Cameron speech: Reactions
William Hague, Alan Duncan, Oliver Letwin and others give politics.co.uk their reaction to David Cameron’s leader’s speech.
William Hague, shadow foreign secretary: “It was a very good speech. I think it’s the best he’s delivered to a conference. It was really outstanding. What I liked about it was that it shows what he’s really like. Those who really know, already know what he’s really like, but I’m not sure the country at large has always understood that. But I think it really came across this week.”
Alan Duncan, shadow business secretary: “It was fantastic. It showed three things – character, values and judgement. And during the whole week they showed judgment. During all this financial turmoil, they got it right. They were sober but they looked forward. I think he knocked the experience charge absolutely stone dead. It was masterly, it was grown up – just what we needed.”
Oliver Letwin, Conservative policy director: “I think it was an enormously powerful speech. With a combination of power and charm he showed balance, maturity, clarity of judgement and character. He also nailed the point that Gordon Brown’s experience is exactly the kind of experience we don’t want to repeat.”
Susan Williams, Conservative party candidate for Bolton West: “I think he got the tone just right. I just thought the seriousness of the situation we found ourselves in during the last few weeks was really reflected in the initial part of his speech. I thought some of his messages were excellent. He knew his audience, both in the hall and the wider world.”
Pat Moore, local Conservative Association chairman: “This is my first conference, and I liked it very much. As the chairman of a Conservative association it gives me something to take back. I like what he said about the NHS. I liked what he said about the environment. I liked what he said about personal responsibility.”
