| Cameron calls conservatives to be ready for change |
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LONDON: New Tory leader David Cameron has urged the conservatives to be ready for change. In his New Year's message, the 39-year-old leader chanted the message: "constructive, thoughtful and open-minded" and told fellow party men to show that it was adapting to a modern Britain.
The youthful leader, aiming to show himself as the agent of transformation in the party, told party men: ""I want every single member and supporter of the Conservative Party to remember that personal commitment is the most powerful way to bring about change."
He then invoked the Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi and said, "As Gandhi said, we must be the change we want to see in the world." He added that he wanted to usher in a new type of "constructive, thoughtful and open-minded" politics.
A Tory spokesperson said Cameron also felt that voluntary work is the key and that he was a politician who focused on "much more than just elections".
Cameron is leading the Tories to a total transformation in fortunes, pulling them ahead of the Labour in the polls. True to this spirit, his message added: "This is an exciting time to be a Conservative."
Prime minister Tony Blair took on Cameron's challenge and told the countrymen that Britain remained a prosperous and successful country under the Labour. He said in his New Year's message that he is determined to press ahead with difficult public service reforms on schools, pensions and local health services, adding: "Britain in 2006 will continue to be one of the most successful countries in the world with a strong economy.
"In an age of rapid change new challenges and threats will emerge but we should always be grateful for what a great country Britain is."
Decisions taken during 2006 on welfare, pensions and energy will affect the prosperity and security of the people of Britain for the next 50 years, he said, and added that the government would not "let our resolve slip" in the battle to defeat terrorism and bring peace to Iraq.
Cameron is set to take on the Labour on its environment policies. He is listed to speak at the Soil Association annual conference next week. And he has appointed three environmentalists -- Zac Goldsmith, the multimillionaire editor of the Ecologist, who will lead a rethink on environmental issues, John Gummer, former agriculture minister, and Peter Ainsworth, chairman of the environmental audit select committee -- to "formulate a long-term strategy that will make Britain a better place to live without constraining economic growth".
The Tory leader is also adopting what analysts see as "compassionate conservatism". His action in co-opting Bob Geldof to a think-tank on global poverty is seen as an indication of this approach.
Cameron has also pacified the women saying he will work to end the "scandal" of women being paid less than men for the same work. He said the party would aim to select women candidates for at least half the 140 target seats at the next election.
Posted
on : Sun, 01 Jan 2006 08:10 GMT | Politics News
By : Chris Rowe
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