We have come to Birmingham this week with a very clear message: the challenges facing Britain today – a war in Afghanistan, huge national debts at home, public services that desperately need change, social breakdown – require the whole country to pull together to meet them.
Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have formed a government which puts the national interest first, stopping all the bickering and point-scoring to work together for the good of our country.
But overcoming our national problems needs more than two parties coming together. In my speech today – which you can watch here – I said we need a coalition of the British people: a cross-country recognition that we all have a part to play.
Take our plans to strengthen our economy. This government is doing its bit – not just by dealing with the deficit and restoring sound finances – but by encouraging enterprise through incentives like the Enterprise Allowance and more attractive business taxes.
But the success of our economy depends ultimately on people playing their part – entrepreneurs seizing these opportunities, creating wealth, jobs and opportunities for others. A pro-enterprise government and pro-active, go-getting people: together we will build a strong, prosperous economy.
So this is our message and this is our aim: not just to do our duty as a government, but to stir a spirit of national unity and resolve; to lift the national heart to the challenges we share.
( 15 comments ) Tags: Afghanistan, Birmingham, Debt, Labour, Liberal Democrats
Comment by John Abbott on October 6, 2010 at 4:06 pm
I was, as usual, impressed by the speech – wide ranging, funny, humane, rightly aggressive where those idiotic squanderbugs who used to infest Downing Street were concerned and with an in-joke perhaps only those who were in stitches when Margaret Thatcher quoted the Monty Python parrot sketch in 1990 would have fully appreciated. Needless to say it is also on videotape and DVD-R at home.
Comment by Kevin Havell on October 6, 2010 at 10:33 pm
Brilliant. Truly inspiring leadership. Now is the winter of our discontent made fair – moving towards a brighter future. By encouraging free enterprise the nationals wealth will increase. Key to Britain’s future is export driven industries. However capital needs to be available for new industries to develop. How about some low tax zones so businesses can establish themselves and expand employment.
Comment by Nish on October 7, 2010 at 12:39 pm
Dear David Cameron,
Well what can anyone say! From the correspondence I have received either directly from you, your ministers or from your office I have to say we didn’t quite believe it at the time. However, in only 5 months, hats off, you have stuck to your principles, ethics, the truth, justice, fairness and every word thus far. What’s more, in the most appropriate way with real conviction despite putting your popularity at potential risk, the latter is clear demonstration of National Interest and not Self Interest!!! The UNITED Kingdom has long needed a leader like you supported by all those brilliant Conservative and Lib Dem MP’s/Ministers whom actually ‘walk the walk and not just talk the talk’. About time too! From my personal experience to date David Cameron is unequivocally the best Prime Minister the United Kingdom has had to date in this generation.
Whether Red, White or Blue the votes must follow you!
Not much interest or indeed faith in politics/MP’s until the current Conservative Government and coalition came to power. My highest respect for Deputy PM Nick Clegg for working with you! The first Dynamic Duo working together in the National Interest that we have seen in our history! As Ken said it’s all about tangible results, so let’s see them! Service is far from being servitude…
Bless the 6 year old whom made 1 GBP contribution to the deficit!
Your CPC10 speech yesterday and those of your conservative colleagues rendered us quite literally speechless. I witnessed a young girl shed tears of joy and hope for the future! Hence, the minor delay in posting this comment! Still haven’t quite absorbed the reality of it all as yet.
Now we can hopefully get on with life and what we must all do – ‘call to arms’, knowing the country is in good hands.
In a word, simply SUPERIOR!
Best Regards, Nish
Comment by Faisal Sheikh on October 7, 2010 at 4:58 pm
I used to be a card carrying Conservative but the BIG SOCIETY has re-ignited my imagination. I have written a short piece on my blog:
http://rishifaisal.blogspot.com/
The Big Society will help to differentiate the Tories from Olde / New labour. GOOD LUCK
Comment by Keith Cockburn on October 10, 2010 at 1:43 pm
David was very good in his speech, however I am left with the question of how I can make a contribution to the big society, My area of comment,business. I have read Doug Richards report on RDA,s and business related quangoes, he makes some good points. However as one who has been thro the system I would have a lot more to add.
I reiterate my original question how can I make a contribution ?
Comment by Norman Uton on October 14, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Mr. Cameron.
Without doubt your speech was good, and I liked most of what you had to say. I agree that we have to tackle the huge debt left by Labour. It is hard to understand how any Prime Minister can be so stupid as continue using the countries credit card when there is no foreseeable way to pay off the interest charges, let alone the debt. But hey, Gordon Brown sold off our gold reserves when the price for gold was at rock bottom – how stupid was that?
As I said your speech was good, but for me it was what you did not say that makes me question your judgement. You can see it all around you every day that one of the biggest problems you face is the interference from the EU. They create a situation equal to swimming against the tide with a ton of Gordon Brown’s gold round your neck. You say that being in the EU creates jobs and trade, but this is just NOT true. When are you going to face up to the fact that being part of the EU Treaty is a huge drain on the British economy, at a time when we need to cut out waste? There is no doubt in my mind that had you agreed to give the British public a referendum on remaining linked to the EU Treaty you would have won the election outright without the need to form a coalition Government. Come on David you are making a lot of brave decisions right now, so do the right thing, and pull us out of the EU, and save the UK billions of pounds.
Comment by Heston CDA on October 18, 2010 at 6:06 pm
Our views are in exact alignment with that of Nish and others above. Albeit, Norman Uton is absolutely correct. Doesnt in cost 40 billion or so to be part of EU. Then we are told what we can and cant to by the EU Commision. Sometimes good (like the internet privacy laws) but mostly not and too often with nothing the British Government or British People can do about it, the latter is the key concern and reason UK needs to be giverned by UK. How can we be dictated by Brussels and overpaid Eurocrats? Thankfully, Referendums have been promissed by David Cameron in his conference speech 2010 but this is only a small step towards make the UK as divine as it once was.
You can see David Cameron’s brilliant speech at http://hestoncda.org
other videos at http://hestoncda.org/gallery
We can only hope David Cameron and the conservatives will do much more, it has only been 5 or so months after all, during which time they have done more than what the previous government did in 13 years! Or should we say didnt do!
Heston CDA
Comment by Arnie Whittle on October 19, 2010 at 11:19 am
I am keeping a close look on cuts by this government and cuts in defence in this way are to drastic we must cover all options with defence and the cuts that are being mention on the wire are shear madness, and they go to far, pruning yes demolition no, we must maintain all services to strength and special services, this is essential to maintaining our position in the world as a nation, this sounds like an accountants charter for savings and what do accountants know about conflict and war. I am also concerned about homeland security I think that improvements must be made in this area, do not think that the your wars are allways going to be from far flung places they can be in your own back yard, I think that a special force need o be formed for homeland security.
Comment by c a neate on October 20, 2010 at 9:25 pm
I agree with the cuts being made, even though some may be a little hard.
What I have heard, and feel let down, is that once again Cornwall is to be left to pick up the highest water bills keeping large coastline for others to enjoy.
We still do not have a high speed rail link in the South West.
Once again money will go north, here in the west we make do.
Comment by Mrs D O’Donnell on October 20, 2010 at 10:02 pm
As a loyal civil servant I’m ready to do my bit… No pay increase for at least two years, increased contribution to civil service pension, VAT and NI, etc, etc.
Where I draw the line is an unfair benefit scheme that allows thousands of comfortable families with the potential to earn 87k to retain child benefit where others with one parent earning 44k to be denied.
Did I vote conservative? No. Will I ever? Not after this week.
Comment by Michael de Berry RSH., on October 25, 2010 at 4:43 pm
My vote goes to continued dilution of the welfare state,and a strenghthening of true British values. A big joined up nation with mature ambition.But most of all,i would like to see a better infrastructure,accessable to all.
Where i live roads,railways and opportunities are pitiful.We need a coastal monorail railway,joining all the resorts from Boston to Cleethorpes.Driven by green,wind generated electicity.And new purpose built housing,also green.That would put new purpose into Lincolnshire,and allow for more people to move into affordable housing,and a chance to make a reasonable living.
Comment by Michael de Berry RSH., on October 25, 2010 at 4:47 pm
sorry about the electicity,my keyboard is dropping its r’s
Comment by Heston CDA on October 29, 2010 at 7:36 pm
Votes must go to the party which encourages independence from, and not reliance on welfare and housing benefits. It is unfair for those that pay taxes of any guise to ‘bail’ out those that do not and especially without any reasonable cap/limit. Weather bail out/support means housing benefit, child benefit or any other form of benefit which far too many people become dependent on and know nothing other than this. This is neither fair to those paying taxes or indeed those claiming benefits owing to claimants often becoming forever dependant.
Votes should also go to the party/government which encourages family values and families whom build strong foundations for future generations as part of the big society as a whole.
Just as the corporate world is familiar with the concept of looking at the big picture, so must individuals become familiar with the phrase ‘big society’. This is the only right thing to do and so far we have not seen any government or its prime minister put the big society and national interests ahead of themselves. That is until David Cameron and the current coalition!
Let’s hope they do not bottle out and have the courage to take bold decisions.
Sure we don’t agree with some things and times are hard for all of us. But make no mistake doing nothing after the last 13/14 years is simply NOT an option.
Votes should also go to those whom support strict immigration controls and encourage British jobs and skills for British workers.
Michael – know how you feel, they should also have spell checks built into blogs
Heston CDA
Comment by Mike Brack on October 30, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Personally I think the UK should pull the plug on Europ, it is an over charging cancer that is growing ever and more faster every year. Why should they get more money while practically every country that is in it is suffering major financial problems? Look at what MEPS earn and what we pay for their pensions… which brings me to another point, was thins not meant to be a fair society? if so then why are many public servants allowed to retire at 50 or less on full pensions while the rest os us need to work to 65 (or later) to get a basic pension? politians and local authority pensions are a farce while the rest of us have to make do with a basic pension while being taxed to the hilt to pay them?
If you shout fair then make it fair, I don’t mind cuts but get the rest of the people with their hands in the tax payers coffers including politians onto the same scale as the rest of us who are working ourselves to the bone just to get a normal pension and wage.
Comment by Rodney. on October 30, 2010 at 10:47 pm
I am hearing a lot about Fairness, well how can it be fair when a higher-rate single householder living in a Band D property can claim 25% council tax rebate and a Pensioner couple with £15,000 pa living next door have to pay the full rate of Council Tax? “If it is justifiable to prevent households which include a higher-rate taxpayer from claiming child benefit, why not extend this approach to prevent single occupancy households claiming the 25% discount.