Our fourth 'picks'. Already picked are our Backbenchers, Frontbenchers and Moments of 2008.
Jonathan Isaby's pick: "The speech of the year for me was given by a man whose gift for rhetoric, comic timing and ability to command the attention of the House of Commons are all legendary. I refer, of course, to William Hague, the shadow foreign secretary, and in particular, to his brilliant Despatch Box performance during the Second Reading debate of the Bill to approve the Lisbon Treaty back in January. Particularly memorable was the passage in which he imagined the reaction of Gordon Brown to Tony Blair becoming EU President. Relive it here."
Tim Montgomerie's pick: "David Cameron's speech to the Birmingham Conference was his best since becoming leader of the Conservative Party. It didn't contain big policy announcements but it offered a sweeping statement of his conservatism. At its heart was compassionate conservatism and a beautiful passage about the true causes of crime. I was particularly glad that he defined himself as a conservative rather than a libertarian: "Freedom can too easily turn into the idea that we all have the right to do whatever we want, regardless of the effect on others. That is libertarian, not Conservative - and it is certainly not me." After hearing the speech The Sun declared David Cameron ready to be Prime Minister."
What was your speech of 2008?
Boris's acceptance speech as Mayor!
Posted by: Sally Roberts | December 31, 2008 at 09:05
Tim is right. Cameron's speech in Birmingham was the most important, primarily because of the Sun's response.
It remains the most important single media organ in the Country and the "He's Ready" headline was absolute gold dust.
Posted by: John Moss | December 31, 2008 at 09:18
"Freedom can too easily turn into the idea that we all have the right to do whatever we want, regardless of the effect on others. That is libertarian, not Conservative - and it is certainly not me."
That single handed ruined the entire speech for me. His delivery was very good and he almost had me until he said that. Libertarianism has at its core the principle of non aggression, that we have the right to do as we wish, so long as it doesnt restrict the ability of any other person to use their right to do as they wish. Cameron was fundamentally wrong on a core principle of libertarian philosophy.
Posted by: James Maskell | December 31, 2008 at 09:28
Cameron's closing speech at conference. Better than 2007 better even than Hague's in 2001. Reminded me why I'm a Conservative.
Posted by: Malcolm Dunn | December 31, 2008 at 09:59
Sally,
'Boris's acceptance speech as Mayor!'
Seconded. Here's the full version:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=r8Av2XQ658E
Posted by: Pulvertaft | December 31, 2008 at 10:14
Thanks Pulvertaft! By the way I miss you being Dorian :-(
Posted by: Sally Roberts | December 31, 2008 at 10:34
I agree with Sally and Pulvertaft!
Posted by: Nicholas J. Rogers | December 31, 2008 at 11:31
None of the above ...David Davis must get the prize for his resignation speech: "In truth 42 days is just one, perhaps the most salient example, of the insidious, surreptitious and relentless erosion of fundamental British freedoms". It made people sit up and listen; it said 'thus far and no further' and it helped to see off 42 days. It also confounded the cynics who were baffled by the idea that someone could resign on a point of principle.
Posted by: smallbluething | December 31, 2008 at 12:11
That's why I picked DD as backbencher of the year, smallbluething! It would have been boring for him to walk off with all the awards...
Posted by: Jonathan Isaby | December 31, 2008 at 12:17
I have to agree with smallbluething. Davis' speech on the 42 days gets my vote, because it reminded me of why I became British. As some might know I was not born British but I choice to become British, and I am very proud. Davis' stand reminded me of why I uprooted and moved continents for Liberty, Equality and the pursuit of happiness.
Posted by: Walaa | December 31, 2008 at 14:26
Thanks, Jonathan, for bringing that Hague speech to our attention. I had missed it originally -- wickely funny.
Posted by: Goldie | December 31, 2008 at 17:48
I agree that David Davis' speech was the big one.
I also really liked Cameron's conference speech *except* for the needless pop at Libertarianism which Tim seemed to enjoy. I feel it was an unnecessary, cheap and inaccurate shot at a fairly large swathe of the party which marred the high quality of the rest of the speech. I was there and remember thinking "huh?" at that point, and only at that point.
Posted by: Steve Tierney | December 31, 2008 at 18:07
The best speech I heard was the Barek Obama speech about race. That said it all about how we should judge people and it showed a politician who was unafraid of taking the high moral ground and setting out clear principals about race and diversity.
Posted by: Jack Stone | January 01, 2009 at 20:57
I was certainly impressed by Barack Obama's Acceptance Speech and feel that he will be a first class President for the USA and I hope a good friend to the UK.
I would also say that Ken Livingstone was quite gracious in defeat.
Edward Timpson was also well worth waiting up for at Crewe and Nantwich.
I however agree with many here that David Davis gets the Victor's Crown for his speech on 42 days.
Posted by: Steve Foley | January 01, 2009 at 21:45