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Cameron bids to shed 'PR man' tag | Cameron bids to shed 'PR man' tag |
(1 day later) | |
Conservative leader David Cameron is to tackle "head-on" claims that he is all style and no substance. | Conservative leader David Cameron is to tackle "head-on" claims that he is all style and no substance. |
He will use his party's annual conference, which starts in Bournemouth on Sunday, to stress his commitment to developing serious policy ideas. | He will use his party's annual conference, which starts in Bournemouth on Sunday, to stress his commitment to developing serious policy ideas. |
There will be no specific policy announcements at the four-day rally, a Tory spokesman confirmed. | There will be no specific policy announcements at the four-day rally, a Tory spokesman confirmed. |
But Mr Cameron is expected to focus on the work of the party's six policy groups established last year. | But Mr Cameron is expected to focus on the work of the party's six policy groups established last year. |
It comes as Mr Cameron set out proposals to "clean up" British politics, which would involve ending the practice of MPs setting their own salaries. | It comes as Mr Cameron set out proposals to "clean up" British politics, which would involve ending the practice of MPs setting their own salaries. |
He also backed a cap on the number of ministers and special advisers a government can appoint, and wants to hand investigation of ministers' conduct to an independent body. | He also backed a cap on the number of ministers and special advisers a government can appoint, and wants to hand investigation of ministers' conduct to an independent body. |
'Detailed policy' | 'Detailed policy' |
A spokesman said Mr Cameron intended to use the party's annual conference to hit back at claims by his Labour and Liberal Democrat opponents that his leadership was just a "PR exercise" and that he had no substance. | A spokesman said Mr Cameron intended to use the party's annual conference to hit back at claims by his Labour and Liberal Democrat opponents that his leadership was just a "PR exercise" and that he had no substance. |
CONSERVATIVE WEEK Sunday Senator John McCainDavid CameronMonday Hot topic: Marketing to childrenPublic services debateDavid Davis, Crime debateHot topic: Cheap flightsEnvironment debateTuesdayHot topic: Alcohol and drugsSocial justice debateBusiness in societyGeorge Osborne, economyWilliam Hague, Liam Fox, foreign affairsDevolution debate Wednesday Culture of creativityHot topic: Globalisation Global poverty debateLeader's speech Analysis: New look rally? | CONSERVATIVE WEEK Sunday Senator John McCainDavid CameronMonday Hot topic: Marketing to childrenPublic services debateDavid Davis, Crime debateHot topic: Cheap flightsEnvironment debateTuesdayHot topic: Alcohol and drugsSocial justice debateBusiness in societyGeorge Osborne, economyWilliam Hague, Liam Fox, foreign affairsDevolution debate Wednesday Culture of creativityHot topic: Globalisation Global poverty debateLeader's speech Analysis: New look rally? |
He is expected to use his closing speech on Wednesday to give more details about the work of his six policy groups - but he would not be forced into making "policy on the hoof", his spokesman stressed. | He is expected to use his closing speech on Wednesday to give more details about the work of his six policy groups - but he would not be forced into making "policy on the hoof", his spokesman stressed. |
The policy groups - on social justice, democracy, national and international security, quality of life, reform of public services and economic competitiveness - are due to report next summer. | The policy groups - on social justice, democracy, national and international security, quality of life, reform of public services and economic competitiveness - are due to report next summer. |
Their findings will then be considered by the shadow cabinet, who will draw up the party's next manifesto. | Their findings will then be considered by the shadow cabinet, who will draw up the party's next manifesto. |
The format of this year's Conservative conference is designed to showcase the party's new direction. | The format of this year's Conservative conference is designed to showcase the party's new direction. |
Shadow cabinet members will give much shorter speeches than usual and open up their subjects to debate in the hall. | Shadow cabinet members will give much shorter speeches than usual and open up their subjects to debate in the hall. |
There will also be a series of "hot topic" policy debates, starting on Monday with a discussion on whether it is time to ban marketing to children. | There will also be a series of "hot topic" policy debates, starting on Monday with a discussion on whether it is time to ban marketing to children. |
Delegates will be able to vote on these debates using "X-Factor"-style electronic keypads. | Delegates will be able to vote on these debates using "X-Factor"-style electronic keypads. |
They will also be able to comment on speeches and debates by sending text messages to a big screen above the platform - although these will be screened by party workers for obscenities or libels. | They will also be able to comment on speeches and debates by sending text messages to a big screen above the platform - although these will be screened by party workers for obscenities or libels. |
HAVE YOUR SAY When will we see a determined and strong opposition? Lionlen, Salisbury Send us your comments | |
The party has also invited a series of outside experts to take part in debates, including Big Issue founder John Bird, the deputy secretary-general of the United Nations, Mark Malloch Brown, and children's campaigner Camila Batmanghelidjh. | The party has also invited a series of outside experts to take part in debates, including Big Issue founder John Bird, the deputy secretary-general of the United Nations, Mark Malloch Brown, and children's campaigner Camila Batmanghelidjh. |
Centre-right coalition | Centre-right coalition |
The idea is to transfer some of the passion and energy of conference fringe meetings to the main hall, a party spokesman said. | The idea is to transfer some of the passion and energy of conference fringe meetings to the main hall, a party spokesman said. |
US Senator John McCain, a frontrunner for the 2008 Republican nomination, will address the conference before Mr Cameron on Sunday. | US Senator John McCain, a frontrunner for the 2008 Republican nomination, will address the conference before Mr Cameron on Sunday. |
There will also be video messages from the leader of France's governing UMP party, Nicolas Sarkozy, and incoming Swedish president Fredrik Reinfeldt. | There will also be video messages from the leader of France's governing UMP party, Nicolas Sarkozy, and incoming Swedish president Fredrik Reinfeldt. |
Mr Reinfeldt - dubbed the "Swedish David Cameron" - recently ended a long tradition of Social Democratic rule in Sweden, with a centre-right coalition headed by his Moderate Party. | Mr Reinfeldt - dubbed the "Swedish David Cameron" - recently ended a long tradition of Social Democratic rule in Sweden, with a centre-right coalition headed by his Moderate Party. |
"My simple message to you is this: We changed, and we won the election," Mr Reinfeldt will tell Tory delegates. | "My simple message to you is this: We changed, and we won the election," Mr Reinfeldt will tell Tory delegates. |
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