Cameron yesterday admitted to being a salesman and proved it with his old gimmick of memorising his speech. But he failed to answer the key questions about this election: how would he deal more quickly with the deficit? How would he seek to bring down inequality and poverty (neither were mentioned yesterday)? And how would he preserve Britain’s place in the world by pulling away from our allies in Europe?
Will Straw, editor, Left Foot Forward
I thought it was shrill and sounded a bit desperate. The Tories made a strategic mistake in response to the recession by abandoning their attempt to triangulate Labour and occupy the centre ground, and instead promoting a Thatcherite response to the economic crisis. That decision has destroyed their credibility with swing voters and gradually eroded their poll lead. Now all they have left is wrapping themselves in the flag, an abstract appeal for “change” and negative campaigning, increasingly personalised in its focus on Gordon Brown, which I think will backfire.
Luke Akehurst, Labour councillor and blogger
It was a kind of greatest hits, comforting to old fans but no new material. Speaking without notes is hardly a qualification for the prime ministership. Most of us manage it all the time. Its underlying weakness was its vagueness, its fuzziness, and the reluctance to outline where the Tory cuts will fall. That’s because he knows full well how unpopular Tory policies would be if he spelt them out. They are spooked by the narrowing polls and clueless about what to do next. Cameron’s speech proved it.
Paul Richards, columnist
Saying that it is your patriotic duty to become PM convinces no one. The speech was still far too short on what the Tories will do but his promise of change and the narrowing poll lead will galvanise the faithful, so Labour better get its act together fast.
David Hencke, columnist