Analysis of David Cameron interview
Conservative leader David Cameron was in Merseyside yesterday to drum home just how vital votes in the area are to the party's chances of forming the next Government.
"The truth is there will be a big change in the overall representation in the Merseyside area," he myself and colleague Marc Waddington in an exclusive interview yesterday.
"We can't form the next Government without winning seats in Wirral, Warrington and Southport."
You can read the full interview HERE in which he also reveals Michael Heseltine will be advising him whether a Conservative Government should fund Merseytram.
The last time I saw David Cameron was when he visited the Daily Post in August 2008.
It's fair to say that despite his continuing relaxed demeanor upon his latest visit to Old Hall Street, one gets the impression he's not as relaxed as he was mid-way through 2008.
That's not to say that he appeared under pressure, just that he was not as chilled out as before - not surprising just months away from an election.
It could of course have had something to do with the impending story that was about to break about the arrest of his PR guru Steve Hilton in 2008 for an argument at a train station, or his admission earlier that day that he had "messed up" over the party's marriage tax proposals.
But despite that he seemed on fairly good form. He'd clearly come prepared to announce Lord Heseltine's review of major transport schemes, including Merseytram. He also announced that Liverpool would have a city minister.
Granted it was a full Cameron "love bomb" exercise, but credit where it is due at least he had something to say. And even those who have an inbuilt hatred of the Conservative party would be likely to admit that he is making the right noises in relation to how he would deal with Liverpool and Merseyside.
When asked how the party would deal with a possible Labour administration he was keen to stress: "Let me be clear this is a very different Conservative party with a different leader with a very big commitment to Merseyside and Liverpool, and it is going to govern in a different way and it recognises it needs to win consent and support in our cities."
OK, he's not stuck the boot into Thatcher. But that statement seems to be as close to an admission as you can get that the party's approach to Liverpool previously left a lot to be desired.
Should he apologise then? "I think we're past that stage," he said. "I'm more interested in whether we are doing the right thing to represent your views and, on the issue of ports and ratings changes, I think we were."
But when all is said and done it's going to take a lot more than that before the Tories start winning seats again in Liverpool itself.
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David Bartlett - City editor of the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo covering politics, regeneration, and urban affairs. He was previously chief reporter of the Daily Post and here he gives his insight into the workings of regional politics.
Sadly, this story has been relegated to the inside pages by the snow. Good job as well - Mr Cameron has nothing positive to offer the people of this city. After all - how many millionaires live here?
Well the money the Chief Executive and the Directors of the City Council have put themselves on for the last few years while they cut public services and award themselves 20% performance pay for the fabulous job they are doing, that should be six council tax millionaires at least.