Cameron dismisses 'blasts from the past'

Cameron focused on modernisation

Thursday, 06, Sep 2007 12:00

David Cameron has warned his backbenchers to swallow any criticism as he attempts to stop Labour winning a historic fourth term.

Mr Cameron said he would ignore any "noises off-stage" as he pushed ahead with his campaign to modernise the Conservative party and restore its electoral credibility.

He said: "I want all Conservatives to think carefully before they open their mouths".

The Conservative leader was speaking after Tory backbencher Michael Ancram accused Mr Cameron of "trashing" the party's Thatcherite past as he pushed through "vacuous" reforms.

In an interview with the Sun Mr Cameron dismissed Mr Ancram's comments: "When you make changes you’ll get blasts from the past who signify nothing."

As leader, he said he would ignore the noises "off-stage" emanating from the likes of Mr Ancram and focus on the long-term approach.

He said: "I don’t think when Tony Blair was trying to change the Labour Party he spent his whole time worrying about what Tony Benn was saying.

"I set a clear course that has already reaped huge benefits. Look at our local election results."

Following on from the grammar school row, the latest criticisms threaten to create the impression of a divided Conservative party.

Mr Cameron told the newspaper he was following in the footsteps of Thatcher, as well as Winston Churchill and Harold Macmillan, all of whom who had seen the need to modernise the party.

He said it was a "cheek" for Gordon Brown - who said both he and Mrs Thatcher were conviction politicians - to attempt to liken himself to the former prime minister.

If the country had listened to Mr Brown during the Thatcher era "unions would run the country and we'd probably be speaking Russian", Mr Cameron said.

The Conservative leader will today attempt to turn the focus back to policy, with the call for a "citizens service", similar to national service, for all 16-year-olds.