• Boris defends London after tourists slam the restaurants

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Val, I have an interest in the UK because I still have a family, a son and assets. Moreover I have a great deal of love for England and it's people (having been brought up in Kenya, my parents, family etc had a great deal of affection for the Brits). But I have lived most of my life in England and it saddens me to see that the English way of life,ie, fair play, decency, stiff upper lip (a la Enid Blyton) has all but been destroyed by the cretins we have in power now. They have no regard for history and that is something every brit should be very proud of indeed.

This lot are just not playing Cricket ... and that says it all.

- Sarit, Hong Kong

If Cameron is as desperate as he claims to topple Brown and Co next month, why doesn't he do what the last decent Tory opposition leader did prior to a toppling Labour Government, and oppose them ?

It's all very well Cameron claiming to be leading the charge, but frankly, he has supported the New Labour government on significant issues and ultimately been the reason why a number of bills have passed onto the statute book, and looks set again to support the Government in bringing about the part privatising of the Royal Mail.

So Mr Cameron, if you want the people to bring down New Labour, then show some opposition and force the Government to take a vote once their own MPs have defeated the Royal Mail bill ?

Then people might just take you seriously

- John Bloomfield, Twickenham

Labour supporters - Tony Blair won the 2005 election with less votes than any PM since World War II, less votes than Neil Kinnock got in the two elections he lost. That being said, he won. But why? Do you remember the platform he won on? It was on Labour's economic record. On Brown's "prudence" and his abolition of boom and bust. "Britain is working, don't let the Tories wreck it" went the slogan. When the economy went bust and the staggering level of national debt was revealed, your party lost the one thing it still had going for it and any realistic chance of winning a fourth term. What platform are you going to run on next year? "OK we're useless but better the devil you know"? It's over for you. Cameron only has to look now plausible and he does.

- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent

Keith Price - On that basis, do you think that Bliar and Brown should have been given the opportunity to serve as PM and Chancellor in 1997 given that they had no real-world political experience?

The only way you become experienced is by doing the job and Gordon Brown has, by any measure, done an absolutely terrible job.

Just how can you defend him when he has mortgaged all of our children's futures?

- Ian Gilbertson, Newcastle

It never fails to amaze me that there are still some people clinging on the fantasy that Gordon Brown and his cronies are efficient controllers of our economy. Their accumulation of debt has left us deeply in the red and if it continues much longer we may find the IMF yet again baling out a Labour administration. The conservative strength in the opinion polls, not their vote Val - no one has done that yet - may be soft but it is a whole lot firmer than Labour's. The true scandal of the moment is to see Labour politicians fighting like ferrets in a bag over who might succeed Brown, whilst the country languors with no effective government. We need a General Election,not endless discussions in the media or self-serving prolongation of its tenure by a Government that has lost all authority to govern. Brown is now a total laughing stock and his supporters will soon be the same if they do not wake up to reality.

- James Elliott, Eastbourne UK

Mr Riley,
Are you talking about the Mr Milliband who was rude to India ,Russia ,and Sri Lanka? Seems to think he is a senior Minister in a WORLD power!

- Tony Johnson, Hythe UK

Why were the Tories on top in 2004 but defeated in the following year and why were they thrown out in 1997.

T H Leeds

- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK

And the other thing that might make Cameron come unstuck is his determination not to bring back grammar schools which provided (and still just about provide) the finest education for those who were (and are) academically suitable regardless of their backgrounds.

- Judith C, London, England

Val Daniels

The question that David Cameron should be asking the General Public is this:

After 12 years of Labour policies due you think this country is in a better position? If so, then vote for them again. If note, then vote for the Tories and we will get his country working again.

You do realise, Val, that EVERY Labour Government has always brought the country to the brink of bankruptcy?

What will be interesting this time is that when growth resumes in 2 to 3 years, the Tories will be aim to claim credit for it. Pretty much the same way that Labour did when they inheritied a very healthy and stable economy from Ken Clarke in 1997.

The irony is just delicious.

- Ian Gilbertson, Newcastle

Never happen. McRuin, Madlbrot and others will try and engineer a 'National Emergency' using the 'Civil Contingencies Bill 2004' before they give up power. A Joke? Or could this truly happen here in the UK with a despised Labour government who are desparate to stay in office no matter what heppens.

- Uncle Vanya, East Anglia area UK

Cameron should be careful what he wishes for. With Brown gone and Milliband as leader the Tories could again be facing heavy defeat in an election.

- Michael Riley, London

Why should people trust the words or the wishes of an opportunist with no experience like David Cameron over an experienced and successful Chancellor and British PM like Gordon Brown ?

- Keith Price, Luton, England

The Conservative vote is notoriously soft because so many people are asking questions about what they will actually do to reduce public spending, and they are not prepared to answer. The only certainties are that they will put the defence of the country on the back burner by not renewing Trident and cancelling the 2 aircraft carriers on order. They will not proceed with Crossrail; they will cut the foreign aid programme. They will reduce inheritance tax for the wealthiest 1% of the population; repeal the 40% tax rate for those earning in excess of £150k p.a; bring back foxhunting against the wishes of the majority of people in the country;
#E.Nuff.
1.Needs must when the devil drives. Alistair Darling has indicated this is a temporary increase. The promise was for the life of this Parliament; the tax isn't effective until 6.4.2010. 2.The Treaties are one and the same. You can read the both in full on Google.
#Sarit. I'm sorry my views do not coincide with yours, but I have the right to air them. Unlike you,I have a vested interest in what happens in the UK because I have a home there in addition to my home in Spain. Your recent post said nothing would ever tempt you to return because everything in HK is so much better, your wonderful job, the tax rates, your lovely home, etc; by definition, that must include the return of a Tory government. Why would you be interested in who is elected in the country you found so easy to quit; you have obviously found your Nirvana.

- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain

Surely the new leader should be Jaqui SMITH.She has the most creative imagination for a politician and that valuable asset of not being troubled by a conscience or a sense of the truth.

- P Doff, paris france

Val, just relax, the public couldn't give a monkeys about who's in the talking shop called the European Parliament. It is a nice gravy train for failed politicians though.

What might make David Cameron come unstuck is his referendum gimmick. Asking people if they want to be 95% ruled by Europe just makes people realise we are practically 90% there now, a situation he wants to continue.

Give people a real choice and they will want to be run by a British government that they can kick out. It will be interesting to see what Stuart Wheeler, the Tories' former donor, has to say. He wouldn't stand for the waffle in high places, so they threw him out.

- Brian, London

Cameron will have my vote in a general election but on June 4th I'll be voting for UKIP. My dislike for Brown pales next to my hatred of the European Union, from whose unelected commissioners come 80% of our laws now.

- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent

He is pushing against an open door.

- Dee Jay, Fleet Hampshire

They are under more pressure from the BNP than UKIP but this news has to be kept quiet.

- David., Chertsey.UK.

there seems no doubt now that Dave will get to be PM at the next election. The natural political cycle results in no party staying in power for ever and as all fighting is over the middle ground - the difference it makes to most peoples lives is quite minimal. However there is a real danger that Cameron's honeymoon will be short-lived, he has presented no vision to the electorate partly becuase he can win without doing so and because he will alienate large sections of his possible electorate (and MPs) if he did....the real challenge for him is holding the Tories together when they have power and all the vested interests expect their rewards...

Ed Balls and Milliband should keep their powder dry until after the election because there is a high likelihood of the Tories self destructing over issues such as tax, public spending, Europe, Trident.....

- Martin_Clerkenwell, london

Richard, LONDON - Have you not yet grasped the idea that it is not opposition parties that win elections but incumbent parties (mainly though incompetence) that lose them.

The Tories need do nothing but state broad aims of an incoming Tory Government.

- Ian Gilbertson, Newcastle

If Gordon Brown cares in the slightest about the fortunes of Great Britain and Northern Ireland he will do the following:
1) Announce a cut of 10% in the salaries of all public-sector workers, effective immediately
2) Cut overseas aid by 50% immediately
3) Cut spending on transport infrastructure projects by 10%
4) Build more hospitals and nuclear power stations
5) Resign.

In reality, he will probably cling on to power until the last second, putting the recovery back by a decade.

- St, London

Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain

Val, your daily messages on behalf of HM government are pathetic.

You lot have lost any confidence the british electorate ever had in labour. You are liars and deceitful people who have huge social hang ups.

In the process of trying to achieve your own selfish 'dumbed down' needs, you have destroyed a once great country. Shame on you and your cohorts!

- Margy, London

Mr Cameron do you really need to ask us?
I think not, we've had enough of Nu Labour.
The sooner they are out the better.

- Malc, London,England

As ever, half the country is right, and so is the other half. I bet the government gets in.

- Martin H. Watson, Teddington

A question for Val. What is your spin on the promise by Brown and NuLabour in the last general election to 1) not increase the personal income tax rates and 2) to hold a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. In my book a promise is a commitment and why should we ever believe anything that Brown and Nulabour says in the future ? An answer please

- E.Nuff, London

It has been very noticeable that the Tories have gone quiet in the last few weeks and let Brown and Labour make mistakes and create their own controversies unchallenged. However, that about sums up the state of the Tories. If Cameron is trying to drum up some kind of Obama-style enthusiasm with his 'glorious change' slogan he must be sadly deluded. If Labour don't win the next election it is because they have most definitely LOST it and Cameron and his Tories will not have, by no stretch of the imagination, WON it. There's no great rush to their 'wonderful' ideas just a retreat from Labour's.

- Richard, LONDON

Time to get angry Mr Cameron. Up and down the country people are fed up with Brown and the Labour party and are at boiling point with what is happening to this country.
The country desperately needs someone with some fighting spirit who can get us back on the road to recovery and make the UK a good place to live.
So raise the decibels Mr Cameron and get on the richter scale, we need a storming display of politics from you.

- Mr S.Port, London

A question for Val. What is your spin on the promise by Brown and NuLabour in the last general election to 1) not increase the personal income tax rates and 2) to hold a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. In my book a promise is a commitment and why should we ever believe anything that Brown and Nulabour says in the future ? An answer please

- E.Nuff, London

Why would you send Tories to Europe when they are fundamentally against the EU? We need to send candidates who work out there in the UK's interests not for their own narrow minded ideologies.

- Peter Guinness, London

melvyn windebank..climb back into your caravan and write the following:

Second Homes. Second Homes. Second Homes. Bath Plugs. Porno Films. Sauna's. Flats not lived in. Second Homes. Second Homes. Second Homes.

I bet you are employed in the Prime Ministers rebuttal unit, paid by me and other tax payers. But I have never met any intelligent life from Canvey Island!

- Alan, chingford. essex.

Boris for PM! LOL he is a legernd

- James, London, UK

Melvyn if you require evidence of who lives in la la land you need look no further than your friends in what used to be called the labour party. I shudder to think just what you'd call it now, though there are millions in this once great country with plenty of names, no doubt not too complimentary.

- Satnam Singh, corby

Thanks Dave for telling us, but neither Labour or your lot will get my vote.

What are your policis again did you say?

- P Staker, London

Trisha - I'm sad that Harridan Harman isn't taking over too, because she is the biggest guarantee of a Labour loss.

Val - change the record, dear. Surely you have better things to be doing in Mijas, like visiting the Miniatures Museum, which is where they have a fine collection of Labour MPs' brains.

- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland

Val Daneils said: "If Mr Cameron is so sure of the result, why doesn't he table a vote of no confidence in the Commons".

Ian Gilbertson says: "I couldn't agree more. I am sure it will come. I am glad you have come round to my way of thinking".

- Ian Gilbertson, Newcastle

I want labour out, of course, and probably will vote tory to get that, but we must have clarification on policies. Will we/can we repeal our ratification of Lisborn? And the economy. What will the tories do? And, why won't they bring back grammar schools in those areas that dont have them yet allow them to continue in those that do? The next 12 months will subject Cameron to intense scrutiny, as is right if he is asking for our trust, and we will want answers. (Can't see Brown standing up to much scrutiny though).

- Tim, Bexleyheath UK

Well they are so desparate to get their snouts back in the troughs these tories who even made Brown envelopes into a scandal!

Cash for questions - what when DC cant or most likely wont supply any answers! Something that must run in the family given the way Boris has abandoned weekly questions and entered La La Land when he does not like a question...


The tories want a referendum on a constitution that is dead boy these tories like to waste money.

Anyway if we had a vote no matter what the result if a new constitution arose would they give us another vote?
Thats the real world not fantasy island where tories live!

- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex

Can't wait for Labour to be wiped out just to shut Val up ...... so much justification for why the Tories are rubbish when all she has to do is step back and see what GB & Co have done.

Beats any mess that the Tories have ever done. More to the point, the Tories always start from the complete disaster that labour leave behind.

And, this is the worst mess ever .....

Oh, for those who whinge about Maggie, go back to the prior labour administration and then you may just get it .... doubt it tho. Can't reason with the unreasoning ..

- Sarit, Hong Kong

Why should the English vote in European Elections; when the EEC doesn’t let us vote on their laws and intentions in return etc?

If we can’t vote on new EEC laws or have referendums; then why should we vote for them at all; and why do we want or need them?

That is one way democracy to my thinking; not two way democracy.

I won’t vote for anything European; they are not our friends at all.

- Mickyinlondon, london

Yes, who would take over ?

The Present Tory Leadership lacks experience to put it mildly.

- Bernard Parke, GUILDFORD

Go for it, David!
How anyone could vote Labour (or Liberal) for that matter after they both broke their election promise to hold a referendum on the EU Constitutional Treaty is beyond me - it's effectively a vote for dishonesty.

I've had enough of this government, and I intend to help kick them squarely where it hurts on June 4th.

- Joe, Sheffield, UK

"David Cameron today urged voters to use next month's local and European elections to help oust Gordon Brown."-
Voters would be best advised to use their vote to send a clear message that we do not want any further EUropean political integration, in fact we would like our lost sovereignty back .
At the moment around 75% of all UK legislation originates within the unelected, unnaccountable EU Commission, not the EU Parliament, which simply rubber stamps the Commission's edicts.
The Tories might have been better placed to make big gains at the EU elections had Cameron not brought rabid EUrophile Ken Clarke back into the shadow cabinet. Cameron has promised a referendum on the Lisbon Constitutional Treaty (if it hasn't been ratified, which he hopes it will have been) if elected PM in next years general election. Clarke is a vehement opponent of referenda and, if he had his way, there would never be another referendum in the UK, on anything.
Cameron was elected Tory leader on a promise of leaving the EPP over which he has subsequently dragged his feet for as long as possible.
However, the suggestion that, having left the EPP, the Tories will have to form alliances with the EU "nutter fringe" is absolute nonsense, as has been clearly stated by Cameron and Clarke, who for once was "on message".
We don't need to be part of a EUropean political union. It is hideously expensive (£140 million per day), unnaccountable and wholly undemocratic.

- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster

A visit by Gay Fawkes to the House of Conmen would make a welcome change to all this clap-trap from Labour and the Conservatives.

JOE PUBLIC HAS HAD MORE THAN ENOUGH OF MONEY-GRABBING MP's.

- Reuben Camara, Morecambe UK

Dont worry DC, Labour are finished.

- Dave Davies, Basingstoke

Trisha,

Trisha - yeh "Harriden Harriet" would be wonderful for the economy right now with her political correctness womens rights etc etc giving employers loads of forms to fill out. That would really get the country moving again. She is nothing but a class warrior in an age where the class problem simply doesn't exist anymore!

- William, london

If Mr Cameron is so sure of the result, why doesn't he table a vote of no confidence in the Commons, instead of grandstanding at the local and EU elections. The Tories gained most seats at the last local elections, but they didn't win the one that counts. His anticipated alignment with questionable groups in the EU will cause real concern with the electorate and will probably cost him votes. He may live to regret setting this hare running in order to beat David Davies to the Conservative leadership. There are many Conservative MPs, including Ken Clarke, who are unhappy with his isolationist position.

- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain

No change ever occurs just because we install another set of puppet politicians in No 10.

- Neil, London, London UK

well, i just think its terribly sad Ms Harman won't be taking over, she would have made a welcome change.

- Trisha Scott, Brent

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