Cameron's Brighton Speech

Unfortunately it was not possible to watch this speech due to a prior commitment, however three youtube videos are available (H/T: Calling England) which are reproduced:

Nothing too controversial there, other than a 'picky' point about 'flying round the world' - which won't do much for the environment.

How Cameron can talk about an"expensive, bloated bureaucracy at the top and then they see so many things where they have so little control" really does beggar belief. For one moment I thought he was discussing the EU! He may well wish to reform, pare and thereby cut the costs of our parliament, but that is but a drop in the ocean when one considers that it would be one hell of a lot of money that would still be spent on an institution that would be doing no more than 'rubber-stamping' laws emanating from Brussels, said laws being the majority of all laws which affect our country. The next part of his speech, on Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) constitutes what I believe is a 'first' - a double 'U-turn'. You may recall I posted here about how in 2008 RDAs were going and how present Conservative policy stated they would be 'reformed' - oh but hang on, now they are going again! Make your mind up Dave!

In all the videos and as confirmed by David Blackburn, on Politics Home, not one mention of the EU or immigration, subjects he should be discussing - and by not doing so, is misleading the people. He talks about social problems, problems caused in the main by unlimited immigration from the EU and about which he can do nothing. He talks about another 5 years of Labour's taxes, when he knows full well that the EU plan is for harmonisation of tax.

Some political commentators here, here and here feel that this speech has won Cameron the election - personally I am not so sure. Cameron is still vulnerable on the basic democratic question of who governs our country - and that is a question that I hope will gain prominence the nearer election day approaches. He has a contradiction in policy of wishing to devolve power downwards, whilst accepting centralisation of power in Brussels - and the two do not sit easily side by side.