David Cameron ages five years in mauling by pensioners

The conference slogan was “a great place to grow older”. Though not for David Cameron, who visibly aged five years in the space of 30 minutes. The prime minister won’t have many tougher audiences than the Age UK crowd in this election campaign: if he does, he may consider bringing his own retirement even further forward than he already has.

It didn’t help that Cameron was 10 minutes late; keeping pensioners waiting is never a good idea as it suggests you think they haven’t got anything better to do. “I’ve been taking my 175th cabinet meeting,” he explained; no one seemed quite as impressed by this as Dave. Dave struggled on. He understood old people. He was a man who believed in keeping his promises to old people. He was a man who didn’t think old people should be patronised. He really, really loved old people. The feeling wasn’t entirely reciprocated.

“OK, so let’s have some questions,” Dave said, trying to channel his inner Mecca Bingo caller. “First of all you, sir.” This was more public schoolboy doing community service. Sir wanted to know was why the NHS was falling apart. “Army of carers,” Dave mumbled. “More doctors and nurses …” “Rubbish,” shouted several members of the audience. They yelled: “The social care budget has been slashed.” Dave tried not to look too disappointed that so many old people were profoundly ungrateful for all he had done for them.

“Next question. Yes, you sir. The man waving the stick. Good morning to you.” The man with the stick quickly corrected him. “I think it’s good afternoon now.” The prime minister wasn’t to be easily forgiven for being late. “I am 91 …” Dave began to applaud enthusiastically, remembering that a good TV chat show host always likes to give an old person a clap for having stayed alive so long. He quickly stopped once he realised no one else had joined in and started stroking his chin instead. In that moment, no one had ever cared more or listened harder than Dave.

“No one cares more about old people than me,” Dave again insisted. “Which is why I think it would be wrong to have a cabinet minister for old people. I want every cabinet minister to be responsible for their own old people.” This could have been better phrased. Several members of the audience registered their displeasure by adjusting their hearing aids to send a high pitched-feedback whine through the room. Dave carried on digging. “I don’t want you to blame other people. I want you to blame me.”

“We are. We do.” Several members of the audience high-fived each other.

Dave moved on. “You, sir. What is your question.”

“It’s a dream come true that I am able to ask you a question …”

“Then you’ve got very low standards,” a man in the audience shouted. It was only just dawning on Dave that he had become the fall-guy in his own roadshow and he hadn’t yet taken the two obligatory questions from the media; the first of which was about his interview with the BBC that came across as the chronicle of his political death foretold.

“What I did in my kitchen …” he said, struggling to make the rest of that sentence heard above the laughter. Dave looked hurt and disappointed. “Some people have said I have been too generous to old people …”

“Not us.”

“I didn’t have to come here,” he choked, stifling a sob. “None of the other party leaders are coming here …”

“Yes they are,” said the chair. “We’ve got Natalie Bennett.”

“Well, thank you for your, um, lively interactions. I hope I can count on your support for a future Conservative government …”

“Not a chance.”

The old know there are many ways to die. Dave had just experienced one of them.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/mar/24/david-cameron-prime-minister-age-uk-speech-pensioners





Having had the pleasure of heckling a Tory candidate on Friday night and watching him crumble, seems they don't bring 'em up to deal with people who don't agree with them!

How come you heckled a Tory candidate?

We had a Question Time with the local parliamentary candidates about the National Health service, same subject as Cameron.   I'm standing as a local councillor.  He was lying his head off, so I gave him the fact and figures and showed his lies.

risingsun wrote:We had a Question Time with the local parliamentary candidates about the National Health service, same subject as Cameron.   I'm standing as a local councillor.  He was lying his head off, so I gave him the fact and figures and showed his lies.

I see. Good for you.