| David Cameron's speech praised by colleagues, but attacked by Labour PM was criticised by the opposition and unions for 'rewriting history', but Michael Gove said Tory delegates were enthusedDavid Cameron's colleagues rushed to praise him after his speech to the Tory conference today – although Labour and the unions attacked him for "rewriting history".Andy Burnham, the shadow health secretary, told BBC News: "I think there's a large element of rewriting history here. Great pains have been taken by David Cameron and other speakers to say it [the economic crisis and budget deficit] was all about the decisions that Labour took."Well I'm afraid that's not right. Governments all over the world are facing up now to the aftermath to the economic crisis. It didn't begin here Mr Cameron – it began in the USA."Burnham added that the Conservatives' announcement of child benefit cuts earlier this week had been a "shambles"."If I was a single parent today on a middle income, I would not feel that 'we're all in this together' – well it wouldn't work for me," he said.Dave Prentis of Unison agreed, accusing the prime minister of "turning his firepower on to public services".Prentis said: "David Cameron is attempting to rewrite history. His party bitterly opposed the recovery package devised by Labour and followed by governments throughout the world. He is turning his firepower on to public services to pay for that crisis, and jeopardising the recovery in the process."And he said of Cameron's "big society" idea that volunteers and charities should take on some of the roles of the state, to which the prime minister devoted much of his speech: "There has been no more flesh on the bones of the big society idea, it is still the big cop-out."But Tory ministers queued up to praise their leader. Michael Gove, the education secretary and a key ally of Cameron's, said the speech was "absolutely fantastic" and had enthused Tory delegates."I think it was what the country has been waiting for actually," said Gove. "To have a prime minister with a clear, passionate, patriotic vision," he said. "You could just tell from the audience leaving the hall that they thought at last this country's being led by someone who'd got a really clear sense of direction after three years of drift. When our country's been in decline, here's someone whose ready to put it back together again."He said he was "blown away" by the speech and added that Cameron was "clear, commanding and a patriot".Gove added: "Frankly, I was blown away by the quality of his speech." He said Cameron had provided "a guarantee that in five years' time this country will be back on its feet and one of which we can all be rightly proud again".His colleague Kenneth Clarke, the justice secretary, said the speech was "very good for a new prime minister"."Tony Blair took two or three years to work out what his government was for," the Tory veteran said. "David's taken over in extraordinary circumstances, had to form a coalition in a huge national crisis, but it was all very coherent. He has an agenda, knows what he wants to do and he inspired people."Michael Fallon, the Conservative deputy chairman, said Cameron had made a "very passionate and purposeful" speech. "I think what he was really trying to do today was show that this isn't just about cuts and balancing the books – this leads somewhere," he said. "It leads to an economy that's growing, that's open to business, that will create new jobs. And it leads too to a stronger society, in which we've all got a part to play."Lady Warsi, the Conservative co-chairman, said the speech was a "call to arms" to the country. "The prime minister was very challenging to the country, to say to parts of our society: you too must play your part, that society must be more than just about 'me', it has got to be about 'we'," she said.Andy Atkins of Friends of the Earth was disappointed in the speech. He said: "With not a mention of climate change, this was not the speech we would have expected from the prime minister of the self-declared 'greenest government ever'."He added: "David Cameron won a real reputation in opposition for championing green issues – it would be a huge mistake to sideline them now he is in power."Alison Garnham of the Child Poverty Action Group said Cameron's speech last year had promised "much on poverty", but this year's threatened "more pain for the poorest families"."The prime minister is right to focus on life chances but all the evidence shows that the 3.9 million children living in poverty have fewer life chances than other children," she said. "These children cannot afford to wait for help later or continue to bear the brunt of cuts. The prime minister and his government promised to end child poverty by 2020 – they need to act on that promise now."Garnham described the child benefit cut as an "appalling assault on family security".Business seemed more positive about the conference speech. David Frost, the director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said businesses would welcome Cameron's commitment to "get behind wealth creators". He said Cameron had set out a "forceful case for tackling the deficit", a task that remained the "top priority" of businesses."Our message to Mr Cameron is clear. Business accepts the cuts. Now we need to see a clear, detailed plan for growth," he said.Steve Radley, director of policy at manufacturers' organisation EEF, said: "Business will welcome the prime minister's emphasis on tackling the deficit by growing our economy and finding new ways of working with the private sector.He added: "With exports expanding and investment increasing, industry is well placed to deliver the growth our economy needs. Over the coming months, business will be looking for the government to spell out how it will form a new partnership with the private sector and invest in our capacity to grow the economy."David CameronConservative conferenceConservativesLabourTrade unionsLiberal-Conservative coalitionWelfarePaul Owenguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
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