Tonight:
5°c
I'm progressive not a Right-winger declares Cameron
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor22 Jan 2009
DAVID CAMERON rejected claims that he was a "Right-wing nationalist" today as he tried to defuse a fresh row over Kenneth Clarke's comeback.
In a speech to think-tank Demos, the Tory leader made a direct pitch to Labour and Liberal Democrat voters and declared himself a "progressive Conservative".
Mr Cameron stressed that he wanted to use Conservative policies to achieve traditionally Left-leaning ends such as the abolition of child poverty and increased social mobility.
His remarks came after it emerged that the former Chancellor had recently unleashed a savage attack on the Tories' hardline Euroscepticism.
The new shadow business secretary told a conference last month that new President Barack Obama would not want to see Britain led by "a Right-wing nationalist".
Mr Clarke, who was at the time in secret negotiations about a surprise return to the Tory frontbench, told University of Nottingham that his party was "a bit silly sometimes" on the issue of Europe. "Obama doesn't want his strongest European ally led by a Right-wing nationalist, he wants them to be a key player inside Europe, and he'll start looking at whoever is in Germany or France if we start being isolationist," he said.
Mr Clarke also warned that there was a "real risk" that the Tories would not get an overall majority at the next election and there would be a hung Parliament. "I regard that with a sense of deep horror because in the middle of a crisis that's exactly what you don't want," he said.
Labour seized on his comments, with Europe minister Caroline Flint declaring: "It's a straightforward test for David Cameron: give up your policy on Europe, as Ken Clarke says, or give up the special relationship."
But in his speech to Demos, which was once seen as close to New Labour, Mr Cameron underlined his attempt to shift the Tories' image away from narrow issues such as Europe. Speaking alongside Labour MP Frank Field and Gordon Brown ally Will Hutton, he signalled that his party was fully committed to abolishing child poverty and increasing social mobility.
Mr Cameron said the four aims of "progressive Conservatism" were a fair society, a green environment, safety for citizens and equal opportunity. "That is the essence of our vision, the ends we are fighting for," he said.
"Yes, they are ends that we share with people in the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrat Party and right across the mainstream political spectrum. But no, we do not agree about how best to achieve those ends."
Mr Cameron said Labour's debt crisis underlined its failure to increase social mobility or help those on the dole. He added that the Tory plans were to give individuals more power over their lives, and make "the automatic response to any event a response that represents the values of progressive Conservatism".
Reader views (14)
If Cameron was truly progressive, he would abolish the infamous Child Support Agency and return issues of child support to the courts.
- Clive Allen, Brighton, UK, 23/01/2009 07:56
Report abuse
Does Mr Cameron not see even a single good in what Mr Brown has done for the economy. Mr Cameron has critised each and every action by Mr Brown.
- Arvind, London, England, 22/01/2009 17:03
Report abuse
It isn't the label you wear that's important. It is what you do while wearing that label.
- Rogan, Irving, 22/01/2009 15:58
Report abuse
...Progressively more phoney
- Robert C, London UK, 22/01/2009 15:24
Report abuse
Dave is what ever we want him to be until the next election.
- Mike Melbourne, Bedford England, 22/01/2009 14:24
Report abuse
Why did Cameron even open his mouth to respond to this goading? A brighter person would have just kept quiet.
- Phil Jones, London UK, 22/01/2009 14:23
Report abuse
Morvan "Well now we know - anyone still got a good reason to vote Conservative?"
Yes. They're not Labour.
- Lord Elvis Of Paisley, Memphis, 22/01/2009 13:38
Report abuse
Oh Dear! Just when what we need is clearly a Right Wing Nationalist to sort out the basket case to which New Labour have reduced our country, David Cameron denies that he is that. This comes as no surprise as he was only forced to abandon his barmy soft centre policies by the opinion polls in 2006.
Surely everyone wants to end child poverty and to increase social mobility. Tony Blair hit the nail on the head when he said that the way out of poverty was through education. He then allowed whatever authority teachers had to be eroded to zero with the inevitable result. Classes are disrupted by disfunctional pupils and the children who want to learn are denied the chance. Restore discipline in schools and you are starting to make progress. Did someone mention human rights? Of course, you cannot infringe those of the disruptive pupils.
David Cameron makes no mention of a crack down on crime, taking control of our frontiers and immigration all of which are in dire need of being top priorities.
I used to be what was called Tory Old Guard, then Tony Blair called me Little Englander, David Cameron now calls me a Right Wing Nationalist so, like other disillusioned Tories, I vote UKIP.
- Martin Fielding, London, England, 22/01/2009 13:32
Report abuse
Well now we know - anyone still got a good reason to vote Conservative?
- Morvan, Saulieu, France, 22/01/2009 13:06
Report abuse
This right-wing vs left-wing stuff is nonsense. The issue is democracy. If an elected British government of any hue can't act independently in the national interest because of some European agreement made by its predecessor, then I don't think that the EU is worth belonging to.
Other countries like Turkey and Norway manage to successfully co-operate with the USA without being in the EU.
- Jools, London, 22/01/2009 12:51
Report abuse
I hope that Cameron is right wing - we need someone like him to counter act all the economic and social damage that Labour's left wing socialist policies have caused over the last decade.
I also hope that he distances the UK from America politically, as we should have done 10 years ago. We need to regain a degree of independence, both from America and the EU and start governing ourselves to benefit us as a nation, we must not allow ourselves to be manipulated in order to improve the public image of foreign politicians, wether they be from America or the EU, especially when America and two of those EU countries, France and Germany, have decided to overlook Britain and pursue their own 'special relationship'.
- John, Enfield London, 22/01/2009 12:36
Report abuse
David Cameron is not a Conservative. He is a typical member of the liberal eltit'e. His only proper job if you can call it that was in PR (it's what rich people do to justify their existance) and it doesn't matter what he does, people will always remember him cycling to work followed by the media of course, and his gas guzzling brief case. Did he think no one would see it? Right wing Nationalist? don't make me laugh. Just like Labour, he's after votes, and he will be anything you want him to be. People want to pull out of Europe altogether, but that of course is ignored. We get nothing from it - even though we put billions into it. Roll on the Euro elections.
- Sylvia, Epping. Essex, 22/01/2009 12:22
Report abuse
I think it's quite egregious of Caroline Flint to try and highlight differences of opinion within the Conservatives over Europe, when it was her party that completely ignored the wishes of the people of this country by failing to deliver on their manifesto promise to give us a referendum on the EU Constitution because it was renamed the Lisbon Treaty. She should put her own house in order first and give us our referendum. A referendum that David Cameron has commited himself to holding.
- Chris Irvine, Rochester, Kent, 22/01/2009 11:49
Report abuse
Can't see anything wrong with being a right-wing nationalist.
- Ken, Bexleyheath, 22/01/2009 11:35
Report abuse
