Hustings Report (3): Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Our third hustings report comes from Newcastle-upon-Tyne.  It's written by Dominic Llewellyn.  Dominic is another DC supporter!

"On Tuesday morning the leadership battle made its way to Newcastle on a typically sunny but chilly day.

For me, my day got made a lot easier when – disappointingly – David Davis’ team cancelled their visit around an educational charity I’m involved in, Own It, which looks at empowering some of the most disadvantaged young people in the North East to engage with the worlds of education and work.

David Davis turned up first to the clicking of cameras and followed by a huddle of journalists with Cameron walking in about ten minutes later, surrounded by his entourage of Cameron Campaign t-shirt wearers looking young and friendly. The Davis team, lacked man power and also the flair which the likes of Dan Ritterband et al have helped contribute to the panache which David Cameron already exudes. There seemed to be only a few people in the Davis team but around double this were part of DC’s full-time team. The only sight of a David Davis t-shirt was one wrapped over the arm of his assistant and the only literature given out was a photocopy of today’s Newcastle Journal which had an article about 14 local association chairmen supporting David Davis (plus this). Cameron on the other hand had manifestos, three types of flyer, mints with the slogan “a breath of fresh air” emblazoned on them as well as the aforementioned multitude of young people.

Unfortunately for David Davis his morning didn’t immediately get much better; his microphone wasn’t working properly and for the first third of his opening speech his voice was muffled. He did though appear far more charismatic than he had been at other times throughout the leadership contest. Focussing on issues such as party unity, social justice, tax and his record of removing Blunkett and Beverley Hughes, Davis gave a speech which most politicians would have been proud of.

His speech reflected the need to keep Conservative values today such as lower taxes, the nation state and individual liberties. He commented on his experience saying “we must be sure the leader of the opposition has the resilience and experience to defeat Blair and Brown at the dispatch box”. Davis ended saying “New Labour is floundering. It is vital party members chose a leader who can beat them and win seats where it matters. I believe I am the man for that job.”

The momentum though clearly was with Cameron and this reflected in the way confidence exuded out of him. He started with a funny story about how Mrs Cameron nearly gave birth to their son up here. His themes were much similar to Davis, as this campaign has gone on longer, you realise that the two of them are not as far apart as people have portrayed. A large part of Cameron’s speech touched on how we should change, how the Conservatives should be the “voice of optimism and hope”. He picked up three points:

1. We should reflect the country we govern by providing policies to aid urban regeneration, policies supporting women – in working and at home and with young people, helping them get on the first rung of the ladder, whatever that may be – a job, a house etc.
2. We should be distinctively Conservative with our message though, touching on important issues such as climate change and Africa.
3. We should take what we believe and say it to today’s generation – lower taxation, not because we to help the rich get richer, but so that our economy can compete, and a small state, because we believe there is a such a thing as society and it’s not just the state. (Both candidates were strong on the voluntary sector.)

Cameron’s speech also reflected the momentum of his campaign, with 111 MPs backing him, along with a large proportion of the Shadow Cabinet on top of the weekend’s endorsement from William Hague. David Cameron closed by stating whoever the public think are the party of the past will lose, and whoever they think are the part of the future will win, and asked the audience gathered to “come with me”. Both candidates answered questions well, with relatively similar answers and it seemed that the two of them genuinely had a kind regard for one another.

Walking away however, I couldn’t help but think that Davis doesn’t really believe he can win anymore and that he is trying to ensure he is not embarrassed. Whatever is to be, it will make interesting reading and watching. At last the Conservative Party is getting some positive press about how we can make Britain a better place for all."

Comments

[Dominic Llewellyn]

There were about 330 there. Thanks David for your post. Would say I think DD showed that he didn't think he could win... he only dared mentioning people voting for him once or twice as opposed to a confident Cameron who asked people to go with him, vote for him, choose him etc. His charity cancellation suggests this. Also if he thought he had a realistic chance, surely his team would have been highly visible, they were anything but so. As regards to Lord Tebbitt, if indeed DD thought this would help sway people, why didn't he take advantage of this and say it himself. I think DD has a lot to offer the party but believe it will be in a supporting role with DC as leader.

[Terry Keen]

I believe that the final result could be closer than people think, but not on a knife edge. (I have already voted for DC).

Personally, I think that DC has got more of a chance of uniting the party than DD. Who could ever imagine David Curry, Sir Malcolm Rifkind, Gerald Howarth and Bill Cash supporting the same man?

I do suppose that the same goes for Damian Green and Lord Tebbit, but David Willets (so many David's) seemed to very nearly defect recently.

In politics, image is very important, and everybody involved has one. I just believe that DC's is more voter friendly.

[Alastair Matlock]

Excellent report, Dominic. Thanks for your effort on this. Was there a straw poll done at the end of the hustings as was reported happening in Leicester or Solihull yesterday?

[confused.com]

How do we get 111 MPs for DC????? He only got 90 votes and only has 75 declared supporters. To add his votes and new supporters together supposes that everyone who declared for him actually voted for him and everyone who has declared for him since is a new vote. Surely it is 75 supporters, until MPs are brave enough to publicly declare their support!???

[Rick]

"how long is he going to last when 111 of the party`s 198 MP`s are against him."

Funny that....party members are inconsequential then Jack Stone ? I think the Vicars of Bray on the Tory Benches will find themselves oriented to whomsoever can dish out the spoils have no fear of that. I wonder how many more with do a Peter Temple-Morris ?

[TC]

With regards to DD being lazy, I have contacted both sides about their opinion on IR35 on their web sites, on October 31. So far, only Davis' camp has bothered to reply.

Whilst I don't expect a detailed poicy announcement (in fact I think Cameron is right to avoid detailed financial pledges at this point), I feel this is a good litmus test for both candidates. It bothers me that Cameron's team can't even bother to reply to such a query.

[Jack Stone]

There are three pre-conceptions the public have about the party that I think have led to defeats at the last two elections.
Firstly the party is obssessed about Europe. Secondly the party is old fashioned and stuck in the past and thirdly it puts tax cuts before spending on public services.
The party as to change so we can end this image the public have of us.
David Davis because of his age and because he is by instinct a right-winger who if pushed will revert to the core strategy that as done so much damaged to the party does not have it within himself to convince the public that the party as changed and without change the party will stay in opposition.
David Cameron with his youth, his willingness to change and his pragmatic rather than dogmatic attitiude to policy is the person not just to change the party but to convince the public it as changed because it is not going to be good enough just to change we must convince the public that change is genuine.
At the end of the day this election is about who can win as the party cannot do anything about all of the issues conservatives are concerned about until it returns to power and I think in there heart of hearts there are very few who think that David Davis is more likely to win the next election than David Cameron.

[Haymarket]

"The party as to change"... "core strategy that as done so much..."
Is there any significance in dropping your 'H's, Jack? Your not a cabbie, are you?

[Haymarket]

That should, of course, have been - "You're not a cabbie, are you?"

[Selsdon Man]

He makes typos like all of us, Haymarket!

[Al G]

But if cutting tax increases public spending... then what?

Jack?

[Rick]

Much worse than that AI G is the fact that Brown has re-defined Tax. In the old days Working Families Tax Credit etc would have been Public Spending; now it is defined as Negative Income Tax - this is how Brown keeps his tax ratio figure understated.

If the Tories were to cut these benefit payments Tax Ratio would rise on current definitions. There seems to be little grasp of hos much Brown has changed the structure of government accounts and the problewms that poses for future administrations

[Bred 11s]

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