Whistle-stop trip to city for Cameron

More than 100 people turned out in force last night to question Conservative leader David Cameron in what turned out to be a whistle-stop trip to the city - and left with mixed feelings.

On stage for less an hour at the Hewett School on Cecil Road, Mr Cameron bounded into the theatre in his trademark blue suit and red tie, saying he thought the weather would have been nicer if the blue skies on TV drama Kingdom were anything to go by.

But the mood turned serious at the latest in a series of “Cameron Direct” events held across the country as people questioned him on policies from the challenges small businesses faced to the war in Afghanistan and ID cards.

The man who wants to be prime minister said East Anglia needed a better transport system - but said there was no money for new roads and that that toll roads were the answer.

Barry Wilson, 41, from Rackheath, near Norwich, said he had lost his sales job for an electrical fixings company eight weeks ago, but had managed to find another job. He asked Mr Cameron what he would do to improve transport links, adding: “It seems crazy that in 2009 there is no motorway link to the north or to the south.”

The Tory leader said: “East Anglia is one of the fastest-growing areas of the country, but the transport system is bad.

“We do need motorways and bypasses. It will be difficult for them to be built. We need to look at toll roads, otherwise the roads won't be built. If we want a growing economy and manufacturing industry, we need good transport links.”

As for rail links, he criticised frequent engineering works and said “There is no-one trying to keep the trains moving.”

But the biggest round of applause all evening was in response to a question asking for reassurances on ID cards which Mr Cameron would said he “bin”.

“One of the first things I'll do is ask my new home secretary to go into the Home Office and find the papers and tear them up and put them in the bin.”

As polished as ever, Mr Cameron answered each question with barely a hesitation but he continued the debate on ID cards and adopted a German accent. It prompted some laughter but also raised eyebrows. He had added that the only way identity cards would work is if people had to carry them all the time - but said it would be un-British for someone to be stopped and asked for their papers while walking the dog.

A woman in the audience raised her hand and asked him: “I wonder about the wisdom of you adopting a German accent?”

Mr Cameron replied: “It was meant to be light-hearted.”

Half way through the evening Mr Cameron also apologised for the MPs expenses scandal, adding that after 42 Direct Cameron sessions, that was normally the first thing he mentioned.

He went on to defend the Conservative position in Europe, condemn the British National Party as “Nazi thugs”, and pledge to continue investment in the NHS.

Adrian Pickering, managing director of Norwich IT company Xiasma, said government regulations were making things difficult for small businesses, while smaller organisations were not even being considered for government contracts. He said: “The answer always seem to be, you need to be a big company to fulfil a big project.”

Mr Cameron said there was a saying “No-one ever got sacked for hiring PriceWaterhouse Coopers”, but that sometimes the government should use less obvious companies. “We need to think, who is the exciting small company that could do it, rather than just saying, let's go back to Capita.”

Mr Cameron also took questions on the European Union, taxes, the British National Party, Nato and British troops in Afghanistan.

Speaking after the meeting, Phil Cutter, licensee of The Gardeners Arms on Timberhill in Norwich, said: “It would have been interesting to see what he would have said about our pubs but I thought he came across very well.

“I think his position at the moment is that with the position of the country at the moment he's in a no-lose situation. We can only go up.”

But 17-year-old student, Jon Chambers, from Diss, was less than convinced. He said: “I think a lot of questions didn't get answered.

“If you're going to be the candidate for change you have to take responsibility for your own party.

“It's all PR. I think he's done exactly what he does on TV and takes a stand, and gets a lot of press and looks great for the by-election but there's nothing else.”

Antony Little, leader of the Norwich Conservatives, said: “I think he went down really well. He sat down before hand and went through a lot of the issues and took it all on board and was very knowledgeable.”

When asked if he thought an hour was enough time in Norwich, Mr Little said: “He's obviously on a time schedule and needs to do more of these but you get a real sense of what people want.”

Norwich Evening News