This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2015/oct/08/david-camerons-speech-what-the-national-newspapers-say

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
David Cameron's speech - what the national newspapers say David Cameron's speech - what the national newspapers say
(about 14 hours later)
David Cameron’s conference speech got something of a mixed reception from the newspapers that supported him during the general election.David Cameron’s conference speech got something of a mixed reception from the newspapers that supported him during the general election.
The Times viewed “the bulk of the speech” as “an audacious bid to take issues normally associated with the Labour party and give them a Conservative gloss.”The Times viewed “the bulk of the speech” as “an audacious bid to take issues normally associated with the Labour party and give them a Conservative gloss.”
But “a speech of serious strategic intent... did not contain any great policy content” because “big issues were skated over or ignored altogether” and it was “light on details of domestic policy.”But “a speech of serious strategic intent... did not contain any great policy content” because “big issues were skated over or ignored altogether” and it was “light on details of domestic policy.”
“One flight of rhetoric does not mean the government has solved all its problems,” said the Times. However, it compared well with the “fiesta of delusional self-indulgence” that marked the Labour conference. The paper concluded:“One flight of rhetoric does not mean the government has solved all its problems,” said the Times. However, it compared well with the “fiesta of delusional self-indulgence” that marked the Labour conference. The paper concluded:
“The Conservatives... clearly believe that there is ground available to them while the Labour party has a nervous breakdown. Mr Cameron has made an effective bid to seize it.”“The Conservatives... clearly believe that there is ground available to them while the Labour party has a nervous breakdown. Mr Cameron has made an effective bid to seize it.”
For the Daily Telegraph, the prime minister’s speech “sought to reprise the early Cameron era of compassionate Conservatism and ‘hug a hoodie’ but with a harder, more realistic, edge.”For the Daily Telegraph, the prime minister’s speech “sought to reprise the early Cameron era of compassionate Conservatism and ‘hug a hoodie’ but with a harder, more realistic, edge.”
It argued that it was “not a pseudo-left speech, as some saw it, but one rooted in a very Conservative idea that equality of opportunity is meaningless if people are denied it because of their background.”It argued that it was “not a pseudo-left speech, as some saw it, but one rooted in a very Conservative idea that equality of opportunity is meaningless if people are denied it because of their background.”
But the Telegraph added: “If we were to make one criticism it is that there was not much in the speech that spoke to the great bulk of the country - the working, aspirational families who are not poor or from an ethnic minority or dependent on the state and who sometimes feel left out of the political debate.”But the Telegraph added: “If we were to make one criticism it is that there was not much in the speech that spoke to the great bulk of the country - the working, aspirational families who are not poor or from an ethnic minority or dependent on the state and who sometimes feel left out of the political debate.”
The Daily Mail praised Cameron’s style, calling him “a commanding figure” who “spoke with passionate sincerity against what he called the ‘passive tolerance’ of segregation in our society.”The Daily Mail praised Cameron’s style, calling him “a commanding figure” who “spoke with passionate sincerity against what he called the ‘passive tolerance’ of segregation in our society.”
“But,” it asked, “is it over-critical to observe that elsewhere, he was somewhat shorter on substance than style, offering few indications of how he proposes to realise his vision of a ‘greater Britain’?”“But,” it asked, “is it over-critical to observe that elsewhere, he was somewhat shorter on substance than style, offering few indications of how he proposes to realise his vision of a ‘greater Britain’?”
Much of his speech “dissolved into vague aspirations, rich in rhetoric but poor in hard policy,” said the Mail.Much of his speech “dissolved into vague aspirations, rich in rhetoric but poor in hard policy,” said the Mail.
“All too often the prime minister sounded like the true heir to Blair, rattling off platitudes in sentences without verbs...“All too often the prime minister sounded like the true heir to Blair, rattling off platitudes in sentences without verbs...
After their stunning election triumph, didn’t Tories deserve to hear something more concrete about what Mr Cameron plans to do at the helm of the first all-Conservative government for 18 years?...After their stunning election triumph, didn’t Tories deserve to hear something more concrete about what Mr Cameron plans to do at the helm of the first all-Conservative government for 18 years?...
Mr Cameron treated the conference to a symphony of mood music, orchestrated to appeal to disaffected Labour voters...Mr Cameron treated the conference to a symphony of mood music, orchestrated to appeal to disaffected Labour voters...
Is this shrewd pragmatism to avoid frightening the horses and ensure another Tory victory after he stands down? Or is he, like the Blair he too often resembles, squandering the opportunity of a lifetime to change Britain for the better?”Is this shrewd pragmatism to avoid frightening the horses and ensure another Tory victory after he stands down? Or is he, like the Blair he too often resembles, squandering the opportunity of a lifetime to change Britain for the better?”
The Sun didn’t think it was Cameron’s slickest speech but, unlike the Mail, saw it as “his most visionary and most important.” And it was quite taken with him having “championed race and gender equality, diversity, social mobility, prison and education reform.”The Sun didn’t think it was Cameron’s slickest speech but, unlike the Mail, saw it as “his most visionary and most important.” And it was quite taken with him having “championed race and gender equality, diversity, social mobility, prison and education reform.”
While Cameron “does have form for fashionable causes... for hugging hoodies and huskies and wanting to ‘detoxify’ the Tories” it thought “what once looked like an election stunt turns out to be a serious attempt to modernise Britain.”While Cameron “does have form for fashionable causes... for hugging hoodies and huskies and wanting to ‘detoxify’ the Tories” it thought “what once looked like an election stunt turns out to be a serious attempt to modernise Britain.”
However, the paper contended that “there were flies in the ointment... alarmingly little on the deficit and even less on immigration, on which he is far too timid in his EU negotiations.”However, the paper contended that “there were flies in the ointment... alarmingly little on the deficit and even less on immigration, on which he is far too timid in his EU negotiations.”
And, taking account of the Sun’s campaign to convince the government to reconsider its stance on tax credits, the paper was unhappy that Cameron’s neglect “will soon bring sudden hardship to 100,000 working households on low pay.”And, taking account of the Sun’s campaign to convince the government to reconsider its stance on tax credits, the paper was unhappy that Cameron’s neglect “will soon bring sudden hardship to 100,000 working households on low pay.”
Even so, “those flaws aside” it believed Cameron’s “reforming zeal should confirm to Labour moderates that the Tories are far closer to them than Jeremy Corbyn’s hard-left party, now rendered totally redundant.”Even so, “those flaws aside” it believed Cameron’s “reforming zeal should confirm to Labour moderates that the Tories are far closer to them than Jeremy Corbyn’s hard-left party, now rendered totally redundant.”
The Daily Express’s in-house voice, Leo McKinstry, argued that Cameron gave a “commanding performance” with “a daring, well-crafted oration... This was Cameron at his passionate best, seizing the centreground with relish.”The Daily Express’s in-house voice, Leo McKinstry, argued that Cameron gave a “commanding performance” with “a daring, well-crafted oration... This was Cameron at his passionate best, seizing the centreground with relish.”
He noted that “in one sense” Cameron’s “crusade was an extension of the modernising agenda he has always pursued since he became leader in 2005. In another, it marks a return to the Conservative embrace of social reform that has been followed by one nation Tory leaders ever since Disraeli.”He noted that “in one sense” Cameron’s “crusade was an extension of the modernising agenda he has always pursued since he became leader in 2005. In another, it marks a return to the Conservative embrace of social reform that has been followed by one nation Tory leaders ever since Disraeli.”
Newspapers that didn’t back the Tories were also struck by Cameron’s pitch to the centre ground, but they wondered whether there was any substance beyond the rhetoric.Newspapers that didn’t back the Tories were also struck by Cameron’s pitch to the centre ground, but they wondered whether there was any substance beyond the rhetoric.
The Independent thought “much of his message was surprisingly liberal and humane in tone.” Otherwise, howeverm, the paper was very critical: The Independent thought “much of his message was surprisingly liberal and humane in tone.” Otherwise, however, the paper was very critical:
“Mr Cameron needs to think again, and far more carefully, about cuts to tax credits and investment in Britain’s housing... By far the most disappointing aspect of the prime minister’s promised social revolutions is in housing...“Mr Cameron needs to think again, and far more carefully, about cuts to tax credits and investment in Britain’s housing... By far the most disappointing aspect of the prime minister’s promised social revolutions is in housing...
So, far from delivering the volume of affordable rented housing needed to rescue, for example, the almost 100,000 children who are homeless or living in temporary accommodation, Mr Cameron’s proposal seems aimed at the sons and daughters of the well-to-do looking to buy their first £400,000 property.So, far from delivering the volume of affordable rented housing needed to rescue, for example, the almost 100,000 children who are homeless or living in temporary accommodation, Mr Cameron’s proposal seems aimed at the sons and daughters of the well-to-do looking to buy their first £400,000 property.
Relaxing yet further the weak rules on developers providing social housing will weaken the supply of housing where it is most needed.”Relaxing yet further the weak rules on developers providing social housing will weaken the supply of housing where it is most needed.”
The Guardian went so far as to suggest that the speech might be “one of the few leaders’ speeches that achieves a political afterlife.” Why? The paper explained that if it “does become an enduring Conservative reference point, it will be because this was a consciously signposting speech for a reformist Tory pitch to those centrist voters on whom Labour has turned its back.”The Guardian went so far as to suggest that the speech might be “one of the few leaders’ speeches that achieves a political afterlife.” Why? The paper explained that if it “does become an enduring Conservative reference point, it will be because this was a consciously signposting speech for a reformist Tory pitch to those centrist voters on whom Labour has turned its back.”
In wanting people to believe that the Tories are not a “one-trick party” they “must enter no-go areas and take on Britain’s social problems of poverty, social immobility and extremism.”In wanting people to believe that the Tories are not a “one-trick party” they “must enter no-go areas and take on Britain’s social problems of poverty, social immobility and extremism.”
The Guardian was sceptical: “There can be no disputing the stated ambition. The question is whether that ambition is turned into deeds, thereby redeeming much of the often destructive record of the last five years.”The Guardian was sceptical: “There can be no disputing the stated ambition. The question is whether that ambition is turned into deeds, thereby redeeming much of the often destructive record of the last five years.”
Cameron’s adoption of social reform, while deserving “to be genuinely welcomed... must be tested against government actions and outcomes if it is to be believable...Cameron’s adoption of social reform, while deserving “to be genuinely welcomed... must be tested against government actions and outcomes if it is to be believable...
“It will take more than words to reverse worsening problems of homelessness, housing costs, family poverty, overuse of prison and static social mobility, for all of which Mr Cameron’s governments bear a big share of responsibility.”“It will take more than words to reverse worsening problems of homelessness, housing costs, family poverty, overuse of prison and static social mobility, for all of which Mr Cameron’s governments bear a big share of responsibility.”
And the Daily Mirror? It saw Cameron’s “self-trumpeted assault on poverty” as a cover for “an attack on the poor, low-paid and even average earners.”And the Daily Mirror? It saw Cameron’s “self-trumpeted assault on poverty” as a cover for “an attack on the poor, low-paid and even average earners.”
It said: “The Tory leader confuses his own life and prospects with the tougher experience of millions scraping a living or the growing number who work hard, put in extra hours and hold good jobs but can’t afford to buy a home.”It said: “The Tory leader confuses his own life and prospects with the tougher experience of millions scraping a living or the growing number who work hard, put in extra hours and hold good jobs but can’t afford to buy a home.”
The Mirror concluded: “The Conservatives are trying to con Britain, with broken promises and callous policies... The party of the bedroom tax and tax credit cuts is creating an unfairer Britain. Truth hurts, Cameron. That’s why he couldn’t utter it.”The Mirror concluded: “The Conservatives are trying to con Britain, with broken promises and callous policies... The party of the bedroom tax and tax credit cuts is creating an unfairer Britain. Truth hurts, Cameron. That’s why he couldn’t utter it.”