The Hindu : International : Cameron: I will transform party

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Wednesday, Dec 07, 2005

International

International

Cameron: I will transform party

Hasan Suroor

He defeated senior colleague David Davis, marking a generational shift in the party

MUCH TO SMILE ABOUT: New leader of Britain's opposition Conservative party David Cameron with his wife, Samantha, after his election in London on Tuesday. — PHOTO: AP

LONDON: After three successive general election defeats, Britain's Conservative Party on Monday put its future in the hands of one of its youngest MPs when it elected David Cameron (39), shadow education secretary, its new leader to replace Michael Howard, who quit saying that he had become too old to lead the party.

Mr. Cameron, described as the "most blue-blooded" Tory because of his aristocratic background, defeated his senior colleague and shadow home secretary David Davis, marking a generational shift in the party.

This is the third time in four years that the Conservatives have been forced to choose a new leader in a bid to improve their electoral prospects.

A charismatic figure but with little experience, Mr. Cameron has been compared to Tony Blair, who took over the leadership of a demoralised Labour Party and turned it into a winning election machine. Indeed, he himself famously said recently that that he was an "heir" to Mr. Blair.

Untested leadership

An MP only for four years and with untested leadership skills, Mr. Cameron has his task cut out as he takes over the reins of a down-at-heel and deeply divisive party. He has promised to make it more attractive to younger voters, and steer it away from confrontational politics, embracing instead a more consensual approach.

"Young people are completely turned off by Punch and Judy politics and cheap point-scoring. I just won't play that game," he said, vowing to transform the party's image.

AP reports:

Mr. Cameron rolled up 1,34,446 votes from party members, more than doubling the 64,398 for Mr. Davis, 56.

Faces first test today

Mr. Cameron faces his first test against Mr. Blair on Wednesday when they go head to head for the first time at the Prime Minister's questions in the House of Commons.

He insists the party — regarded by many voters as too right wing, stuffy and traditionalist — must shift to the centre and foster a more compassionate image. His young son has cerebral palsy and severe epilepsy, shaping his strong advocacy of special schools for handicapped children. He wants to broaden the party's appeal, connect with an increasingly urban and multicultural nation and increase the number of female and ethnically diverse lawmakers.

His policies, however, remain nebulous.

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