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Platitudinal nonsense. Why did the people in the audience cheer the Cantle Report as if they were cheering a declaration to lower taxes?

Desperation? Yes! Will he win the next election? Probably. He has cast an interlocking series of spells that will woo the public. Prepare to become Blue.

There is truly no difference between David Cameron and Tony Blair. Except perhaps that Tony Blair's instincts are more Conservative than David Cameron's.

Reassuringly different to his ghastly predecessors; which probably means he has no chance of getting elected. I hope.

Very impressive indeed. First Conservative leader in years and years who might actually be primeminister material. Witty, sharp even able to make fun of himself and the party at the same time as keeping his cool and talking about political priorities in a passionate way - without leaving the audience with a 'fake' feeling. And stealing the best Labour slogans too..Brown - you should be scared....

Has David Cameron done enough to win the next election? - No. He is still a Tory.

An excellent speech, and the most inpiring one, aside from the outgoing Blair, of the last three weeks. As a young Labour supporter I have to say politics is getting interesting agian.

Cameron is Cinzano to Blair's Martini.

I prefer matured Scotch.

Boring, boring, boring. It sounded like a copy of Tony Blair 10 years ago, No feeling, no power, no inspiration.

This was just a feeble attempt to re-brand the party into New Conservative or more correctly a New Labour lookalike.

Devoid of content and the merest hint of jingoism creeping in.....

A pointless and empty speech by a total non entity from a has been political party.

If the British people vote for this man then they get all they deserve!

Cameron on Family... we would stop women robbing through divorce, tax abortionists, and childless women...

And encourage young families as the centre of life and the purpose of work

..to create a great fatherland...of lads happy to be fathers and less melancholy with feminist hostilities

a world where people have the children young and then go into higher education as and when...

etc

David Cameron is hardly a rebel rouser. He is not making much of an impression other than appearing nice.

I suspect that come the election, Gordon Brown will grind him into the ground.

He can fulfil his true calling and become a friend of the earth...

Forget Armando Ianucci, this man is doing a great job of parodying himself. First it was 'Let sunshine win the day' - possibly the most laughably vacuous slogan in recent political history. Had his speech writers just come back from a stint on Teletubbies?

Now it's 'Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime'. Brilliant. The man is a political karaoke machine - currently stuck on Blair's Greatest Hits.

More mushy PR stuff delivered like a public school speech day competition. We no longer want to flog'em- we clearly think it enough just to snog 'em. Yuk.

The way when he first mentioned they
were back in the centre ground,i could have swore he was talking as though they had just won an election.
Cameron is a kidder so is Gideon the
public will soon tire of this nonsense,what did i think of his speech NOT MUCH that's what.

Funnily enough; I have voted Conservative most of my adult (I am 40) life not least to keep Gordon Brown away from all things breakable. It hasn't really worked has it? Actually he's done alright! Anyway, I listened hoping for some incisive wisdom and now leave the house feeling somewhat cheated; I mean, is there anything or anybody that Mr Cameron doesn't 'believe' in or 'support' with or without 'substance.'
The funnily enough bit is that I won't now be voting Conservative on this showing.

I am desperately disappointed in the current approach destined to tempt the voting public into thinking the Tories have some incredibly clever scenario that they will paint later. It's nothing but humbug, they haven't a new idea in their combined heads, and to suggest that they wish to defer taxation changes until stability arrives is just nonsense. Half of the populatioj will give their vote to the abolishment of the hated death tax, viewed as even more malodorous than the poll tax.
Meanwhile the population continues to hate the greed displayed by present Government, and cannot wait for the disembowling of Mr. Brown.

There was so much fluff and contradiction - how does he plan to balance a stable economy with the endless list of social welfare and defense programmes he proposed to expand? How can small businesses, which offer a huge percentage of the employment in this country offer more flexibility to their employees and still maintain growth? How does he plan on ending the crisis in Darfur...not that he is wrong to highlight it as something that needs action. The same type of arguments could be made of any of his other points. Labour hasn't got many of these right either, but at least they are willing to come forward with plans. In fact, I don't think Cameron's speech today said anything 'substantial'. I could have heard the same comments from virtually any group of uni students, and they would have had just as few plans as Cameron on how to implement them.

Cappuccino Cameron: lots of froth, not much substance.

Very good speech. He really showed that the conservative party is a different party. I think it was a conference speech of a future British PM.

David is speaking a lot of sense and I am fully supportive of his position and of his determination to stand firm on what he believes is right for this nation. He has my vote but the Conservatives still have a lot to do to win over enough support to secure an election success.

I didn't know blancmange could speak.

Cameron's first major speech to the Conservative Party Conference since Sunday was competent, if not inspiring.
Unlike Ming he looks the part. I don't quite buy into Cameron but recognise he is a person of obvious ability.
Today's speech was just a continuation of the phoney war which will only end when Brown becomes Prime Minister and real hostilities begin.
That will be an interesting contest because they have different strengths and it is not clear who will win in the end. Brown might be a more difficult opponent for Cameron than some currently assume.

Good Afternoon,
It was very blurred (or is it Blaired ?)

this is just another coat of paint to hide the shambeles they let when they lost
The best would be a lib dem goverment or a hung parliment to get us out of the mess we are in
all this white wash is no good for us they need to get the act together

Totally Useless!
A totally 'I wish I was Tony Blair' speech. Has he no shame?!
The man looks and acts like a cross between a cabbage patch kid and humpty dumpty!
I'm afraid as a pre-1995 Tory, I will be voting Labour again - with the Liberal as a distance second choice.
Gordon Brown will be a strong leader, who has never needed to imitate anyone. There is clearly no choice again.

Are we really sure that Blair and Cameron are not twins?

Nothing new realy , no policies, Hasn't got a clue how real people have to live and struggle every day of their lives just to make ends meet, especially up north.
He's yet another wide boy car salesman giving it some spiel.

Utterly terrible.

Cameron's speech was a lengthy, patronising lesson to the Tory faithful on why it is that they need to adopt huge swathes of Labour's platform.

The only interesting and amusing moments came when the camera panned to the disquieted reaction of dyed-in-the-tweed Conservatives shaking their heads at some of his more shocking statements; his support for civil partnerships being getting by far the best reaction.

As a Labour supporter disquietingly intrigued by recent Tory statements on work/life balance, localism and childcare, the speech was a much-appreciated wake-up call. If the Tory party's feels the faithful need such a basic course on the merits of social justice and respect for diversity, then even contemplating a Conservative government is not an option.

As a Cameron Tory (a Lib Dem up until last summer) this speech was never really going to be that important for me – what he needed to do was reinforce the view among the more sceptical (i.e. older) party members that his changes will bring power, and then for wider public consumption he had an opportunity to turn up the mood music once again. We don’t need policies now, not 2-3 years out from the next general election, but we do need to make sure that when it does come the public are willing to listen to us.

The single ‘policy commitment’ (if you can call it that) was something that really did win applause from the party– a British Bill of Rights sounds good, will probably be practical in terms of the legal conundrums we seem to run into with terrorist legislation and will give the press something to actually talk about other than ‘sunshine David’. Whether however it will be possible considering the integral role the ECHR plays in EU membership is another question, so fingers crossed he actually has a plan to make it work.

One thing I disliked was his support for faith schools – I don’t believe that education and religion should mix, and if he is in favour of the CofE schools new policy of 25% intake being non-Christian, then I’m getting a mixed message. This seems to be more about avoiding confrontation, which is unfortunate, as I believe this is an important battleground.

Overall, it did the job – either way he had my vote.

I felt his speech to be flat and lacking any real depth. Even the conservative audience seemed slow to give reward his points. He has yet to be fully adopted by the rank and file of conservatives. I will say however, I do appreciate his approach to solving such problems faced by global warming with a cross party agreement. If only our politicians could spend time in seeking agreement and less time in fighting each other, then perhaps far more would be achieved.

I think Cameron hits the spot each time. I agree with a huge amount of what he says and what's more, I like the fact he recognises Boris' strengths (a sharp intellect) and doesn't boot him out for (his weaknesses) saying what many may think is the 'right thing at the wrong time in the wrong place'.

You've got my support Dave!

David Cameron has secured my vote but that is because I'm a conservative and therefore vote conservative. There must be a fair number like me and a fair number who vote labour because they are labour party supporters. Of course it is the non-committed vote that is important, and as for that (when the time comes) who knows?

Let me make my position clear. I'd rather not vote than vote Tory. However, Cameron’s speech seemed convincing. New Labour, especially Gordon Brown must be very worried. Elections aren’t decided at party conferences but if you compare Brown’s speech in Manchester with Cameron’s today its clear to me that the first time since Black Wednesday, the Tories seem electable.

Utterly terrible.

Cameron's speech was a lengthy, patronising lesson to the Tory faithful on why it is that they need to adopt huge swathes of Labour's platform.

The only interesting and amusing moments came when the camera panned to the disquieted reaction of dyed-in-the-tweed Conservatives shaking their heads at some of his more shocking statements; his support for civil partnerships being getting by far the best reaction.

As a Labour supporter disquietingly intrigued by recent Tory statements on work/life balance, localism and childcare, the speech was a much-appreciated wake-up call. If the Tory party's feels the faithful need such a basic course on the merits of social justice and respect for diversity, then even contemplating a Conservative government is not an option.

He's the first Tory leader for 10 years with a chance of leading the party to power. The first for 15 to sound and look like a rounded, normal person, albeit one with a relatively privileged upbringing and a decent education behind him. Does he have the full support of the old and very blue heart of the Tory party? On the evidence of his reception and given the stark absence of any real mentions of Europe in his speech, I fear he may not. It's not easy but he really has to find a way to appease these people without alienating those who want to see an economically liberal and socially conservative party in power. Excellent on the relationship with the US. Finally, detailed policy can come later - he's right there. What people want now is 'themes' they can assess.

CAMERON: CONSERVATISM SIMPLY IS NOT HIS SPORT!!! HE IS THERE TO CONSERVE THE BLAIRITE LEGACY ...We'd rather vote for Brown

I think the best thing anybody could do would be to watch the spoof on call me dave and princess tony on the website put up by ukip i think It shows there is no difference beween them cameron is just a clone of blair ,another ham actor chamelion who orientates around their so called centre which brings a combination of right wing thatcherism in pfi and centralised statism by expanding public sector The worst of all worlds which will crumble at rhe first bad economic news as it is all built on cridit basedon over inflated house prices Cameron`s speech is Blair`s writ small without as much smalz

yet another cote of paint to try and cover the mess they left last time
the bet thing would be a Lidb dem win next time to sort the uk out and go forward

All I hear from David is what Tony has said in his speeches so is he reading from the same hymn sheet and trying to jump on the Green vote of the Lib Dems at the same time.

I could only put up with it for about 5 minutes.
We are getting no more but the old 'all things to all men'.
It is clear that they are saying 'vote for us' but are determined not to tell us exactly what they intend to do.
There does not seem to be any supporting voting at the conference as usual.No doubt they will claim support, but of course there is no evidence that the Tory party has changed, they might fool the electorate for a while but it will not last.
Just a final thought- people are saying that his approach can be likened to that of Tony Blair. Perhaps some people might say we have had enough of that.

That old Chicago song immediately came to mind:
"Give 'em the old razzle dazzle, razzle dazzle 'em
"Long as you keep 'em way off balance
How can they spot you got no talents
razzle dazzle 'em
And they'll never catch wise"

Regarding Cameron using the NHS - I think the likes of Karol would probably damn him if did, damn him if he didn't...
General a good, wide ranging speech I thought. A lack of firm policy, yes, but was anyone niave enougth to expect otherwise?
I am starting to think I may be proud to vote Conservative at the next election rather than just doing so to try and keep the controlling, big state, "two legs good" that New Labour have shown themsleves to be.

More heart on sleeve than Blair- style hearts and flowers.

Some reiteration of near policy, some broad hints of preparedness to actually DO something rather than simply play on sentiment.

It won't please tweedy peopple from Cheltenham - but we know how they'll vote any way......

Excellent speech. Now for the implemetation. A lot of hard work until the present Government is replaced. Go to it.

The problem with so many-a-partical speech these days is that it portrays more of a desire to occupy No. 10 than do anything for the County. Cameron is such a person - no substance, no meaning, seeking to hide in the long grass of the middle ground. No individuality, no Churchil, no Thatcher - how moring.

Well, we now have a Tory party to the left of New Labour. Politics is getting interesting again.

No he won't nothing has been said what he would do or give us pensioners its as we have just been forgotten about and brushed under the carpet.

Many people think that David Cameron and Tony Blair are alike,maybe,but I think the exception is,he will do what he says he will do and not lie like Blair.

Not quite what retired people wanted to hear, yes we need a reduction in Taxes, yes we need good NHS,but don't forget it is difficult to keep warm and the cost of running a car,a necessity not a luxury, for us people out in the country villages. As Old Age Pensioners we can't boost our income.Yes I hope we can have a Conservitave Government next time.

In the main quite noteworthy, espcially when he touched on the "Blah blah blah-blah.".

Also, a few raised eyebrows with the controverial "Blah-de-blah blah", but that will quickly become yesterday's news.

I understand Mr Cameron is from a P.R background and to me it seemed a glib "tell them what they want to hear" speech .He spoke of substance but the rhetoric was desperately short on substance. And does a "conservative" leopard ever change his spots??

just returned from the Conference. serious debate; (which, as Conservatives, we welcome)brilliantly organised; hugely energising. DC spoke fleetingly at a fringe I attended last night. Despite the brevity, he was, as always, electrifyingly good. I'm not one of the doubters - never have been - rejoined the Party after DCs election as Leader on 7th December last year.
feel we now have a chance of being a Party of the people once again, and so grateful to the top team for their diligence and persuasiveness in redirecting our combative energies OUTWARDS rather than towards each other!
love it all. so proud to be a Conservative again.
come & join us...

Love the green bits, welcome the civil partnerships, NHS and minimum wage bits. Like some of the civil liberties bits but not convinced by abandoning the Human Rights Act...but on these (and on education) there is no advantage in looking to Labour - they are as bad or worse.

So I find as I approach 40 that I might well be voting Conservative, just as patronising adults told me I would when I was a lefty teenager. But I'm pretty sure the party has come to me, not the other way around....

Crap. No. Probably, given Blair / Brown etc are even worse.

I listened to the whole of David Cameron's speech and am generally in agreement with his approach. However, I do not agree with so-called same sex marriages especially when children are involved. A child needs both a mother and father for guidance. My other big issue is the despicable Inheritance Tax ~ Death Duties. I would have liked David to have made a commitment to abolish it completely when he becomes our Prime Minister.

A speech of substance? One is reminded of Disraeli's jibe at Gladstone: A sophistical rhetorician inebriated with the exuberance of his own verbosity.

When oh when will the "suit" give us some substance?

It was an excellent speech from a remarkable young man.
He will definitely take the Tories to victory at the next election.

An absolute joke , I wouldnt vote for them if they were the only party standing. They have only changed on the surface, deep down there's no difference!!

he was talking about the reality of the society.his speech is not politacal way. if u want to be perfect society sb should hold a mirror in order to show the harsh truth which occur inspite of ignoring. thy your self the best way to be modern and solving problems is education.
pls remember your past!!

Poor start. Improved. But never really inspirational except to dedicated followers. Some lustre but no actual shine.

Just another stage performer - just like Blair's speech, if you 'read' his speech 'it doesn't amount to a hill of beans' and is mostly nonsense.
What a circus - Camaroon, Blairtulant, Borish, Brownian, Vaguish and Reedfull - not one of their total outputs worth an hour from Michael Foot.

I am sure that most people responding here never actually watched the speech. There is a night and day difference between Cameron and Blair. Cameron believes in liberty, whereas Blair has a Stalinistic tendency to control everything. Scrapping ID cards, Excellent! Scrapping the useless, criminal and terrorist protecting human rights legislation, replacing it with common sence Bill of rights, Outstanding. Making immigrants integrate and not isolate, Superb. Better equipment and pay and conditions for our soldiers, Excellent. The tackling of the greater threat of environmental catastrophe. Wonderful. The putting marriage and families at the heart of social responsibility. Terrific! I suspect their are a few jealous and worried labour supporters who are posting here. Give me Cameron's libertarian common sense over Blairs lies, and totalitarian tendencies any day!

Obviously didn't watch Mrs Pritchard last night, could have picked up a pointer or two.

The thing is, there should have been a mention of the EU? Apparently two-thirds of Conservatives are sympathetic to leaving, and hundreds of people went to the Better Off Out (www.betteroffout.co.uk) meeting yesterday.

The EU issue is crucial to trade policy, democratic renewal, farming, fisheries, health and safety and loads of other things. Cameron must talk about this reality if he wants to lead the country

I honestly thought he did well - No it was not a 'tub thumping' type of speech, it was, I believe an honest,
calm, grown up summation of how he has led (both this week and for the last 10 months) and is leading the Conservatives towards a responsible, caring governmental position.
Unlike Blair he has never had to take 'acting' lesssons - he is the real thing.

Mmmm! Is Cameron really the only alternative we have to the dreadful Gordon?

What a let down! Lots of worthy but rather dull content, nothing to raise the rafters. The delegates were clapping dutifully, not enthusiastically. The real problem was in the delivery - no passion in evidence, no raw emotion showing through about what 'Dave' really believes. Compared to Blair's speech last week (and we should acknowledge TB as the master of the game), it felt flat and downbeat.I have a feeling that he is going to find it difficult to carry the party, never mind the wider electorate, unless he can raise his game. His 'contender' speech last year was far more effective.

He needs better speechwriters, more and better content - and a very long practice session in front of the mirror. Otherwise even the doe-eyed Sam will find it hard to know when to applaud!

Commie Ron is a useful idiot. He has not got the strength to take on the State. Thatcher missed the bus and the State has grown like a cancer. Refusal to deal with the main issues we speak of daily - crime immigration tax and the EU shows he is a Fraude just like the C Change people. I hope the Conservative Party dies. It serves no useful purpose any longer and the majority are not voting for any of the useless eaters who owe their allegiances to their wallets. Until a real conservative leads them they can do without my vote and 5 million others. Blair and Commie Ron are the same person.

In a very long time the conservative party has finally found a young dynamic purposeful and focused leader who knows what to do and how to do it. I think we should despite our political differences give it to him. Well done David C., the next PM.

It was a cut and paste job, taken from Tony Blair, I don't believe he's anything but a "genuine fake" And he is shamelessly exploiting his family-also he can afford private medicine

I don't think I've ever seen a conference so shocked by the man they voted to be their leader. Young, but patrician. Tory but left-wing social policies. Support for the NHS, the positives of immigrants and civil marriages.

As others have said, the lovely lady with the smiley face behind him on the platform laughed and clapped in all the right places, but the stoney faces around the hall were a sight to behold.

Non-Tories who see him for the vacuous chameleon he is won't vote for him, but now neither will "proper" Tories either!

But, you know what I think? I think the bulk of the simple-minded electorate who only have a superficial impression of what he is really saying will actually buy out and vote in their herds and droves to put him in power.

From which point, our problems will only begin again.

Pass the vodka...

Trying so hard to act a good speech but needs lessons from Tony Blair!

I would trust David Cameron and the Shadow cabinet more than I trust the present Prime Minster and Cabinet.

I have spent the last four days listening to some very enlightened and committed shadow ministers who have been talking good common sense, they deserve a chance to prove themselves.

At last, a ray of hope for the future, an excellent speech. What a load of vitriol against David Cameron from some of your viewers, who like the Labour Party like to bully people into believing the state knows best. Returning to the fundamentals such as belief in marriage and families at the root of producing well behaved children who turn into responsible adults is to be applauded. I’m fed up with this government taking so much in taxes including raiding our pension funds and squandering it on its latest daft initiative. Schools should be well disciplined places to enable kids to learn, not a breeding ground for thugs who know they are “untouchable� by all the “rights� given to them by the present government. Cameron wants the individual to take responsibility Blair and Brown, both control freaks believe they know best. I suggest your more intemperate viewers take a lesson in personal responsibility.

I must say I want to beleive that there is a real alternative to Labour but this didn't do it for me. Who wants to listen to carefully manicured, calculated, 'speeches' anyway - it may work in a hall full of converts but from a distance it looks rather staged. He attempted to make a very 'nice' and 'balanced' argument and even in his awkward moments I found myself wanting him to succeed. (which is interesting for me - I usual vote Labour) but who on earth is going to beleive that the Tories have suddenly become caring and thoughtful? DC is undoubtedly a charming young man who has been placed at the head of the Tory Trojan horse. I am afraid that we all know what is going to happen though if the gates are opened and the horse is allowed in...it won't be 'nice'.

Good end-of-term stuff delivered by the Head Boy. The men took centre stage yesterday - Messrs Haig and, dare I say it, Ankram. I could believe in both of them, and they gave rousing speeches, but the country may only vote Cameron in if they fear the alternative - Brown or Reid.
A victory by default? Possibly.

I think he is doing splendidly. From what I could see he and his team pursuaded the extremists that his policy is entirely valid. He speaks with compassion and conviction and has convinced me that less state interference in the minutiae of all departments will only bring about more effective government - and I'm an old Tory, 70 years of age.

In the main it was a sound speech, not excellent..but believable. I liked his stance on Public services notably the NHS..(didn't mention dentists!..we are still waiting Mr Blair?)Did not like the Foreign policies aka Iraq & Afghanistan which seem to run tandemly in both parties, he did however highlight the failings to support our fighting services & pledged more, much more, & material benefits?... Education,
housing,BOE,low morgages & Family values in real terms(not spin a la New Labour), marriage & civil partnerships do determine "a good country" . This will not go down in history as a spectacular speech, but believe it ticks all/most of, the right boxes for the populace...which is much more important.

Could you please edit these posts for basic spelling, punctuation and maybe even a bit of style before you upload them. All these illiterate Newsnight viewers - scary.

As David Cameron has a disabled Son, I had hoped he would give us Carers a mention.

But I suppose unlike many of the 7million Carers in the UK he can afford to have help looking after his son.

It's always stuck in my mind that Cameron's a former lobbyist; he earnt a living communicating opinions depending on who would pay him most. Makes it hard to not wonder if he isn't still comunicating which ever opinion he thinks will benefit himself most today.

He seems like a nice lad. Some of his little school friends seem quite nice too.

Would I want them to run the Parish Council?

No.

Weaker than expected, it should have been David Davis who triumphed as leader anyway. But I will still vote for the Conservative Party in the hope they will get rid of Labour and Blair and the proposed Brown. Prefer blue to red anytime!

Unfortunately David Cameron gave no guidance as to what he will be intending to do if elected. Again all window dressing and nothing in the shop to sell. The only way the conservatives will win under Cameron is if New Labour make a total mess of the economy before the next election and the public will then realise they have been lied to since 1997

Doesn't a little bit of public schoolboy politeness and charm go a long way…?

Commitment to abolishing the Human Rights Act got a big cheer. The Act is much maligned by politicians, but I wonder how many of them, let alone those doing the cheering, could detail what rights are and aren't covered by the Act.

Wouldn't we still be bound by The European Convention on Human Rights? Ultimately how different would a separate British Bill of Rights be? Much the same, but in a Tory rhetoric covered wrapper.

That says it all really doesn't it? Fancy wrapping paper and no substance!

I just wish to point out that I will not have the opportunity (even if I wanted it) to vote for David Cameron. I don't live in his constituency. There is a tendency for people to think of the two party leaders as contenders for a sort presidency and the question posed here is evidence of it.

It's hard to disagree with anything David Cameron said in his speech today, mainly because he said little of any real substance. What has happened to traditional Tory Party policy? Fewer MPs, 'smaller' Government, lower taxes, more individual responsibility.. etc. etc. Nothing was said about those things.
I am not a Tory voter and never have been, but if I were, I'd be asking myself why I should vote Tory when the present leader seems not to be a Tory at all. There may not be much difference between David Cameron and Tony Blair (in the eyes of the public and the media) but there is a huge gulf between David Cameron and traditional Toryism.
I can already hear voices saying - 'so what?' there wasn't much traditional Labour about Tony Blair either - so what's the difference?
The difference is that the Labour Party tore itself apart in order to enable New Labour to be constructed. This was done in public and the electorate knew it was happening - that is why they trusted New Labour, because they had seen the reconstitution for themselves. The Tories have not yet done this. The 'bastards' John Major complained about may still be around, who knows? Thatcherite thuggery might be hiding under every ballot box, who knows?
The problem for the Tory party is not one of policy - they know what the electorate will tolerate - but one of.. well, respect.
I like David Cameron, he's a good man in a party of worms, but I have not found much to respect in him yet, because I haven't seen him fight anyone yet.
I can't say I like Tony Blair (or Gordon Brown much either) but I respect the pair of them - totally.

We are not going to get a good Tory leader ,including Mr Cameron unless they put the Bible at the heart of their policies.

David Cameron came to tell his party and us, the electorate, that his party has changed. Well, he did in his own way - i.e. without a scrap of policy to evidence it.
What do we know so far by way of policy about the New Conservatives:
a) They would do away with the Human Rights Act;
b) That Scottish MPs would not to vote on English matters; and
c) That they will never take us into the Euro.
Is it just me or isn't that EXACTLY what they have been saying since 1997?

I did not watch and I still think Ken Clark could do better, until the Tories wake up to that I am an ex conservative

Yes he is a good PR man. But, PM material? No! I think he should apply for a job at Hienz selling Baked Beanz. Or is that his day job anyway?

I was disappointed as it contained little substance and he was, at times, naive. I still need to be convinced that he would make the best Prime Minister.

VOTE CONSERVATIVE?

In two letters David, NO

Vapid. Tell us what you want, is he blind, we want a curb on immigration, we want a positive EU policy,we want Inheritance tax scrapping, we want an end to bloody PC every where, we want our brave soldiers bringing back NOW, we want Law and Order, we want punishment to fit the crime, we want the soft drug laws scrapping and some realistic prison setences in place, Mr Cameron your speech was pathetic, you came across like a big girls blouse and what about the Muslim problem because it is
Do something man, your debut was awful
Terry Bird
Brimscombe
Glos.

GREAT

He would not stand a chance to get his party back into office, if the present government were making the whole thing work. Which they are not.
What are his policies?????
We have yet to hear them.
Ex-pat

Where have I heard that speech before? Oh yes, at the Labour Party Conference. No wonder he believes he is Blair's heir.

Lightweight and totally lacking in values.
All week, we've heard nothing about policies - just 'We're waiting until Labour decides what it's going to do, then we'll decide what we're going to say'.
Classic political opportunism - reminded me of the Lib Dems at their best !!

It's not David Cameron we need to worry about, it's the rest of the Tory Party lurking dangerously in the shadows to veer him off course should the Tories ever win power. Why aren't more Tory MPs outside the front bench openly supporting his soft, cuddly approach to the electorate? Is it because they fear a public spat with the right of the party?
David Cameron needs to exploit his family circumstances (of bringing uo a disabled child) in order to detract from his priveleged background. The public will soon grow tired of this.
We have more Old Etonians on the front bench of the Tory Party now than in the 60s. How does the public draw inspiration from this fact?

Don't get me wrong, he is clever, young, goodlooking, but shallow in his ideas, repetitive in his arguments, non-sensical in the description of a Britain that exists in his head but has nothing to do with reality.

If anyone in the UK really believes he could win the next election on his "arguments" and "non-policies", think again. From abroad, he looks just another Conservative, looking inwards, unable to understand how the world ticks outside our island...very sad!
ex-pat

As a longstanding Tory conference attendee I thought Cameron's speech was pretty poor, thin, stuff, lamely delivered. But then Cameron is very much a 'B' grade speaker.

Cameron is clearly totally in awe of Tony Blair. He's therefore effectively wedding himself to an ideology which is already out of date.

Our party has no chance of winning until Cameron is replaced by a worthy leader who can truly speak for all of us.

Shades of Tolstoy: all children are different but all families are the same; but only shades. I left school around the same time as ‘Dave’ and I know what side I was on, not by a long way, but on balance after the ravages of Thatcherism I would have gone for the Soviet Union. Maybe Cambridge would have been the best way there, but I chose Nottingham: academically strong and geographically central I thought. And I remember being shocked by how many private school kids there were there, and how thick they were. I’m sure the people Jacob Rees Mogg knew at school who didn't go to Oxbridge were the least articulate, but that doesn’t carry over to most people’s experience. Democratic communities would make a difference in making people, particularly young people, feel they were not just powerless pawns, along with some grasp of the possibilities and limitations of working with others. But your poshometer highlights the problem of leaving too much to communities: the privileged communities naturally seek to maintain their privileged status: that's why progress requires a certain degree of authority. It's the balance that is tricky. Communities provide steps, by authority needs to remove blocks.

I must say I appreciated as I never have done before how Blair must have come over when he arrived on the scene, although maybe that was because I had given up on tv by the early 90s! Interesting to see applause for backing social services, but none for the minimum wage, though some for civil partnerships. Quite a job in hand. But of course Blair had Brown to do what many people probably thought impossible: a stable economy under a Labour government. Who does Cameron have for the NHS? Dr Fox? Actually, I would say it is the conservatives who now for the first time (possibly ever) have a firm grasp of economics. In the 60s and 70s they thought simply by cutting taxes public services would become more efficient. Then they realised that isn't how it works. Unfortunately they then concluded that services needed to be slashed to achieve tax cuts. Fifteen years later, with schools and hospitals in disarray and crime rampant, particularly in the poorest communities, the comfortably off realised their mistake. Now, another ten years later, it is clear money by itself is not enough to solve the problems. But neither Blair nor Cameron are suggesting credible approaches. And not a whisper on the one issue where Cameron could probably make an immediate impact: telling the Northern Ireland unionists they will only loose by waiting for a Conservative government.

I watched the speech....and I like him.... he seems a good man. and there aint many of them left in Politics.

How 'weary,stale, flat and unprofitable' (except in the context of personal advancement) seem to me all the uses of contemporary politicians. All the usual 'moving ahead together' platitudes are trotted out, together with open-ended and singularly unexciting pronouncements concerning innovation and improvement.

There are few who have real charisma and conviction. Image is all, as is evident from Tony's wordsmiths.

There is also a dearth of comments concerning the dire situation in Iraq and Afghanistan, especially as perceived by would-be terrorists, who might well consider any changeover of leadership both within the present Government and at the time of an eventual General Election as a further opportunty to wreak murder and mayhem.

Just what the Doctor ordered.

Most of the Parliamentary team were introduced for the main departments, with a summary of where the party is going, their differing perspective on appproach or emphasis, compared to Tony Blair.

The focus upon Health which required a new direction, more stability, consistant policy and decentralised management.

In all beginning to show clear water between the Parties, on health, education and law and order. Most encouraging.

His undoubted ability to speak to the crowd in a rousing, engaging way does not make the content (or lack thereof) of his speech any more convincing. During that speech, I was close to nodding off!

If the Tories are serious about ever winning an election again, they're going to have to break back into the traditional Labour heartlands, but quite frankly I can't see anyone around where I was brought up voting for a smug little brat like him. I certainly have no intention of doing so.

As on Oxfordshre resident, I am itterly ashamed that both this man and rhe dreadful Boris represent parts of the Oxfordshire electorate. There is no doubt Boris is in it for Boris, and what the blazes D Cameron is in it for totally defeats me. I seem to have seen the word "Vacuous" and apoart from thanking the site for spelling it for me, there seems very little it is necessary to add.
The man is an absolute idiot and so is anyone who feels he/she should support him.

I am 61. For the first time in my voting life I doubt that I will be endorsing this Conservative Party. Cameron seems to be a naturalised Liberal Democrat.I can see nothing Conservative about him. It's all very well scrapping for the "centre" ground but it's overcrowded. Right of centre is totally vacant and the vast majority of English people think in that area. Mike

Cameron is a Trojan horse. Unlike the metamorphosis that resulted in new Labour, the Conservatives have not changed since Thatcher. Electing Cameron will result in another steep decline in investment in public services. What few votes he might gain from going green will be lost ten times over when the electorate wakes up to the massive cost of sustainable economic measures.

Just forced myself to sit through Cameron's speech on ±«Óãtv Parliament channel.

What a load of total twaddle, delivered in the most tedious slow manner I could imagine.

Very encouraging for UKIP!

What is the point in the Conservative Party existing? All it seems to want to be is a paler version of New Labour but with less conviction about it. I used to vote Conservative but not anymore. I will have to vote UKIP, for another small party of the Right or abstain at the next election.

David Cameron's intention to build more prisons is fundamentally flawed. He ought to know that overall crime has fallen 44 per cent in the last 10 years, is stable this year, and murder is down. Prison doesn't work anyway, as it fails to rehabilitate the majority of offenders. Mr Cameron needs to bring himself up-to-date with modern penal policy, not regurgitate boring Labourspeak about sending more people to prison.

If all the Conservative Party exists for is to adopt Labour and Lib Dem values and ideas a little later than the other two parties then you have to wonder what is its real purpose in life? Mr Cameron made some suggestions as policies which he knows we in Britain can't do now because we aren't a sovereign nation so not only is he promising something which can't be done whilst being in the EU he is making people even less trustful of politicians which is a irresponsible thing to do.

How is he going to force immigrants to integrate? You can't. The silly and divisive doctrine of multi-culturalism is now too embedded in our society and there are now substantial immigrant communities who have no need to integrate because of their size.

Of course Cameron got lots of applause, they've paid to be there and they wouldn't admit to making a mistake!

The Tories are going nowhere until they make a division between themselves and the other two main parties on Europe. With 70% or so of our laws coming from the EU without our say-so, Parliament is rapidly becoming superfluous.

Pity he didn't say the UK will adopt the Euro in his first parliament. If he had I might have voted for him.

I also believe that he got his following from his first speech which was more about conservative ideals.
He must appear more stronger as he did then.

Bring back Poll tax its fair

David Cameron has just lost the next election. After 35 years of voting Conservative I have finally given up and will transfer my vote elsewhere. only Ken Clarke can win an election for the Tories now.

David has very sadly missed the plot and a golden opportunity to set out his stall. His wind and his thunder will now be stolen by Gordon.

The NHS has seriously let me and my family down over a 10year period, mainly as a result of the government's absurd target driven mentality which has turned medical professionals into time and number watchers who seem to have forgotten, or never learnt, the prime directive - which is to treat ill people as customers who need attention, not numbers and target fodder to be discharged or passed over at the slightest opportunity. Throwing more money at it by raising taxes even higher is not a viable solution only a progenitor of further deterioration. what is needed is the handing back of power to specialists, doctors and matrons and the redundancy of thousands of unnecessary administrators.It really is not rocket science.

But the NHS is not the number one issue. In a league one hundred levels above it and all alone is Climate change. The myriad effects, positive feedbacks, trigger and tipping points that are now presenting themselves like flashing red beacons must be recognised ,respected and acted upon with great speed.
To have a policy increasing CO2 targets over a 50 year period is an insultingly absurd response and displays a monumental ignorance of the issues.
What is needed is immediate and draconian action on the main polluters,
eg

1. eliminate all frivolous flights (sun worshiping in the med), or at least make them very expensive by introducing a mileage tax of say 10p per mile and put the proceeds into atmospheric carbon scrubbers. With modern electronic communications / gadgets most flights are not necessary, just childishly greedy.

2. Give manufacturers of new cars 3-5 years to introduce cars producing below 100gm /KM of CO2 reducing by 10 gm /km per year after that to zero; and 10 years to removing all cars from the road that do not comply. This would encourage the rapid development of pollution free Boron/hydrogen /water internal combustion engines which should be tax free.

It all sounds very extreme but extreme action is needed and DC needs to show that he has the stomach for it and soon so that the electorate have time 'acclimatise to it'. If DC does not grasp this nettle then History will accuse him of fiddling while the world burns.

The other issues, Crime,marriage etc are soft issues of very minor importance by comparison.

This is a non leader of a non Party. Its already dead.

Ant, you are totally correct. If the Consevative Party can't even be bothered to uphold what should be the supremacy of the British Parliament over the laws governing this country, then what is it for?

I want to hear honest debate about getting out of the EU, getting a grip on immigration, reclaiming our fishing grounds, educational standards free from spin, effective no-nonsense health care with clean hospitals, and a tax and benefit system that discourages the dependency culture that is bad for everyone. Is that the sort of thing UKIP is interested in?

Cameron is the second coming of Blairism...seeking to conserve the Blairite Legacy ...to continue the denial of the inspirations controversies and forward thinking of our conservatism...

The delegates often showed that cheap dressed anguished look of new labour London underclass...

We are opportunists...con - servative.. we like the opportunities of the world ...not the mind of the servant classes who want us to serve them ...

He promised a revolution...there are many dialectics of revolution... and he does not understand any of them!!

Conservatism is just not his sport!

Benedict TLC

Where was the passion? It fell flat despite espousing virtues and principles. Where are the conference votes that actually focus on changing the party and signalling to the public that the Tory party has changed? DC was the author of Howard's manifesto that emphasised those areas most Tories love to hear: Immigration, asylum, crime, tax cuts. He's now changed overnight but how plausible and credible is this change? It may be genuine, but he needs to be passionate about change to force it on the Tory Party. Believe me, some of them will need to be forced to change! Lab Maj of 47 in 2009 unless the public are convinced that the Tory Party has changed. If they are, we're set for a Hung Parliament....Oh, what fun ! Politics is interesting again!

It takes more than one speech, clearly aimed at those outside the hall to turn the Tory Party into a Party that has a public service, namely the NHS as a concern. Everyone knows, if elected, the same people in the hall who cheered spending commitments ‘year on year’ on the NHS will demanding swinging cuts AFTER the election. They have not changed their spots; they are getting better at concealing them. They are, and always will be the nasty party.

No Substance. where have I heard this Before?

This is good. Support for married families, an end to the lunacy of the Human Rights Act and less of the 'state' in our lives. That'll do me for now. Tax cuts can come later. As for all these people saying 'where are the policies?' Well, think back - did Blair have any concrete policies 3 years before 1997? No, he just had waffle. It would be madness for Cameron to spell out his policies just now as Labour would pinch them, as they have before. Keep it up, David - we'll get rid of this lying, snooping bunch of charlatans yet!

The ±«Óãtv is determined to flout its duty to be impartial, unprejudiced and fair - ±«Óãtv must now surely stand for Blair Brown and Cameron, but never ever, CAMPBELL. Despite the fact that the Lib Dems through out the country are campaigning for the votes of the people to serve them in government, the ±«Óãtv ignores the right of the Liberal Democrats to have equal status in any of its political progamming...

ERIC COPESTAKE

Flannel, false, fraud. Another one! Bring back muffin the mule!

I thought the speech was great - I particularly liked his inclusion of the Shadow Cabinet team and his stress on governing by Cabinet not using the presidential style which we associate with Blair. Earnest and welcome insistence on support for marriage and the family as bedrock of stable society; sensible new Conservative view on education & NHS; patriotic & passionate support for military very welcome; energetic, enthusiastic, nice touches of humour & reassuring lack of stagey delivery.

I was a devout Labour fan turned Lib Dem recently. I really liked what I saw today - he seems a genuine and likeable guy with his heart in the right place. If he keeps this up and doesn't lurch to the right then I'm going to vote Conservative.

And all those people on here who bang on about "utterly useless" etc must either have been watching another speech (Ming's perhaps?) or they are simply demonstrating why with that attitude Labour won't win again.

Got bored and switched off before the end. Did he finish with a rendition of the "Eton Boat Song"? Does anyone know of any other national organisation, claiming to be representetive of the British people, that had 15 of its most senior members ex-pupils of the same school?

Start,Tony Blair,end,Tony Blair,middle,not much good at all.
Remedy,just stick to Tony all the time.

Congratulations to David Cameron, finally we have a poltician starting to talk to the people about up to date issues. Will it translate into practical policies which will make the Conservatives electable? He strikes me as a man who is a breath of fresh air in main stream British politics. As long as he follows through i beleive that he stands a very good chance of being elected as the next Prime Minister. The country is certainly ready for a change lets hope it is not too long in coming.

I was faltering but realise that labour is streaks ahead - thanks to opportunist ingratiation from DC

Pure fluff.. platitudes and empty chat

I have heard this speech in its various forms since I first voted fifty years ago. The only thing that change are the face and voice.
They trot out all the old, (hopefully), vote catching messages, trying for that sincerity of voice.
Why is it one never hears these people praising the ones who actually wrote the speech, or would they have us believe that it's all their own work.
They make used car and estate salesmen look honest.

David was brought up at Eton whereas John Prescot was eaten and brought up.David has an instinct for public service; Tony Blair has an instinst for self service. David's beginning identifies charecter and leadership; Tony's departure identifies dilusion and deceit. Gordon who?

No one likes that Dave the cameleon Cameron Jackass.

Very much the wolf in sheeps clothing

Camaron - Macaroon. "Tell us what you will vote for and that's what we'll be!"
I Hate Blair but have even more distain for Cameron. His emphasis and pauses were too contrived - even by Blairs standards.
They may not stand much chance of winning, but I'm voting for the Lib-Dems. At least they have a long-standing environmental policy.
Pity we can't vote for the Purple Party, excellent portayal by Jane Horrocks of events we'd love to see come true. If only…

Thats what i heard... NOTHING!!!

Cameron's speech
Much of his speech was a 'follow up to Tony Blair with sheeps clothing'.

I cannot agree with you on the audience, I watched them closely, the elderly were not impressed. WHY,
because he has no more care for the elderly as far as lack of pensions and cost of living has devoured all savings---Only one point has he made clear,not to reduce I Tax I agree unless he intends to free senior's and widows from paying Income tax.
Barbara Norwich

I am 82 years old and have seen many governments and many bad times. This country has never had it so good!

This is still the man who supported Blair on Iraq, voted against the minimum wage, against the Working Time Directive, supported rail privatisation etc. need I go on? No he has not got my support!

David Camerons speech wasnt as good as id hoped but he made some good points about the NHS.he looked very nervous though.Cameron usually looks so natural and at ease in front of a camera.yeserday he looked like a nervous schoolboy auditioning for the school play!none of the current leading politicians are particularly inspiring but Cameron does seem to be the best of the bunch unless someone better comes along

The one question he did not cover was Fox Hunting, without his backing for the total ban he won't get my vote.

How can you vote for some-one who as no polices,no diraction accept to be prime minister,and can give no reason accept he is green,surry david but you don't have even a green finger let alone a workable policey,I think in this the quiet man as come out on top.
manzes camble.

Though I dont support the conservative party I am convinced that Mr Cameron will be a better alternative to the current bunch of liars parading as labour party officials.
Great Britain is more powerfull than the US and needs such an energetic and forthright leader to claim its place in world affairs!
I will certaily vote for cameron!

This speech could have been given by anybody from the other parties. Will we see Blaire bidding for the leadership of the Tories after the next election?

What this country desperately needs is a mature approach to politics. The difference between left and right is not between good and bad, as the more sanctimonious on the left would have us believe, but in its stripped down essence is the fundamental difference between collectivism and individualism. The left comprises those who believe in collectivism and ultimately in the power of the state – the right comprises those who believe more in individualism and individual responsibility. It is a pity that the Conservatives are being pushed into the collectivist camp because the individualist arguments are not given a fair hearing in modern Britain. This group disenfranchisement is very bad for the political health of the country in the longer term

Trouble is that by leaning so far to the corporatist statist left Cameron has managed to place himself to the left of Labour. We need toquestionhte holy cows of state delivery in such areas as education and health, and also the increasing punishment of people for working and earning. Cameron simply does not do it. The description of the conference as being a recruiting ground for UKIP is rather apt.

cameron's big speech was complete and utter rubbish ! he does'nt fool me with his uh so passionate declaroms of righting the so many wrongs this world has yet to seriously rectify ! he thinks that we all think that ghastly tory party has uh changed ! yeah right ! he just says what he thinks people wanna hear so he can get back into power ! l and many many others haven't forgotten what that gros bunch of inept wannabe's put us through last time in power ! the truth is these toffy apple wannabe's are so brainwashed upon leaving their education by being told they are so wonderful they actually believe it ! this country is on the verge ! we need some serious thinkers to say enough is enough and set us on a sensible,logical course for the future !

At the next Election, voters disillusioned with Labour will look for a protest option. Cameron is not it yet. I cannot see the working class voting for him. Nearer the time the fact that he is surrounded by advisers who all come from the upper-middle class will do him enormous damage.

Everyone is worried about whether Cameron can deliver policy rather than just themes and mood music. Yet I guarantee that if a right-wing old-style Tory leader was giving a conference speech now there is no way he would outline his policies so early and, what is more, no-one would bat an eyelid. When Cameron's policy reviews come back then this accusation will seem pretty hollow. At an election, the manifesto will have to have policies and neither Brown nor anybody else will be able to accuse him of a lack of substance.

People also criticise Cameron for saying the "all right things." What exactly does a politician have to do to win support, therefore? Say all the wrong things, perhaps? Cameron is responding to change and is preparing the Conservatives to apply themselves to new issues. Judging by the mandate he is receiving in the polls, he is doing a pretty good job. The problem for most people who dislike Cameron is not that they can't recognise a good thing when they see it: it's that they don't seem to want to anymore.

Absolutely superb!