The first few days of the campaign have been as fast-paced as I expect the next few weeks to be, so I thought I’d send you a quick update on how I think it’s going.
We’ve had a strong start. We’ve been the ones showing energy and ideas, while Labour have spent the whole week on the back foot. I can’t think of a single positive argument or new idea that Gordon Brown has come up with.
It’s clear that the big story so far has been Labour’s jobs tax that will kill the recovery. Go to our website to find out why more and more business leaders and small businesses are backing our plans to cut Labour’s waste so that we can save more than 50,000 jobs.
It’s been striking that Labour and the Lib Dems have nothing positive to say on the economy. They have shown that they’re more interested in personal attacks on the people who create hundreds of thousands of jobs than engaging with the arguments. Alistair Darling has been forced to admit that his plans will lead to what he calls “manageable” job losses, but he refuses to publish the Treasury’s analysis of how many people would lose their jobs.
As well as having the right argument on the economy, we’ve also got the big idea for the future of our country. We believe that Labour’s big government has failed, and that it’s time to build the Big Society.
A key part of that is going to be our plans for a National Citizen Service that we launched on Tuesday. Watch this video to see Michael Caine talking about the scheme.
And this weekend we have launched our plans to recognise marriage in the tax system, funded by a levy on banks. Making Britain the most family friendly country in Europe is an important part of our plans to build the Big Society. Yet again, the predictable response from our opponents has revealed they have nothing positive to offer and no new ideas.
It’s increasingly clear that there’s only one party offering real change in this election and that’s the Conservatives. On issue after issue Labour and the Lib Dems are making the same old arguments that got Britain into this mess. Whether it’s resisting action to cut waste and stop the jobs tax, or arguing against recognising marriage in the tax system to strengthen our society, Labour and the Lib Dems are the roadblock to change. They are relying on the fear of change and only the Conservatives are offering the hope of a better future. I know which side I’d rather be on.
So there’s a lot to fight for in this election – and it’s great to see people up and down the country getting the campaign off to a flying start. In the first few days alone volunteers in our target seats put up 25,000 campaign posters, rang 100,000 voters, and delivered an astonishing 5,000,000 leaflets.
This enthusiasm has been reflected right at the top of the party too. The Shadow Cabinet have been campaigning all around the country, and David Cameron has rolled up his sleeves and shown tremendous energy in travelling over 3000 miles in the first few days, visiting eight regions of the country in five days. What a contrast to Gordon Brown.
Not only that, but Samantha Cameron has been out and about with her visits to social action projects. Her blogs and videos are already proving to be a hit.
And let’s not forget that there will also be local elections on the 6th of May. Our local government team have been working flat out. We have nominated candidates in 98% of contests – a record – and we are contesting more local government seats than any other Party.
I’m delighted that we’ve had such a great start. But there’s still a long way to go – and it’s absolutely vital that we keep this momentum going.
That’s why we’re asking today if you can give just one pound a day to our campaign until we get to polling day.
If you give now, you’ll be giving just £25. Please click here to make your contribution.
That’s it from me for now – we’ve got another big week ahead with the launch of our manifesto on Tuesday, and Britain’s first ever party leaders’ TV debate on Thursday.
Thank you for all you are doing. If we all keep up the hard work we really can bring the change Britain needs.
( 15 comments ) Tags: Alistair Darling, Big Society, General Election, Gordon Brown, Local Government, Michael Caine, National Citizen Service
Comment by S Hiscock on April 10, 2010 at 5:06 pm
Well done to all. It’s really time now to focus on the fact that Labour (nor Libs) have anything to say other than attack your policies. It is time, too, for the press to start asking about their figures, which obviously do not tally. I get so incensed that Tories are continually put under the microscope but not the others. Again, well done to all and I hope and pray you win the day.
Comment by Richard Sturdy on April 10, 2010 at 5:10 pm
Brown defines the economy in terms of the public sector only! He seems incapable of understanding that it exists only as a consumer of the resources provided by the private sector and that it has an insatiable appetite. Every Labour government in history has ended in financial disaster for the country and I am surprised that you are not emphasising these facts more in your election message
Comment by Sarah on April 10, 2010 at 6:52 pm
I agree with the comment made by Richard Sturdy. Brown and co. are just deceiving this country more and more. We simply cannot afford to allow them to be elected for another 5 years of disaster on every level. I’m praying for things along with many others.
Comment by dave t on April 10, 2010 at 8:01 pm
Will some one PLEASE start asking why, when the Tories allowed Labour to see the books before the election in 1997 and how good they were, why Labour are not allowing anyone to see the books? The real picture, if it were known would frighten most intelligent people in this country into never voting Labour again. We must push the media to ask what are Labour so scared of?
Comment by Arthur Complainer on April 10, 2010 at 8:08 pm
You need to turn your fire on the Lib Dems, otherwise they’ll prop Labour up. Votes lost to the Lib Dems will cost potential seats.
It’s time the Lib Dems were exposed for what they really are – not nice, willing to say whatever they think people want to hear – even saying different things on the same subject.
Lib Dems vote with Labour most of the time. Who knows what sordid little deals the Lib Dems will negotiate with Labour in a hung Parliament?
Comment by Pavel on April 10, 2010 at 11:24 pm
Well done so far. But why do you have to waste time telling us what labour (or libs or others) have wrong? We know that. Everyone and his dog knows it. We want to elect you on your own merrits, not on the failings of others . Tell us MORE about you, about what makes you CONSERVATIVE, tell us why you deserve my vote and of all those who agonise over this country’s future.
Comment by norman aston on April 11, 2010 at 1:46 am
brown is like a rhino he charges a round at his walk about{sic} with his minders and sarah it,s not working
brown wil lneed to stand on his own two feet some time sarah will not be t,v debate might just finish him off!!
Comment by Andrew on April 11, 2010 at 8:28 am
I do not understand why the BBC is refusing to run the story reported in The Times about Labour sending targeted mailshots to Cancer victims.
There is a simple recipe for victory here; on the one hand, Keep it Simple; on the other, just highlight the spin, lies and stealth and let the electorate form their own opinion. We are not mugs.
Comment by Arthur Complainer on April 12, 2010 at 12:29 am
How much is lost to the economy due to the tax advantages enjoyed by Tony Blair’s financial arrangements?
Comment by Nick Nicholls on April 13, 2010 at 8:18 am
Hi George. You probably won’t get to read this as it will be buried in amongst a thousand other response. However, I respond in the hope that you do.
I may donate £25 as you’ve asked, but would like confirmation that this will in no way effect my chances of entering the upper house?
Now then. Some advise.
Firstly, I believe in the rights of the individual over everything else. I am therefore a natural Conservative. I will be voting for my current MP, Mark Lancaster, who has done I think an excellent job over the last few years.
So, no need to worry about my vote.
Now. I do worry that you’re not getting the message across, because you’re not saying enough.
Maybe that will change with the publication of the Manifesto today, but, in general terms, the public don’t give much credence to words. They hear enough of them from MP’s, and they’re continually let down.
The country may not want strong leadership, but it needs it.
Move away from focus groups, telling you what you think you should be doing.
Move away from spin doctors and their smarmy ‘tell them what they want to hear’ ways.
Move away from reaction to “public demand” from newspapers and media.
Move towards openness and honesty. Tell people it’s giong to be tough, economically for the next few years, but that you can sort it out, and then tell them how. i.e. I don’t believe either you or Labour have been honest in what you’ve said needs to happen to get this country back on it’s feet.
You haven’t said that we can’t afford to spend 4.5% more than we earn as a nation each year, as we have done for the last 16 (count them) SIXTEEN years.
We can’t afford not to cut back on spending.
We can’t afford to push investment away through higher and higher taxation.
Ireland have cut back. Its hurting them, but it’s working. To do what they have done to reduce 7% of their national debt would mean Treasury would need to find £100bln in savings / tax increases.
Tax increases over the short term will be acceptable. Not liked.
Tax increases over the long time will see you out of power.
Make that distinction between you and Labour, who lied about raising taxes (and be clear, to the wage earner who sees it leaving their pay packet, there is NO distinction between a tax and a national insurance), who don’t tell you when they do raise taxes (every Brown budget contained a stealth tax) and who have always increased beaurocracy and added to the tax burden to pay for it.
Be strong. You know what is the right thing to do. Say you’ll do it, and then make sure you deliver.
And stop messing about.
Regards, Nick
Comment by Steve Willis on April 15, 2010 at 9:13 pm
Did you hear about the Government employee who was accidently paid their salary for a complete year after they’d left? This is a true story. As far as I know the money was never recovered.
This is just the tip of an iceberg of waste you could uncover in a line by line audit of expenditure.
What will you do to protect Government employees who are appalled by waste and mismanagement, but are too scared to speak out for fear of intimidation?
Comment by Colin Cumming on April 16, 2010 at 2:53 pm
David should have asked Brown if he wanted to change places with him in the debate last night so that Gordon ‘I agree with Nick’ Brown and Nick Clegg could hold hands!
If you ask me the Conservatives should be attacking Brown more on his many mistakes in office as well as pointing out that his putting up national insurance instead of VAT or income tax by 1% shows he’s more interested in getting re-elected than in helping the country, and that in so doing it is Labour not the Conservatives that are threatening the recovery and our future prosperity.
Comment by Peter D Beattie on April 16, 2010 at 4:40 pm
David Cameron needs to ‘harden-up’ on a commitment to protect the income of pensioners and correct the errors of Gordon Brown’s 1997 Pensions Bill! We were encouraged to join employer pensions schemes during Conservative government but allowed employers free action to their rules giving no protection! Brown jumped in and took the opportunity to destroy pensioner income! This leaves 140,000 of us in pension deficite and the situation is growing. DWP is now in conflict with the Parliamentary Ombudsman/High Court and ECJ rulings as highlighted by the pensiontheft/PAG demonstrations and letters to MPs etc. When will David Cameron come out and make a definite commitment to correct this injustice? Will he give a guarantee that in future governments heed the PO and High Court deliberations. MPs have to be accountable to something not just at election time! Please give more support to the incomes of the elderly so that they may enjoy their old age and able to live in and have enough money maintain their own properties. The level of State Pension does not allow this!
Peter D Beattie (FAS Pensioner of 75)
Comment by krystyna on April 17, 2010 at 12:08 am
There are three debates and three chances to get the important messages across. The people seem to want someone who is a statesman but who is ordinary, someone forceful but who is not a bully, someone who can offer tax cuts for them but manage the economy on the taxes of others – it is difficult to please everyone at the same time.
I watched This Week after the debate and was interested to learn that the LDs have mentioned in their manifesto only about 25% of the cuts necessary to pare down our debt – so much for honesty. Their immigration policy needs to be exposed. As for Labour waste – II read somewhere this week that the UK is still paying squillions of £s to China in Overseas Development Aid!
And on Sky this evening an election expert said that if the current polls were translated into seats, the Labour Party would have the largest number of seats even though they came third in the percentage of votes they received. NO, NO, NO!
Our David has been concentrating on slaying Goliath – but a dragon has crept up behind him. It would be easiest to let them fight it out – and then claim the victory of the least damage. That was obviously the LD tactic and it worked for them – this time.
David looked great, but needed to smile more and relax a little – easy to say. When he was talking about the NHS his passion was evident and very real. A bit more of that please.
One down and two to go. It can be done and David can do it.
Comment by Lesley Williams on May 1, 2010 at 3:32 pm
I cannot bear the thought of another five years under the present government. I had to walk away from 23 years in the DWP because I could no longer defend the indefensible under the present shower. We will all have to grit our teeth and take the difficulties that lie ahead, but I trust that DC will take us through to a better future. Rock on, David. See you in No. 10 on Friday.