Tough crowd for Cameron
Thursday, 5 August 2010 12:00 AM
By Rebecca Burns
David Cameron was greeted by a 100-strong angry crowd at his second question-and-answer session of the week.
Workers waved 'Save Our Services' placards and chanted "no ifs, no buts, no public sector cuts" as the PM arrived for the session at Hove Town Hall in East Sussex.
One protestor, worried about the future of his local youth advice service, said: "We are absolutely devastated, as are a lot of the young people who we help out. They have been asking where else they can go.
"We provide important information and advice to young people both while they are at school and after school. This is a statutory service yet it's facing cuts.
He added: "So much for the big society, more like big lies and big mess."
A host of angry questioners went on to challenge the prime minister about controversial cuts to public services.
The self-proclaimed straight-talking PM was also forced to defend divisive statements made recently about social housing and the UK's relationship with the USA.
Mr Cameron denied accusations he was attempting to appease Barack Obama but apologised for telling the US president Obama Britain was the "junior partner" of the alliance in the Second World War in 1940.
"I don't believe in appeasement," Mr Cameron said.
The prime minister said he meant to refer to the 1940s as a whole, as the questioner pointed out America did not join the war effort until 1942.
"The point I was trying to make is that today we are self-evidently the junior partner in the special relationship," the prime minister said.
He added 1940 was "the proudest year of the past 1,000 years of our history".
Mr Cameron was also asked about drug treatment, his support of Turkey's entrance to the EU and the introduction of policies that were not included in the Conservative manifesto.
Newsletter sign up