David Cameron's 'the best is yet to come' peroration in his conference speech yesterday had a familiar ring to Mail on Sunday political editor Simon Walters. It was the election slogan he came up with for his political thriller, SECOND TERM, which I had the pleasure of publishing six years ago. How time flies.Simon's novel featured a tall, dark and handsome Blairite Prime Minister called Steven Cane married to a posh wife (sound familiar?) who won an election using the slogan 'the best is yet to come,' set to disco music. As Cane celebrates his triumph at an open air victory bash, Simon writes:
"The deafening echo of the party's election song, "The Best Is Yet To Come"bounced off the buildings... Cane raised his hand to silence them."Please, I've heard that song so often in the last three weeks, my wife says I've been singing it in my sleep!"'
Former pub band crooner Simon even made up a song to go with it. "If Cameron rings me up I'll sing it down the phone to him," he told me. Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if Steve Hilton, an old mucker of Walters, nicked it from the novel and recycled the idea - most of the best marketing ideas are regurgitated in some form or other anyway. Incidentally, the book is a fantastic read and the still available. And I don't even make money from selling it any longer...
15 comments:
Forgive me for raining on this parade, but doesn't 'the best is yet to come' carry the implication that what we already have is pretty good? The best is yet to come is like 'you ain't seen nuthin' yet' in that it offers to amaze the hearer with the suggestion that, happy as he might be now, he will be even happier in the future now on offer. In other words, isn't this a slogan that goes a little to far down the road of accepting that people under Blair don't feel quite as awful as they should?
Wherever he pinched the ideas from you can't deny that Hilton wrote a good speech and Dave read it beautifully with all the right facial expressions in all the right places.
The line was actually stolen from the end of Charles Kennedy's conference speech.
Things can only get better.
If in doubt try blind optimism.
Total bollocks , Camerons an arsehole and you know it Iain.
I look forward to the next defeat of the Conservative party and a true conservative party rising from the ashes , and not the kind that Sam Gyimah hopes for.
The original song (The Best is yet to Come)penned by the late Clifford T.Ward, begins with the line -
"where did we go wrong?"
To answer that simply, I think it was in the selection process!
Further on, I can remember another line,
"and all the tragedy we'd ever want to see"
I agree with that also.
and then later, I think another part goes something like...
"we couldn't find our way, was it all so frightening, we couldn't see which move to make"
It's all fairly bloody relevant when you think about it. Perhaps Dave should have sang the whole song and given us all a laugh!
Let's hope that fact folows fiction in this case. Although not sure about 'best' - i think a more accurate description would be 'better'! We have it pretty crappy at the moment!
Cherie posh? You must be joking.
the best is the enemy of the good.
Cameron is common sense, managerial in style. He's not made for hype(rbole).
The best is yet to come, is worthy of Neil Kinnock. Hilton's spoiled the message with this slogan.
I like the Cameron we know on Webcameron - down to earth, intelligent, energetic, enthusiastic and personable. He doesn't need this kind of hypeish slogan. It's counterproductive to the way Camron presents himself - as a real person with his own way of seeing things, an independent mind and not willing to be pushed around.
Something better please Hilton next time. 'Cameron's not acting' or, He does not do focus group politics. or Cameron's for real - or you'd better believe it etc.
Built To Last is a Cameronian phrase. He should sell his strengths - especially managerial skill, and move away from spin. He must dare to be dull, which he is a little, but trustworthy.
The Sun accuses him of lack of beef. Ignore them. Carry on being himself, and don't feel the need to respond. When criticised, repeat the message. Don't change it.
0/10. Must try harder.
Pulp fiction begets pulp politics.
I Can't Believe It's Not Better.
The Blameron - "things can only get yet to come better thingie". Sigh. Can we move over to politics, that's what the British people want, some honesty, not another decade of Blair/Campbell spin replacement. Watching Oliver Letwin and Hazel Blears on QT last night reminded the country of what utter shysters and tossers most of our politicians in office are. Only Shirley Williams came across with any intelligence and integrity. Something has gone seriously wrong and it needs fixing. A little phrase-jingle to be soundbited out to the plonkers is not going to be the basis of serious change, even if it does somehow win the election. China and India are taking the planet.
Dear Vienna Woods
I think the version being referred to is the Frank Sinatra one...
Cameron should remember that IDS was very popular. And still is. You don't need Blair hype to be popular. In fact you command more respect without it.
People like Cameron. They are unsure what animal he is. Hence the continual criticism. In politics criticism is affirmation. If you are not of interest, people just go quiet, and talk about someone else.
Cameron is already of great interest to people for the person that he is. There is absolutely no need to use hype.
It was a superb speech from DC and in my opinion just what the floating voters wanted to hear.
golden oldie wrote...
Dear Vienna Woods
I think the version being referred to is the Frank Sinatra one...
Didn't know Dave was a fan, but never mind. I just looked at the lyrics of the Frank Sinatra song and they are pretty gormless. The only thing that was understanable was...
"The best is yet to come, and wont that be fine
You think youve seen the sun, but you aint seen it shine."
...and we never bloody well will!
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