DC in GQ

June's GQ offers a choice of two front covers... There's the one decorated by the scantily clad Girls Aloud and then - the one chosen by ConservativeHome - the one of Mister Ambition (our dear leader).  I bought my copy in the Smiths at Waterloo and turned down the cashier's offer of a half-price, big bar of Galaxy chocolate.  Way past the feature on guilt-free sex, Mr Cameron's Q&A style interview feature begins on page 210.  Editor Dylan Jones' introduction is extraordinarily shallow and then we get into a long Q&A session with questions posed by the great and the good of GQ's world.  The Q&A is summarised in twenty points below...

Ten things we learnt about David Cameron the politician….

1. He most admires Margaret Thatcher of any living politician: “She did achieve a great change for our country from basic economic sickness and decline, to basic economic health.”
2. “I believe that giving schools more freedom is a good thing.”
3. “We should allow Muslim, Jewish and other faith schools within the state sector.”
4. “I think the problem with decriminalisation [of drugs] is that you automatically make them more available and that creates problems.”
5. On the smoking ban: “I opposed the ban.  I don’t like banning things.”
6. “I support the freedom to hunt, I oppose the hunting ban, and I think it’s a bad example of bossy, interfering, big government, and it hasn’t worked; it’s made a mockery of the law.”
7. On pulling troops out of Iraq: “It’s not right to publish a timetable because you then give the terrorists something to shoot at.”
8. On taxing aviation fuel: “I don’t want to make air travel the preserve of the rich.”
9. On his Black Wednesday experience: “There are two kinds of politicians when it comes to Black Wednesday: those that learned the lesson and say, “Never join the Euro, it’s a great mistake, don’t link your currency to others and give up control of your interest rates,” and those like Brown and Blair, who still haven’t learned and still think we should join.”
10. On the And Theory: “There’s nothing that says you can’t be compassionate and tough on crime… I’m trying to show a balanced, conservative approach, and low taxation is part of that.”

Ten things we learn about David Cameron the man…

1. Thom Yorke has invited him to one of Radiohead’s summer concerts.
2. Nicotine patches helped him give up smoking since he became Tory leader.
3. He takes his tie off the moment he gets home.
4. He voted for Will Young in Pop Idol.
5. He’s only Googled himself once.
6. He needs about six-and-a-half hours’ sleep per night.
7. His favourite West Wing character is Josiah Bartlett – “I like the way he cuts through all the bull and does the right thing.”
8. Although The Queen Is Dead is his favourite Smiths’ album he doesn’t associate himself with the title or agree with Morrissey on anything.
9. UB40’s I Got You Babe is his best karaoke song.
10. He pleads guilty to drinking too much at university and falling over.

Comments

[Rob Largan]

Actually quite impressed with some bits of this interview. Especially:

“There are two kinds of politicians when it comes to Black Wednesday: those that learned the lesson and say, “Never join the Euro, it’s a great mistake, don’t link your currency to others and give up control of your interest rates,” and those like Brown and Blair, who still haven’t learned and still think we should join.”

And the front cover is, for once, actually a decent picture of Cameron. Fair play.

[Jon White]

Uh, pardon my ignorance, but if he admires Lady Thatcher so much, why doesn't he propose some of her policies?

[John Hustings]

You should've bought the one with the other front cover.

[Editor]

I agree, Rob, I thought that quote was particularly good.

I was glad to see the pledge on aviation fuel, too.

[Jonathan Sheppard]

I was pleased about his comments that air travel cannot be the preserve of the rich. Good to see the giving up smoking is going well. I will have to read the interview in full re the comments on drugs - as he sounds spot on.

I think I would have had to go for the other cover though!

[puzzled]

How does he reconcile 4 and 5, especially as 6 could be applied to 4 by advocates of drugs legalisation?

[James Maskell]

Oh, I have so much to reply to in this article but for starters, Josiah Bartlett? His choice but he does realise that Bartlett lied to the American people by not disclosing his MS and kicked off wars, Bush style in an attempt to be the worlds policeman?

Hunting. May I request that Cameron contact the Conservative Animal Welfare Group and further explain his views? Im sure it'd make for interesting conversation.

His relationship with his tie...Is it really that important that he says that? Seriously, why should anyone care?

Giving schools greater freedom contrasts with his policy on grammar schools. If you want schools to have true independence, then schools have to be trusted with an open choice, not a restricted one.

As I understand, it is a metrosexual magazine, very stylish. For those with the money to look like that. Us commoners cant afford such magazines. We have more important things to buy, like food and paying the bills...Cameron should stop with these articles and start coming up with some policies.

[Chad]

On taxing aviation fuel: “I don’t want to make air travel the preserve of the rich.”

But it is, it is. What a narrow, arrogant perspective. Ask your average worker in Africa, Asia etc how many flights they take a year.

Let's be honest, air travel is clearly the preserve of the rich (nations) and the consequences will be felt by the poor (nations). But then they are quite all ong way from here, so we can pretend they don't exist as we have seen with Cameron's blind-eye approach to Darfur.

[Sarkis Zeronian]

He's interviewed in the 60 Second Interview slot in the freebie Metro newspaper today too (a bit of a coup for an election day).

He's asked whether he'd scrap ID cards on winning office (I think "sweep them away" is the actual question). His reply:

"Yes."

He's then asked if he knows that politicians shouldn't give just yes or no answers. His reply:

"No."

[Sarkis Zeronian]

The "average worker in Africa, Asia etc" is not Cameron's boss, the constituents of Witney (and one day, maybe, the British population) are.

[Andrew Woodman]

Sounds like the interview came out well and there are a few unfair criticisms on here.

Firstly Britian has moved on so just rehashing the Thatcherite policies you like is not nessessarly the answer to the problems we face today. I'm sure we all admire Churchill but wouldn't follow his policies today.

Secondly, I think James is being deliberately harsh. We have policy groups set up and this sort of interview helps us humanise the Tory party amongst those who still believe we only care about the rich.

Thirdly Chad, to say we're going to tax lower income groups out of the Sky would be electoral suicide.

[Chad]

Thirdly Chad, to say we're going to tax lower income groups out of the Sky would be electoral suicide.

I know exactly what you are saying:

1: Don't overfill your kettle
2: Use energy efficient light-bulbs
3: Try to use the bus
4: But feel free to take as many cheapie flights as you possibly can not matter what damage, death and destruction you may be causing elsewhere across the world.

Nothing but a token gesture to environmentalism as seeking real change, really getting people to change their behaviour might cost votes.

Be the change? The environment is the $64,000 question but all Cameron is offering is small change.

[Ben]

“As I understand, it is a metrosexual magazine, very stylish. For those with the money to look like that. Us commoners cant afford such magazines. We have more important things to buy, like food and paying the bills...Cameron should stop with these articles and start coming up with some policies.”

Hmmm… isn’t it just terrible to have a leader who can credibly be portrayed as “fashionable”, if only Eric Pickles had been elected last year*

As for the article in general, it seems all pretty typical…

The political responses seems consistent and pretty sharp (the comment on Black Wednesday is particularly good IMHO), while the personal comments are pretty credible (no mean feat for any politician), importantly he comes across as being pretty “normal” his attitudes and tastes are those of most people of his generation from the upper middle class… and importantly he doesn’t seem to be affecting these tastes and attitudes, unlike Blair.

*I should note that I mean no disrespect to Pickles, I rather like the guy… but I was just illustrating a point, you need to have a leader who can project themselves as a credible individual, in order to be seen as a credible politician. Though I agree some polices would be nice… but its going to be some time before the policy reviews report back and until then I doubt we’ll see much movement, but I think it’s a price we’ll have to pay.

[Ben]

“As I understand, it is a metrosexual magazine, very stylish. For those with the money to look like that. Us commoners cant afford such magazines. We have more important things to buy, like food and paying the bills...Cameron should stop with these articles and start coming up with some policies.”

Hmmm… isn’t it just terrible to have a leader who can credibly be portrayed as “fashionable”, if only Eric Pickles had been elected last year*

As for the article in general, it seems all pretty typical…

The political responses seems consistent and pretty sharp (the comment on Black Wednesday is particularly good IMHO), while the personal comments are pretty credible (no mean feat for any politician), importantly he comes across as being pretty “normal” his attitudes and tastes are those of most people of his generation from the upper middle class… and importantly he doesn’t seem to be affecting these tastes and attitudes, unlike Blair.

*I should note that I mean no disrespect to Pickles, I rather like the guy… but I was just illustrating a point, you need to have a leader who can project themselves as a credible individual, in order to be seen as a credible politician. Though I agree some polices would be nice… but its going to be some time before the policy reviews report back and until then I doubt we’ll see much movement, but I think it’s a price we’ll have to pay.

[Sarkis Zeronian]

Nothing wrong with being in GQ as part of a wider campaign of media exposure, hence why he's in the Metro 60 Second Interview this morning. He needs to get everywhere, metrosexuals have votes too.

[Chad]

Thirdly Chad, to say we're going to tax lower income groups out of the Sky would be electoral suicide.

I haven't suggested that you should adopt a policy that does not change the behaviour of the rich, just the poor.

I am suggesting that we need to reduce the number of flights taken for everyone but to focus on the worst polluters, the frequent flyers (and these won't be the poorest Brits).

Target the frequent flyers, not the *poor* family who take a single family holiday abroad.

[Andrew Woodman]

That's what Cameron is getting at though Chad isn't it?

I think it's all too easy to snipe from the sidelines. People will not change their ways straight away and I think Cameron has done a good job in getting this issue higher up the agenda.

[Chad]

and I think Cameron has done a good job in getting this issue higher up the agenda.

Of course it is good news that Cameron has raised the environment up the political agenda (which is why I nominated him for the environmental award) but it would be naive to trust Cameron himself on environmental issues.

Andrew, there is a major difference between being a political magpie,lifting a *popular* approach and being the person to deliver change.

The political leader who is too afraid to propose what really needs changing for fear of losing votes has no place in government.

[Chad]

That's what Cameron is getting at though Chad isn't it?

No, it is not, as he is saying what he won't do, not what he will do to reduce the number of flights.

I would go ahead and slap a big fat tax on aviation fuel and offer an automatic rebate for the first flight per year, for example.

[deborah]

Hey guys - this is a nice photo....and it's on the cover where all the ladies can see it.
Perhaps not the most serious way to bring in the womens' vote, but it will help.

[Jonathan Sheppard]

I hope you arent suggesting my wifes vote will be based on the looks of a party leader?

[deborah]

Some of us like to read the policies and spend our time on political websites....others just look at the pictures and occasionally read the headlines!.. but all the votes count.

[torylady]

I hope you arent suggesting my wifes vote will be based on the looks of a party
leader?

So what if she is suggesting that?
The man is GORGEOUS.

[Are you quite mad?]

Can I recommend you a good optometrist?

[Jonathan Sheppard]

Nice email address Tory lady :o)

From what my wife says she votes according to policies, not the looks sex or race of a candidate - thats all.

Mind you - maybe she voted for me for my dashing good looks!

[Rob Largan]

"The man is GORGEOUS."

Ah, yes. The slick back brylcream look is in this year.

Come on girls, there are better looking men out there. Dont set your standards so low!

[Richard]

"I would go ahead and slap a big fat tax on aviation fuel and offer an automatic rebate for the first flight per year, for example."

You'd have to get elected first. And I doubt that policy would win many votes.

[Christina]

"The political leader who is too afraid to propose what really needs changing for fear of losing votes has no place in government."

In a democracy, such notions are nonsense, IMO, Chad, though I agree with you that it is inconsistent to stick up for cheap flights and be campaigning on the environment so much.

I thought I was joining the Conservatives, with a change in direction which would fuse some progressive ideas with traditional ones that still work in the 21st Century.

It seems I've joined the Greens instead.

Oh No! The Greens would actually want something done about aircraft pollution.

I think Cameron looks smoulderingly sexy in the GQ photo, but he doesn't usually look sexy, IMO.

[Chris Palmer]

"Nothing but a token gesture to environmentalism as seeking real change, really getting people to change their behaviour might cost votes." - Chad

And nobody has conclusively proven that global warming is actually happening. So, token gestures, as you call them, are playing safe. Why waste millions on something that isn't even happening.

[Margaret on the Guillotine]

"Thom Yorke has invited him to one of Radiohead’s summer concerts."

He still put a Green poster up in his window though...

[wasp]

I reckon it is probably easier to become leader of the Tory party than it is to get hold of radiohead tickets.

[Chad]

And nobody has conclusively proven that global warming is actually happening...Why waste millions on something that isn't even happening.

Indeed, there is no conclusive evidence that bird flu will mutate to humans, so the government should not be taking any precautionary action.

There's not conclusive evidence that London will be bombed again, so why take any precautions and so on...

[Jon Gale]

"it is a metrosexual magazine, very stylish. For those with the money to look like that. Us commoners cant afford such magazines. We have more important things to buy, like food and paying the bills...Cameron should stop with these articles and start coming up with some policies."

Yeah, and he's got pink cheeks and nice suits - how dare he be a conservative!

Chad,
"I am suggesting that we need to reduce the number of flights taken for everyone but to focus on the worst polluters, the frequent flyers (and these won't be the poorest Brits)."

By not whacking a tax on aviation fuel, but encouraging everyone to think about the environmental consequences of their actions he allows the poor to go on holiday, and makes the frequent flyers feel guilty (and hopefully reduce their air tarvel). Isn't that what you want?

[Chad]

Hi Jon,

I want to change behaviour not make people feel guilty.

If you can change behaviour sufficiently and redcue the number of flights taken without needing to applying a tax then of course I agree it would be a preferable way to go.

I don't believe for a moment though that it will achieve anything.

With even Zac Goldsmith calling Cameron's trip to Norway a 'stunt', I want to see firm proposals that will reduce the number of flights.

If the best Cameron can offer is to make people 'feel guilty' then it will be hard for anyone committed to environmental action to take him seriously.

[Chris Palmer]

"Indeed, there is no conclusive evidence that bird flu will mutate to humans, so the government should not be taking any precautionary action.

There's not conclusive evidence that London will be bombed again, so why take any precautions and so on..." - Chad

Chad, read what I wrote.

[Rob Largan]

"I would go ahead and slap a big fat tax on aviation fuel and offer an automatic rebate for the first flight per year, for example."

Showing your conservative credentials there Chad?

[Chris Palmer]

I just went and bought this magazine. At £3.60 it wasn't bad compared with some of the measly-paged expensive offerings I have bought before (I bought the Telegraph in South Africa for £3.20 approx.)

[Chad]

Hi Rob,
Showing your conservative credentials there Chad?

Well the official cameron conservative position is high taxes makes economic stability so I wonder which angle you are coming from!

It is next to impossible to know what 'conservative' means in this Cameron world.

However, you will note that I replied to Jon that if there is any way to reduce the volume of flights without using taxation that is preferable, so you are being a bit disingenuous.

Rob,
What policy would you propose to reduce the number of flights? If it's better, then share it and I'll be happy to go along with it as I noted to Jon.

[James O'Shaughnessy]

In this interview DC manages to demonstrate that he is (a) clearly a conservative, and (b) normal. Given that no other Tory politician has managed that for decades I think that's progress.

So he hasn't got answers yet to EVERYTHING. He's only 5 months into the job, lest we forget, and frankly I'd rather have someone who's prepared to really think about what's best than someone who thinks they've got all the answers. Tories have been trotting out the same thoughtless, pre-cooked cr*p for 15 years and look where it got them.

Jeez, there really is no pleasing some people!

[Rob Largan]

"Well the official cameron conservative position is high taxes makes economic stability so I wonder which angle you are coming from!"

I thought you would be the first person to say that what the Conservative Party line is, is not necessarily the conservative way.

"What policy would you propose to reduce the number of flights? If it's better, then share it and I'll be happy to go along with it as I noted to Jon."

I certainly wouldnt have a big fat aviation tax, its hardly going to help with investment to make flying more environmentally friendly. We should be encouraging investment and innovation to find new cleaner technologies. Raging against planes, self-denial and trying to engineer human behaviour through taxation is hardly a conservative principle. Getting rid of the cheap Ryanair flights, would be electoral suicide. I for one could no longer afford to take a holiday abroad.

[Rob Largan]

"Jeez, there really is no pleasing some people!"

Exactly what I thought. I could hardly be called a Cameroon, but I thought the interview was good, what more could you want?

[Chad]

Hi Rob,

I thought you would be the first person to say that what the Conservative Party line is, is not necessarily the conservative way.
Well you are aware that I do think the "economic stability before tax cuts" approach is total rot, and yes, I am against the use of taxation for environmental issues if it does not lead to a change in behaviour.

However, I do accept that sometimes it can be an effective short-term tool for changing behaviour.

Should a better real proposal (instead of fluffy upset no-one but achieve nothing non-deliverable plans) be presented, then of course I would prefer those.

Getting rid of the cheap Ryanair flights
Why go to extremes? This isn't a boolean exercise, we are talking about reasonable ways to reduce the number of flights taken not ban them completely.

The tories have mad a lot of noise about the government's over-use of royal flights recently (which I agree with), but doesn't seem to want to extend that to self-responsibility too. That seem very hyopcritical particularly when the party seems to have picked the environment as its core strategy.

[Goldie]

Muslim schools in the state system? The Suicide of the West in slow motion.

How depressing...

[Rob Largan]

"Why go to extremes? This isn't a boolean exercise, we are talking about reasonable ways to reduce the number of flights taken not ban them completely."

I never said anything about banning flights either. But having a big fat aviation tax, would mean that there would no longer be such cheap flights, meaing flying is less available to your average joe. Excluding him or her from luxuries such as holidays abroad.

[Richard]

"Indeed, there is no conclusive evidence that bird flu will mutate to humans, so the government should not be taking any precautionary action."

Damn right it shouldn't. I'm sick of hearing about how we're all going to die of bird flu. I'm surprised the media didn't campaign to evacuate Scotland after they found that dead swan. Nothing will happen.

[William]

He's nearly the perfect liberal democrat - yellow tie, looking shifty, and can't afford decent crack. Can I really be saying this, but John Prescott looks almost normal in comparison!

Criminals everywhere will get the message soon enough - there's no authority to be found in politicians who now think they're fashion icons. Get back to the thievin' lads!

[Daniel Vince-Archer]

I actually agree with Chad - turning a blind eye to the unsustainable growth of the aviation industry whilst claiming to care for the environment does not send a consistent message at all.

As for aviation tax being electoral suicide, I would advise people to steer clear of such wanton hyperbole and consider the benefits that such a move would have for our domestic tourist industry and related businesses.

[Dick Wishart]

What a load of whingers, get a life!

[Richard]

"I would advise people to steer clear of such wanton hyperbole and consider the benefits that such a move would have for our domestic tourist industry and related businesses."

Holidaymakers tend to have more votes. And they tend to prefer going abroad.

[Chad]

I am very disheartened with the feedback.

For a party putting 'the environment' as the central theme of its fight back, there seems to be little genuine interest in tackling the real, global environmental challeges we face.

'Preserving' the wealth of the airlines and the habits of the frequent flyers seems to be by far the bigger priority to 'conserving' the environment.

I wonder how long Zac Goldsmith will tolerate such a limited and insincere approach.