The Sun warms to David Cameron

The Sun has never been keen on David Davis.  Earlier in the contest it was very positive about Liam Fox and last week recommended a Fox versus Cameron run-off to Tory MPs.  Team Davis won't be surprised, therefore, to learn that today's Sun is warming to Mr Cameron.  Off the back of an interview with the Shadow Education Secretary, the Sun declares:

"The more we see of David Cameron the more we like.  He had a privileged upbringing, but he's a regular family man.  He understands the pressures Sun readers feel to make ends meet.  And he'd rather put the Great back in Britain than be popular.  We challenged him to address five vital issues.  His answers show he is heading in the right direction. 

Maybe, just maybe, there's a light at the end of the Tory tunnel."

We learn all sorts of things about Mr Cameron from the interview.  He's a Villa supporter, for example.  He shares your Editor's love of trash TV (Desperate Housewives and Lost) and he listens to Jonathan Ross on Saturday mornings.

He readily admits that he has never been poor but says that he does understand that life isn't easy for many Sun readers:

"I can't pretend I have walked in everybody's shoes in this country, but I have experienced what it is like to rely on public services and see when they go wrong... I have seen my constituents desperate over the tax credits fiasco when they have to pay back thousands to the Inland Revenue and they simply can't afford it...

People accuse me of caution on tax and benefits.  But I know what it's like for people who live on incredibly tight budgets.  Sun readers have worked out how much they have got for Christmas, how much they have for their summer holiday.  They know what the housekeeping costs, what the rent is and what their council tax is going to be.  They don't like politicians scheming their schemes about some benefit change or tax change.  If the change means a whacking great increase in their council tax, or a cut in their benefit or a change to their child care, it can really change their life."

On The Sun's policy concerns, Mr Cameron offered the following reassurances:

1. A public sector recruitment freeze;
2. He wants to cut income tax in order to breathe life into the economy but the proceeeds of growth will be shared with the public services;
3. Directly-elected police chiefs, higher levels of imprisonment and more rehab places for drug addicts would characterise his law and order agenda;
4. Border controls and an audit of numbers entering and leaving Britain would be introduced;
5. As well as opposing the euro and constitution, Mr Cameron promises to fight for the return of laws governing welfare and employment to Westminster.

Comments

[James Hellyer]

"He shares your Editor's love of trash TV (Desperate Housewives and Lost) and he listens to Jonathan Ross on Saturday mornings."

So his penchant for populist fads isn't restricted to his politics...

As for his answers to This Sun's questions, they're a bit rubbish really.

"A public sector recruitment freeze"

Doesn't address how overstaffed the public sector is - a key theme of the 2005 manifesto he wrote, and something it seems also accepted by the government.

"He wants to cut income tax in order to breathe life into the economy but the proceeds of growth will be shared with the public services"

So he wants to cut taxes, without first controlling spending, in the hope of promoting growth? Surely that means borrowing to fund tax cuts? Inflation? And the risk of the Lawson boom 'n bust redux?

"Directly-elected police chiefs, higher levels of imprisonment and more rehab places for drug addicts would characterise his law and order agenda"

The first point needs defining, the second seems very short term, and I notice his third fails to mention reclassification...

"Border controls and an audit of numbers entering and leaving Britain would be introduced"

What border controls? It's certainly a spending commitment anyway, but I'm skeptical about how you can audit illegal immigration, which by definition avoids the official record.

"As well as opposing the euro and constitution, Mr Cameron promises to fight for the return of laws governing welfare and employment to Westminster."

How exactly will he do this? France and Germany are hardly likely to give up their beloved aquis communitaire, so this sounds like either starry-eyed idealism or a cynical bid for eurosceptic votes.

[Lancake]

But he does support Villa - the man clearly has taste. If he supported Birmingham City on the other hand, even I would be voting for David Davis.

[Elena]

See? Here is the media courting that you've got to do to get anywhere in politics these days. Cameron's team have been very clever to select the Sun. Let's face it, the paper backs the winner of every election, though I doubt they influence it as much as they claim to have done in 1992.

By getting there early, Cameron can expect more positive headlines and editorials should he become Tory leader. Remember, Blair the Murdoch-lover won't be there at the next election. Can Brown control Murdoch as much as his next door neighbour?

[Ted]

I don't think its Tony controlling Murdoch as much as Murdoch "advising" Tony on what he can / can't do and expect Sun/Times support ... If Gordon can lecture Condeleeza Rice into near hatred for himself I'm sure he'll manage to lecture Mr Murdoch enough to guarantee Sun/Times support for the Tories.
Problem is what Murdoch would want in exchange for supporting either of the Davids?

[Brie]

Desperate Housewives and Lost are both Emmy Award winning shows! They're not trash TV!

[Jack Stone]

David Cameron shows in the interview that all this talk by some right-wingers on this site that he is some sort of lefty liberal is rubbish.
David Cameron is putting forward Conservative principles in a moderate sensible way that is and will attract people from across the political divide.
People want hope and they want change and the only way you will convince people you are going to change is with someone, young, fresh and new like DC.
You will not do it by the one more heave, carry on as before rhetoric of the Davis camp.

[Editor]

"Brie" is a cheese btw - "Bree" is Emmy-winning DH's star!

[James Hellyer]

"David Cameron shows in the interview that all this talk by some right-wingers on this site that he is some sort of lefty liberal is rubbish"

And to think I'd reserved that terms for opinions like this:

"You will not do it by the one more heave, carry on as before rhetoric of the Davis camp."

Nobody is arguing for that, Jack. Do us all a favour and buy a new record.

[wasp]

I think its great that he's being honest about tax and spending. Cuts in public spending are not sellable and we can't cut taxes whilst the economy is floating on a sea of debt.

Another good performance by David Cameron.

[James M]

Oh no a Villa fan!

They beat the mighty and true Clarets last night - the rest of the stuff is positive though from DC.

[Rick]

Electing Police Chiefs ? Not Civilian Police Commissioners but the actual Police Chief answerable to the Home Secretary ?

The Home Office proposes merging the South Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, and Humberside Police Forces into a Super Force covering 15.000 km2 and around 6 million citizens...........that will be a huge electorate and give the Police Chief significant political power with a bigger mandate than any MP.

[James Hellyer]

"I think its great that he's being honest about tax and spending. Cuts in public spending are not sellable and we can't cut taxes whilst the economy is floating on a sea of debt."

Except he said he would cut taxes, without first controlling public expenditure. So honest but stupid. Deficit financing here we come...

[Rick]

"Cuts in public spending are not sellable "

Then sit back and watch Gordon Brown do it !

[wasp]

The merging of police forces looks an awful lot like a shift to regional government. Police chiefs have been told to merge with anyone they like but not crossing regional boundaries, its similar to what is going on in the NHS etc.

Just Prescott's little plan.

[tom]

Is it just me or is it reassuring to know that he doesnt support man utd, arsenal or chelsea.

Mid table mediocrity but at least is not jumping on glory boy bandwagon

[Henry Cook]

Can I use this thread for a quick rant? What the hell were DD and DC doing at the National Television Awards getting booed on stage? We really don't need a PR disaster such as this, which could colour either of them before they even get the job. I'd like to know whose bright idea it was, and whoever it is should have a serious dressing down. What kind of a reaction did they expect from the stars of showbusiness, an industry not renowned for Conservative beliefs? Its going to be broadcast on terrestrial television to millions of people tonight, and I'm dreading having to watch it. It makes me so angry when we shoot ourselves in the foot in this kind of way. Just because the contest has been exciting, it doesn't make everyone love Tories. Aargh! Does anyone share my frustration?

[Rob]

"You will not do it by the one more heave, carry on as before rhetoric of the Davis camp."

It sounds to me like David Cameron is the one going for one more big heave, not looking for public spending cuts, no significant tax cutting plans? Sounds exactly like the 2005 Tory Manifesto to me. If the Tories really want to make any progress they've got to stop messing around, people want a choice, not an echo.

[michael]

Henry - Weren't half the audience applauding David Cameron and the other half booing David Davis? ;)

[Henry Cook]

Ah, now that would make sense! But it still frustrates me immensely.

[James Hellyer]

Maybe they were booing Billie Piper?

[michael]

Yer I agree. And its a timely reminder that we've still got a huge image problem to overcome.

I'm not sure Robs advocacy of spending cuts and significant tax cuts will help or be believed. Aren't people more concerned about public services, safer communities, pensions and quality of life issues?

We need to obsess about a new set of issues using a whole new lexicon, without necessarily ditching our desires to see lower taxes and effective public investment.

[James Hellyer]

"Aren't people more concerned about public services, safer communities, pensions and quality of life issues?"

None of which can be addressed without stinging tax increases unless you reduce public spending first. Or will the money for pensions just appear?

[michael]

Yes it does. What do you think I mean by effective public spending? But I avoid the word 'cut' because it plays into the old stereotype.

I also avoid talking about tax and spend as an issue in itself. It's a means to an end. The ends being public services, safer communities, pensions and quality of life issues.

[James Hellyer]

Nobody will believe your spending plans unless you can say where the money will come from. You cannot hide cuts - if that's what you intend - by dodging the questions that will be asked.

[michael]

There's no need to hide spending savings - just don't make them the centre of the campaign. As I said, a means to an end, not an end in itself.