Soft Soapbox?

Well, the date may not have been announced yet but the election is as good as in mid-campaign.

In 1992, John Major won the election unexpectedly, a win which some commentators attributed in part to the "honest John, man of the people" image he cultivated by going up and down the country doing no-frills speeches on a soapbox (actually a reinforced crate), dealing with hecklers and letting a crowd gather around him - in contrast to the now-infamous, legendary bombast of Neil Kinnock's Sheffield rally.

David Cameron, anxious to shake off the aura of 'poshness' which he openly fears will cost him votes, has been doing the "blokey" bit which Blair seemed superficially to do well.

Shirt sleeves, questions in the round, almost a dropped aitch or two - all present and correct in his encounter with the Lewisham College students. He was heckled, and dealt with it well - but surely any politician should be able to do this. It seemed informal and casual, and he made the point that the questioners were not pre-picked - although that's not to say the session wasn't very carefully planned. The students were polite, but took him to task. Many of them looked bored, while a good many of them seemed attentive. He was at least trying. Cameron gives the impression of answering questions, of saying, "well, this is what I believe, even if you disagree with me," and then quickly moving on to the next questioner. It could be an effective tactic.

Cameron came out of it well, but more for the presentation than for the substance of policy. It's quite sad that we find it refreshing, even grudgingly, that a politician can get among the people and answer questions in this way. Surely this should be the norm? The most interesting thing about the whole exchange was his comment that "this is what you're going to get from me." There is more of this to come.

It may not quite have been a "soapbox moment", but he gave the impression of coming clean. It remains to be seen if it'll wash.