The Sketch: A very good fellow. Clever. Tough. Well-born. He's just like Liz Hurley in fact
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Not since the young Arthur. Not since Byron. Not since JFK. Not since Liz Hurley turned up in her little black dress at a film premiere has anyone enjoyed such spontaneous fame.
David Cameron's little black dress made him a star at the Tory party conference. He was the talk of the town. Has he become a proper celebrity in the meantime? That's for you to judge. But for the sake of the comparison we should remember that Liz Hurley doesn't just have a fabulous cleavage, she has a terrific chest as well. She also produced a perfectly good movie in Mickey Blue Eyes. Can David Cameron match that? Has he actually got the goods? And if he hasn't, can he get them flown in?
In the packed venue behind the Royal Academy we gathered for the new rebirth of the neo-rejuvenated Tory renaissance. The oldest people present were journalists. The place was heaving with clever, young, attractive blondes, not all of them women. I quite like this Compassionate Conservatism, I think it's called.
David Davis gave the best speech, and a much better one than he gave the party conference. His brave smile and undaunted carriage are a credit to him. If his new leader were acting in the interests of the country he would leave the shadow home secretary in place to take the rest of the Terror Bill through parliament. No one will do it as well as Davis. But of course, there are political considerations.
David Cameron spoke from the heart and unaffectedly. Some say he needs a smaller heart (shorter speeches); and would it kill him to affect a little policy?
The answer to that last question, incidentally, is Yes. Herein lies the justification for the vacuousness with which people charge him. He has discerned, I assume, that 70 per cent of people agree with Tory policy until they are told the policy is Tory - then approval rate halves. Cleverly, then, he doesn't propose specifics. He asks questions, and artfully enough to lead people to a shared conclusion. Actual policy, then, is Stage Two.
"We will work with the Government," he also says. I hope he's understood this properly. The purpose of supporting the Education Bill is not to get the Bill through, but to hasten Blair's departure. He does know that, doesn't he? Generalised, rhetorical support and Blair-praise to energise the Labour rebels, followed by a tactical abstention? That's the plan, isn't it? Please say that's the plan?
What do we know of Cameron? He's a very good fellow. Clever. Tougher than he looks. Well-born, and bred in the Treasury. Is he the right leader? Or if not, can he become the right leader? Who knows? As they say about marriage: "It doesn't matter much whom you marry because it always turns out to be someone else."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments