David Cameron talks to Gloucestershire folk
The television vans, Westminster suits and numerous laptops showed this was no ordinary political hustings.
Taking to the floodlit stage with an air of celebrity, David Cameron braved a packed assembly of Gloucestershire voters intent on testing the would-be Prime Minister's mettle.
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David Cameron at the event in Gloucester
Scores filled a hall at Barnwood Park Arts College, in St Lawrence Road, on what was being dubbed as the first unofficial day of the General Election campaign.
Dressed in a purple tie and white shirt, the MP for Witney paced a small circular stage for an hour taking answers from the floor.
Jacket off, he talked animatedly of the changes the Conservatives would bring to Britain if they were elected to Number 10 this spring.
With his free and easy style, so reminiscent of Tony Blair, he skilfully weaved full and informed answers with a surprisingly good sense of humour.
When one member of the audience told him he had shaken the hand of a newly-elected Blair in 1997, Mr Cameron quipped: "Did you count all your fingers afterwards?"
The audience – a good mix of age, gender and ethnicity – seemed fairly appreciative of his answers, lending him several rounds of warm applause.
He tackled many subjects – from school academies to youth unemployment and the financial services – in a concise but emphatic way.
Before the event, Mr Cameron spoke to The Citizen in Gloucester, directly answers questions put by readers.
Click here to listen to audio of the interview
Click here to the transcript of the interview
Pensioner Martyn Cambridge, who lives in Gloucester city centre, put him on the spot by asking if he would shake up the benefits system.
The 65-year-old, who had been a policeman for 31 years, claimed there were generations of people in Gloucestershire who were earning more by claiming benefits than some who had been working for 40 or more years.
Mr Cameron replied by differentiating between three groups of people: those who were ill or injured and genuinely in need of support, those who were temporarily out of work and perhaps need help in getting started in employment again, and those who could work but did not.
Mr Cameron said: "If people can work, they could and should work.
"I would look at involving the public and private sectors, and introduce medicals to get some of these people off benefits.
"It's not right that they can just live a life on benefits."
When one man asked Mr Cameron what he was going to do about the lack of honesty and leadership in UK politics, he quickly replied: "Be an honest leader," adding that the problem was partly the lack of willingness of opposing politicians to work together when they agreed on something.
"If I get into power," he added, "I would establish a war cabinet that would involve the leaders of all the main parties."
One woman, an NHS worker, then asked him if he would put an end to "damaging" NHS targets, to which he replied: "Top down targets are no longer the way forward.
"But that doesn't mean we let doctors and nurses off the hook.
"The important thing is not whether it took three hours and 50 minutes or four hours and 10 minutes, but the outcome for the patient – was the patient satisfied with the treatment they received?"
Earlier in the day, Mr Cameron visited Stroud's Rowcroft medical centre.
He spent 15 minutes talking to GPs, district nurses and the administration team about Conservative health plans.
Mr Cameron said that NHS funding would be protected from cuts, and public health funding would be "ring-fenced" under Tory plans.
"Public health budgets should not be raided to pay for crises in the health service," said Mr Cameron.
"When you look at problems in our national health it is things like diet, obesity, smoking and alcohol."
Janice Scott, practice manager at Rowcroft, said: "We felt that it was a good opportunity and didn't want to miss it. He seemed to listen to what staff had to say."
A crowd of around 20 anti-hunt protesters and Labour activists braved freezing weather to demonstrate outside the centre.
"We want David Cameron to be aware of our protests and to talk about no return to hunting," said Diane Prosser, a Labour supporter from Ebley.
57 Comments
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by Abbeymead resident, Abbeymead
Friday, January 08 2010, 10:56AM
“Jenny Peters, Gloucester
I think one of Oliver's comments has been modded.
But firstly, like Sandra says, you must be intersted in more things than fox-hunting?
Secondly, my point was that in Gloucester, he was not asked about fh, but he could well have in Woodstock where perhaps more people's livelihoods are at risk.
I never said he wasn't asked in Woodstock.
In Glos there are lot's of hunts, but as said, not brought up.
You can only expect DC to answer the questions he's asked, and he did, I was there.
Not sure what you're trying to say, but with a number of comments removed, we can't really continue this as previous comments can't be referred to.”
by Jenny Peters, Gloucester
Wednesday, January 06 2010, 8:07PM
“Abbeymead resident, which point do you dispute in Oliver's post? As far as I can see it is 100 % factually correct. On Sept 17th last year Mr Cameron told a meeting in Woodstock he would use Parlimentary time for a free vote on repealing the hunting law. Just because he didn't mention it in Gloucester doesn't mean its not true. It could be said to suggest that DC likes to tell different people different things about a future Tory government.
Joe, I think we'll have to agree to disagree. There is no reason why a hunting bill should not be maageable. The reason for the current problems is that too many people want the ban to be unworkable so they can continue hunting.”
by Abbeymead resident, Abbeymead
Wednesday, January 06 2010, 4:32PM
“Oliver, Cheltenham
Don't let the facts get in the way of a good story!
Read my last comment, those are the facts, now, you were saying?
On Monday night, he was asked what was the very first thing he would tackle, and he said the financial problems, no mention of fox hunting.”
by Joe K, Barton & Tredworth
Wednesday, January 06 2010, 4:13PM
“'Joe, if huntsman and women wish to avoid the possibility of being prosecuted then they simply have to obey the rules.
The position they are taking at the moment is completely illogical. They are basically sayng that the hunting ban is too weak and therefore it should be repealed. Surely if something is too weak you make it stronger.
If they want to campaign for the law to be repealed because they think hunting should be a lawful activity then they are entitled to campaign for this and Parliament will decide. However they should at least be honest about it.
Jenny Peters, Gloucester
I don't think it is as simple as you make it out to be, Jenny. I only had to have what I hope was a reasonable discussion with Mairi for ten minutes to see that. Your 'strengthening' argument doesn't hold up because strengthening a poor law doesn't necessarily make it a good law, and people are a lot more willing to oppose what they see as bad laws these days. Especially when we see clearly good laws being broken all the time. So 'simple' reasoning isn't going to accomplish much here.”
by Rob, Abbeymead
Wednesday, January 06 2010, 3:15PM
“"He did not strike me as a future Prime Minister". Shaun Shute, Gloucester
As opposed to our current prime minister who may not be even leader of his own party by the end of the week.
What a bunch of numpties we have in politics.”
by Oliver, Cheltenham
Wednesday, January 06 2010, 1:30PM
“Oh YES! Using Commons time debating the fox-hunting ban! Now that's a REALLY good use of parliament time seeing as there are no other problems affecting the country.
Well done Mr Cameroon!”
by Abbeymead resident, Abbeymead
Wednesday, January 06 2010, 12:32PM
“Peter Hull, Barton
You're right of course, and I can't remember it even being mentioned Monday evening.
DC just put it in a list of items that would been seen to in the first parliament IF he was to get in.
The press and sabs pounced on it, and of course, he has to answer it.”
by Peter Hull, Barton
Wednesday, January 06 2010, 12:27PM
“I agree with Sandra that there are much more important issues than hunting and Mr Cameron should forget about his proposal to waste Parliament's time on it.”
by Jenny Peters, Gloucester
Wednesday, January 06 2010, 12:23PM
“Joe, if huntsman and women wish to avoid the possibility of being prosecuted then they simply have to obey the rules.
The position they are taking at the moment is completely illogical. They are basically sayng that the hunting ban is too weak and therefore it should be repealed. Surely if something is too weak you make it stronger.
If they want to campaign for the law to be repealed because they think hunting should be a lawful activity then they are entitled to campaign for this and Parliament will decide. However they should at least be honest about it.”
by Abbeymead resident, Abbeymead
Wednesday, January 06 2010, 11:47AM
“Danny, Cotswolds
Just a bit more than that!”