political commentator * author * publisher * bookseller * radio presenter * blogger * Conservative candidate * former lobbyist * Jack Russell owner * West Ham United fanatic * Email iain AT iaindale DOT com
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Cameron Speaks to the Nation
David Cameron speaks to the nation in a PPB saying sorry for the MP expenses scandals. It replaced the planned PPB on the local elections.
I have NEVER voted Conservative in all my 55 years.
He's changing this. (Never, never thought I'd say this.)
I can understand that he's forcing the Tory pig MPs to justify himself to a panel, which will scrutinise and judge "unreasonable" expenses; if they don't then they lose the Whip.
That's internal CPP discipline. It's within his province as CPP leader.
He can't "sack" Conservative MPs. That's down to constituency parties. He's no dictator. It's down to the constituency parties to require an accounting of, judge and de-select individual MPs. they should do just that - starting this weekend. Over to them.
But I stand in awe. DC's perormance this weekend has been flawless: measured, transparent and rational.
This really bodes well for UK politics. A PM in waiting.
And no, I am genuinely a Labour voter who has been converted.
No Weimar moment: perhaps a Thatcher moment.
Conservative "dissidents" should stop whining and picking and stabbing and hobby-horsing, but back your man. He's a winner!
Saw this on t'telly earlier. First class start. And solid leadership stuff.
Makes Brown look like - well - what he is: a flat-footed political dinosaur.
But it could be out of Cameron's hands now. Police are close to knocking on doors.
What I want is no more and no less than an immediate general election and I want drastic action from Cameron to force one (the nuclear option - all Tory MPs resign and stand again).
He'll look a hero, gain the mandate so tragically absent from government for three, terrible years and be able to start the process of auditing the national books to work out the true scale of Labour's devastation.
And we'll be rid of Brown and his cohorts of sleazy, smearing, venal, incompetent liars.
Good use of a Party Political. Timely and showing leadership. PM in waiting. Dont think he`s making many friends among his backbenchers though and that may be his undoing when things get sticky in the future, but for now it was well done.
I thought his speech was disingenuous in the extreme. Both he and the others who have paid money back are admitting wrong doing by default. Others such as Maude who refuse to pay the money back are just as bad.
What Cameron was effectively saying was that some of them had paid back a few quid and everything is OK now. The same bunch of sleazebags will still be there for you to vote for at the next election. Does he think people will be satisfied with this?
Have I Got News For You dug out a clip of Alan Duncan last night. Sitting there smug as you like smirking that it was OK to take all this money. That's what tells the true story.
He was excellent. I wish he'd adopt this 'grown up' tone and approach at PMQs. He'd make mincemeat of Brown, but with reason and politeness. People like politeness. And let's not forget, he gets the the female vote ...
Contrast David Cameron's speaking style with that of Gordon Brown; not a fake grin or manic eye stare in evidence. Plus of course David Cameron seems decisive and genuine and I don't believe anyone thinks that of Gordon "Failure" Brown.
Gordon Brown will now have to either follow David Cameron's lead or face some very difficult questions at next week's PMQs.
Hmm - lots of anonymous ex-Labour supporters telling us they're converted.
Just to clarify - leadership is about leading not reacting. Cameron has known for months that these expenses were going to be published but expected that to be in July. At no time before the Telegraph published did he make any significant statement on the issue. He's only done what he has done because his hand was forced - that is not leadership. That is reactionary posturing.
I do SO agree with Anon @8.21. That was one of the reasons that Dan Hannan's speech was so good. People are crying out for grown up government, and are fed up with school boy point scoring
Labour people have already poured scorn on David Cameron's "Conservative Scrutiny Committee on MPs' Expenses", amongst them Harriet Harman, Nick Browm , Liam Byrne and Gordon Brown. They trumpet that their idea of an Independent Committee is the way to root out any problem claims. History shows that this is anything but true, these Independent Inquiries must have a "remit" and it will be the Government who will write this , it always is. This "remit" is always written in such "straightjacket" terms that it guarantees the whitewash that is required. The publishing of MPs expenses after they have been approved as "wholly, exclusively and necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties" by any of these two Audit Groups will allow the public to decide if they pass the test of justifiable.
That must of been a hard decision for him to make! Give up his European PPB for this. I wonder if it is because he has nothing to say about the EU and a European PPB would just have been a hollow sham
OT I know, but worth thinking about in regard to the UK's political bill for parliament.
Austria has a population of just 8 Million - just two thirds of London!
The mayor of Vienna receives ( I didn't say earns!) just €203,000 per annum. A Minister in the government earns approx €230,000 and an ordinary MP, about €115,000. This does not include expenses and perks.
Bearing in mind that the Euro and Sterling are almost parity - would you all like to change? I thought not.
All the main parties are now seen to be corrupt to the bone. It is their own fault that nobody believes they can speak for our concerns any more. The marginal parties may be equally corrupt, but we really don't know this yet -- we must give them their chance.
And why should we listen to the main ones who say we must NOT vote for BNP or UKip or whatever? Even the CofE are directing us not to do so -- but they always did support the status quo,corrupt or not.
Everyone seems to think that protest votes will go to UKIP or the dreadful BNP. I think the public will either NOT vote or vote for the Green Party to make their point...
Just watched the Labour equivalent. God they hate(and fear) him. This broadcast shows why. Apart from some slightly dodgy camera work (and curtains)it was superb. I think the Labour broadcast is the most negative I have ever seen in Britain. It really is something out of the Westwing. I really hope that does not become the standard in the UK. I think it won't because this stuff works by repetition and who could stomach watching that rubbish more than once?
Excellent. In the run up to the GE the contrast between Brown and Cameron will be even more vivid. After watching this Labour MP's can be in no doubt they've got nothing to lose by dumping Brown. Could be the last straw.
It is possible that DC has caught on to the idea that we are grown ups, with brains, who can spot bull shit.
It is a refreshing piece of work; contrast this with the piece of toss from the Labour party - as fake as gravy granules from the sick simulator - and totally negative and a complete failure to address the issues.
I do feel, however, that he could say a lot more. Immigration is never mentioned by Conservatives. Never. Why are you running scared on it?
If you all bit the bullet and told us the truth about immigration and Islamic Fascism, you might rescue some people from making a voting mistake they may later regret.
Excellent Party Political Broadcast. David Cameron is already Leading the country form the front. The difficult part is to now bring out detailed proposals on how he is going to clean up parliamentary politics and then deliver them.
If David Cameron can keep this perspective and deliver everything he is promising in this PPB for the electorate we will have a conservative government for years, not withstanding the electoral decimation Labour, Nu-Labour or Zanu-Labour in all its guises will suffer at the general election.
David seems to be getting it; the electorate require respect and are not an inconvenience. We are not just here to get our bellies tickled at election time and then ignored thereafter.
I would like David now to spell out how difficult it’s going to be and the difficult decisions that will need to be made after the general election to get our country back on track economically.
If he has really learnt anything over the last few weeks it must be that to be honest with the electorate and eliminate spin is a vote getter rather than a negative, notwithstanding the refreshing aspect that will give us form a political party. It will also help to build up the trust that is needed to run the country on behalf of the electorate.
We need open government not the totalitarian government Labour, Nu-Labour or Zanu-Labour has conspired to deliver in the past 12 years.
Labour, Nu-Labour or Zanu-Labour from top to bottom has lied and spun its way through 12 years of government and for those crimes alone they need to be consigned to the slag heap of political history.
This is a joke! He is as bad as those he criticised. He's a millionaire who decided that it was legitimate to put a large country mansion as his second home (it should be a London flat, no more), despite having huge amounts of his own money to spend. This was not 'reasonable to do his job'. No-one needs two large homes to do a job - that is breaking the rules. Equally, he broke the rules in his wisteria claim - that is not necessary for his duties. He is as bad as Shahid Malik and his massage chair. Hypocrite.
Why do MPs get to claim council tax from the taxpayer? This tax should be waived for the MPs rather than the taxpayer paying it for them. It's tax money paying tax money!
£20,000 at 6% gives you a 335,000 mortgage. If you claim for local council tax it is considerably lower.
I did think the comparison between the negative campaigning of the Labour PPB was a disgrace but is shows where they will be campaigning at the next election. In the gutter because they cannot fight on their record.
The Cameron PPB once again shows that he is nimble on his feet unlike Mr Plodder in No 10 who is thrashing around without a clear idea of what to do next.
I wish David Cameron would show leadership around the sleazy allegations of funding by arms dealers rather than this knee-jerk reaction to try and say "I'm better than the others" around the MPs expenses scandal. http://tinyurl.com/qqbnrn
David Cameron is showing real leadership qualities.
ReplyDeleteAll we need now (as it seems nearly 70% of people polled think) is a General Election.
Was anyone else waiting for the 'I'm David Cameron, and I approve this message' line at the end?
ReplyDelete!Must stop watching West Wing DVDs!
Wow, what a leader! Firm, clear, principled.
ReplyDeleteI have NEVER voted Conservative in all my 55 years.
He's changing this. (Never, never thought I'd say this.)
I can understand that he's forcing the Tory pig MPs to justify himself to a panel, which will scrutinise and judge "unreasonable" expenses; if they don't then they lose the Whip.
That's internal CPP discipline. It's within his province as CPP leader.
He can't "sack" Conservative MPs. That's down to constituency parties. He's no dictator. It's down to the constituency parties to require an accounting of, judge and de-select individual MPs. they should do just that - starting this weekend. Over to them.
But I stand in awe. DC's perormance this weekend has been flawless: measured, transparent and rational.
This really bodes well for UK politics. A PM in waiting.
And no, I am genuinely a Labour voter who has been converted.
No Weimar moment: perhaps a Thatcher moment.
Conservative "dissidents" should stop whining and picking and stabbing and hobby-horsing, but back your man. He's a winner!
What's wrong with you guys?
ReplyDeleteCameron's a winner.
He's converted this Labour voter. A Labour voter since 1970. (Shame on me.)
Articulate, firm, fair, and sensible. And honest.
Saw this on t'telly earlier. First class start. And solid leadership stuff.
ReplyDeleteMakes Brown look like - well - what he is: a flat-footed political dinosaur.
But it could be out of Cameron's hands now. Police are close to knocking on doors.
What I want is no more and no less than an immediate general election and I want drastic action from Cameron to force one (the nuclear option - all Tory MPs resign and stand again).
He'll look a hero, gain the mandate so tragically absent from government for three, terrible years and be able to start the process of auditing the national books to work out the true scale of Labour's devastation.
And we'll be rid of Brown and his cohorts of sleazy, smearing, venal, incompetent liars.
A win-win scenario for Britain.
For the first time I thought DC almost sounds like a Conservative. More of that and he might get my vote back!
ReplyDeleteGood use of a Party Political. Timely and showing leadership. PM in waiting. Dont think he`s making many friends among his backbenchers though and that may be his undoing when things get sticky in the future, but for now it was well done.
ReplyDeleteAs far as a national response goes, this is where you (if you are an MP who know what's good for you) shut your mouth and let the boss do the talking.
ReplyDeleteCynical as always, that was a tour de force. Cameron is a leader (Blair was also) - Brown is not.
ReplyDeletePut the two of them side by side and choose. No contest. You want to believe Cameron. Please don't let him disappoint.
*Now* let's see Gordo and Labour call the Tories the do 'nothing party'.
ReplyDelete+1 vote for CON right here.
you can fool some people some of the time.
ReplyDeleteyou can't fool all the people all of the time
Looked like the Prime Minister in Waiting.
ReplyDeleteI thought his speech was disingenuous in the extreme. Both he and the others who have paid money back are admitting wrong doing by default. Others such as Maude who refuse to pay the money back are just as bad.
ReplyDeleteWhat Cameron was effectively saying was that some of them had paid back a few quid and everything is OK now. The same bunch of sleazebags will still be there for you to vote for at the next election. Does he think people will be satisfied with this?
Have I Got News For You dug out a clip of Alan Duncan last night. Sitting there smug as you like smirking that it was OK to take all this money. That's what tells the true story.
Enough talk!What about some real action in the form of de-selections.Or does the wisteria scam prevent that happening?
ReplyDeleteHe was excellent. I wish he'd adopt this 'grown up' tone and approach at PMQs. He'd make mincemeat of Brown, but with reason and politeness. People like politeness. And let's not forget, he gets the the female vote ...
ReplyDeleteContrast David Cameron's speaking style with that of Gordon Brown; not a fake grin or manic eye stare in evidence. Plus of course David Cameron seems decisive and genuine and I don't believe anyone thinks that of Gordon "Failure" Brown.
ReplyDeleteGordon Brown will now have to either follow David Cameron's lead or face some very difficult questions at next week's PMQs.
Voted Labour from 1997 but Cameron has shown real leadership and has now secured my vote in the GE when it finally comes.
ReplyDeleteA pity that the local Tories round here are next to useless.....
It's a good start - but DC needs to show real strength now.
ReplyDeleteCameron must leave behind the status quo and build support for real solutions that will ensure the UK sees change.
It's there for the taking.
Hmm - lots of anonymous ex-Labour supporters telling us they're converted.
ReplyDeleteJust to clarify - leadership is about leading not reacting. Cameron has known for months that these expenses were going to be published but expected that to be in July. At no time before the Telegraph published did he make any significant statement on the issue. He's only done what he has done because his hand was forced - that is not leadership. That is reactionary posturing.
I do SO agree with Anon @8.21. That was one of the reasons that Dan Hannan's speech was so good. People are crying out for grown up government, and are fed up with school boy point scoring
ReplyDeleteLabour people have already poured scorn on David Cameron's "Conservative Scrutiny Committee on MPs' Expenses", amongst them Harriet Harman, Nick Browm , Liam Byrne and Gordon Brown.
ReplyDeleteThey trumpet that their idea of an Independent Committee is the way to root out any problem claims. History shows that this is anything but true, these Independent Inquiries must have a "remit" and it will be the Government who will write this , it always is.
This "remit" is always written in such "straightjacket" terms that it guarantees the whitewash that is required.
The publishing of MPs expenses after they have been approved as "wholly, exclusively and necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties" by any of these two Audit Groups will allow the public to decide if they pass the test of justifiable.
That must of been a hard decision for him to make! Give up his European PPB for this. I wonder if it is because he has nothing to say about the EU and a European PPB would just have been a hollow sham
ReplyDeleteOT I know, but worth thinking about in regard to the UK's political bill for parliament.
ReplyDeleteAustria has a population of just 8 Million - just two thirds of London!
The mayor of Vienna receives ( I didn't say earns!) just €203,000 per annum. A Minister in the government earns approx €230,000 and an ordinary MP, about €115,000. This does not include expenses and perks.
Bearing in mind that the Euro and Sterling are almost parity - would you all like to change? I thought not.
Too little, too late.
ReplyDeleteAll the main parties are now seen to be corrupt to the bone. It is their own fault that nobody believes they can speak for our concerns any more.
The marginal parties may be equally corrupt, but we really don't know this yet -- we must give them their chance.
And why should we listen to the main ones who say we must NOT vote for BNP or UKip or whatever? Even the CofE are directing us not to do so -- but they always did support the status quo,corrupt or not.
Time to look round at the others.
Everyone seems to think that protest votes will go to UKIP or the dreadful BNP. I think the public will either NOT vote or vote for the Green Party to make their point...
ReplyDeleteJust watched the Labour equivalent. God they hate(and fear) him. This broadcast shows why. Apart from some slightly dodgy camera work (and curtains)it was superb.
ReplyDeleteI think the Labour broadcast is the most negative I have ever seen in Britain. It really is something out of the Westwing. I really hope that does not become the standard in the UK. I think it won't because this stuff works by repetition and who could stomach watching that rubbish more than once?
The DT must get the creit.Wisteria Dave was sitting on his hands until forced to do something.
ReplyDeleteCameron speaks to the Nation?
ReplyDeleteExcellent,excellent.
Keep them coming, Iain.
Excellent. In the run up to the GE the contrast between Brown and Cameron will be even more vivid. After watching this Labour MP's can be in no doubt they've got nothing to lose by dumping Brown. Could be the last straw.
ReplyDeleteIt is possible that DC has caught on to the idea that we are grown ups, with brains, who can spot bull shit.
ReplyDeleteIt is a refreshing piece of work; contrast this with the piece of toss from the Labour party - as fake as gravy granules from the sick simulator - and totally negative and a complete failure to address the issues.
I do feel, however, that he could say a lot more. Immigration is never mentioned by Conservatives. Never. Why are you running scared on it?
If you all bit the bullet and told us the truth about immigration and Islamic Fascism, you might rescue some people from making a voting mistake they may later regret.
Excellent Party Political Broadcast. David Cameron is already Leading the country form the front. The difficult part is to now bring out detailed proposals on how he is going to clean up parliamentary politics and then deliver them.
ReplyDeleteIf David Cameron can keep this perspective and deliver everything he is promising in this PPB for the electorate we will have a conservative government for years, not withstanding the electoral decimation Labour, Nu-Labour or Zanu-Labour in all its guises will suffer at the general election.
David seems to be getting it; the electorate require respect and are not an inconvenience. We are not just here to get our bellies tickled at election time and then ignored thereafter.
I would like David now to spell out how difficult it’s going to be and the difficult decisions that will need to be made after the general election to get our country back on track economically.
If he has really learnt anything over the last few weeks it must be that to be honest with the electorate and eliminate spin is a vote getter rather than a negative, notwithstanding the refreshing aspect that will give us form a political party.
It will also help to build up the trust that is needed to run the country on behalf of the electorate.
We need open government not the totalitarian government Labour, Nu-Labour or Zanu-Labour has conspired to deliver in the past 12 years.
Labour, Nu-Labour or Zanu-Labour from top to bottom has lied and spun its way through 12 years of government and for those crimes alone they need to be consigned to the slag heap of political history.
Ulster Unionist & Conservative.
Ulster Till I Die.
This is a joke! He is as bad as those he criticised. He's a millionaire who decided that it was legitimate to put a large country mansion as his second home (it should be a London flat, no more), despite having huge amounts of his own money to spend. This was not 'reasonable to do his job'. No-one needs two large homes to do a job - that is breaking the rules. Equally, he broke the rules in his wisteria claim - that is not necessary for his duties. He is as bad as Shahid Malik and his massage chair. Hypocrite.
ReplyDeleteYes yes, jolly good.
ReplyDeleteWhy do MPs get to claim council tax from the taxpayer? This tax should be waived for the MPs rather than the taxpayer paying it for them. It's tax money paying tax money!
£20,000 at 6% gives you a 335,000 mortgage. If you claim for local council tax it is considerably lower.
ReplyDeleteI did think the comparison between the negative campaigning of the Labour PPB was a disgrace but is shows where they will be campaigning at the next election. In the gutter because they cannot fight on their record.
The Cameron PPB once again shows that he is nimble on his feet unlike Mr Plodder in No 10 who is thrashing around without a clear idea of what to do next.
Call an Election.
I wish David Cameron would show leadership around the sleazy allegations of funding by arms dealers rather than this knee-jerk reaction to try and say "I'm better than the others" around the MPs expenses scandal.
ReplyDeletehttp://tinyurl.com/qqbnrn