Political positions of David Cameron

This article concerns the policies, views and voting record of David Cameron, leader of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom.

Overview

Centre-right in his views, Cameron describes himself as a "modern compassionate conservative" and has said that he is "fed up with the Punch and Judy politics of Westminster". [
Jonathan Freedland, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1660457,00.html "Enough of this love-in: Bush was a compassionate conservative too"] , Guardian Unlimited, 7 December 2005, accessed 6 November 2006] He has stated that he is "certainly a big Thatcher fan, but I don't know whether that makes me a Thatcherite." [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4446864.stm "Cameron: Tories need new identity"] , BBC News Online, 17 November 2005, accessed 6 November 2006] He has also claimed to be a "liberal Conservative", and "not a deeply ideological person."Andrew Rawnsley, [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/focus/story/0,,1669957,00.html "'I'm not a deeply ideological person. I'm a practical one'"] , Guardian Unlimited, 18 December 2005, accessed 6 November 2006] Cameron has stated that he does not intend to oppose the government as a matter of course, and will offer his support in areas of agreement. He also wants to move the Conservatives' focus away from purely fiscal matters, saying "It's time we admitted that there's more to life than money, and it's time we focused not just on GDP, but on GWB - general well-being". [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5003314.stm "Make people happier, says Cameron"] , BBC News Online, 22 May 2006, accessed 6 November 2006] There have been claims that he described himself to journalists at a dinner during the leadership contest as the "heir to Blair". [Andrew Pierce, [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,17129-1811591,00.html "Horror as Cameron brandishes the B word"] , The Times Online, 5 October 2005, accessed 25 November 2006]

He and others in the "Notting Hill set" have sought to focus on issues such as the environment, work-life balance and international development -- issues not seen as priorities for the post-Thatcher Conservative party. [Jo-Anne Nadler, [http://www.sundayherald.com/49796 "So who are the Notting Hill set anyway?"] , Sunday Herald, 15 May 2005, accessed 6 November 2006] In a speech to the Conservative annual conference in October 2006, he identified the concept of "social responsibility" as the essence of his political philosophy. [http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=news.story.page&obj_id=132485&speeches=1 "Cameron: We stand for social responsibility"] , conservatives.com, 1 October 2006, accessed 6 November 2006]

In 2008, Cameron organised a seminar for senior Conservatives with the economist Richard Thaler and began discussing the influence of Thaler's ideas on Conservative policy. [Aditya Chakrabortty, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/jul/12/economy.conservatives "From Obama to Cameron, why do so many politicians want a piece of Richard Thaler?"] , The Guardian, July 12 2008, accessed August 12 2008] [Carol Lewis, [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/career_and_jobs/article4330267.ece "Why Barack Obama and David Cameron are keen to 'nudge' you"] , Times Online, July 14 2008, accessed August 12 2008] Thaler, an advocate of Libertarian paternalism, has been described as Cameron's "free-market guru". [Peter Wilby, [http://www.newstatesman.com/society/2008/07/thaler-friedman-cameron-social "Cameron's free-market guru"] , New Statesman, July 24 2008, accessed August 12 2008] Thaler is the co-author with Cass Sunstein of "Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness", and the pair are informal policy advisors to Barack Obama. [Chris Satullo, [http://www.philly.com/philly/news/nation_world/20080720_Chris_Satullo__The_right_kind_of__nudge__improves_life_for_citizens.html "The right kind of 'nudge' improves life for citizens"] , Philadelphia Enquirer, July 20 2008, accessed August 12 2008] Cameron included the book in a 2008 reading list for Conservative MPs. [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2493248/In-full-The-reading-list-issued-to-Tory-MPs.html "In full: The reading list issued to Tory MPs"] , The Telegraph, August 3 2008, accessed August 12 2008]

Economic policy

Cameron has said that it is "essential to reduce taxes on employment and wealth creation in order to enhance our economy's competitiveness. But I don't think it's sensible today to write a Conservative budget for 2009 or 2010, with specific pledges on tax reduction." [ [http://conservativehome.blogs.com/toryleadership/2005/11/highlights_of_d.html "Highlights of David Cameron's CBI speech"] , ConservativeHome.com, 28 November 2005, accessed 6 November 2006] He has stated that he hoped to cut taxes and raise public spending, "as the economy grows". He has referred to this approach as "sharing the proceeds of growth".

Air travel

Cameron has expressed interest in abolishing air-passenger duty for those who travel abroad only rarely, while introducing "frequent flyer" taxes on those who frequently fly around the globe. [ [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article1496774.ece "Tories plan to slap tax on frequent flyers"] , Timesonline.com, 11 March 2007, accessed 11 March 2007]

Copyright

Cameron intends to increase the period of copyright from 50 to 70 years, bring copyright infringing downloads under stronger legal control and require ISPs to "block access and indeed close down offending file-sharing sites" [ Conservative Party web site as of Saturday, 8th of July, 2007 [http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=news.press.release.page&obj_id=137437 " Press Release: "David Cameron to call for extension in copyright term""] ] . He supports music industry representatives going into schools to teach children about copyright, technology hindering copyright infringement (DRM), and encourages the music industry to exercise self-censorship on its material in return for the above music industry friendly measures [ Times Online web site as of Saturday, 8th of July, 2007 [http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article2028741.ece " Entertainment article "Cut the misogyny and we’ll extend musicians’ copyright""] ] .

Deficit

Cameron has repeatedly attacked Labour for over-borrowing and has pledged to eradicate public borrowing if elected.

Environment

Cameron has regularly stressed his green credentials since becoming leader, describing himself as "passionate about our environment." He has argued that "there is a price... for tackling climate change" but it is a "social responsibility to the next generation". [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5407714.stm "In full: Cameron speech"] , BBC News Online, 4 October 2006, accessed 6 November 2006] He has stated he is committed to achieving the 2010 emissions limit and has announced he would change the current Climate Change Levy to a carbon tax in order to counter global warming. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4928796.stm "Tories plan climate levy overhaul"] , BBC News Online, 21 April 2006, accessed 25 November 2006] [ [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/conservatives/story/0,,1758213,00.html "Cameron pledges to firm up green credentials with carbon levy"] , Guardian Unlimited, 21 April 2006, accessed 25 November 2006] Cameron proposed a Climate Change Bill which would include committing to binding annual carbon reduction targets. [ [http://comment.independent.co.uk/commentators/article1932690.ece "David Cameron: Labour's carbon targets amount to a cop-out"] , Independent Online, 27 October 2006, accessed 1 December 2006] However, a memo that was leaked to the Labour Party suggested the binding targets proposal may be dropped, [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6198148.stm "Cameron climate policy 'too soft'"] BBC News Online, 1 December 2006, accessed 1 December 2006] and these do not form part of the proposed Bill as of November 2006. [ [http://www.canihavethebillplease.co.uk/bill.html Can I have the Bill please?] , Conservative Party, accessed 23 February 2007]

In spite of this, Cameron has opposed increases in vehicle excise duty, branding it 'a stealth tax.'

He has also pledged to introduce a fair fuel stabiliser if elected, whereby tax on oil is cut as the price of oil goes up, and tax on oil is raised as the price of oil goes down. The policy is designed to make the price of oil consistent throughout the year.

It has been widely publicised that Cameron on occasion cycles to work. However, an official car that followed him carrying his clothes and official documents was photographed by the media, leading to accusations that his bicycling image was "spin". [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/04/28/ucameron.xml "Cameron's bike ride to work - with a car in tow"] , Daily Telegraph, 29 April 2006, accessed 25 November 2006] [Oliver King and agencies, [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/conservatives/story/0,,1765729,00.html "Cameron rejects accusations of green spin"] , The Guardian, 2 May 2006, accessed 25 November 2006] Cameron has since stated that this happened only "once or twice" and has vowed that it will not happen again, now that he has a pannier to carry documents. In the same interview he admitted that since becoming leader of the Conservative Party he is now only able to cycle to work once a week. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5254772.stm "Cameron reveals weekly bike ride"] , BBC News Online, 8 August 2006, accessed 26 November]

Globalisation

Cameron is passionately in favour of free trade and an open economy [ [http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=news.story.page&obj_id=131827&speeches=1 Cameron: The challenges of globalisation - News Story - Conservative Party ] ]

Regulation

Despite initial strong opposition, Cameron has since declared his support for the national minimum wage introduced by the Labour Party. More generally though, he has strongly supported deregulation of the private sector, promising an immediate deregulation bill upon election. He has also pledged to remove Britain from the EU's social chapter and to withdraw unilaterally from certain directives stemming from the European Union.

Taxation

Despite showing caution with regard to promising big cuts in taxation, landmark Conservative pledges include increasing the inheritance tax exemption to £1 million and the stamp duty threshold to £250,000 to help first-time buyers. Other proposals include lower tax on alcohol, resistance to rises in vehicle excise duty, the fair fuel stabiliser described earlier, which cuts tax on oil as the price of it increases, a reduction in corporation tax to 25% and reforming child tax credits in order to encourage marriage.

ocial policy

In a July 2005 speech to the Centre for Social Justice (before becoming party leader) he stated, "the biggest challenge our country faces today is not economic decline, but social decline", stating that in life in Britain "there is a complex web of interconnected problem... Family breakdown. Persistent unemployment among some groups. Low expectations. Chaotic home environments. Drugs. Crime. Poor quality public space." [ [http://www.cameronleadership.co.uk/speechfiles/DC_18.07.05.pdf "'The role of social enterprises and community groups'"] , Cameron Leadership Website, 18 July 2005, accessed 19 July 2007] Upon becoming leader Cameron set up a number of committees, such as the Social Justice Policy Group chaired by Iain Duncan Smith, to generate policy ideas on these issues.

Abortion

Cameron occupies a broadly pro-life stance, voting to reduce the upper time limit on abortions.

Crime

Cameron has taken a tough approach to crime, pledging to scrap the early release of prisoners, toughen prison regimes, make them compensate victims through a special fund paid into by work in prison, and withdraw welfare payments from those who fail to attend community service. Uniforms would be introduced for those completing community service. He has also proposed a big prison-building program and introduce mandatory custodial sentences for all convicted of carrying a knife. His proposal to abolish the 1998 Human Rights Act would enable some of his measures. However, in July 2006 Cameron made a second speech to the Centre for Social Justice in which he highlighted the problem of young offenders and called for more understanding. At the time, the "News of the World" headlined its report of the speech "Hug a hoodie, says Cameron","News of the World", 9 July 2006, p. 16] coining a phrase which came into popular use, although Cameron never actually used the phrase. Cameron afterwards stated that he never advocated hugging 'hoodies'. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6389277.stm "Hoodie pic 'proves Cameron point'"] , BBC News Online, 23 February 2007, accessed 23 February 2007] On 17 May 2007, Cameron labelled the speech as the "most misrepresented thing he had ever said" and reiterated that he didn't ask anyone to hug hoodies. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6665017.stm Don't hug a hoodie, says Cameron] , BBC News Online, 17 May 2007, accessed 17 May 2007]

Cameron has criticised ASBOs as "reacting" to crime, rather than reducing it, and argued that they should be replaced with "challenging community punishments." In the same speech he also argued that young offenders should be shown "a lot more love" and more understanding into why youths commit crime, specifically calling for more youth counselling, education and training. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6110180.stm "Cameron demands "a lot more love"] , BBC News Online, 2 November 2006, accessed 5 December 2006] Cameron was mocked by many Labour MPs for the speech, but he received unexpected backing from right-wing peer Norman Tebbit. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5179402.stm "Tebbit backs 'hug a hoodie' call"] , BBC News Online, 14 July 2006, accessed 5 December 2006] Cameron has repeatedly defended his argument, saying that although "I understand, you break the law, you get punished" it was important "to understand what's gone wrong in these children's lives." [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6210868.stm "Cameron promises some 'real grit' "] , 5 December 2006, accessed 5 December 2006] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5163798.stm "Cameron defends 'hoodie' speech"] , BBC News Online, 10 July 2006, accessed 5 December 2006]

Health

Cameron has pledged to develop policies to make the NHS a "more efficient, more effective and more patient-centred service." He wishes to grant the NHS much greater independence from the Department of Health in order to prevent it being used as a "political football" and to create "greater professional responsibility". [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6032473.stm "Cameron wants 'independent' NHS"] , BBC News Online, 9 October 2006, accessed 6 November 2006] He has stated the Conservative party will propose an NHS Independence Bill to this effect in January 2007, and has publicly asked the Labour leadership to support the bill, after he supported Blair's education reforms. [Matthew Tempest, [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/conservatives/story/0,,1891212,00.html "Cameron plans bill to give NHS 'independence'"] , Guardian Unlimited, 9 October 2006, accessed 25 November 2006]

Education

David Cameron has endorsed the government's creation of city academies, unpopular with many Labour backbenchers, as a way of improving standards in deprived areas. He has called on the government to go "further and faster" with the policy, and says that academies should be given even more freedom from central control. The scheme would be greatly extended by Cameron if elected. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6037679.stm "Tory leader backs city academies"] , BBC News Online, 10 October 2006, accessed 6 November 2006]

He has pledged to give schools much greater independence from government, promising to give them control over admission policy and increase the use of specialist statuses.

Lately, Cameron has also spoken of busting the public monopoly on education to let new schools be set up, although has not specified what exactly that means. [Elizabeth Stewart, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/may/09/london.boris 'New York and London mayors unveil plans for cooperation'] (9.5.2008)]

Cameron has also promised to increase the teaching by ability of pupils if elected.

Gay rights

During Labour's repeal of the Section 28 legislation in 2000, which banned local government from promoting the acceptability of homosexuality, Cameron accused Labour PM Tony Blair of being "anti-family" and of pursuing the "promotion of homosexuality in schools" [ [http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/dispatches/cameron+toff+at+the+top/328047 Channel 4 - News - Dispatches - Cameron: Toff at the Top] 26 March 2007] , accusations associated with the Christian right. In addition, he opposed giving lesbians the right to IVF treatment.

More recently, however, Cameron has changed his mind about gay rights and expressed strong support for civil partnerships for gays and lesbians. He voted in favour of the 2004 bill which created them.

Disability

Cameron has stated that the government needs to change social attitudes towards disability by setting an example for the private sector. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6055560.stm "Cameron job pledge for disabled"] , BBC News Online, 16 October 2006, accessed 6 November 2006] Under a Conservative government the state would prioritise increasing the number of disabled people employed at Whitehall. Cameron has asked the disability charity Scope to advise on employment policy, claiming it is "morally wrong and economically stupid for five million on incapacity benefit who could work to be left on the scrap-heap." He has called for tougher medical tests and cutting the welfare benefits of those who fail them and refuse to join a return-to-work scheme.

Drugs and alcohol

Cameron has been accused of drug-taking as a youth, accusations that he has neither confirmed or denied. He opposes drug legalisation, supports more drug rehabilitation places and wants to reclassify cannabis as a class B drug.

The Conservatives under Cameron have opposed increases in tax on alcohol, claiming that high excise taxes should be limited to drinks associated with crime and binge-drinking.

ID cards

Cameron has spoken out against identity cards on a number of occasions, saying that they will not reduce crime and illegal immigration, will be a waste of money and are a violation of human rights.

British Hindus

David Cameron supports referring to British Hindus as a separate ethnic group, refining definition of "Asian" to separate ethnic groups, saying "And if you prefer to be referred to as British Hindus or British Indians rather than as simply Asians, we should welcome that as a positive thing." [ [http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=news.story.page&obj_id=131074 "David Cameron: Speech to Soar Valley Community College"] ,21 July 2006, accessed 5 July 2007] Cameron's comments are significant because the British Hindu community has often resented the ethnic grouping Asian; while relations between Hindus and Muslims in Britain have often been strained, the current description does not recognise any distinction between these groups.

Fox hunting

Cameron is in favour of overturning the ban on fox-hunting and has stated that a Conservative government under his leadership would give Parliament time for a free vote on the issue. [Daily Telegraph, 19 February 2006, [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/02/19/nhunt19.xml "Tories plan rapid repeal of hunting ban"] ] He himself has been fox-hunting on several occasions. [House of Commons Debates Monday, 30 June 2003, [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debate/?id=2003-06-30.127.0 "Hunting Bill New Clause 13 — Registered Hunting: Absolute Bans: Deer, Hares, Foxes and Terrierwork"] reported by TheyWorkForYou.com, 30 June 2003, accessed 6 November 2006] .

Immigration, asylum and integration

Cameron has championed the introduction of an upper annual limit of immigration and an increase in the minimum age for foreign nationals to join spouses in the UK to 21. He has called for the introduction of a British Border Control Police, quotas for asylum seekers and all asylum claims to be assessed in overseas centres. Cameron favours British withdrawal from the 1951 Geneva convention on refugees.

Welfare

Cameron has argued passionately for limits in welfare payments and in favour of individual initiative. Alongside the tougher medical tests, he proposes requiring all people receiving jobseeker's allowance to join a return to work program and prevent people who refuse a job offer while on benefits from claiming for 3 years. People who claim benefits for 2 out of 3 years would be required to join a community work scheme.

Foreign policy

Cameron has stated that he believes in "spreading freedom and democracy, and supporting humanitarian intervention" in cases such as the genocide in Darfur, Sudan. However, he claims to not be a neo-conservative because, as a conservative, he recognises "the complexities of human nature, and will always be sceptical of grand schemes to remake the world." He supports multilateralism stating "a country may act alone - but it cannot always succeed alone." He believes multilateralism can take the form of acting through "NATO, the UN, the G8, the EU and other institutions", or through international alliances. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5336082.stm "In full: Cameron on foreign policy"] , BBC News Online, 11 September 2006, accessed 6 November 2006] Cameron has also argued that "If the West is to help other countries, we must do so from a position of genuine moral authority" and "we must strive above all for legitimacy in what we do."

Cameron has supported the alliance with the United States, viewing it as highly important. He has praised its role in the Second World War and the Cold War, about which he has said "Unlike some, I never had any doubts about whose side I was on". This was interpreted as a knock at sections of the Labour Party, some members of which had expressed support for the former Soviet Union. He has also claimed "we must be steadfast not slavish in how we approach the special relationship", arguing that "questioning the approach of the U.S. administration, trying to learn the lessons of the past five years, does not make you anti-American." Cameron also supports Israel and has described the state as being "a lone democracy in a region that currently boasts no others." He is a member of and has spoken for the Conservative Friends of Israel group. [ [http://conservativehome.blogs.com/toryleadership/2005/11/davis_and_camer.html "Davis and Cameron promise to be friends of Israel"] , ConservativeHome.com, 25 November 2005, accessed 6 November 2006] However he criticised the country's 2006 missile attacks on Lebanon, describing the force used as "disproportionate."

Iraq and the "War on terror"

Before becoming leader, he voted in favour of the Iraq War, confirming this stance during an interview on the British TV show "Friday Night with Jonathan Ross". In defence of the Iraq situation, he stated, "You've got to do what you think is right even if it's unpopular, that's the only thing you can do". [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5108584.stm "Cameron backs Blair on Iraq war"] , BBC News Online, 23 June 2006, accessed 6 November 2006] Subsequently he supported a motion brought by the SNP and Plaid Cymru on 31 October 2006, calling for an inquiry into the government's conduct of the Iraq war. This was after the government informed the Conservatives that an inquiry would not be accepted in 2007, the initial policy call of the party. The motion was defeated by a margin 25 votes, 273 MPs voting in favour and 298 against. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6096098.stm "Iraq inquiry call rejected by MPs"] , BBC News Online, 1 November 2006, accessed 6 November 2006] He was criticised for this in editorials in "The Sun" and "The Times" newspapers. [Mike Smithson, [http://politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2006/11/01/has-cameron-upset-rupert-over-the-iraq-debate/ "Has Cameron upset Rupert over the Iraq debate?"] , Politicalbetting.com, 1 November 2006, accessed 6 November 2006] He was also criticised by some Conservative MPs who claimed it was irresponsible to support an enquiry while British troops were still involved. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6114378.stm "Tory Iraq vote 'absolutely crazy'"] , BBC News Online, 4 November 2006, accessed 6 November 2006]

Cameron supports the War on Terror. He has praised it for the removal of "two of the world's most repressive regimes", Libya's abandonment of nuclear weapons procurement, and Syria's withdrawal from Lebanon. He has argued "it must be a battle of hearts and minds, as well as force" and that "the threat cannot be negotiated away or appeased - it has to be confronted and overcome". Cameron has accused Iran of encouraging the insurgency in Iraq and "the murder of British troops", and has criticised the regime for supporting Hezbollah.

European Union

Immediately after his election as leader, he restated his pledge to withdraw the party's MEPs from cooperation with the European People's Party (EPP) within the European Parliament, viewing the EPP as excessively federalist. The British Conservative Party is part of the anti-federalist European Democrats a sub-group of the EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament, but Cameron plans for the ED to break away in order to form a new, independent grouping. Cameron aims to set up a group more focused on the Conservative Party's views, a move that has been resisted by some Conservative MEPs and all mainstream Conservative member-parties of the EPP. After much speculation, he announced in July 2006 that Conservative MEPs would withdraw from the EPP in 2009. The stated reason for the delay was that the Conservatives' proposed future alliance partners, the Czech Civic Democratic Party, needed time to form a new domestic coalition in order to form a "eurorealist" grouping in the European Parliament. [Stephen Mulvey, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5176782.stm "Q&A: The Tories and the EPP"] , BBC News Online, 13 July 2006, accessed 6 November 2006] Nevertheless, he has yet to find parties from other countries that would allow his pledge to materialize.

Cameron is currently against unilaterally withdrawing from the European Union's Common Fisheries Policy, as some on the Conservative Right have proposed. [Toby Helm, [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/06/08/neu108.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/06/08/ixuknews.html "Cameron drops plans to pull out of Europe's deal on fishing"] , telegraph.co.uk, 8 June 2006, accessed 6 November 2006]

Constitutional issues

Cameron is a Unionist although he supports devolution, saying that the Conservatives, "fought against the idea of a Scottish Parliament long after it became clear that it was the settled will of the people." He has also defended the Barnett formula as "Other areas within the UK are subsidised more than Scotland is." He also believes "unionists have to develop better arguments against independence", and that "the case for the Union isn't just economic." Cameron has stated that he wants to address anti-Scottishness in England, "Scotland has certainly not been an occupied or oppressed country these past three hundred years but I recognise that it has not all been a triumphal procession either", and that, "the ignorance of English people about Scots and Scotland", has sometimes meant that Scotland does not get "the respect it deserves." [http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=news.story.page&obj_id=132019 "Cameron: I will never take Scotland for granted"] , conservatives.com, 15 September 2006, 6 November 2006] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/5347744.stm "Cameron warning of 'danger to UK'"] , BBC News Online, 14 September 2006, accessed 6 November 2006]

On the West Lothian question, he has criticised the ability of Scottish MPs to vote on English matters, "We need to make devolution work... one part of devolution that doesn't work is that Scottish MPs can vote on matters that don't affect their own constituents", [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6053156.stm "Cameron makes pledge on Scotland"] , BBC News Online, 15 October 2006, accessed 20 December 2006] and has asked the party's Commission on Democracy, led by Kenneth Clarke, to look at possible solutions.

Cameron has announced that he would scrap the Human Rights Act 1998 which came into force in 2000. Instead, it would be replaced with a Bill of Rights, based on "British needs and traditions". However, he has said that the country would remain within the European Court of Human Rights, on which the Human Rights Act is based. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5116470.stm "Q&A: Bill of Rights"] , BBC News Online, 26 June 2006, accessed 6 November 2006]

He has also called for investigations into ministerial misconduct to be a "genuinely independent mechanism" after cabinet minister Tessa Jowell's husband was part of an alleged fraud inquiry. Additionally, in order to "clean up", he says ministers should not be allowed to set their expenses or salaries. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5390884.stm "Cameron political 'clean-up' call"] , BBC News Online, 29 September 2006, accessed 6 November 2006] Cameron has also called for a reduction in the number of Members of Parliament in the House of Commons. [David Charter, [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,17129-2094525,00.html "Restrict political gifts to £100,000, say Tories"] , 20 March 2006, accessed 20 December 2006] [Video recording, [http://www.webcameron.org.uk/blogs/show.aspx?id=376 "Clean politics"] (transcript [http://www.webcameron.org.uk/blogs/972] ), Webcameron.org.uk, 30 September 2006, accessed 20 December 2006]

Criticism of other parties and politicians

Upon his election as leader of the Conservative Party, Cameron declared that he was "fed up with the Punch and Judy politics of Westminster, the name calling, backbiting, point scoring, finger pointing." [David Cameron, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2005/dec/06/toryleadership2005.conservatives3 Full text of David Cameron's victory speech] , The Guardian, December 6 2005, accessed August 12 2008]

However, in a war of words with the United Kingdom Independence Party, Cameron accused its members of being "fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists, mostly," [Nick Assinder, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4875502.stm "UKIP and Cameron's war of words"] , BBC News Online, 4 April 2006, accessed 6 November 2006] leading UKIP leader Nigel Farage to demand an apology for the remarks. Right-wing Conservative MP Bob Spink also criticised the remarksBrendan Carlin, [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/04/06/nukip06.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/04/06/ixhome.html "Tory MP defends Ukip in racist row"] , telegraph.co.uk, 6 April 2006, accessed 6 November 2006] , as did the "The Daily Telegraph". [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2006/04/05/dl0502.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/04/05/ixnewstop.html "UKIP deserves better"] , telegraph.co.uk, 5 April 2006, accessed 6 November 2006]

Cameron has also criticised Prime Minister Gordon Brown (Chancellor of the Exchequer at the time) for being "an analogue politician in a digital age" and repeatedly refers to him as "the roadblock to reform". [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4833440.stm "Cameron attacks 'past it' Brown"] , BBC News Online, 22 March 2006, accessed 6 November 2006] He has also said that John Prescott "clearly looks a fool" in light of allegations of ministerial misconduct. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4964082.stm "Cameron: Prescott looks a 'fool'"] , BBC News Online, 2 May 2006, accessed 6 November, 2006] During a speech to the Ethnic Media Conference on 29 November 2006 [ [http://www.marketing-society.org.uk/downloads/Ethnic%20Media%20Conference.pdf Ethnic Media Conference agenda] , 29 November 2006, accessed 30 November 2006] Cameron also described Ken Livingstone, then Mayor of London, as an "ageing far left politician" in reference to Livingstone's views on multiculturalism. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6157517.stm "Cameron attacks 'outdated' mayor"] , BBC News Online, 30 November 2006, accessed 30 November 2006]

However, Cameron encouraged Conservative MPs to join the unprecedented standing ovation to Tony Blair at the end of his last Prime Minister's Question Time; he had paid tribute to the "huge efforts" Blair had made and said Blair had "considerable achievements to his credit, whether it is peace in Northern Ireland or his work in the developing world, which will endure". [Hansard, [http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070627/debtext/70627-0002.htm House of Commons Hansard Debates for 27 June 2007] , June 27 2008, accessed August 12 2008]

References