David Cameron's pitch for the centre ground
The Prime minister appears determined to take advantage of the disarray in other parties, not to go flying off on an ideological crusade, but by making a pitch for the centre ground of politics and trying to represent as many people as possible.
Speaking to a 200-strong audience at the Blenheim Literary Festival in his Oxfordshire constituency, David Cameron said:
“We have got to respond to what is happening by saying ‘we are not going to charge off to the Right because they charged off to the Left.”
He added:
“If we deliver the economic security that we have spoken about, solve the entrenched social problems in our country and don’t rush off to the Right, but govern for the whole of the country, then the strength of this party as the party of Government for 2020 and 2025 will be very strong. It is in our hands.
“The Conservative party won 37 per cent at the last election and I can’t see any reason why we can’t get up to 40 or 43 per cent like Mrs Thatcher at the next election, if we can demonstrate – particularly if Labour charges off to the Left – that we are there for everybody.”
Recalling the actuality - rather than the myth - of what Margaret Thatcher's government was like, he also said that people tended to “misremember what Margaret Thatcher was like”, insisting that she was more pragmatic and less right wing than people thought.
He said: “She obviously had deep principles, she was Prime Minister at the time when very difficult decisions had to be made, there were great ideological divides over nuclear disarmament, nationalisation and the rest of it, but she was also a pragmatist.”
Speaking to a 200-strong audience at the Blenheim Literary Festival in his Oxfordshire constituency, David Cameron said:
“We have got to respond to what is happening by saying ‘we are not going to charge off to the Right because they charged off to the Left.”
He added:
“If we deliver the economic security that we have spoken about, solve the entrenched social problems in our country and don’t rush off to the Right, but govern for the whole of the country, then the strength of this party as the party of Government for 2020 and 2025 will be very strong. It is in our hands.
“The Conservative party won 37 per cent at the last election and I can’t see any reason why we can’t get up to 40 or 43 per cent like Mrs Thatcher at the next election, if we can demonstrate – particularly if Labour charges off to the Left – that we are there for everybody.”
Recalling the actuality - rather than the myth - of what Margaret Thatcher's government was like, he also said that people tended to “misremember what Margaret Thatcher was like”, insisting that she was more pragmatic and less right wing than people thought.
He said: “She obviously had deep principles, she was Prime Minister at the time when very difficult decisions had to be made, there were great ideological divides over nuclear disarmament, nationalisation and the rest of it, but she was also a pragmatist.”
Comments
Hi Dave, Im Jim (as you know) call me Jimmymac if you like Dave. (but you know that too)
anyway, Dave, 43% is not exactly awesome either, you want a better plan, I know, lets have a referendum. in fact lets have one every year on your budget plans. Hows that for a mandate Dave? In fact lets not pass on any more laws until we ask people first, then that we can be sure.
dont panic, Dave, I'm your friend, got it covered for you.
Demand 4. The people’s consent:
No law, treaty or government decision shall take effect without the consent of the majority of the people, by positive vote if so demanded, and that none shall continue to have effect when that consent is withdrawn by the majority of the people
Demand 5. No taxation or spending without consent:
No tax, charge or levy shall be imposed, nor any public spending authorised, nor any sum borrowed by any national or local government except with the express approval the majority of the people, renewed annually on presentation of a budget which shall first have been approved by their respective legislatures.
As always Happy to help.