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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| David Cameron: I would not serve third term as PM | David Cameron: I would not serve third term as PM |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| David Cameron has ruled out standing for a third term as prime minister if re-elected and named Theresa May, George Osborne and Boris Johnson as possible future Conservative leaders. | David Cameron has ruled out standing for a third term as prime minister if re-elected and named Theresa May, George Osborne and Boris Johnson as possible future Conservative leaders. |
| The prime minister made the announcement about his political future to the BBC in a highly unusual move for a party leader in the runup to a general election. | The prime minister made the announcement about his political future to the BBC in a highly unusual move for a party leader in the runup to a general election. |
| He appears to have made a calculation that voters do not want a prime minister who continues for too long in the vein of Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair. | He appears to have made a calculation that voters do not want a prime minister who continues for too long in the vein of Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair. |
| He has previously been rumoured to have struck a deal to hand over to another leader half way through a second term if he were re-elected. | He has previously been rumoured to have struck a deal to hand over to another leader half way through a second term if he were re-elected. |
| Speaking from his family home in the Cotswolds, Cameron said he felt “fit and healthy enough” to serve a full five years but prime ministers who go on for longer risk madness. | Speaking from his family home in the Cotswolds, Cameron said he felt “fit and healthy enough” to serve a full five years but prime ministers who go on for longer risk madness. |
| Related: Election 2015: David Cameron rules out third term - live | Related: Election 2015: David Cameron rules out third term - live |
| “I’m standing for a full second time. I’m not saying all prime ministers necessarily definitely go mad or even go mad at the same rate … But I feel I’ve got more to bring to this job, the job is half done, the economy’s turned round, the deficit is half down and I want to finish the job. | “I’m standing for a full second time. I’m not saying all prime ministers necessarily definitely go mad or even go mad at the same rate … But I feel I’ve got more to bring to this job, the job is half done, the economy’s turned round, the deficit is half down and I want to finish the job. |
| “I didn’t just come to do this to deal with the debts and the mess, I want to go on with the education reforms and the welfare reforms. | “I didn’t just come to do this to deal with the debts and the mess, I want to go on with the education reforms and the welfare reforms. |
| “But there definitely comes a time where a fresh pair of eyes and fresh leadership would be good, and the Conservative party has got some great people coming up: the Theresa Mays, and the George Osbornes, and the Boris Johnsons. There’s plenty of talent there. I’m surrounded by very good people. The third term is not something I’m contemplating.” | “But there definitely comes a time where a fresh pair of eyes and fresh leadership would be good, and the Conservative party has got some great people coming up: the Theresa Mays, and the George Osbornes, and the Boris Johnsons. There’s plenty of talent there. I’m surrounded by very good people. The third term is not something I’m contemplating.” |
| He added: “Terms are like shredded wheat: two are wonderful but three might just be too many.” | He added: “Terms are like shredded wheat: two are wonderful but three might just be too many.” |
| His wife Samantha also appeared in the short film, saying she thought Cameron was “definitely, in my mind, the best man for the job”. | His wife Samantha also appeared in the short film, saying she thought Cameron was “definitely, in my mind, the best man for the job”. |
| “I hope that me and the family help him to keep things in perspective, keep him grounded and help him pace himself over the next eight weeks,” she said. | “I hope that me and the family help him to keep things in perspective, keep him grounded and help him pace himself over the next eight weeks,” she said. |
| His children were also filmed eating a meal at the kitchen table and Cameron spoke of how his daughter, Nancy, has threatened to go on hunger strike unless his friend Jeremy Clarkson is reinstated as presenter of Top Gear. The television star was suspended after allegedly hitting a BBC producer, sparking a petition for him to return. | His children were also filmed eating a meal at the kitchen table and Cameron spoke of how his daughter, Nancy, has threatened to go on hunger strike unless his friend Jeremy Clarkson is reinstated as presenter of Top Gear. The television star was suspended after allegedly hitting a BBC producer, sparking a petition for him to return. |
| Cameron said political leaders should never regard themselves as “indispensable”. “Countries, like big organisations, benefit from strong and consistent leadership but there comes a time when you want a fresh pair of eyes and a fresh agenda,” he said. | |
| “[There are] certain things that other people would bring, and so you must never think that you’re indispensable. However mad you go in this job.” Cameron paid tribute to his wife Samantha for keeping him “sane” in Downing Street, and revealed she will be playing a role in the Conservative election campaign. | |
| “The fact that we do different things helps actually,” he said. “She keeps me sane because she’s one of the most organised people that I’ve ever come across, so home life, the children’s life, everything is just brilliantly organised. | |
| “Otherwise you wouldn’t get this family time - unless you’re really well organised, everything would be blown off course, you wouldn’t get the chance. She’s amazing like that. | |
| “But we’ll be out on the campaign trail because we’re passionate about this election and what comes next. She is right behind me and what I’m trying to do.” | |
| He added: “She will be out there campaigning with me some of the time, she will be out there on her own supporting Conservative candidates some of the time, but she has also got a job and we’ve got three children.” |