Labour Party could drag it out. No political party can win this one.

Comment by Augustus ALLEN on March 13, 2010 at 5:05 pm

This speech was excellent and I’d bet that there isn’t a Tory who will disagree. We all believe that the country is in a mess, that Gordon Brown has become an irrelevance, now beyond contempt, and we all need to pull together to put it right and no more talk about feminism and gay rights. We also need to design a way of creaming off those clever young folks who will restore ‘Great’ to Britain. Its got to be spelt out that we shall need to work and pay our way and not fall victims to the euphoric charms of Gordon Brown’s tax and spend machinations. We must produce

Comment by Patricia Mitton on March 13, 2010 at 5:09 pm

Close the borders, stop paying benefits to anyone who has not contributed by working in this country for at least 10 years. send back all foreign prisoners to their respective country’s and claim the cost back from their governments. stop further payments to EU until the audit the books, better still withdraw completely lets spend our money on our country, instead of bailing out others. Do up the disused army barracks near to Westminster whilst in government session, then the MPs are all near to work, and they won’t need to claim for second home or other of the allowances, that will save the taxpayers millions and MPs can live like the rest of us, and pay their way on their wage packets.
start bringing in MPs who have actually worked for a living and not just learnt from text books, into government.

Comment by Brenda Champion on March 13, 2010 at 5:16 pm

Couldn’t agree more. Good luck David.

Comment by Peter Gordon on March 13, 2010 at 5:16 pm

David

It was suggested recently that the Tories catchphrase should be, in relation to New Labour, ‘Thirteen wasted years’.
You should be repeatedly reminding the voting public of all of the many, many errors of New Labour and of course their achievements, though I can only think of one ie the Minimum Wage, as being an achievement.
I am really beginning to wonder whether the Tories really do want to win the election. After all, it will be a poisened chalice.
I will vote Tory, not because I believe that the Tories will do better, it’s just that they cannot do worse and the fact is, that it has almost always been the tories who have picked up the mess caused by just about every Labour government.
Everybody I know or many who I meet during the day – ordinary people – all decry the manner in which this country has deteriorated and has been governed. But we all feel helpless and know that noone, not even the Tories, is listening.
The whole game is being played by the politicians and the media.

Comment by Jane Scarfe on March 13, 2010 at 5:27 pm

We run a small business and totally agree with you that Great Britain plc needs to start paying back its debts. But our worry is that increasing the rate of VAT – which would raise much needed revenues – will hit us disproportionately because many of our competitors aren’t VAT registered. They carefully arrange their turnover to stay just under the threshold.

Why is there a VAT threshold at all and, more importantly, why is it set so high? Businesses need a level playing field so please consider lowering it. You’d raise more money and we wouldn’t be subject to so much unfair competition.

Comment by G Farley on March 13, 2010 at 6:00 pm

We need to act now to stop the House of Lords making fools of us Changing rules during an investigation into their expenses is a disgrace and they are not fit to serve the people Baroness Uddin and others who have claimed money under false pretenses should be forced to resign Reforming of the House of Lords by labour has been a disaster We want an elected House of Lords and no more cronies and failed politicians put on the gravy train for life
It would be good to know what a Conservative government intend to do about this very expensive problem before the election

Comment by andrew on March 13, 2010 at 6:28 pm

he encouraged as to all borrow too much but now we own the scottish banks!
This was a boom built on dept and a mega bust
Not any bust a Gordon Brown bust

Comment by john gwyn on March 13, 2010 at 6:37 pm

yes we need a change for sure and the sooner the better , and while your at at it cameron take a good look at the construction industry thats in as much tatters as the economy , if this carries on much longer there wont be any construction workers left , and as for haulage and lorry drivers i think the vosa ppl have got far to much say in what they do , they need to be looked into and pulled down a peg or two , this is john prescot,s doings for giving every hooray henry authaurity to do what the hell they like .

Comment by Robin Paine on March 13, 2010 at 6:38 pm

At last a coherent sensible message – keep banging it home.

Comment by Norman Wood on March 13, 2010 at 6:45 pm

Didn’t Gordon Brown once declare, publicly, that he would not rest until Scotland was free form control from Westminster?

Hasn’t everything he has done since then been a deliberate atempt to break up the United Kingdom and to destroy the economy – and the constitution of Britain which used to be Great Britain before he got his claws on it ?

Comment by richard bullman on March 13, 2010 at 6:48 pm

Gerald Davies, you are wrong!!…..Ordinary people voted in this bunch of Liebour con men and tricksters ,……..and thereby gave consent to this incompetent government to commit the ordinary tax payer to repay all and any public debts incurred in their names,………and to guarantee the Gordon Clown’s non regulated or overseen banking system.

Comment by kevin pescott on March 13, 2010 at 7:03 pm

how come killers are look after and let off and
the innocent get victimize and not look after
and why are we in this war wny dont we pull
out and put gordon brown there with a gun and no amour see how he like it and if i vote for you what are you going to for the innocent
my saying is the innocent are guilty . and the guitly are innocent. thanks kevin but dont bullshit me

Comment by David Knight on March 13, 2010 at 7:03 pm

David…totally agree you have my vote. Most people are sick to the back teeth of that arch LIAR and baffoon Brown, so its hard for me to understand the current poles. What kind of a people are we if we are giving serious consideration to keeping Brown in power. Come on David, be clear and straight on the economy and how such an approach will enable people to achieve their aspirations. State clearly views on immigration and europe (remind people Labour broke its promise on the Lisbon treaty)…the tory views are in tune with most british people but they need clarity. Go for it David and I wish u luck !

Comment by Margo on March 13, 2010 at 7:07 pm

I agree with Mai’s comments,
Visited my daughter this afternoon and she was agreeing with me, as were many of her young professional friends, that you are needing to have a higher profile and shout loudly about everything Brown has done to destroy this country. Your message is not getting across!

Comment by Duncan Black on March 13, 2010 at 7:15 pm

You are not getting accross the two most important points for the Conservatives to win this election:

1) Gordon Brown caused this financial mess – how can one possible trust him to get us out of it.

2) A Conservative government will combat so-called petty crime vigorously – including the behaviour of our ferral youths.

Sincerely
DB

Comment by Blue dog on March 13, 2010 at 7:21 pm

Either Gordon Brown lied when he told us no more boom and bust, or he was inept because he should have known that it was’t true. Either Gordon Brown lied when he implied to the Iraq enquiry, or he was disingenuous as the then heads of the arms forces said. Either Gordon Brown lied when he told us we were better placed to come through the recession or he is an idiot because we were much worse positioned. So which is it – Gordon Brown liar; Gordon Brown idiot? hmmm

Comment by Arnold Whittle on March 13, 2010 at 7:27 pm

Talking about medals my ancestors fought many battles down the ages to make this Nation great,so that a usless bunch of so called politicians could bring this Nation to its knees in a few years of no vision policies and massive blind spending its time for change.

Comment by Chris on March 13, 2010 at 7:28 pm

Dave, I know that things have not been quite right recently, however I can assure you that from now on everything in the mission is going to be ok. I suggest that you sit down, take a stress pill and think things over. I still have complete confidence in the mission

Comment by Blue dog on March 13, 2010 at 7:31 pm

Why are you Prime Minister Mr Brown?

We know that you wanted the job, assumed you had a right to the job, demanded the job, schemed and plotted, brooded and obsessed, bullied and clunked that fist and eventually your coup ruthlessly delivered you into No. 10.

Are you the best man for the job? Well not many people think so, not even in your own cabinet. You said we would be entering a new era, but we still have the same spin, bullying, deception and complete ignoring of any opinion that isn’t yours. You tell us after every election cataclysm that you hear the message and people want you to get on with the job; only the most arrogant and self-delusional could draw that conclusion when the reality is that the vast majority want you to get on your bike and get out of our lives.

You tell us that we are suffering from world events, but it was you who said no more boom and bust; you who took away the 10% band and said it was a tax cut; you who said that increasing car tax for the majority, would only affect the minority; you who said that the car tax increases were a green tax when we all know it is yet another stealth tax. It was you that set up the regulatory regime that allowed Northern Rock to fall between the cracks; you who dithered over a response and left the banking system’s reputation and operation in tatters; you that dithered over calling an election and bottled it. It was you who set up the disastrous family credit scheme that has got it wrong so often and is now pursuing billions in refunds from people who have nothing.

Let us not forget that it was you that ramped up stamp duty on housing – yet another stealth task – that is now acting as a brake on the market; but it’s not the only brake, you also imposed the HIPS requirements against the advice of the industry and to no-ones satisfaction.

It was you that that usurped government processes by centralising control through the treasury; you that stopped the Home Office from building prisons, so that we now have to let out criminals early, so that we don’t effectively punish the guilty; you that hamstrung the Armed Forces, leaving them without adequate equipment, housing, health care, compensation and breaking the established covenant; you that failed to effectively control the money going into the Health Service and Schools, so that billions have been wasted.

Your arrogance was so great that you appointed a cabinet of political pygmies, so that none would outshine you; what you achieved was highlighting your own inadequacies. Your finger in the pie, your manipulation, your scrambling to deal with events instead of driving them, your failures.

These are not world events, these are down to you Mr Brown. The clunking fist, now shattered, reveals the vacuity of your premiership. The waste, the pain, the devastation of real lives, the loss of hope and the failure to prepare for a downturn that was bound to come, these are all hanging from your neck. The people keep giving you this message but you won’t listen, clinging on regardless. You had 10 years to prepare yourself for this role, and failed, so why do you think another quick fix re-launch will impress us anymore?

So Mr Brown, is the reason you are still there any more than your own vanity?

Comment by jenny wright on March 13, 2010 at 7:40 pm

I agree entirely with all David Cameron says about Brown. I only have doubts about how much to cut and how quickly. Also, whenever, I tell people that I shall vote Convervative, they say they don’t know what the policies are (I try to tell them a few) but would you gain more voters by defining policies more clearly and trying to convince people that your lack of experience can be an advantage?

Comment by Phil J on March 13, 2010 at 7:45 pm

David, if you want to really change this country around again for God’s sake listen to the newly made minority! You want to get the internal economy moving again and stop these disastrous business closures-listen to the newly created minority.
You want to collect a large proportion of now floating voters-observe the newly created minority. Choice is simple and choice will get you clearly elected. David, I must ask, do you ever read this Blue Blog?

Comment by richard spendiff on March 13, 2010 at 8:26 pm

Finally – it is time to attack and expose labour and their globalist ‘solutions’. Attack Brown and all will be well. Brown is bankrupt in more ways than one and this is what the conservatives need to concentrate the minds of the electorate on. This is how the election will be won – uncover the compromised Brown and his puppet status amongst the international banking community. Call a spade a spade. There are no global solutions as Brown purports – just national humiliation at the feet of international deceivers.

Comment by Mohsin baig on March 13, 2010 at 8:32 pm

Gordon brown was the master strategist or economist who lead Britain plc into a economic Boom right ? since labor was in power under the blair leadership.

Are you telling me that brown doesnt have the economic and financial competency to take Britain plc from bust back to boom ?

another thingie assuming you are likely to win the election because your public image is more crediable than browns ammmm as a ethnic minority any chance of having laws which can help visible ethnic minorities find work ? and reduce racial discrimination in the interview process in the professional service sectors.

Comment by David Abbott on March 13, 2010 at 8:33 pm

A Gidlow: “I fail to understand why anyone would be voting for the current Labour Party at the next general election”.

Even more galling and incredulous is that over 30% of the electorate, if the polls are to be believed, think that the current administration has done such a good job that they’ll vote for them again.

Comment by Paul White on March 13, 2010 at 8:43 pm

Giving welfare its biggest shake up in 60 years ,I do like the sound of that.I wonder if he`s really got the political nerve to do what is needed with welfare and benefits in this country?? 100,000 apprenticships,over how long ?
On a slightly differant topic ,can we please have some really tough laws against “anti social behaviour”Laws that in no uncertain terms make parents legally resonsible for their childrens behaviour.We want parents who know their children are trouble makers, to be frightened to let them out of the house.We want the police to have all the powers they need to clear the streets of trouble makers and simply be allowed to get on with it.Not looking over their sholders for human rights lawyers.
In fact,we don`t want any more talk of human rights in this country.We want every one to be indoctrinuated with the idea of social responsibility.It will take along time and will have to start in the schools,but it will be worth it.
Regarding inheritance tax/death tax.I have allways thought it an abhorrent thing to do to a family,no matter how wealthy they are,or who they are.
One good way to start improving our economy ,is to hang on to what we`ve got.Allowing greedy shareholders (like the Cadburys shareholders)to sell their shares to
highly dodgy outfits like Kraft is not something that should be so easily done.I wonder how much of their new found wealth will be invested in other UK companies?

Comment by Lee on March 13, 2010 at 8:44 pm

Let’s face it, when a person has a heavy credit card bill, the last thing they do is go out and spend more to ‘recover’ the situation – they cut back and pay it back asd quickly as possible to avoid charges, so all this rubbish about spending more is exactly that – rubbish. Cut back now and let’s get this country back on track, make it great once again.

Comment by John on March 13, 2010 at 8:45 pm

The economy will be a problem to whosoever wins, though in my heart I do hope it’s the tories.
What we need is a little more vocal comment when hamonesk , politticaly correct muppets like labour’s Doctor Atkinson, make ridiculous and insulting statements about the death of Jamie Bulger, and the treatment of his murderers, young as they were.
The trouble is some of us tory voters like myself can’t help feeling that some of the modern party are in agreement with her!

Comment by Austin Langtree on March 13, 2010 at 8:52 pm

I assume these messages from David Cameron and others of the Conservative hierarchy go out and are read mainly by conservative supporters which is a jolly good idea to keep the troops behind the generals if this is necessary but to a man they will be already convinced that a change of government is necessary. Therefore while continual properganda to the faithful is not harmful (other than some may be getting a little tired of opening such emails) it is far more important to get the same messages accross to the not yet fully converted who can make a or break an electorial swing. I do really wonder if Conservative ‘marketing’ is anything like good enough in this context?

Comment by Penny Phillips on March 13, 2010 at 9:11 pm

I do hope that Conservatives win. Things desperately need to change……BUT….. you need to start employing MP’s who are interested in the job to make Britain a better place AND who understand what the ‘people’ want. Clearly one of the hot topics right now is about the MP’s expenses, it is a disgraceful abuse of a position of power and in any other role would constitute theft SO start employing MP’s on a salary (just like the rest of us) but who sign a contract stating that they will not claim any further monies. Then you will get people who are truly interested in the role and not interested because they know they can make a fortune at the tax payers expense. REMEMBER if I take a job in London it is up to me to commute or make the necessary accommodation arrangements at my own expense – why then is it any different just because they are MP’s??

Comment by J Rackham on March 13, 2010 at 10:08 pm

Mr Cameron. I totally agree with the comments of Jane Scarfe above.

As a small business owner if you can guarantee that VAT with not be raised I will give you my vote.

Comment by Shantanu on March 13, 2010 at 10:29 pm

I agree with you that we must find ways of increasing foreign investment in the United Kingdom and cutting the fiscal deficit is the key to encouraging that. More than that I would suggest that we need to increase entrepreneurship in the United Kingdom. For this we need a task force to improve the chances of building up our manufacturing and export ability as a nation. This Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship will have the task of looking around the world and identifying marketing opportunities to take on our competitors. We must also retain the Unitied Kingdom’s position as a Financial Centre of the World. Most importantly, we must ensure that the United Kingdom is a safe place for people around the world with money to come and invest their capital. We must retain what made Britian great like British Airways, Cadburys, Dyson, etc. We must encourage British Universities to encourage foreign students to come and study in the UK and bring their money with them.

Comment by Hayder Tawfik on March 14, 2010 at 7:39 am

Please Mr. Cameron, ask your cabinet members to staet in facts and figures the 13 years of Labour’s failures. High light higher overall taxes, higher VAT, higher national insurance, higher immigations, higher crimes, higher council taxes, above all Gordon’s ripping off the pension fund of 5bn ponuds a year since 1997. Ehere all these money gone. Please don’t play to their tunes. This is a deliberate strategy the playing. Just remind the public of the facts and figures. Good luck

Comment by Russell James on March 14, 2010 at 7:42 am

If the conservatives really do want to win, they better start telling the electorate that Brown has still not done anything for a million low paid workers who were hit with him doubling the 10 pence tax. I also agree that all the lies and wrong actions of Labour must be stressed. For a start tell people that Inheritance tax takes x million out of death duties and is not for a few thousand rich people (a lie continually told by Brown & Labour which is now believed by most people).

Comment by Tony Beeson on March 14, 2010 at 8:34 am

Public Spending
Liberal and Labour accuse you of risking driving the economy back into recession by making cuts in public spending to quickly
Can you get the message across that you intend to start immediately by cutting ‘waste’, i.e Quangos and Inquiries, not essential services and explain the policy difference to the floating voter

Comment by James Allan on March 14, 2010 at 8:54 am

I fully agree – we must get rid of Gordon Brown and his cronies before the Labour administration’s fiscal policies finally reduce our credit rating to that of a banana republic. Not far to go!
But, David, you must be tougher. Slice public spending, get rid of quangos, non jobs and reform public sector pay and pensions. Welfare benefits must be controlled. Immigration numbers must be significantly reduced. (Frank Fields recently wrote an excellent article in The Daily Mail – get him aboard!) Above all, repeal The Human Rights Act.
Your policies are sound (particularly those relating to helping businesses and apprentice schemes) but please get tougher and spell out the policy details.

Good Luck!

Comment by Penny Phillips on March 14, 2010 at 9:28 am

My council tax bill has just arrived £1900 for the year! What exactly do I get for my money – there are no police on the streets, the roads have pot holes, there are no local NHS dentists, my rubbish doesn’t get taken if the lid is slightly open etc. During the snow nothing got done, not even the gritting of the roads! If I was running a business and did not provide the service that people were paying for then I would not be paid………simple. But because it is government run I have to pay it or I will be imprisoned – how is that democracy? David, maybe this is something else you need to look into with a view to allowing people the right to say no to paying their council if they have a valid grievance – bearing in mind that I have also already paid tax on this money, so the government get a double whammy!!

Comment by A H on March 14, 2010 at 9:42 am

Couldn’t agree more, and now Labaour have said that they will not even tell us how they plan to sort out the finances in the budget! And to think that they have been berating the Tories for not being open with plans!!! I hope the Conservatives can use this to a maximum attack in the next few weeks !

Comment by Penny Phillips on March 14, 2010 at 10:14 am

Further to Patricia’s comments re the £20k death tax – why do we have to pay some form of tax everytime money moves? I pay my tax at source, yet if I want to buy something I then have to pay either VAT or hidden taxes as well(i.e petrol – don’t get me started!). If I worked it out I reckon I pay the government around 60%, if not more, of my salary in one form of tax or another – perhaps someone would like to work this out and confirm (unfortunately due to many taxes being ‘hidden’ this is hard to quantify). But if I have paid for my mortgage out of money I have earned and which I have already paid tax on, why then are we expected to pay a death duty? – what is that all about? There needs t be an urgent review of where our monies are spent. Our monies are not being managed effectively, the only constraints that appear to be put into place are where there are cut backs in educations, hospitals, police etc. Is Six Sigma ever run to help the Government to manage their processes better (or something along those lines)?. When you consider that we pay tax at source and then again on fuel duty, VAT, inheritance tax, council tax, congestion charge, road tax, stamp duty, business rates, airtravel surcharges, duty on cigarettes and alcohol the list goes on, the question has to be asked ‘where is this money going’? This should be from the bottom up – not just looking at the big ticket items, but looking into central contracts that the government takes out, working out where there is wastage, are you doubling up on any contracts, is there a better way of doing things. And addtionally can you put together a central contract to benefit local authorities on something like waste, this would allow you to leverage a better deal and all would benefit- there is a way of reducing costs without always affecting the service being provided and this needs to be done immediately. The government needs to look into OUR finances, at the end of the day this is OUR money – if we had an accountant making such a pigs ear of our personal finances we would sack them. There needs to be a simple list of incomings and outgoings and then a sanity check on what we can get rid of – the first to spring to mind to get rid of is the payment to Europe! Problem solved!!

Comment by Nigel Davidson on March 14, 2010 at 10:49 am

Having spent time in the US, and watching with interest their voters, then personal taxation is a big election decider historically. I am wondering, if to encourage personal saving and investment, we adopt a similar personal tax system similar to them. In other words, the more you spend, the more tax you pay (higher consumer tax), therefore, those who wish to save or invest pay effectively less tax. Tax at source is lower, disposable income higher. Smart people invest and secure their future. There are some things, such as NHS, that we hold dear to our hearts and would continue funding from source. I’d also be a great fan of allowingt uk citizens to buy discounted shares in UK PLC. (such as the banks we own, maybe even Buckingham palace(!!).

Comment by rob p on March 14, 2010 at 11:05 am

Much as i agree with DC about the economy,the one thing i would remind the british public about is if they want another five years of brown,harman,darling and mandleson then voting for labour is what you will get,imagine another five years of that crew and the damage they will do to this country! Now is the time for change,time to vote conservative and bring this once great country back from the socialist brink…five more years of this bunch and we’ve had it.
Stick a poster up featuring those four all over this country asking is this what you want for the next five years and i’m sure labours share of the vote will drop…i hope.

Comment by Brian on March 14, 2010 at 11:35 am

David,
The coming election is yours to lose. You have the easiest of targets, the track record of the current government and GB in paricular is so appalling that in any field of activity you can hammer them. You have been given reminders of this many times in these columns but do not appear to take them up. List the blunders, ask the electorate if they want more of the same. When asked what you would do start with `not anything that this government has done’. Set out principles – low taxation, support for ESSENTIAL services, strenghened democracy, fair deals for England in the UK and UK in Europe. But you have been told this many times. As I stated at the beginning the election is yours to lose.

Comment by Graham Willard on March 14, 2010 at 12:10 pm

David you must remind the public how the Labour goverment in the 70′s all most banhrupt the country then, and how the Tory’s sorted it and put the great back in Britain

Comment by Carl on March 14, 2010 at 1:44 pm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/8562167.stm

This is what the Labour Governement is doing to business. Please please read

Comment by Gaile Griffin Peers on March 14, 2010 at 1:46 pm

Please remind the public of Labour’s stealth taxes since 1997 – Here is a list of the first 150 – in case anyone has forgotten… http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/garbagegate/item2/stealth.htm

Please remember that many, many voters are so young, or so recentlly immigrant that they have no concept of life without a Labour Government… 13 years means you have to be 31 or over to have had a vote in that election… It is all very well us older voters banging on about principles and ideals – but we should be banging on about the real cost of Labour to our lives. When Labour came into power I was driving 32,000 a year to get to and from work. I could AFFORD to work up to a hundred miles from home, because it cost me less than £30 to fill my tank with 98 unleaded petrol…

Since Labour came into power my standard of life has gone down and although our family income appears to have risen – what it buys now is a lot less than it used to buy… The pound in my pocket is about as stretched as it can get – and now it isn’t buying many euros – so the costs of taking a break from it all have gone up, too! In mid 2007 £2 bought €3 in less than three years of Gordon Brown £2 barely buys €2 and a hung parliament will drop the £ even further…

Brown was responsble for most of the stealth taxes, Borwn is responsible for the collapse of the £ and Brown needs to brought face to face with the real cost of his gross mis-management of our economy.. Younger voters need to be reminded that whilst life was not always perfect under the Tories – at least we could afford to escape!

Comment by roy on March 14, 2010 at 3:22 pm

I personally do not agree that Brown has brought us through this recession. I agree with serious commentators that we are in a global depression and governments have hidden this by flooding the global economy with fiat fiscal debt and printing out of thin air. This is the hidden bubble of all bubbles which will burst 2010/11. The U.S. markets are upward BUT they will collapse as gold destroys the dollar/the euro and the pound. You won’t believe this but it will happen- in a sense you cannot believe it in a run up to an election. Its just a pity that Brown seems to be making all the running at the moment. QUESTION-When will you take Brown’s record to pieces BIT BY BIT?? Chop chop-time is of the essence.

Comment by Mike on March 14, 2010 at 3:36 pm

When are you going to spell out what you will do about the failed immigration policy of this government and how you can redress the rapid erosion of the British way of life in many urban areas?

Comment by Ross J Warren on March 14, 2010 at 4:55 pm

It is a crying shame that Brown spent so much borrowed money before the credit crunch. Quite clearly we cannot carry on the way we are going. If we continue to borrow at our current rate the day will come when we will no longer be able to meet our minimum payments from taxation. Like many people I have some credit card debt, and I always pay a lot more than minimum payment. To do otherwise is to suffer interest repayments with no progress on the outstanding debt. The state now accounts for 50% of GDP which is an extraordinary amount of money.
The other two main parties are both opposed (it seems) to making any cuts right now, they would both continue to borrow at historically high levels, exposing the tax payer to further liabilities. Of course we are not fools, it will not be possible to pay off the debts overnight.
Just as I must budget to ensure I pay more than the minimum back so must the nation.
The difficult part is making the cuts in a fair manner, so it is not the poorest who suffer the most. We have already indicated that we understand this principle, as we have promised that the public sector wage freeze will not apply to those on the lowest incomes.
Labour have proven how callous they are by moving the pay date for many people in receipt of Income support. By moving many of them from being paid one week in arrears to two weeks. This of course results in a shortfall of one weeks benefit for those affected (who are often the sick) rather than coming to some sensible arrangement they will only offer these people a loan. This might be ok if the loan was over a reasonable period but for many people it will cause real hardship in the run up to Christmas. This change will of course save the nation a great deal of money, by making the administration of benefit simpler, but do they have to make it such a painful process for these poorest of citizens?

My point being that indeed we must make cuts, and sometimes these will inflict pain, but I would hope that we would be more careering in our approach. I don’t suppose many Labour MPs would accept a loan in Laue of a weeks wages, most especially is they then had to pay that money back over just 12 weeks. I do hope we are now the better party in every respect.

Comment by colin rowley on March 14, 2010 at 5:11 pm

David. I agree wholeheartedly with everything you say. What needs to happen with the utmost urgency, is for this message to be relayed loud and clear into every living room in this country. It now looks as if the economy will decide the fate of this election, or more importantly, who the electors decide who is putting out the right messages. Back this up with clear facts and intentions David, and trust the people to trust you to put things right

Comment by Karen on March 14, 2010 at 5:28 pm

David I think that you need to be much more forceful in getting your message across – I agree with what you have said but there are still many people out there who blame our economic woes on Mrs Thatcher! We Know that it is Gordon Browns miss management. The man is a total idiot.
Our family like many thousands of others are in the process of losing our house due to massive debts occured during the resession when we had to support our small business. Business has survived but only by making 14 out of 18 people redundant .
I now work for a different company – yes I was one of those made redundant – and come into contact with many people on benifits. Most of whom get more per week than I can earn. Many of them say that its not worth them going out to work – so come on Conservatives do something about this once you are in power.
We also need an immigration policy – stop the economic/health migrants. As this is just a powder keg waiting to explode. I hear so much more support for the BNP – last thing this country needs.
Its got to the point that my family would emigrate if we could afford to do so and I never thought that I would say that.

Comment by tony phillips on March 14, 2010 at 5:32 pm

I think that the treason law in this country should be used to greater effect, we have been seriously betrayed time and again by politicians in Labour and the Conservative parties.
Edward Heath lied and deceived the British people by only admitting at the end of his life that he knew together with his ministers that entry into Europe was to be more than just a trading agreement.
Tony Blair secretly sought to destroy this country by allowing three million non status immigrants into Britain knowing that by 2003 crime levels were getting out of control as a direct result of immigration, he hid that from the public.
He allowed so many in to gain votes and to force multiculturalism on us.
We have had numerous ministers thieving from the public purse, all the damned lot of them working against Britain and the British people, Gordon Brown that useless illiterate unelected idiot sold our gold off for the wrong price at the wrong time, he destroyed the pensions of thousands not to mention the blood on his hands for the deaths of our soldiers because of limited equipment, it is time that the people of this country got seriously political and active to make sure that the next conservative government does not in any way let us down.

Comment by Gavin on March 14, 2010 at 6:10 pm

Dear David I speak to other conservatives and they all agree that they are worried that you will take too drastic action if you become prime minister. Labour and lib dems are saying how careful they will be not to be too drastic with the economy. Please make it clear, which you haven’t so far, that you will not be too drastic in paying back the enormous debts. Your present presentation makes your position sound very ominous indeed and that’s not good to get votes. Your comments may be true but you must soften and explain in more detail what you intend regarding the economy otherwise the other main parties will say that you will be paying back the debts without concern of the immediate consequences of the mostly struggling voters. Show thought and compassion and don’t make your proposals sound like gloom and doom with little thought of the consequences on the voters. If you don’t sound concerned for the effects of your proposals you’ll do so at your peril. I’m a loyal admirer but also pragmatic!

Comment by Robert on March 14, 2010 at 6:10 pm

As the conservatives know and are addressing what our country needs is a government that understands that businesses have to make a profit, that businesses bring jobs, more jobs means a strong economy.

So instead of ranting on about fat cats and taxing the rich and making it more expensive to employ people, help business by making Britain a place where companies want to set up and want to employ people. The conservatives seem to be be the only party that understands this.

One thing that would really make a difference, can all IT projects run by the government be delivered using UK staff,so government projects help the UK economy and not the Indian economy. This would really stimulate the IT industry, currently the amount of off shoring is stupidly high, and most government projects are included.

Comment by lester eddy on March 14, 2010 at 6:53 pm

David pull a fast one on Brown, invite Frank Fields to join your party, a man with such vast experience.
Or will this be another waste opportunity.

Comment by Steve Holbrook on March 14, 2010 at 8:39 pm

I have just heard that the drink drive limit is about to be lowered – certain to deal yet another blow to our brewers and licensees. The number of pubs closing is bound to accelerate. Why don’t we have a radical policy on drink pricing? Allow pubs to serve drink cheaper, thereby allowing competition with supermarkets, garage shops, etc. Keep the limit as it is, I say, and remember it’s still possible to to have a beer and then drive safely. Am I being naive, though? Surely this is yet another EU dictat to be enforced by Brown’s Stalinist zealots. Orwell called these people “pansies” and he was not in any sense homophobic – he meant it in the sense of their being spineless in the face of adversity. I’m well into history and feel that these days the country feels something like the ‘Weimar’ of the 1920s. Our politicians are, by and large, discredited. I can only pray that we don’t witness a reappearance of the jackboot.

Comment by Steve Willis on March 14, 2010 at 11:40 pm

I’m trying to square a circle. We have a number of UK Parliamentarians who’ve repaid money they’ve claimed because they now feel it’s morally wrong to have done so.

Having repaid the money because it was morally wrong, they’re now seeking re-election.

In other words, some Parliametarians are asking us to vote for them even after they’ve done something they admit was morally wrong?

Do they think we’re stupid? Are we so gullible as to vote for these politicians?

Comment by David Lilley on March 15, 2010 at 1:16 am

We need to have a very clear message that everyone understands.

We have an ageing population and taxes will have rise to pay for them.

My suggestion would be to have a progresive tax system that had increments of 5, 10, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50% and no NIC.This would replace 20, 40 and 50% which discourages an earner to work longer or harder when he meets a step change in income tax.

The same could be done with corporation tax.

These measures alone would stop the stealth taxes and means testing which are so unfair and demoralising because they are quite simply double taxation and persuade so many that work doesn’t pay. Work would pay for everyone and the tax system would be transparent. We would not choose benefits if work paid and we would not avoid better pay if the extra tax didn’t put us off. We have to start making decisions that are good for GDP and stop making decisions that are bad for GDP.

Every request for state funding should be accompanied by a demonstration of investment return. If you want more funding for demencia then demonstarte that it is cost effective for the country. Be NICE about it.

HMRC were 20 years behind the curve in introducing computers but they are there now. They could introduce a 21st century progessive tax system with a 21st century carrot and stick that reintroduced fairness across the board, paid work and discouraged the marginal from choosing benefits.

The margin is where all the bad GDP decisions are made. Get a job and pay tax and NIC and loose 101 benefits. Leave my partner and she will be better off on benefits. Get pregnant and the state will look after me better than working. Don’t pay my gas bill and the social fund will pay it for me. They cannot turn off my gas but they can increase the cost to those that pay.

We are multiplying the needy by blessing them as the most vulnerable in society and discouraging them from even trying to pay their way.

We should laud them as rational beings, what would we do without rational beings, but we should encourage them to pay their own way and not see the state as some kind of Robin Hood. Every £1,000 they get comes from a levy on a hard worker.

Comment by Hayder Tawfik on March 15, 2010 at 7:07 am

George,

As the majority of the public think that the Conservatives are more likely to actually cut down the huge deficit and apparently not a political plus, why not turn this thinking around in your favour and remind the public about their own debts and how credibly they cutting them down. Show them that your commited to clean the house as any responsible person does. You can use this argument quite celverly to your party’s benefits. The average household can connect to this easily. Good luck.

Comment by Caroline on March 15, 2010 at 8:43 am

This country needs the Conservatives to win this election. David Cameron I’m making a plea, stop doing what the other parties are doing and start to stand tall and believe in being the strong leader this country needs. You seem to still lack confidence in really saying what is important and follow what the other parties do and skirt around a subject. Stop saying were going to reduce debts, improve families etc etc. The reason so many people are turned off from politics is this reason, your all saying relativley the same thing but no one dares say whats exactly going to happen. Politics has been wishy washy for far too long in this country, politicians afraid of speaking the truth incase it marginlises people, well im afraid marginlisation is exactly what is needed and the voters will respect you for it. If you need to reduce the debt of the county, how’s it going to happen. Stop benefits for families where payments are excessive and families who cant be bothered to work are living with more of a disposable income than families earning arond 50k. Stop these stuipd policies of giving free laptops to families, Im sorry if they can afford to get their hair dyed and nails done each month they can save like the rest of us and buy their own equipment, stop throwing money at these people – this will save the country a fortune. Make young mums stay with their families, stop giving them housing. Make schools have more control over badly behaved children – re-install discipline in school, because the families arent doing it. Stop this balme culture thats costing insuarnce companies millions and raising our premiums. Stop the banks loaning people money who simply cant afford to pay it back. Stop local councils allowing traffic wardens runining the complete serenity of our beautiful towns and using it as a revenue sorce, this drives people away from the local shops and makes our country just living of a fine culture. Stop immigrants being able to claim benefits and use our hospitals, dont deny their care but this country is an easy target, lets look at what Australia does and put our foot down. Tell us what your exactly going to do, dont skirt around the subject, stand tall and be confident in your policies as the Conservatives are the only party to move the country forward but your also running the risk of seeming to be exactly like the other parties, too scared to make changes and say how your going to do that. This country is going down the pan….please stop it!!!!! What the hell was Brown thinking over the past 10 years its his fault and the banks the coutnry is in this state, people being allowed to borrow 115% against a house, massive buy now pay later culture, you had to be stupid not to see it happening 8-10 years ago, our economy was falsified, why cant Gordon Brown see this??? Thats because he thinks we are all stupid and fall for his lies, David Cameron please dont make this same mistake, YOUR voters are not stupid, dont drive them away please, we need you.

Comment by Shirley on March 15, 2010 at 9:52 am

When you become prime minister i hope that you still are approachable as you are now, i really believe that you will do this country some good!

Comment by Graham on March 15, 2010 at 11:00 am

I can’t believe that any rational person would want another 5 YEARS of Gordon Brown. The poor are still poor and the rich are also now poor. That’s the fact. They have spent all the money and mortgaged our children’s futures. No future in that.

Please be strong and clear and simple about what the conservatives will do and how it will benefit every voter.

Comment by Andre on March 15, 2010 at 12:22 pm

We need this Labour Government out, why should we the tax payer have to pay again for bailing out the banks, they haven’t helped people out and they make billions in profit from their customers, they should be paying it back themselves. Credit cards company’s are just as bad with the UK’s interest rate so low they put theirs up to sometimes over 28% APR this is crippling familys with an increase of over £100 per month to their bills and nothing is being done about it.
Petrol is at it’s highest and another 2.5 pence tax is due to be added yet again.

Can’t wait for a Conservative Government once again to put this country back to what it once was, a Leader.

Comment by John Poynton on March 15, 2010 at 12:29 pm

Recovery? What recovery? There is no recovery. The growth figures conventionally used by economists include both inflation and immigration. Strip those out and it becomes clear that Britons are still becoming poorer by the day. Unemployment also continues to rise.

I suspect that if you analyse the growth figures at the end of the nineties you would find that Britian was enjoying the highest rate of per capita income growth in her entire history. If so it is a record of which we should be robustly and openly proud. Since then the components of inflation and immigration have risen and the component of real standard of living has turned negative. Indeed, it had done so even BEFORE the credit crunch hit us.

At this rate we will soon be worse off than Italians!

Comment by Francesca Skinner on March 15, 2010 at 1:15 pm

I dont need convincing that we need a change in fact it doesnt bare thinking about another 5 years of this labour government.
I would like to see the conservatives exploiting more of their burying bad news days and just reminding the british voter about the indirect taxes we have endured, the tuition fees, the lies and deceit. I also think if a policy was announced such as first time buyers being allowed tax mortgage relief on their first homes that would be a decisive vote winner to help young people on to the property ladder.

Comment by Francesca Skinner on March 15, 2010 at 1:19 pm

I think Frank Field on the team is an excellent idea, he is one Labour M.P. that you can have respect for and there arent many.

Comment by Ronnie Wilkie on March 15, 2010 at 3:01 pm

Given the current apathy of the nation, the stupid military commitment engineered by Tony Blair, cynical abuse of the armed forces by Gordon Brwn and his loss of control on moral issues, we cannot, with a clear conscience, do anyting other than put this very sick Government out of its misery. Unfortunately, we all have to take a part in correcting the financial folly of the Labour Party and this does influence the pre-election public messaging of all major parties. However, something major has to happen to oust the very sick present government. ALL Conservatives must rally their peer groups. We must swell the ranks of supportive voters and win the election cleanly and decisively. In a sense, we need Conservative ‘commandos’ working every street and every dinner party. Each of us, in taking personal responsibility, in every town, should commit to ensuring that ten others also turn out to vote Conservative. Any other vote by any cntact, should be seen as a spoilt vote. ANY hint of apathy on the day will simply condemn us to more of what we currently have and that would be tragic, but we would have received what we deserved. A hung paliament would not be good enough while the concept of a hung Labour Party is quite appealing.
Let’s get at the work!

Comment by Mary Young on March 15, 2010 at 6:25 pm

Watched the ITV programme last night about Cameron. It was interesting. Personally Sam Cam should be the next PM, lol.

When oh when will Gordon the Gekko give us a date so we can get the Camerons into Number 10 and get the unelected pillock out.

Comment by Edward Palin on March 15, 2010 at 9:14 pm

David, i saw your programme with Trevor Macdonald last night i just wanted you to know you came across very well.

Comment by David Abbott on March 15, 2010 at 9:15 pm

Although GB was the most imprudent chancellor in recent decades (and has not improved as PM) rubbishing him will not, in my view, remove him from power.

Passion and belief in a better way will. David and all his shadow cabinet need to to speak to peoples hearts.

Everyone knows that there will need to be cuts in the next parliament – regardless of what administration gains power – so I don’t think that arguing about policy minutiae and timing will help.

Who cannot be moved when listening to a recording of Martin Luther King when he expounded on his dream – looking forward to the time when his country would recognise the strength of his children’s character, rather than the colour of their skin.

He had passion. He had belief. His words came from his heart.

To turn this country around needs politicians with a passion; and with belief. I pray that David Cameron and the rest will do just that – speak from the heart, and not the mind.

And lead this country back to prosperity – to make it ‘the promised land’.

Comment by Hayder Tawfik on March 16, 2010 at 1:29 pm

Dear George,

According to the latest report from UK banks, the britis public have been paying down their debts. What I understand from this is that the public are not stupid and they know for sure that reducing the national debt is something upper their minds. So, please continue the emphasis about cutting the deficit down and say it with a great passion. Show the that you care greatly about the mess the PM out the country in. Labour are cornered on this issue. they are alone on this and can’t hide anyomre. Your message is getting through. Good luck.

Comment by Mike Townshend on March 16, 2010 at 4:20 pm

As bad as the economic situation is can we please focus on the three main reasons that the Labour government must be removed.
1..They misled the country into a needless war.
2..They reneged on a promise to carry out a referendum on Europe
3..They allowed deregulation of the City which resulted in a worse Credit Crunch in the UK leading to recession, ghost towns and unemployed people feeling helpless.

Lets not get bogged down on when to cut the Public Sector Debt….that could keep Brown in Downing Street.

Comment by Dr Mark Jackson on March 16, 2010 at 8:24 pm

Almost 1m people now have jobs created over the past 12 years to staff useles state bureaucracy. They must fear that your necessary and sensible plans to cut state expenditure will lose them their jobs.
Is this not the obvious explanation for the decline in your poll ratings?

Comment by matthew hunt on March 16, 2010 at 8:30 pm

i would like to know what the conservatives are going to do about transport.
i am a war veteran on a pension and am being priced of the road by a useless labour chancellor, we know that the environment is vital but we now have the capacity to start using hydrogen technology as a viable alternative to petrol and we all know how damaging to the environment batteries are so lets please in the meantime lets reduce fuel duty and get a move on in promoting hydrogen instead of more polluting battery technology which is in truth hopeless.

Comment by matthew hunt on March 16, 2010 at 8:38 pm

mr cameron, if you want to win this election you have to appeal to the common man and what is important to him. fuel duty, income tax the lack of NHS dentists and so on. stop following the crowd and stand up and tell the people what they need to hear..how you will change the system to stop the rip off of the common working man and not how you will do better than labour but how you will be different and fresh .

Comment by Elizabeth Scott on March 17, 2010 at 9:51 pm

The Liberals are being disingenuous when they claim to oppose strong fiscal measures in the near future.
Unfortunately, this will make people scared of voting Tory because they think their suffering will be worse under the Tories than under other parties. This is not true, of course, but I think it’s one reason for the drop in poll ratings recently.

Comment by Hayder Tawfik on March 18, 2010 at 6:13 am

Dear David,

The fear of crime, which has risen year after year since this government took power back in 1997 is causing great discomfort to our parents and grandparents throughout UK. This I think is the result of not seeing our respected and worldwide admired policemen on the road and everystreet corner. Labour have demoted the majority of them to front and back office jobs such as filling forms and passing papers around. It is shame that we don’t see them walking our streets, local ares and the parks. We need to connect with them again. They would love to connect with us too. we knew them by their names and they were well respected in the local comunity. David, please make sure this issue is raised and repeated in all of your speaches. This is a very simple argument but it has a proufound effect on the great British public and it will have an immediate effect. Good luck.

Comment by Stephen Dacey on March 19, 2010 at 8:26 pm

While I would agree with the comments made my thoughts are drawn to the way we have given away everything that made Britain great and in doing so have generated a culture dependent on benifits. Surely it would have made more sense to prop up and support businesses thus providing a stable foundation from which a workforce may be developed to then support the banks. However as you say we are in deep water now that we have no manufacturing/engineering industry left to fend off China etc and provide work for the one thing we appear to be very capable of (having children).

From my perspective we need extreme radical change in our attitude towards Europe and imagration on similar lines to that of the US and Australia/New Zealand. Lets hope the conservatives can deliver on this and discover opportunity from this mess.

Comment by Tom I Balmain on March 20, 2010 at 3:05 pm

Dear Mr Cameron

One of the reasons for fear of crime is that the properly trained police in many cases have been replaced by the not so well trained PCSO’s. The police spend far to much time on box ticking exercises instead of being on the beat. Another thing is when you ring up your local police station it is answered by someone who is based up to 50 miles who have no idea of the locality you are telephoning about. Why should district council taxpayer pay for the pcso’s when it is the responsibility of the police authority to pay them. I do hope the Conservatives get their message over to the electorate but so far I have not seen any evidence. Reduce taxes within 6 months, increase inheritance tax to £1m by the end of the first year and only let those to stay in this country in they can speak english and have proper skills to offer to this country. Baroness Warsi and her family have brought great benefits to this country and have not been a drain on our resources but contributed to the wealth creation, which this country badly needs at this time after 13 years of socialism under Tony Blair & Gordon Brown.

Comment by Alan Williams on March 21, 2010 at 5:57 pm

Just watched your response to the disgraceful Byers scandal. C’mon Dave What about the arch self serving money maker of the lot: one Anthony Blair. They are only following his example. They say the rot starts at the top ! These so called Socialists are all “at it” in a way that allows the pre 1997 activities of Mr & Mrs Hamilton pall into miniscule insignificance

Comment by David on March 23, 2010 at 7:44 pm

The message is okay. It would even be better if the phrase.The promise to eradicate child poverty has it work? Laws introduced needlessly to incriminate the ordinary.Car users taxed to the eyeball. unplanned as wasteful IT projects like the one on NHS which still does not work. by the way up to now. Other wastage in NHS as shown in Staffordshire. Fiddling with crime figure to give perception of improvement when there is nothing. The whole policies influence buy people like Stephen byers for cash. ‘enough is enough’ Then state what you passionately believe in with a compassion face.I care about such failures. that is why sometime I stand to put a firm face. there are those that believe in living things are they are. There are those that believe that both parties are so similar. That should anger you. That is close to being irresponsible. We are not the same and state your clear difference. ‘enough is enough’

Comment by gareth podmore on April 1, 2010 at 7:35 pm

I’m a serving police officer and am frustrated by the inertia i experience at court, all to often criminals get off or when remanded, get kicked backout on the streets.

we have a clear cut system of redress for those that make complaints about the police professional standards dpt and IPCC.

Here’s a suggestion, how about an IJCC independant judicial complaints comission, this would allow those victims to register complaints against the judicial system eg magistrates and judges, this would square the circle, as at present we the police have to engage the victims of crime when it goes belly up, its not the magistrates who are round at their houses hearing how they have lost faith in the system.

we can have policing pledges coming out of our ears but the fact is we keep locking them up, and the courts keep kicking them out, where in the policing pledge does it cover that…..

we need to take back the streets accross the country, we need confidence in our police, we do have a great service in this country we should be proud of.

people can moan about how brutal we are dealing with prtesters, well i dont think the EDL and ANTIFA turned up to Bolton to join in a street party and dance the hokey cokey.

If that had been dealt with on the continent there would have been tear gas going off rubber bullets baton rounds and whole scale thumpings taking place.

My theory if they’re bent kick em out and prosecute them they’re no good, if like Sgt Smellie he was doing his job then good on him, and he should not have been made to sweat like that for a year wondering if he was going to be convicted or even in a job.

the same goes for the family of Ian Tomlinson they should not have to wait for a dragged out case wondering what the hell is going on.

People seem only to quick to forget WE ARE UNARMED and have been since creation.

All we want to do is make a difference, if you want to make your fortune forget the police if you want a good career and to provide a good public service join the police.

I would like to add on the subject of police numbers, the government states we have record numbers, i would question that, they started by investing a large amount in police recruitment, most welcome but that fizzled out, and they said to all chief cons you want to employ more then you fork out, so when numbers have slackend off the chiefs who have not the investment to sutain maintaining or increasing staffing levels then that has taken a nose dive.

its also worth noting “where are our police” ?? well i can answer that for you on paper we have a large headcount of some 140k sworn ranks.

But you will find up and down the country on friday and saturday nights when they are most needed, they are not there in the significant numbers they should be, why because they are being utilisied in whats called protective services eg domestic violence firearms child protection special branch to name a few.

This is stipulated to ALL chief constables by the home office HMIC etc that they must have set numbers per size of force area and per population i feel its worked out on, and this is in tablets of stone.

Do they get any extra money for this er to my knowledge no, where do the staff come from well, you guessed it the lads and lasses off the streets, are they replaced er no because there is little scope for that as there are no resources available to back fill, and that my friends is the sate we are in.

we are in such dire straights that forces are making loads of civilian staff redundant, freezing recruitment and loosing vehicles off the street to save money.

How can this continue and does this not make a mockery of Mr Browns claim to ringfence police spending.

My force is loosing a large part of its budget and the future does not bode well, Mr Brown says we will be alright Mr Creedon my chief says we wont, there is only so much you can axe.

WILL THE CONERVATIVES PLEASE REVERSE THIS CYCLE OF DOOM…..

And please KEEP THE PCSO’S the ones in my team are fab and we are more like a family than a team, together we have made a dramatic difference to the quality of life for those living in the Hadfield district of Derbyshire with some very strong partnership working.

PLEASE DO NOT TURN BACK THE CLOCK.

Comment by Chris Long on April 21, 2010 at 2:34 pm

I passed the police recruitment proccess in August 2008, and, due to the seemingly unnoticed £500million budget cut and the subsequent freeze in recruitment, am still sitting, unemployed, waiting for a start date 2 years later. This issue is nationwide and affects every force, but nothing seems to be being said about it. How is this acceptable, and how does it stack up against Mr Browns promises? What will a new Conservative government do about this issue?