Taking on vested interests

Comment by Peta Parkhouse on March 20, 2010 at 7:33 pm

We need to STIR the nation into realizing that a Conservative Government is the only one to secure our country as a whole nation. It has taken over 2000 years to fight for Britain and the current Government can’t give it away quick enough!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by TC in Guildford on March 20, 2010 at 7:40 pm

Dear Sir, in my role as “closet” Conservative (perhaps that should be “conservative”, I don’t quite know given today’s current political climate?) I feel that your comments may be worthy but, as ever with any politician, you’ve more than excessively “hedged your bets” by not STATING what you will DO but, rather, by referring to other politicians’ failings and similar circumlocutions. Please refrain from such practices and make only justifiable, pratical (even if painful) statements of INTENT, rather than “circling the airport” in thius way.

Sincerely,
TC

Comment by k houghton on March 20, 2010 at 7:42 pm

I really do not see the point in a levy of the banks – they have for years been one of the major net importer of profits into the tax coffers and if all parties had got on and used their profits wisely instead of ignoring what was glaringly obvious ie making an enterprise culture with real businesses employing people rather than being on benefits then we may not have the broken society we have now. Let the banks thrive and get back to what they do best making money and you lot get on putting in place the fiscal incentives for this country and its reidents to thrive and regain some pride again rather than daft levies – you already tax them in any case and their high earners at 50%

Comment by john bolton on March 20, 2010 at 7:45 pm

well done, its what we need a leader with common sense.please make a statement on our ouro membership about the way it dictates to us what we can or cannot do.and for god sake get more bobbies on the beat with two patroling day and night in each estate.if we dont see some of these promises,a lot will vote for a party who will do more about these these things like ukip.so dont take it for granted that you will win. john bolton

Comment by k coldman on March 20, 2010 at 7:45 pm

you state that you will publish all government spending, with the freedom of information act this should all be in the public domain . PLEASE PUBLISH ALL THE LABOUR GOERNMENT WASTEFULL GOVERNMENT SPENDING this should allow the electorate to know if only to tell the idiot labour voters if you present it aslabour government figures

Comment by Rob James on March 20, 2010 at 7:48 pm

This is a slightly dangerous message. Too simplistic. A lot of Tory voters work for BA and they may well be the among the ones who have elected not to donate through their union dues to the Labour party. Beware being too strident and simplistic. I want to see a Tory government elected and I am now worried by recent bombastic statements.

Comment by Daksha on March 20, 2010 at 7:53 pm

Dear Mr Cameron, you have my support in addition my family and friends that I know.
I do believe that it is important toensure all policies, structures are developed in the interest of those public who
are hard working tax payers. Currently, we have a PM who was self elected
giving no choice or voice from his British fellow Citezens. We have
Been in the country for 33years and have never seen such a poor
quality of life in Labour rule!!! Its their taxes, their budgets, their policies
their war, their failures and British Citezens hard earned money, who
struggle everyday to make ends meet!!! I think the labour party
operates like a call centre that is always seeking to meet targets!!
without a moral thought. Thank you for Mrs Thatcher and thank you
Conservative Party for voicing for new Britian and a better
quality of life…. that’s all what we want.

Comment by Paul Gibbons on March 20, 2010 at 7:53 pm

I’m so sad at this election. First there is the expenses scandel and now the “non-dom” thing. It’s getting beyond the point when the average person living in the UK can trust anyone in either party. You speak of vested interests, but the conservatives are known for this as much as any other party. The lack of honest, transparent politics that the average person living in the UK can trust – I mean “really trust” is what makes it almost impossible for any of the main parties to connect with the public. I understand the temptation to view every headline as an opportunity to score a point, but it’s very disingenuous and every time it happens I loose faith a little more. Do you have the courage to print this comment?

Comment by Stephen Wade on March 20, 2010 at 7:54 pm

I read all of Mr Cameron’s emails and I can honestly say that I am now even more detirmined than a year ago to vote conservative. We need crime to be a top priority and start locking criminals up for a very long time. The streets and our schools these days resemble the wild west and I should know because I work in one, family values and decency all should matter greatly at the next election. Gordon Brown and his cronies have ruined this once great land, shame on the whole labour party, the election can’t come soon enough for me. Keep up the good work David.

Comment by Lesley Joines on March 20, 2010 at 7:56 pm

Your Internet Camapign is great but I would still like you to answer my question about all the British expats who are disenfranchised , having left the Uk for over 15 years. I had been a Conservative before crossing the Channel in 1976, my mother did the same in 2009, how are you going to defend the rights of the UK expats when so many of your future MP’S are closer to the UKIP and the BNP than thinking about the problems of expats ? This is a serious question as there are over a million of us and we must be counted on as in other EU country’s who maintain the right to vote for expats.

Comment by Tarek El Shaikh on March 20, 2010 at 7:56 pm

Very good message Mr. Cameron. I hope that the change will happen, I wish that British people take the right step, NO more Labours can be absorbed.I am Egytian national, but UK resident and looking forward to see by my eyes conservatives taking over again.

Comment by susan nicholson on March 20, 2010 at 8:03 pm

David let’s put the “GREAT” back in britain !!!

Comment by Sam on March 20, 2010 at 8:18 pm

I agree we need change in this country and now, but as voters what we do not wish to see or here from our politicians is the constant child like bickering, we want to see our politicians give us straight answers, and we want to see our politicians have the courage to make hard line drastic changes that this country needs, no more wishy washy politics we need you to stand up and speak for us on what you are going to do for us, not what Gordon Brown is not doing or done, and keep your promises and conduct the next goverment in a pro-active manner not a reactive manner. We want transparency in our leader who is not worried about breaking a few eggs to make and omlete and answering questions with a straight yes or no when asked. We will support you only if you can guarantee this will be the case.

Comment by wilf on March 20, 2010 at 8:21 pm

Go to all Browns speaches in the house and compare what he said with what next appeared in the red books. Nearly always he said one thing which was not what eventually appeard to be the case.

Comment by Vernon De Maynard on March 20, 2010 at 8:26 pm

Dear David

the voters are asking what are you going to do that is different? How are you going to resolve the fiasco with social housing? Are you going to spend another £1.04 billion on improving the housing without improving the situation of those living in them? What you are you going to do about the deficit in housing revenue account? Local prospective conservative parliamentary candidates struggled with housing questions because they did not know what Conservative policy on housing is. People on low incomes still believe that the Conservative Party is not for people like them. They have not heard anything from the Tory frontbench to convince them otherwise. What are you going to do in the remaining weeks before the election?

Sincerely

Vernon De Maynard

Comment by Keith Tottem on March 20, 2010 at 8:29 pm

‘Vested interests’ will not be understood by the floating voters we so badly need. You must say what everyone will understand and sympathjise with – that over-amibitious union bosses are dragging their members into industrial action most of them have never voted for – purely to build their own union careers. And, most importantly, get our so far ineffectual PR machine to get the media to say that!

Comment by A Larlham on March 20, 2010 at 8:42 pm

It’s not just about taking on vested interests, although that would be a good start. Most of those highly paid bankers probably vote Tory anyway! Let’s see some honest Government please, where MPs represent their constituents not just the party line. It’s time to put a stop to waste in the public sector. I am a Police pensioner, I paid high contributions for my pension, but it’s peanuts compared to an MP’s pension. What % contributions do MPs pay out of their earnings?? Can we slim down the crazy bureaucracy of the NHS & target spending at patient care. Can we stop paying benefits to those who will not work (not those who cannot through ill health or disability). Can we reform the ludicrous Health & Safety Act that prevents the use of common sense (unless there is a risk assessment FIRST!) Can we repeal the Human Rights Act & return to the Geneva Convention We all have rights, but they come with responsibilities TOO. I’ve never voted Labour, never will. In 1997 I voted for James Goldsmith because the Tory party had lost the plot. If the Torys win the election, can we expect some responsible government, without hitting the ordinary working man & the motorist all the time. (I am a part time employee not just a pensioner).

Comment by Debbie Scott on March 20, 2010 at 8:43 pm

I have always voted Conservative and will do so this time. I was interested in your comments about BA but for a different reason, my youngest daughter is a commercial pilot she is 22 years old and was the first woman to graduate from Bucks New Uni with a degree in aviation management whilst at the same time achieving her professional qualification at 19. She has been handicapped by Harriet Harmans interference in employment law which actually frightens employers away from women. My daughter has not been granted even one interview despite applying to over 100 prospective employers every month and she is not alone. Britain cannot survive 5 more months of ‘New Labour’ let alone 5 years, if Brown wins we are done for. What can I say , stay strong, keep fighting and pray that you win.

Comment by Ron Ridge on March 20, 2010 at 9:04 pm

There is no option Labour has to go they have wasted the finacial secure legacy of the last Conservative government as they ALWAYS do. My son is out of work whilst thousands of jobs are going to foreign workers “British jobs for British workers” Brown said adding insult to injury.

Comment by Liz Young on March 20, 2010 at 9:09 pm

‘Taking on vested interests’ – yet there has been talk of employing Kirstie Allsopp, VI queen of property rampers, as a Housing Advisor.
I would love to hear that there is absolutely no truth in this, but fear I shall be disappointed.

Comment by Andrea Morrison on March 20, 2010 at 9:15 pm

I am just so glad that we have a potential Prime Minister who has a backbone. I look forward to the day that we oust this current government and elect one that will restore our country.

I am so heartened to finally hear some real fighting talk.

Comment by Michael Morris on March 20, 2010 at 9:32 pm

DC is right to stress the importance of reducing the influence on our lives of those organisations and individuals with vested interests in maintaining the status quo. But there are two things that must alwaya be remembered. Firstly, people do not want to see change for the sake of change. Intervention is only justified when there is massive public support for it. Secondly, many of the institutions whose influence most needs to be curbed are in the public sector – for example the district councils who are charged with the implementation and subsequent policing of numerous unpopular and unfair policies ranging from totalitarian smoking bans to big brother-style bin taxes. Despite laudable intentions, more power cannot be given to the people without first removing it from these bodies who has long since forgotten that they exist to serve the public and not the other way around.

Comment by tony phillips on March 20, 2010 at 9:43 pm

As long as the Conservatives do not lose their nerve when in power and, keep their Ministers in line, they will do ok, it will take a full five years of hard work to rectify the treachery of ‘New labour and the destruction of our country and democracy.
The Conservatives will find it difficult to maintain the control of Britain within a Federal Europe, Brussels will not stand for any opt out of any part of the political or legal system within the UK, if Mr cameron thinks otherwise he regretfully is wrong.
I would also like to see a harder edge to Mr cameron in public profile, he comes across as very boyish and rushing about a bit too much, apart from that I wish him well.

Comment by Dr Alan Poyner on March 20, 2010 at 9:44 pm

David is right with all he says, however he is just one man, and what the public want to see is his passion coming from all their regional candidates which is not the case. This alone will win you the election, we want a person with David’s passion in our area, so people can have confidence again.

Comment by Michael de Berry on March 20, 2010 at 9:45 pm

My family came here after the French revolution,to escape the Guillotine!
My great Grandfather was borough engineer of the City of London,sadly he died after building a life for his family.The then Labour Government took all in death duties,we were penniless all over again.This Government has systematically robbed the poor,to make their freinds rich.I feel like an exile in my own country.

Comment by Joe Russell on March 20, 2010 at 9:50 pm

“. You can see that in how we led the way in dealing with MPs’ expenses”
Is Julie Kirkbride to be allowed to remain in office?

Comment by Peter Boothby-Smith on March 20, 2010 at 9:58 pm

Well, hitting the banks is a start but how about the things that really matter to the average voter like crime, lke immigration? How about making sure that local councils actually collect all the council taxes owing to them before being allowed to increase taxes?
Too often we hear of local authorities who duck the collections from difficult families and chase up the law abiding people who might just have some sort of temporary problem.
How about chucking out the EU Human Rights Laws – which only Tony Blair subscribed to in full – and making sure that illegal immigrants are kicked out of the country instead of leaving many of them to go on and commit serious crime? How about looking at just how much crime is done by immigrants? PC forbids us to even discuss such statistics in this crazy world of New Labour..

Comment by tresa on March 20, 2010 at 10:05 pm

nationalisation none issue unions none issue. vested interests of big fat buseness big issue. red tape big issue. price of fish big big issue. VAT giant issue.

Comment by Colin Rowley on March 20, 2010 at 10:05 pm

More of the same please Mr C. This week we have seen a massive improvement in your teams performance. Keep up the momentum, and lets gets you into number 10

Comment by David Wall on March 20, 2010 at 10:22 pm

I think this speech was good. it was simple , to the point and true. David Cameron has the right attuide to lead this country the way it should

Comment by Glynne Gianelli on March 20, 2010 at 10:23 pm

Many of these vested interets lye in the multi-tiered public sector departments, brought in through botched and excessive legislation. They are not capable of thinking through the consequences of their meddlings and disasterous reforms.
In fact I believe that Labour has no vision, only Islingtonian dogma. The whole fabric of society has declined so much during the last 12 years, that I fear another 5 would be the last nail in the coffin.

Comment by Victor Clark on March 20, 2010 at 10:40 pm

i firmly beleive that Mrs Thatcher’s aim of selling off the Council House stock has caused many of the problems that we have today regarding affordable housing. i am a former district councillor in Oliver Letwin’s constituency, and that area is one of the worst for housing of below avverage income families. they have suffered heavily because of incomers buying up village properties as second homes.

Comment by John McKenzie on March 20, 2010 at 11:10 pm

Perhaps you would like to remind the electorate how much of a disaster Mr Blair was at the time he was ‘replaced’ by Mr Brown…so democratically I shoudld add.
Now we hear Mr Blair is going to to be a major part of Labour’s election campaign…shooting oneself in the foot is one way of looking at it but machine gunning both feet is probably what Labour…sorry…New Labour…will suffer just to try and keep hold of power …at what price to the taxpayer…not another money laundering of taxpayer’s money ‘Unite ‘ kind of payment to Mr Blair’s nest egg …or am I being cynical?

Comment by jean annette on March 20, 2010 at 11:21 pm

Thank you for Sam’s tv appearance, it is about time we heard from her. She is a great asset to you and we are so pleased to see what a lovely warm person she is.

Comment by Brian Clarkson on March 20, 2010 at 11:24 pm

Please Mr Cameron, stand up and say what we really need to have to face up to in order to put our sadly distorted country back on track. New Labour has almost destroyed what we have all tried to support and fight for over the years, prior to their unfortunate election into power. The weird poll results that we have recently witnessed have been, to some extent, engineered by New Labour. I and many of my friends, are more than confident that, if you will face them down, New Labour will collapse. Good luck and keep fighting.

Comment by John on March 20, 2010 at 11:24 pm

OK … so unions are a pain … but so is bad management.

What are you going to do to protect the working man from inept management with a ‘them and us’ attitude … that also sends their jobs overseas.

Don’t forget that because of the pompous and supercilious management attitudes at BA, Richard Branson had to take them to court to get common sense to prevail.

It is often said that Bad Unions are a reflection Bad Management … and didn’t Honda UK prove it to be so.

Comment by Laurence on March 21, 2010 at 12:28 am

If you want a vested interest to take on may I be so bold as to mention the much needed reform of Social Services and NHS care for the elderly, and what appears to be the State sanctioned acquisition of wealth and imposition of financial and care mangement on the vulnerable elderly against the best wishes of their family. There are now a large number of high profile cases in which families feel isolated and treated like criminals when confronted by the omnipotent, omnisicient authorities who “know better than immediate family”. Just google the caes of Betty Figg, Ron Jones and Rosemary Skelt etc to understand the issues.

Comment by Steve Willis on March 21, 2010 at 12:47 am

1. How are you going to stop the banks from passing on the cost of any levy to the customer, via new or increased charges or raised interest rates?

2. How are you going to take on the vested interests in political parties?

3. How are you going to take on the vested interests in Government Departments where things are constantly covered up?

Comment by victor Francis on March 21, 2010 at 1:28 am

About vested interests thats a very good point but real change is not hard with the conservatives there, otherwise who is gonna do it? Pse speak like the next prime minister, stop being polite about it, there so many swing voters out there that need to see and believe that change is just next door.

Comment by Phill Davis on March 21, 2010 at 1:32 am

You have my support my friend…

Comment by Graham Willans on March 21, 2010 at 2:08 am

It took Thatcher almost her entire term in Office to eradicate just one Labour term. I would hate to think how long it will take to unravel this inept mess! The contributors on here have it right, its not just taking on the economy it is also a case of taking on inept management (with a small ‘m’).

All of our concerns have to be met. What will a Conservative Gogernment do about the hugely escallating petrol pump prices? The price doesnt just affect domestic cars it also affects transport costs and ultimately ups the prices, which will also affect peoples ability to buy products and produce ……… and feed the economy.

OR WILL THE CONSERVATIVES ALSO SEE THE MOTORIST AS A GOLDEN GOOSE, much like te current government?

Comment by brian wilkinson on March 21, 2010 at 2:11 am

we need a goverment in my view to stronger,a goverment to be not afraid of offending people every two seconds which the comunist goverment we have at the moment seems glad to do,dose it not realise that wealth creates money,jobs,homes,prosperaty but instead this bunch of cowboys wants to kill off anyone with a wiff of self belive and enterprise,instead they would rather destroy britain in to nothing more than a bunch of no brained wasters,reliant on the state,that will end up in britain becoming a laughing stock under brown,you have to earn your right to have luxureys,but under labour you seem to get them for free if you cant be botherd to work,or if you break the law,the silent majority are sick and bloody tired of labour taking the mick all the time and milking good honest workers of ther rights,oh and dont think britain will be decived by this union “con” that comrad brown has set up with ba,be gratefull you have a job,ive been on 3 day weeks lately and i blame labour for all this crap,bring in the torys for a better britain and better future,please anyone who reads this dont let labour in again,im begging you,we might as well move out otherwise to canada,im a working guy who wants to better himself and the only way is if the torys win and let enterprise rule again for everyone! A very angry “worker” at labour.

Comment by Eddie on March 21, 2010 at 3:45 am

Just want to say Grant Shapps, shadow housing minister, needs to get his facts right on the Home Information Pack, HIP. He says he intends to abolish the HIP within weeks of coming into power.
Mr Shapps has failed to mention the benefits of the HIP.
The costs of selling a house have actually reduced costs for people selling their properties.
In fact if he removes the HIP this will increase as the cost of personal searches that have, since the introduction of the HIP come down, and are likely to increase by around 40%. So the Consumer will be paying more.
If the HIP is removed the consumer will be returned to the days of a 28% failure rate with property transactions costing consumers £1 million each day along with the stress and misery this causes.
The energy performance certificate without the HIP will fail to help to reduce carbon emissions as it can be proved that where the EPC operates independently of the HIP the level of non compliance runs at around 40%.
There is no time wasting now as all the documents required to sell a house are within the pack meaning no delays and no time wasters.
The HIP is not perfect. It does however provide a buyer with information that would not otherwise be provided by an estate agent, as well as helping to speed up the selling and buying process once an offer is accepted.
So in conclusion, let the shadow minister get the facts correct. It would be more in his interest to keep the HIP and look at ways in which it can be improved

Comment by Matthew Oyston on March 21, 2010 at 4:03 am

I have considered a lot of what Mr Cameron has said over the past year and on some issues I am in agreement. However i think his move to impose a tax on banks, although brave and bold and in some way what the general public wants to hear could very well harm the UK economy and thus its workers. Now don’t get me wrong what the banks and investment trusts have done in the last 18 months have been the result of greed and carelessness and some might say reckless investments. However the banking and financial sector is the hand that’s feed us. From Big to small Business from individuals to families we all rely on the financial sector and banks in particular to hold our money and savings and more importantly provide us with loans and mortgages for us to build on and increase our capital and ambitions. London is the financial capital of Europe and to tax the banks and trust funds will just encourage them to move their business and jobs to tax havens like Switzerland or UAE and we will all be in a much worse off state. Yes they made critical decision errors, yes they did not fully appreciate the consequences of their actions and yes they did not protect themselves and those connected to them adequately enough. They asked us (Government and Tax payers) for help and we begrudgingly obliged. When we in the past have asked them for help be it a loan or a mortgage the vast majority of us will not have been turned away. I believe that any tax should be an international tax rule and the only legislation the UK government should independently impose is to ensure proper security, auditing and relief measures for all banks working in the UK. And before anyone says it NO I am not a banker/financer I work in the oil sector of the North Sea

Comment by Hayder Tawfik on March 21, 2010 at 5:21 am

Dear David,

Fighting against people and organisations with vested interests is a great idea but wait after you win power to do that. Now, you are few weeks away from the general election, focus, focus, focus on the issues close to the heart and the mind of the public. Immigartion is a big issue. The british public are quite conservative and it comes to immigartion. They shy and polite about it but when you talk to them in private or at their doorstep, they quite fed up with illegal immigrants been given houses, claiming all the benfits, not paying taxes etc. Please you can talk about this issue don’t be shy about it. This will connect you the average person immedaitely. Crimes another issue to close to the mind of the average hard working person. Make the public feel that you are close to them and understand their day to day problems. Grand ideas can wait after you are in power. Good luck

Comment by Inogen MacKenzie on March 21, 2010 at 7:59 am

Well said. However, it does not go far enough – what about vested interests in the barbaric practice of hunting animals?
What about vested interests in the whole of the meat industry? An end to slavery, yes, but an end to slavery and cruelty in all its forms, please. Are the Conservatives compassionate and daring enough?

Comment by alex sloan,tyne&wear. on March 21, 2010 at 9:29 am

Labours answer to every problem.Tax or Ban it.You as a party should start telling us what you are going to do.You should also show extracts from the last election manifesto of the labour party.Only a fool would believe brown and co.Dont ignore the big issue of immigration,it wont go away!

Comment by Michael Donohue on March 21, 2010 at 9:31 am

David is so right in his comments.
I likewise have stated in several public discussions that I believe Brown to have a Communist Agenda, whereby all will be dependant on and controlled by the State.
That position will turn voters into Labour supporters.

We, as a Country cannot afford this idiot to be left in charge for one moment longer. Brown and his cronies have irreparably damaged G.B. Ltd and it is up to the Conservatives to put it all back together again.

Comment by margaret brandreth-jones on March 21, 2010 at 9:50 am

I am a socialist, but don’t necessarily vote for any particular party.I believed , that conservatism was true socialism , but have been deeply saddened by the ramifications of Thatcherite rule.

The expenses scandal is over.. it is hype and designed to damage.. semantically perceptions of what constitute allowances and expenses did a U turn.Justice was nevertheless done.
I am more concerned about my job , which went to the dogs years ago. The private sector is fulll of puffed up egos whose education is too narrow to understand that the whole of a lifes’ learning does not pivot around a few years at a particular university.

Comment by sueabel@btinternet.com on March 21, 2010 at 10:05 am

please ‘take the gloves off” you are not being agressive enough about Gordon Brown having bankrupted this country during his past and present terms of office.

Comment by Gillian Wright on March 21, 2010 at 10:14 am

Follow Anthony Seldon’s sage advice and be true to yourself and what you believe to be the way to the future. That way there is less room for errors.

Comment by Lyn Hurdley on March 21, 2010 at 10:34 am

I’ll confess that it is refreshing to be consulted for fist time since becoming totally disillusioned with being part of this society albeit being in the form of automated messages.
However, when it comes to choosing someone for whom to vote I wlll want to know who I can trust. New Labour banded about the concept of Trust and Partnership during the last 13 yeas and curiously enough it has taken those years to erode any belief that I can trust or form a partnership with anyone in authority in this country. Just lately I have been sucked into the “look at me, I’m…… so vote for my party” exposing passion and realise that it is important to me. At the present Nigel Farage inspires his to me the most and so feel inclined to vote UKIP.

I await the flow of real passion and not what they think I want to hear from my former choice of political party. Bear in mind that until July* I do not receive an income and so cannot donate money – have to be my vote only.
Lyn Hurdley Dawley Telford.

*should be getting state pension – exciting. May splash out on a new pair of shoes.

Comment by Kevin Hawkins on March 21, 2010 at 10:45 am

I read an article recently in the FT which promoted scrapping stamp duty on property, but at the same time introducing capital gains tax on the sale of residential homes. I think this is an excellent idea as it will give a kick start to the housing market but reduce the incentive for another property boom and focus people on what is really important i.e. creating wealth by competing in the gloabl market on goods and services. This would potentially be unpopular but is the sort of initiative that will be needed to help fix broken Britain!

Comment by Gillian Moroney on March 21, 2010 at 10:48 am

Hello Guys,

You are exactly right – vested interests are running the country – for example, I heard this morning on Radio 4 that Gordon Brown is a member of Unite – a member of Unite!!! and after what he’s said about Tories with jobs in the city (or elsewhere) – the man is a complete hyprocrite.

And another thing – I read that he has doubled taxes since 1997 – and the country is now bankrupt – how can that be? this is terrible management of resources – what would happen to ordinary people (the rest of us) if we did the same ? We would be in prison for theft. It is a disgrace that with all these extra taxes he can’t manage the economy and has bankrupted us.
Just keep hanging it on him and explain that it can get back on track with sensible housekeeping – the Tories would be good housekeepers – we were before – remember Ken Clarke is a brilliant man to explain that – we housekeepers understand the value of good housekeeping if we don’t understand aything else – we have to live within our means -so should the government.
Vested interests should be exposed.

Comment by colin neal on March 21, 2010 at 11:02 am

One of your biggest problems is the complete strangle hold at all levels of National and Local Government of the left wing politically correct loonies. Not to mention the educational establishment snobs who denigrate “trade”.

Good luck with getting rid of this cancer.

Comment by marian goodfellow on March 21, 2010 at 11:08 am

I remember Mrs Thatchers solution to debt, I nearly lost my home, but I did understand where she was coming from. I am a pensioner now & have a mortgage I don’ think I could manage if mortgage rates went up as high as they did then.

Comment by Sarah Mcgarrigle on March 21, 2010 at 11:17 am

I have always voted Conservatives and I will continue to do the same this year. My family however will be voting Labour (silly people) as they always have. Gordon Brown has put our country in a lot of trouble and it is, without a doubt, Time for Change with David Cameron.

Comment by Linda Henry on March 21, 2010 at 11:43 am

VESTED INTEREST, Daily Mail March 20, P. 4, UNION MONEY-GO-ROUND. ‘Since 1998 Labour had poured in £17,million pounds of public funds to Unite and the 3 unions from which it was formed in 2007, Amicus and the TGWU’. The money came from The Union Learning Fund, the money was tax payer backed for training union representatives!

Therefore Unite as Labours biggest bank roller is being given money from the tax payer to convert back to the Labour Party. If so Don Gordeone should be outed for money laundering.

VESTED INTERESTS, Stephen Byers amongst other MP’S taped for Dispatches said he was for hire like a “cab driver” and charged between £3,000-£5,000 a dayfor Lobbying in Parliament. The Labour Lords caught last year on tape add to the electorates rage at the expenses scandal.

With numerous parliamentary committees and sub committees, government inquiries used as cover ups for their errors and a speaker lacking authority someone must really clean the whole mess up and install respect in parliament again.

VESTED INTEREST MP first country last, what will you do about this Mr Cameron.

Comment by Wayne Ross on March 21, 2010 at 11:52 am

David
Whilst I wholeheartedly agree that change is imperative if we are to save the country from ruin, and think you are the person best placed to make those necessary changes in our society. However the fact remains we have to convince the electorate of this. This is the area where the party is failing to show that it is a renewed party, that will not have only the vested interest of the rich and big business as the main driver for these changes. To do this we need to show that we are the new conservatives and have a social conscious as well as fiscal ability. That is the challenge to date that has not been realized.

WR

Comment by Keith Drury on March 21, 2010 at 11:55 am

Dear David, yes I agree with most you have said, one point sticks out in my mind with your comment of the abolishment of slavery, to be honest with you David, I am feeling that the workers and pensioners of today are no more than slaves to this government and of many MPs who say they have made an honest mistake in fiddling their expenses, we are taxed to the hilt on everything we earn or buy, Brown and Co doesn’t seem to have a brain to see, as far as road-fuel is concerned. by taxing road-fuel beyond the reach of people such as the lower paid and pensioners, they haven’t a clue of the real world, every £1 per litre of fuel used to transport our goods, including tax and VAT, is recovered by the hauler, they have to make a profit to run, these goods can be moved by several hauliers, this then put a huge cost at the point of sale, including a profit for the seller, no-one cares a dam about the people that are not high earners, we are just here as SLAVES, take for instance, in yesterdays SUN, headline, £60m for BARCLAY’S DIAMOND, first line, A Barclay boss has BEEN GIVEN A CASH AND SHARE PACKAGE WORTH UP TO £60 million, last year he was given £27 million, WHY, this money can never be spent, just an ever growing cash cancer in someones bank account, the country bailed out the banks with taxpayers money, these bonuses should have been banned by brainless Gordon Brown and Co, this £87million should have been recovered to pay off the loan, no, it’s the Slaves of this country that suffer, and none of our MPs including yourself seems to want to do anything about it, to put you in the picture of pensioners, for a lifetime at work for my wife and I, our pension increase this year for the two of us is £3.40 per week, or £176 a year, our council tax we received on the same day immediately took over a third of our pension increases, that’s before even the year has even started, £3.40 would not even buy us a cup of coffee each a week, yet Barclays can pay one man £87 Million in two years, excuse my language, but what the hell is going on.

Comment by Hayder Tawfik on March 21, 2010 at 11:57 am

Dear David,

I have just read the headline “UK Voters would not welcome budget election giveaways”. The bvoters would welcome answers to where all this money they paid in taxes over the lasy 13 years have gone? They would welcome answers to the fear of crimes, the sad state of our schools, hospitals, shortage of housing, uncontrolled immigation, the absence of the police on the beat, the huge deficits the public burdened with. These are the issues the public want the conservative to get on with. These are the day to day problems the country face. Focus on these with great passion, show the public that you are the strong leader to help them. Start reminding the public that their concerns are yours too and the country above all. Good luck

Comment by Brenda Gorman on March 21, 2010 at 12:05 pm

I agree with David Cameron and the sooner we get this awful Government out of office the better I do not believe the opnion polls I think they are a way to get folks voting with scare tactics because I cannot believe after all that has gone on with the Labour anyone would vote for them..

Comment by daniel case on March 21, 2010 at 12:10 pm

Quite right David but we must also get stuck into all the Union vested interested. The Unions have a grip inside all the BBC newsrooms across the UK and are able to manipulate how news is presented . I was so obvious when your speech was given just a a brief airing and the Labour response went on for several minutes with no difficult questions. The net results was that the BBC turned your speech into another plug for labours financial policy of continuing support. I have read just this morning that the Unions are strong in both the SKY and Channel 4 newsrooms. It all explains the media bias toward Labour.
Your revelation about the dominance of Unite Union in the Labour government would explain why Brown gave public services all the money while starving our boys on the front line of essential equipment

Comment by James on March 21, 2010 at 12:19 pm

Well it’s a straightforward choice now. Do we want the Unions to run our country again? We had all this years ago unions destroying entire industries – miners anyone? Scargill managed to destroy it, not Maggie,but Scargill. Twenty years on we’re revisiting our past and this time there will be nothing left for anyone.

Do we really want that??

Comment by Shantanu on March 21, 2010 at 12:20 pm

The UK cannot be compared with the USA and what Mr Obama is proposing to do with the Banks there. We are a small nation with an economy that is heavily dependent on the financial sector. Taxing Banks with a levy may sound like a good idea but in actual fact may not be. Have you considered how this will impact on the profitability of the Banks in making money abroad and bringing it into the UK coffers. The money they bring in needs to be invested wisely within the UK to set up businesses and diversify manufacturing in order to sell goods abroad in the massive world market. We need to encourage this process thorugh the regulation of the Banks so that they lend to companiies that are a net foreign exchange earners. The trade defict needs to be reduced by improvement in this sector. Taxing Banks will stifle entrepreneurship and prevent the Banks from investing money in the UK Economy.

Comment by Jeannette Greaves-Smith ba hons on March 21, 2010 at 12:26 pm

I agree with your comments. As a BA Greaduate in both Politics and Social History.
I have to say this lot under Blair and Brown have brought our country once again to its knees it did not take a genius to know how it would end under a Labour shower of incometents. I feel the Conservatives should look at sorting out the Education System under the Labour idiots we have lost all adult funding for education and what is availabel is administered by QUANGOS and non government training outfits with no qualifications within the aducation system just controlling the limited fundings. I say sack the Capita company from running any of our public offices and local government agnecies.
Abolish the £250 child aloowance for new borns and put it on the family allowance instead. Stop the payments of the fuel allowance to people under retirement age I know of paeople aged 62 years getting it who are earning over £50.00 per year with company cars and company perks this is a digrace and a waste of tax payers money. Stop it until they retire at 65 for both sexes also the travell passes should be stopped until the age of retirement also. This would save a lot of tax payers money and help the country. I would also as that the Conservatives abolish the Barnett Formula and make it fairer for the English tax payer it is an unfair system and should never have been kept it was only a temporary soluttion made in 1979 by once again a Labour lot.
I say David scrap it and make it fairer for the English tax payer, why should the English pay for their illnesses paying for prescriptions and the Scotts, Irish and Welsh get the benefit under this system. I am considering campaigning and making the English people more aware of why we pay and the rest of the UK do not. Also I think it would be great to have proportional representation brought in for the next general election it would be a much fairer voting system for people.
My Conservative party candidate is not a person I wish to vote for and I feel I have to as I do not want to waste my vote for the General election. I have gone so far as to consider requesting a temporary vote in another aarea to vote in the election.
Good luck and lets get the country back on its feet and rid the country of a bunch of idiots and has beens for good: before they take our country further into the abyss

Comment by Tim Baker on March 21, 2010 at 1:01 pm

Do take on vested interests, start with the anti development lobby that selfishly want to put their local areas in aspic and stop economic growth and prosperity for all, not just because they want to atop houses (because poor people might move in) but because they want to stop windfarms, power stations, railway lines and so. Vested interests that sit behind their pensions.

Stop attack dog on labour and express your policies clearl

Comment by Gordon Beattie on March 21, 2010 at 1:02 pm

Dear Sir,
By vested interest, do you include the current list of the “great and good”?
Might it be a mark of good faith to elect by lot 50,of those who take the trouble to go to polling stations to vote, as your only referals to the second house.
That would show that politicians trust us as we are supposed to trust them

Comment by Tim Baker on March 21, 2010 at 1:06 pm

Don’t we already own the banks in question? if we do surely all we have to do is wait for the share price to rise and then sell the shares for a profit, just a commercial lender would do. Why delay share price recovery with a tax? No sense in this new tax, except to make simpletons think that the bankers are being punished.

Comment by jw on March 21, 2010 at 1:07 pm

I my self have always voted Conservative but due to Mr Cameron regards the BNP i feel a little dissapointed in his remarks.The BNP are a Brittish party and would be my next choice if need be. I feel a little more right of the Conservatives but think David is still the right man to take control of this country but he has to understand that total control of imagration has to be an issue.
John Williamson

Comment by Linda Henry on March 21, 2010 at 1:23 pm

Michael Gove needs to be more astute with his comments Re:Tony Blair. We have to wonder why Blair oversaw the shambolic decline of Parliament and lobbying then conveniently shredded his documents prior to exiting the House.

The press have highlighted the question mark over Blair’s accumulation of financial assests property etc.

POWER CORRUPTS.

Comment by Tom Brown on March 21, 2010 at 1:28 pm

Excellent Mr Cameron, you sound sincere and forceful plus you actually put forward a real policy.

Gordon B is campaigning as if he has not actually been in government for twelve years and now he is now going to lead us into a glorious new utopia. Why do you let him get away with this?

Tell it as it is – Brown inherited the top country for new business investment. – Lowest tax rate in Europe
A booming economy
The least bureaucratic employment rules in the western world
The most respected police force in the world before the onslaught of traffic fascism
A highly respected legal system with right of jury trial for all
The least rule bound and un supervised and non corrupt society in the world (no ID cards)
A road building programme scrapped by a man with two Jags that would have avoided the current national gridlock
An arms length policy towards the totally undemocratic EU in order to protect our sovereignty
A health and safety regime that relied on common sense not union led dogma
A virtually strike free society
Sufficient future power supply for at least twelve years – unlike now.

Give us clear blue water between Con and Labour and you are sure to win.

Comment by Graham Chambers on March 21, 2010 at 1:55 pm

Why keep on about bashing the banks. This has a ring of ‘popularism vote seeking ‘ More effort needs to be given to publicly supporting the banks to increase confidence in them and get their share value increased. In this way the Government can more than get its money back and enable the banks to start paying dividends again. In this way it will help the many thousands of investors who are sitting on large paper losses to recoup some of this loss and, at the same time. help the exchequer by getting more income from the tax on this income.

Comment by Jon Thomason on March 21, 2010 at 2:04 pm

Nuclear power is the biggest vested interest there is – and are toxic death! The Conservatives should be for life, nto for death!

Comment by John R-V on March 21, 2010 at 2:05 pm

David – the main thing is to win this election – no hung parliament with ensuing useless Lib-Lab pact. Go in it to win it.

I think Labour’s main vested interest is socialist dogma and if you can cut the huge amount wasted on that it would help a lot.

I concur with another contributor above – you need to put the GREAT back into BRITAIN. Maggie did.

Comment by roy on March 21, 2010 at 2:09 pm

I STILL THINK THAT IT IS IMPERATIVE to Reduce national debt so that major investors STOP dumping the £pound. Conservatives HAVE TO SHOW THE PUBLIC what it will mean for them if their hard earned money is going to be devalued by up to 40% the way things are going. Speculators are going for likely sovreign debt countries.Busy with Greece at the moment but then on to spain/etc. All these other issues that Darling & Brown bang on about are not relevant in the light of this risk.The public do not know this risk. The only thing that will ease or stop it is if a new government seriously reduces debt.
NO GROWTH will come on labours course.Artificial jobs do not help. SPELL IT OUT.Not much longer to do the latter.

Comment by Robin Crockett on March 21, 2010 at 3:18 pm

David, I have witnessed that you can do a great job when being yourself speaking directly to voters. They appreciate a direct approach (remember John Major on his simple soapbox). Tackle the Labour heartlands. Travel personally to Northern England and any hardcore traditional Labour areas who gave Blair his landslide win in 1997 – speak directly to the voters, but first be well prepared. Highlight key messages for voters and the major benefits of voting for Cameron rather than Brown. People like honesty – they did not got that from Blair or Brown and will not. Confronting voters with honest messages .Achieve something that Brown is unable to do.Go for his jugular. Be honest and upfront with voters. You need to listen to non Conservative voters. Give them the opportunity to have their say directly. Non southerners need the opportunity to realize that Cameron is not a public-school ‘toff’ .Demonstrate that you are normal and plain speaking. Explain exactly how you will get this nation out of bancruptcy and back on its feet again as a leading country . It will be challenging. Remember ‘Who dares, wins’.

Comment by Hugo on March 21, 2010 at 4:47 pm

There’s good change, and there’s bad change.

Comment by V Beeson on March 21, 2010 at 5:10 pm

I note what you say about vested interests. Can I assume that you will reduce significantly the number of MPs, their expenses and the employing of relatives, as recommended in the Inquiry into MP expenses. Further we need a body independent of Parliament and representing the public to control expenditure.

Comment by Alex Smith on March 21, 2010 at 5:36 pm

I have always voted Conservative too.David is making it hard this time.I receive Davids E-mail,I have seen his sound bites on the TV.I know all about the expenses,but ,and here it is: David is saying nothing about anything.I wanmt to know what he is going to do about the hated EU.We could get the country back on its feet by leaving the EU and cancelling all the Quangoes.Limit Council leaders to less than the Prime Minister.No Council Leader is worth 100′s of thousands of pounds,if they reckon they could do better in the pri9vate sector ,let them try,I think they would be in for a shock.We need David to actually annouce actions he will take, not just words.Cut out Council snooping and arrogant fines.They are supposed to be there for our benefit,not to think they can just sit there and make up actions to take our money.

Comment by Helen Drury on March 21, 2010 at 5:41 pm

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE can you nail your colours to the mast about ‘Equitable life’ /injustice unremedied. Not only is my husband a former lawyer/professional person lwho has lost money with ‘Equitable Life’ but now the same with a company called ‘KeyData’, another so called ‘ring fenced’ financial disaster. If you come out openly in support, many marginal seats like Broxtowe, in Nottingham, can be won back for the Tories. You are talkig thousands and thousands and thousands of potential voters, if you state your support.

PLEASE REVIEW THIS OPPORTUNITY

Parliamentary Ombudsman Ann Abraham was riight and she should not be ignored conveniently. The ‘John Chadwick review’ is a charade.

PLEASE SAY / DO SOMETHING….AND NOW….

Comment by Louise Jolson on March 21, 2010 at 5:55 pm

I like this kind of inspirational, fist-clenching talk of standing up to vested interests. It’s definately something that’s been missing from the wishy-washy Gordon Brown and will be needed by the conservatives if and when they start the difficult challenge of turning the country round. God knows it will be a difficult job on its own, but we all know what labour are like in opposition – the lie spreading that leads to personal villifications from the public, the ferocious resistance to any ideas other than their own etc. I hope the conservative team have all got rhinocerous-hide skin!! They will need to be very strong and very united if they win the election to put matters right.

Comment by chris pryor on March 21, 2010 at 6:11 pm

re the comment ” Margaret Thatcher taking on those who controlled council housing”

I’m not sure that that has done anyone any favours long term. There are those who need and will probably always need social housing. They also need fair rent and decent conditions and, of course, houses to rent. Whilst there was nothing inherently wrong in the ‘right to buy’ policy in itself the lack of funding and encouragement of replacement housing is causing many problems for people – even now. The denationalization of industries and the changes to social housing really are not in the same league a the abolition of slavery. William Wilberforce will be turning in his grave with this connection.

Comment by George Peckham on March 21, 2010 at 6:39 pm

David, it is so important that you go for it and tell it as it is, Gordon Brown (The liar that he is) has been rubishing you for so long please come out fighting and make a big deal about stopping the influx of immigrants getting into our country, this is so close to Britains hearts and discussions that you will not hear, BUT it is such a big article that you should look at we , the British people do NOT want all these foreiners to arrive here and drain what we have paid for for all these years, assuming that it’s FREE, it is not and we as a nation want a Government that will stop these outsiders getting all the provisions set up for ‘British People’, and they expect to have instant money and all the good things we have set up for the people of Britain we have worked to set up Homes/a good welfare system/ a good social security and a good system to look after the less well off, please come out fighting and get rid of these ‘Labour Rubbish lot’
George Peckham.

Comment by Andrew Doran on March 21, 2010 at 6:39 pm

Yes, I agree it’s time for change, Gordon Brown has been a bad Prime Minister, he has gone from bad to worse, for the past few years, the Labour Government has offered very little in the help with financing the people of Wales, the people of Wales need a better Health Service and better access to hospitals, the people of Wales need better transport, the people of Newtown in Powys need a bypass, due to the opening of Tescos which is creating a traffic jam coming in and out of Newtown, and finally, people of Wales need more jobs creating. I know I sound like a Politician, but I’d rather leave that to the professionals – the Politicians. I think this country DOES need change and I hope the Conservatives can provide the change this country needs. All the best Mr Cameron and lets make you the next British Prime Minister.

Comment by Sue on March 21, 2010 at 6:46 pm

As far as the banks are concerned, they should pay the money back to the tax payers IN FULL, BEFORE they they give out bonuses etc. They are in no position to give out bonuses whilst they still owe so much money to the people of this country. What is this culture of bonuses that seems to be only for the few? Do nurses get bonuses for how many patients get well – or how many patients die peacefully? No, they dont – and they dont expect it either – despite being paid very much less than the bankers for a very much harder job!
This country is in huge debt having bailed out the banks. When are the banks going to pay this money back? If they have so much money to give away in bonuses, then that money should be used to pay off their debts first!
We keep hearing that if the bakers dont get their bonuses they will go elsewhere but every country has been affected by their greed and irresponsibility, so why dont the world’s goverments get together and ban these practices and then the bankers couldn’t threaten to go elsewhere, cos there wouldnt be anywhere for them to go!
We all know that we are going to go through hard times in the future and we have to bite the bullet, however, it will cause huge resentent if those whose actions have, in part, caused the recession seem to still be on the gravy train

Comment by JIMMAC on March 21, 2010 at 7:26 pm

It is time to rid ourselves of the slack jawed mouth posturer who has ruined our country and our finances.
I only hope some powder is being kept dry for use in the run up to polling day.

Comment by Richard Barker on March 21, 2010 at 7:47 pm

Gordon Brown has tried to create a country where the majority of the population are reliant on either a job from the state or benefits from the state.This accounts for the complex systems he has put in place requiring an army of officials to administer them.It remains to be seen how successful this strategy is in the election but his success would be the final nail in this countries coffin.

Comment by Sheikh Md Shalu on March 21, 2010 at 7:56 pm

We need change come ON you people, change that change the WHOLE Great Britain.

Comment by david ludwig on March 21, 2010 at 10:28 pm

II wiill be voting conservative as usual, for in my eighty years, I have never lived under a labour government that has been of any benefit to this country.

Comment by phil bates on March 21, 2010 at 11:48 pm

God help us if labour get in again. labour (notice the disrespecting lower case ‘L’)should be driven out of politics and never aloud in again! Come on big D!

Comment by Le Ayres on March 22, 2010 at 8:01 am

Dear David

Today Mr Brown is going to anounce in his “Digital revolution” that every house will have a broadband connection. Could you ask him in PMQ’s what has happened to the computer that Mr Blaire promised me and everyone else back in about 2002 because without that what’s the use of the broadband. I check the post every day but it still hasn’t arrived. I think this “Broadband in every home” is as hollow as the computer gimic.

Comment by Lars Patterson on March 22, 2010 at 10:08 am

Dear fellow conservatives,

I have been a conservative since my early teens. I am now 50 years old. The main reason for being a conservative is that I beleive in the benefits of governing according to principles rather than trying to adjust to what is convenient at the time.

I would very much like the conservative party to win the next eleciton. I do however have two concerns:

1. As an economist I do not find the conservative economic policy as presented by the party’s spokesmen to be convincing.

2. The Aschroft affair gives the impression that the conservative party leadership lacks judgement and integrity.

I have a lot of faith in David Cameron’s abilities and his character. I hope he will find it in him to do what he beleives is right rather than what is convenient. That is what being conservative means to me.

With very best wishes
Lars Patterson

Comment by Hayder Tawfik on March 22, 2010 at 10:17 am

Dear David,

On Wednesday, Darling/Brown will announce a budget for recovery as they hinted already. Economic recovery requires measures to cut the deficits otherwise they are wasting more moeny just to win the public votes. Remind the public that if we don’t take actions now to reduce the defict then interest rates and inflation will start going up hence kill any economic recovery hopes. Remind the public that higher rates will be bad news for homeowners and for small business who are strugling already under this government. Ask the public how and where the money is coming from to pay the debt down. Higher Taxes are on the way under another Labour government. Connect with public about bad debts and how they destroy the average household. It is about time to clean the house. Good luck

Comment by amanda on March 22, 2010 at 10:54 am

When Mrs Thatcher was running this country was the best years this country could off had, she had control the country would not be in the state is is now so I hope Mr Cameron you can do the same before it is to late

Comment by Peter Rogers on March 22, 2010 at 11:08 am

The vested interest must also be the many powerful Government quangos that are not answerable to any one but have a huge impact on Government operations, without any consequences to their roles

Comment by Graham on March 22, 2010 at 11:42 am

Good. Just keep on with the simple message. Gordon and Tony have ****ed the economy through their reckless bad management. We want to fix our broken country, as we had to do the last time that Labour had been in power, but first we need to be able pay off our debts and earn some money to pay for the things we want. The Conservative Party will take the tough actions we need. List exactly what you would do.

Comment by David Doohan on March 22, 2010 at 11:51 am

It is all very well for David Cameron to say that things will be different if the Conservatives are elected however, in November 2009 we handed to the Shadow Minister Anne Milton, a document that appears to prove the Health Profession Council (HPC) is illegal under EU law. We have waited and waited for a response, nothing. We wrote agin in January requesting a response, again nothing. Are all politicians only concerned with being elected to the gravy train that is todays parliament. Have they all forgotten that they are supposed to be representatives of the people, not our rulers. I really do despair for this once great country that has been so cruelly let down by so called caring politicians.

Comment by Elise Moore-Searson on March 22, 2010 at 11:55 am

The Labour Government also had a vested interest in flooding our country with thousandds of prospective New Labour Party voters. This was exceedingly undemocratic tosay the least, possibly treasonable, if the offence still exists. Surely, Messrs Brown and Mandelson et al should be held to account and prosecuted for this.

Comment by John smith on March 22, 2010 at 12:05 pm

I agree with all you have said David. Additionaly the Barnett formula as only intended to be a temporary measure and it should be revised a.s.a.p. Also wether you like it or not, immigration, the abominable human rights act and the removal of common sense and personal responsibility by crazy health and safety dictats and soft justice or lack of it, are things the electorate are really angry about. If you can address these problems without creating mountains of beaurocracy, ypou will earn the gratitude of a nation and sweep into power.

Comment by David Dundas on March 22, 2010 at 2:16 pm

The most blatant example of a vested interest is being practised by Gordon Brown himself, by putting off the general election against the national interest. The state of our economy is not improving as fast as other countries, because people and business are waiting to see what happens after the election before making big decisions. Its time the media woke up to this and mounted a campaign to hound him from office, although by now it will be too late.

Comment by Ruairidh on March 22, 2010 at 2:39 pm

Give us back our freedom! If the Conservative manage to rid the people of the back aching burden of petty rules and regulations then the nation, and our forebears, will owe them a perpetual debt of gratitude.

Comment by Suzy Marris on March 22, 2010 at 6:55 pm

As a teenager in the 70′s I was taught commerce. My then commerce teacher who was a socialist told us that even though he was aginst the Conservatives he had to admit that this country thrives economically iunder the conservatives. I am 52 now and have voting tory ever since I have been able to vote. My advise to Mr Cameron is stop treating us like idiots….there are not enough paying in and too many taking out. Assure us that the benefits system will be sorted out….listen to the tax payer. Stop wastage in hospitals, schools, councils, give people back their pride in britain….be a bit more like the Australian PM….I don’t mind who lives here as long as they pay their taxes and don’t sponge off of society. Make us brits feel that we are important in our country and not treated as second class citizens. Make people who do the crime pay the penalty. Deport any criminals who are not British rather then crowd our prisons. Make sure our doctors nurses teachers etc have a good command of the English language. I think that will do for starters!

Comment by John Welch on March 22, 2010 at 8:49 pm

I am puzzled by the Conservatives policy to implement what appears to be a blanket tax on banks. I admit I work for one (it has received no tax payer bailout either in the UK or abroad). My question is – why should we be punished for prudence? Shouldn’t we be allowed to thrive? I am already going to be taxed at 50% – is this not enough? You seem to forget that banking provides huge income for the government. We pay for schools, teachers, hospitals and of course your expenses and gilt-edged unfunded pensions. Luckily we have a choice to be reasonably mobile – I won’t leave the UK yet, but will consider it if you (and Labour) continue to with this daft policy to blanket-tax banks.

Comment by NickW on March 23, 2010 at 9:12 am

The biggest and most pernicious vested interest in this country is Parliament and its occupants.

That is the very first vested interest to be tackled because if it isn’t, corruption and lobbying will ensure that all the other vested interests are maintained without change.

Comment by Hayder Tawfik on March 23, 2010 at 10:25 am

Dear David,

You must keep the pressure on the PM to launch an investigation into the disgraced MPs who have admitted selling their soles to highest payers. The ordinary hard working tax payers have the right to know what excatly happened. This is a serious matter. Do not accept or give up on the isssue. Remind the PM on every occasion that it is the public who wants to know and they have the right to know. Take this issue with the governmnet to the wire.

Comment by Nike Adewuyi on March 23, 2010 at 12:03 pm

l would like a government that would create jobs for the masses especially graduates and not one that would keep people out of jobs.

Comment by nicola on March 23, 2010 at 4:00 pm

i will have to see it change to belive it

Comment by A St Pierre on March 23, 2010 at 8:35 pm

I fear the situation has gone too far to rectify.

Comment by richard bullman on March 24, 2010 at 1:08 am

David. Listening to the local radio station, the majority of adverts were government adverts!!!!,….for example; Jobcentreplus has some good ideas to get a job!!,…where the hell else, would anyone go on losing a job and seeking another??,……..more waste of our tax money.

Cutting this type of expenditure, isn’t doctors or teachers!!!

Will you use this info, to beat Brown around the head,… I doubt it,..but you could try.

Comment by Hayder Tawfik on March 24, 2010 at 12:01 pm

Dear David,

According to Bank Santander UK, the average UK saver is putting away 219 pounds each month. The total is up 34% on this time last year, bringing the amount saved over the past 12 months to 59.4bn pounds. This shows how the average public is very concerned about the future and they are rightly reducing their debts. So the message is very clear the reduction of the UK deficit is a must task with no dealy. This action will reconnect with not only the public think but the way they taking action with their own debts. Please keep on reminding the public how urgent, that the governmnet should take action immediately. Good luck

Comment by Nigel Cullis on March 24, 2010 at 4:47 pm

Can you please stress to the electorate that if the Labour Government say they are serious about going to reduce the deficit by 50% within 4 years but are not going to start for another year that means if their growth projections do not come through as forecast ( a probability based on previous track record) which I understand is their hope for reducing a proportion of the debt then they will have to cut harder in the remaining three years!!!

Comment by Barrie B on March 24, 2010 at 7:13 pm

if you want to gain some real credibility over the fitness of parliamentarians to govern us please, please, please provide a defining policy on commons and lords reform. In the 21st century the existance of an un-elected assembly is simply and anacronism that can no.longer be justified. It leads to the kind of cronyism and unjustified political reward system that belongs to the 18th century. At the same time there needs to be a radical reduction in the number of legislators. We bo not need over a thousand members of both houses to undertake this work, not to mention the several thousand more support staff and hangers on. Rather let us have 250 to 300 in each house, all elected, on proper salaries and support staff ( who should be paid direct within the Civil Service system).
Define the policy in clear and unequivocal terms and the electorate will begin to believe that Conservatives really do mean what they say about reforming the system and that they are unafraid to confront head on the vested interests that have for years prevented and delayed reform

Comment by elena on March 24, 2010 at 10:56 pm

David, I agree with your comments.
It is now obvious that Gordon Brown and his
government have lost control , and today’s
Budget only confirms this.
Labour have been getting it wrong now for
? how long – too long!
It is time people voted using their heads,
and not wearing blinkers.
Bring on a General Election- I shall be
voting Conservative -as I have always done.

Comment by Rhoda Hamer on March 27, 2010 at 5:23 pm

I’m with you all the way David. Time to get tough. Bring on the election – all the news hype about opinion polls and a hung parliament is rubbish – if you keep up the pace it will be a Conservative landslide.

Comment by russ on March 27, 2010 at 7:46 pm

You only need one poster,Browns face, followed by the slogan “Trust me, I promised you a referendum on the lisbon Treaty”

Comment by Andrew Green on March 28, 2010 at 12:24 pm

How have you allowed labour to turn this election into a recovery based forum? what about, immigration, the nanny state, council tax snoopers, parents pursued under anti terrorism law for trying to get their children a good education, the same laws used to hold an elderly gent who had the affront to disagree with Jack Straw at a party conference, Yvette Coopers response to a plunging pound was it will only affect the people going abroad. (is that the treasury’s understanding of exchange rates? within weeks BA had lost a fortune of fuel costs,) and now everyone is paying through imported fuel, food, goods which all cost considerably more. Gordon Brown criticised the rail union for calling a strike on a 54% ballot yet has the gaul to state he has been given the authority to capitulate to europe without a referendum with a 22% vote. Social engineering and big government is destroying this country and without their incompetence in the first place we would not be so deep in trouble now.
I was struck by a comment by Jack Straw back in 98 during an interview as the racial laws were being introduced, when he indicated they could determine what people could think. (get a researcher to find that recording) Now that is scary and it is relief that this blog shows they can’t and there are still many free thinking people in the UK. Let us remind the pensioners of their derisory 75p pension offer, of the taxing of pension funds and suchlike. Get about them over regional development agencies riding roughshod over our elected councillors, the FSA who were more interested in looking after Banks interests than those of the investor. Sorry nobody saw it coming is not acceptable, and it was not too long ago that Japan went through an almost identical senario. Was no one taking notes in the Bank of England? Darling stating that cuts would have to be deeper than Margaret Thatchers, but fails to acknowledge that it was in response to the last Labour Governments excesses.
Failing at this election is not an option for Britain and I feel it would not hurt to get about them more to ensure you don’t fail.

Comment by Kenneth Fontana on March 29, 2010 at 4:10 pm

Yes, I see where you are coming from and I agree with your principles, however, there are two things that concern me. One is euthanasia by the back door as we well know that the rules and safeguards will be watered down over future years. The other is the Act of Settlement that forbids a Roman Catholic from becoming the monarch.
I am fed up with all the lame excuses as to why the Act cannot be repealed, just get on and do it. Why should Moslems, Jews, Hindus etc. be excluded from the provisions of the Act and yet the original and oldest and largest Christian faith group be the subject of this Act?
And while I am at it, have the French reviewed the Common Agricultural Policy, as they promised in return for our giving up some of the money Margaret Thatcher managed to get us as a refund?
What a wonderful arrangement was made by Tony Blair, we give up part of our rebate while the French et. al. promise to “review” the C.A.P.!!!!!!!

Comment by Michael de Berry on April 1, 2010 at 2:48 pm

After reading many of the comments,i conclude that there is a center road being taken by both major parties,and that the main body of opinion is that the Conservative party needs to be more radical.
You have to start at the top and work down. Pay MP`s more to encourage the best,fixed expenses.Less MP`s,more local Government decisions.Elected Police chiefs,elected Mayors,elected local Health service chiefs,and so on.Lets have democracy back where it belongs.If you dont like what they are doing,be able to get rid!

Comment by Gary Taylor on April 1, 2010 at 5:05 pm

If you levy the banks unilaterally, they will respond by moving their interests elsewhere. The city will crash – house prices (everywhere) will tumble and we’ll see negative equity which will make the early nineties look like a picnic. You cannot go it alone on this issue. I know it makes Mr Cameron look tough and I’m sure it will be very popular with many people who don’t understand the possible consequences, but I think it would be financial suicide. Furthermore, I work for a bank ( frontline staff – £20k per year, not investment banking on £10million). My bank did not take taxpayers’ money, so why should it be subject to this levy, which will almost certainly mean more jobs like mine moved to Bangalore, Hyderabad and Malaysia?? This is crazy – I agree with much of your manifesto, particularly about government waste and quangos etc, but if you keep this levy in your manifesto I will not be voting for you.

Comment by richard on April 6, 2010 at 4:21 pm

Can some one tell me after mr Cameron wins the election, when will he cancel H.I.Ps, I have my house up for sale and getting rid of these would i think help.