Chatting to Some Tories About David Cameron's Big Conference Speech

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David Cameron's big conference speech yesterday is being interpreted as a grab for the centre ground, but it was also an act of rhetorical love for his party, who he'll want to keep behind him as a long contest to succeed him breaks out in the party's upper echelons. The speech was packed full of all the things you would think a Tory would want to hear. There were tough words on things Conservatives don't like: Europe, Islamic extremists and Jeremy Corbyn. There was some conscience-massaging flim-flam about an "all-out assault on poverty" when 200,000 more working households will be pushed into poverty by Tory benefit cuts. There was a pledge to turn us from "Generation Rent" into "Generation Buy" with the building of some "affordable" houses that only people who earn £55,000 will be able to buy. And there was some rhetoric borrowed from Lawrence of Arabia.

When it was all over, I spoke to some of the party activists as they were still basking in the afterglow, to see if Cam's words had the desired effect.

VICE: How was it for you?
Jan Shayler, from the Midlands: Brilliant speech. One of the best speeches I've heard in recent times. I think he was amazing. I think there was something for everybody in it.

What was the highlight?
I think poverty, really. The way he wants to get people out of poverty and the reasons for it. I think that was my main… it's a thing that I don't think's been high on the Conservative agenda in years gone by and it is now and I think that's great.

A lot of people are saying that his "all-out assault on poverty" will actually end up making a lot of people more poor. Particularly the removal of tax credits.
Erm, yes. It's a contentious issue but it doesn't come in yet. For people who are going to be capped on that, they have to think about how many children they have. People are having so many children and letting the state pay for it. You've got to draw the line somewhere.

VICE: What did you think, Isaac mate?
Isaac Duffy, 17, from Hartlepool: I thought it was a brilliant speech. One of the best I've heard. The general message was that the Conservatives are the party of working people. We are the party of the ladder. My mum works in Asda, my dad's an electrician, so that's the sort of thing that really resonates with me.

But is the Conservative Party really for working people, though? Seriously?
Like I said, I live in the northeast of England. My mum works in Asda and my dad's an electrician.

Right.
I'm about as working class as you get. Both my grandparents were miners. We felt the brunt of the recession under Labour. In my lifetime it's never been better, thanks to this government. Inevitably, nothing's ever going to be perfect. We're going to keep improving things. There's new businesses coming in, new apprenticeships coming in, new small businesses getting started. I think that's really important, and it's not just in the south – it's in the "northern powerhouse". I wouldn't think those criticisms have much merit.

What was your favourite bit of the speech?
Calling out Jeremy Corbyn on calling Bin Laden's death a tragedy. Personally I think you campaign on your strengths, not your opponents weaknesses, however, you know, when someone starts sympathising with terrorists, that's a bit different. Especially when you're running for Prime Minister.

VICE: Good speech?
John Strafford from Ecclesfield: It was alright.

Just "alright"?
There's a huge amount of rhetoric in leaders' speeches, much of which you can agree with, but at the end of the day it's still rhetoric.

I guess that's the thing about speeches.
Nothing particularly new.

What was the worst bit?
I wasn't very happy with his attack on Jeremy Corbyn. When Corbyn described the death of Osama bin Laden as a "tragedy" he was talking about the fact that he hadn't been charged with a crime and had a proper trial. I think when you distort something like that it's not very good.

Was there a particular highlight for you?
Not really.

Oh.

VICE: Good speech?
Man in blue trousers: Yes, I thoroughly enjoyed it, thank you very much!!!1!!

What was the best bit?
I'm afraid I've been here for four days now and my brain isn't working terrifically well! So you might want to ask someone who's a little bit more awake!

Okay!

VICE: Good speech?
Alfie Rees-Glinos, 18, from Herefordshire: Erm… In many ways, yes. I think he wants to tackle some issues that we in the past have been afraid to tackle, so problems around… especially Muslim culture. Things that we in Britain wouldn't agree with, yet we haven't done anything because we feel it would be wrong to do anything about it. I'm glad he's tackled that.

VICE: What were the best bits for you?
Bernard White, 18, from Westminster North: Er… Probably two things. When he was talking about equality in terms of racial and LGBT equality. And also about how to combat extremism. He's quite charismatic. He was firm in what he wanted to do.

Do you think the Tories really are the party of equality, then?
Er… I'm not entirely certain. [laughs] I'd still have to think about that to be honest with you! Certainly in terms of social equality. In terms of economic equality, I'd have to think about that.

Did you enjoy the Corbyn-bashing?
No.

No?
No.

Why not?
I don't like it when politicians insult each other. There should be a more respectable atmosphere, sort of thing.

Corbyn's your man, then.
Maybe. I would say no. I think his foreign policy isn't very good, etc, etc. And his economic policies [laughs]. I dunno, yeah.

VICE: Good speech?
Doug, 24, from London (Not pictured): Fairly weak actually.

Fairly weak?
"Flat" would be a better word to describe it. I think it was an easy speech. I think Osborne's a bit more Prime Ministerial.

I thought it was a sort of love letter to the party.
Not necessarily. He picked on the easy things to say. Interestingly, I think it was similar to Corbyn's, in that he picked things that no one's going to disagree with. We all want to tackle poverty and inequality, it's difficult to disagree with, which is why it was flat.

What should he have said instead?
I don't think he needed to say anything else. It did its job. It was useful for him. As a safe speech it was as it should be. But Osborne's the one to watch, not Cameron.

VICE: Good speech?
John Charles, 70, from Bognor Regis: Really excellent. The best one he's done in five years.

What were the highlights?
All of it, basically. It's just so positive. The positive approach he's got to it is great. What we've been waiting for.

What was your favourite topic?
Defence of the realm.

Buying more nuclear submarines…
Yes, why not? It's defence of the country.

More drones…
It's very important.

Okay, thanks!

Charlie, 28, from London: I thought it was an excellent speech.

VICE: What was good about it?
I think it was a nice grab for the centre ground, with Labour moving to the left. He made a pitch for the median voter, paving a way for an enlarged majority in 2020.

What was the highlight?
I quite liked his approached on extremism. I think there's a certain level of congnitive dissonance that some people on the left have where on the one hand they're pro-women, pro-gay and so on, but they fail to tackle the views of some religious extremists.

David Metcalf from Newcastle: I think he spoke for the country. I think he certainly spoke for the party. As a speech to unite everyone who is right thinking – and I don't mean right-wing thinking, but right thinking – an excellent speech. The leadership speech is always designed to buoy the party. Usually it's just to rally the troops and send them home feeling good. That wasn't a speech just for us, that was a speech for the whole country.

Do you nevertheless feel buoyed?
Oh yes! Of course I feel buoyed. I really thought it was a brilliant speech.

Good for you!

@SimonChilds13