Cameron’s keynote speech just got a whole lot harder: Conference Special by Garbo
Today is the day that David Cameron makes his keynote speech to conference. Last year it was about keeping the Tories in the game, this year it is about convincing the electorate that the Conservatives are now ready for government. It shows how much the Tories have moved on this year, but unfortunately events may well be conspiring against them.
Yesterday’s offer of peace to the government over the financial crisis was a necessary move but does tie Cameron’s hands somewhat. How can he, on the one hand, make a speech today showing that he is putting aside party differences for the good of the country, yet on the other expose the government’s failings and show that the Tories are better placed when it comes to the economy?
One of the last remaining areas that the Tories still need to convince the public that they are the party of choice is with the economy. It is also one of, if not the most important areas. The stakes are high but room for maneuver is limited.
Cameron needs to tread a fine line between showing his party is better than Labour on the economy and keeping that united front. Today’s speech was always going to be a tough speech for Cameron, and it has just got a whole lot harder. It will be interesting to see if he can pull it off.
Categories: All WW, Party Conferences 2008, Politics Decoded, Tory
I WAS SAILING ALONG WITH CAMERON ,POSSIBLY SWINGING FROM LABOUR TO CONSERVATIVE WITH MY VOTE ,ALL WAS WELL TILL HE OPENED UP AND LET HIS UGLY HEAD BELCH OUT THE T WORD ,THE VERY REASON THEY WILL NEVER GET VOTES IN SCOTLAND ,EVER ,THATCHER ,WHOEVER PUT THAT IN NEEDS HUNG/DRAWN/QUATERED ,SORRY DAVE BUT AS THEY SAY ,WHATS IN THE MAROWS IN THE BONE
@BIG COL: Thanks for the comment, Col.
From the point of view of the Conservatives winning votes among a lot of the people in Scotland, I think I may well agree with you.
I’ll be interested to see what Garbo and Dave C have to say on that.
Matt
Do you think David Cameron has cooked his goose completely in Scotland by praising Maggie Thatcher?
Or did he calculate that it didn’t matter?
If so, what are the implications for the devolution arguments?
Hmmm.
Hard to take seriously ‘Big Col’s position - had he forgotten about Thatcher until Cameron named her or is the very mention of her name enough to kill debate and discussion? Neither explanation casts him in a good light.
That said there are lots of ‘Big Col’s in Scotland - on Cameron’s part the truth is it has little impact because his Tory re-brand hasn’t seriously impacted party support up here….
It was a real gamble to mention the T word. I did raise my eyebrows when it was said - especially as it was said in the in the context of change. I think Cameron was referring to her to appeal to the right of the party, while other parts of the speech would have appealed more to the left. Personally, I would have left her out of it.
Then again, as Liam says, it is a bit short sighted to keep going back to twenty years ago just because her name is mentioned. Though to be honest, with the rise of the SNP the Tories really do not stand much chance in Scotland anyway as they are now, at best, the third party up there. Think the real danger is that it will alienate those in the North and other regions of England and Wales where the Tories have a chance of winning some seats.