Guido Fawkes is running a daily update on his campaign to free The Willetts One. It's very funny.
In the interests of balance I'm launching a campaign to get David Cameron to appear on Newsnight. Up until now he has refused to agree to take Jeremy Paxman's questions. Is he afraid that the 'sharing the proceeds of growth' formulation won't sound so good after the third, fourth and fifth questions on tax? We need to know how our prospective leader will cope with the Paxo treatment. David Davis is on tonight. I've just spoken to Newsnight and Mr Cameron is still stalling at the time of writing.
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Guido funny? You reckon? I think he is in deadly earnest.
He's 435 years old, his boy's falling behind, and he's under a lot of pressure.
Posted by: Wat Tyler | 09 November 2005 at 13:14
Surely David Cameron's campaign is capable of coming on this blog and telling everyone that they have agreed to the Paxman interview? Even the party chairman came here the other day to solicit views about how to expand the franchise and reach out to our party's supporters.
Posted by: loyal_tory | 09 November 2005 at 13:44
Or is the Cameron campaign hoping to continue to stall Paxman until most members have already voted?
Posted by: loyal_tory | 09 November 2005 at 13:47
Cameron should explain his tax policy to Paxman and David Willets should explain David Davis' tax policy.
That would be very funny.
Posted by: Guido Fawkes | 09 November 2005 at 13:54
That would be very funny. We've all heard of politicians running away from the media because they are embarrassed (David Willets) or because they have become an embarrassment (Oliver Letwin) but, seriously, who has ever heard of a Conservative Party leadership candidate running away from the media?
Posted by: loyal_tory | 09 November 2005 at 14:06
Perhaps Cameron's being smart and just waiting until he's seen the treatment DD gets and the Membership's opinions first.
DD's taken the Fox trot over the trenches first. I hope Paxman gives DD the opportunity to talk about himself and his vision/mission for the party instead of Cameron/drugs/young/old boring debate.
Posted by: a-tracy | 09 November 2005 at 14:20
If Ruth Kelly had monstered you over the despatch box, and David Davis had got the better of you in a friendly Question Time debate, would you want to face Jeremy Paxman? Besides, I thought bloodsports had been banned in this country!
Posted by: Daniel Vince-Archer | 09 November 2005 at 14:42
Cameron is a coward.
Posted by: three feathers | 09 November 2005 at 14:44
If word gets out he's running scared it will damage him badly. Three Feathers is right - he's a big soft coward. Really shows the man vs boy aspect of this duel.
Posted by: We want answers | 09 November 2005 at 14:52
I remember Mrs Thatcher's refusal to debate with Kinnock really harmed her didn't it? Just as Blair's refusal to debate with Major/Hague/Howard, really harmed him.
Posted by: Gareth | 09 November 2005 at 14:55
I am a Dave C. supporter but after Question Time I've decided to wait before I send back my ballot. If it is true that Dave has refused to be interviewed by Paxo he'll loose my vote. If you can't take the heat etc.
Posted by: midlands man | 09 November 2005 at 14:57
Why would Cameron want to go on Newsnight? It's bad politics - all risk and no return.
Davis signed-up at a time that he was clutching at straws with nothing to lose. He may get away with it, but it could easily backfire.
Posted by: Mark Fulford | 09 November 2005 at 14:58
Mark's absolutely right.
DC's biggest error was going on QT. With a 50% lead in the polls he should have sat tight and waited for the votes to roll in.
Posted by: Gareth | 09 November 2005 at 15:01
Gareth, incumbent's always try to avoid giving the opposition the exposure of a debate of equals, but this is very different.
a) Both Davids are seeking our votes, neither has yet been crowned
b) being interviewed by paxo is part of the job and the leader of the opposition should take every chance he can to get his message over.
Posted by: midland man | 09 November 2005 at 15:01
Gareth - what you are suggesting is that DC can only win if he avoids scrutiny. What a terrible message.
Posted by: Former DC supporter | 09 November 2005 at 15:03
Not true. John Major wanted to debate with Blair in 1997 and Blair refused. Those with nothing to lose agree to high risk debates. Those with everything to lose should play saftey first. My respect for DC's tactical skills would be dented if he needlessly took this risk.
Posted by: Gareth | 09 November 2005 at 15:05
DC is cleverly copying the strategy which worked for Blair in 97 - sit on your lead and avoid making mistakes.
Posted by: Machiavelli | 09 November 2005 at 15:05
So you'd rather elect a leader and then find out he can't do the job? How is that in the party's interests?
Posted by: James Hellyer | 09 November 2005 at 15:06
I saw Mr Cameron speak at our Association dinner. He really is charming and very brave. I don't believe he would not do the Paxman interview if asked. The BBC are just trying to stop him by not inviting him and make him look like he is running scared.
Posted by: Betty Fowler | 09 November 2005 at 15:06
I'm sure it took a lot of courage to go your association dinner. However Cameron's camp did confirm he was invited onto NewsNight, but was having "trouble" fitting it into his diary.
Posted by: James Hellyer | 09 November 2005 at 15:10
Cameron the Conservative Coward. As everyone seems to agree that the more exposure he gets the worse he will do I'm going to ring William Hill to see if I can get ods on anaothe rleadership election within 12 months. Unless he goes into hiding we'll see him exposed as a one speech wonder by the year end.
Posted by: Cameron the coward | 09 November 2005 at 15:10
James, would it be a real problem to you if Fox came out in support of Cameron?
Betty, even as a DC supporter, your take of the situation seems somewhat patriotic!
Posted by: Mark Fulford | 09 November 2005 at 15:11
Mr Hellyer, are you being rude implying that we are an intimidating bunch in our Association? Actually we're rather freindly - I even asked my gardiner to offer nice Mr. Cameron a line, but he said he had his own.
It must be the BBC's fault.
Posted by: Betty Fowler | 09 November 2005 at 15:15
BF, go and get a life.
Posted by: Mark Fulford | 09 November 2005 at 15:18
I saw Cameron at a meeting a couple of days ago and he said he had agreed to do Newsnight but not agreed on a date yet.
Posted by: wasp | 09 November 2005 at 15:26