Compassionate Cameron launches change campaign

David Cameron's has launched his campaign and, I think, the most attractive and comprehensive website.  His website certainly succeeds in giving the DC campaign some of the clarity that it has lacked up until now.  The case for change page, for example, makes it clear that Mr Cameron has now decisively come out as a change/ modernisation candidate:

"Some say that all we need to regain the trust of the British people are radical policies, inspiringly presented. This underestimates the scale of what is required. Policies are not the main problem. Presentation is certainly not the problem. We persist in losing elections because our culture and attitudes are out of step with twenty-first century Britain. We need to change our policies, and our presentation – but most importantly we must transform our party. It must look, feel, think and behave like a completely new organisation.  So where do we start? We start with our values. We must ask ourselves why we are Conservatives, and then ask why so many of our fellow citizens think they are not – even though they share our values. And as we unflinchingly confront this painful question, we inevitably come to the conclusion that it’s time to recast our values according to the spirit of the age and the challenges of our times…"

On the "recasting values", page six values are emphasised:

1. Within a section on the family there is mention of support for marriage but "what matters most is that children are brought up in a stable, loving home."
2. "Shared responsibility" is identified as a central theme and in contrast to "selfish individualism": "there’s a ‘we’ in our politics as well as a ‘me.’"  Very David Willetts.
3. David Cameron who has confirmed his interest in flat taxation talks about "fairly sharing the fruits of economic growth between lower taxes and strengthened public services".
4. On public services David Cameron emphasises localism and appears to reject patient passport-style policies: "Opt-outs and escape routes for the privileged few will never deliver high quality for all."
5. There is a big emphasis on civil society: "Rolling back the state must never mean the weak are left behind.  We want civic society to flourish. We must help social enterprises and voluntary organisations do even more to tackle the entrenched problems that affect our communities, believing that there is such a thing as society, it’s just not the same thing as the state."  Excellent stuff.
6. And on foreign policy: "We believe in national sovereignty. But not in isolation and xenophobia."

My favourite line of the day comes from remarks that David Cameron made at his campaign launch:

"And when the Conservative Party talks about foreign affairs it can't just be Gibraltar and Zimbabwe.  We have go to show as much passion about Darfur and the millions of people living on less than a dollar a day in sub-Saharan African who are getting poorer while we are getting richer."

Absolutely.  This is the 'And Theory Of Conservatism' never better expressed.  It smashes the ridiculous idea that we have to choose between core Tory positions on low tax and Europe on the one hand and a kinder, gentler, more internationalist Conservatism on the other. 

Comments

[wasp]

This is Bang On from Cameron exactely what we need. Willetts has backed Davis because its his best shot at becoming shadow chancellor, under Cameron Osborne keeps the job. Fox has his own campaign to run.

This is exactely what the Conservative Party needs and Cameron is an excellent candidate. He definately gets my vote.

Also Ken Clarke was dreadful on Question time last night.

[James Hellyer]

This is Bang On from Cameron exactely what we need.<./i>

It's Blairism-lite.

Willetts has backed Davis because its his best shot at becoming shadow chancellor

I disagree. Willetts "best shot" would have been with Clarke (who intimated as much). Willetts lacks the enthusiasm for income tax cuts Davis expresses, which makes him an unlikely choice, and more tellingly, has taken on extra paid work. He wouldn't do that if he expected a bog portfolio.

[Oberon Houston]

I am still confused at Willetts decision to back Davis.

[Oberon Houston]

James, your italics have gone bonzai.

[John G]

that might help

[James Hellyer]

Indeed it has!

I think Willetts saw Davis and Clarke as the two likely finalists, and although he has a lot of time for Clarke, found he had no real overall vision. On the other hand, Davis probably did a hard sell on his determination to "help the poor".

[Oberon Houston]

Well, if it's that, then it becomes a trust issue. IDS said many things befor ethe members voted, but was not interested after he became leader. Will Davis do the same?

[Jack Stone]

Personally I don`t take much notice of what MP is backing who. I suspect that most MP`s backing is based on a career move rather than high ideals.

[Simon C]

Problem being, Jack, that the MPs decide which 2 the rest of us can vote on (assuming you are a Party member...?). That being so, the rest of us need to pay attention to what they do.

[AnotherNick]

Re BBC Bias: While ethically and professionally, it would be ideal to have a perfectly balanced reporting from the BBC. Is it really a suprise that a party who are regularly looking to cut public service jobs doesn't get a totally fair crack of the whip from a public service broadcaster?
It isn't right, But part of me can understand it.

As for supporting the more moderate candidates, I'm not sure it is that they are covering them because they are moderate or rather they are covering them because the next Prime Minister of the country is going to be a moderate - whichever party he comes from. The BBC present the news of interest to Britain, they are not a Tory broadcaster.

[Paul Marks]

Unlike the other candidates Mr Cameron has no track record for me to judge where he would stand on any major issue (clearly one can not judge on the basis of a few campaign speeches).

If I was optimistic man I would assume that Mr Cameron will turn out to stand for the Conservative principles of limited government and national independence in all the stress and stain of political life.

However, experience has taught me not be an optimist (after all I supported John "we have spent more than Labour promised to spend" Major for the leadership of the party).

However, I can not just assume that because past unknown quantities have been no good Mr Cameron will be no good. The truth is that I (and all of us) simply do not know.

The case for or against him is "unproven" as the Scots say.

[columbia jackets]

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