My first Cameron Direct!

Like many people I usually watch Cameron direct (where David Cameron – in a relaxed Town Hall format answers audiences’ questions) on the net – but last night with around 200 numbers of London’s Black community I attended my first live Cameron Direct at the Peckham Academy, in Peckham, south-east London, and my second live Cameron event this week – the first was in Shoreditch on Monday.

Cameron gave a short speech in which he said; a new Conservative government must do better in breaking down the barriers that prevents so many black people realize their full potential. He went on to explain – that can only be achieved by tackling the causes of poverty, like poor education, addictions, welfare dependency and family breakdown, and by serious actions to overcome the racial barriers that exist today. Enterprise is a powerful vehicle for social mobility and too many black people today though eager to become business owners are being denied that opportunity, he promised that a Conservative government will break down these barriers with mentoring, supporting and fostering positive interactions to help bridge the huge gap between aspiration and reality.

Standing in Harriet Harman’s patch – without a stab vest or even a jacket – Cameron for over an hour took direct questions on a variety of issues affecting the community locally and nationally. They were randomly asked and he answered them immediately (there was none of that take three questions ~ pick the one that suits you ~ then answer it from a script ~ that most politicians tend to use). Twice he was heckled but more than twice he had rampant applause.

After the event I talked with some of the people on the hall and the general feeling was very positive. A few things went down very well – first was DC’s pledge to end the police using terrorism laws to search people not suspected of terror-related offences, and the second was his vow to increase powers that prevent BNP members from becoming teachers. He said “I think being a member of the BNP and being a teacher is completely incompatible”. He also thinks that headteachers should be given more rights when it came to hiring and firing staff and that any good headteacher would not have a member of the BNP within a hundred miles of their school and they (teachers) should be able to fire someone for that reason alone.

On Monday, I was amongst 100% Conservatives and the atmosphere was more than electric with excitement from start to finish. Most of last night’s audiences were Toryceptics, so understandably the event started lukewarm but courteous with even a hint of reluctance it then slowly warmed up ending on very high note with cheerful applause.

Cameron promised that if he is elected, as Prime Minister, he will continue to do this small intimate gatherings so he can stay close to the people listen to them and hear from them – I think it is a great idea as long as he does not become like Obama and stay on a permanent campaign mood.