Tebbit attacks Cameron

Tebbit attacks Tory leader for lack of experience and inability to connect with ordinary people.

Wednesday, 26, Sep 2007 12:00

David Cameron will start next week's Conservative conference on the offensive after poor poll results today were compounded by a stinging attack from Lord Norman Tebbit.

The former Cabinet minister said David Cameron was seen as out of touch by ordinary people.

In contrast, Lord Tebbit poured praise on the "clever" prime minister, saying he has "considerable regard" for him.

Unlike his predecessor, Mr Brown had the appeal of not being "tacky", Lord Tebbit claimed.

In an interview with the Times Lord Tebbit said the Conservative party lacked "somebody of the standing of Margaret" and David Cameron needed more experience.

He said the current shadow Cabinet was perceived as remote and out of touch with the needs of ordinary Britons, regardless of whether it was filled with Old Etonians.

Lord Tebbit told the Times Magazine: "What a lot of people will suggest is that they don’t know how the other half lives. David and his colleagues — the very clever young men they have in central office these days — are very intellectually clever but they have no experience of the world whatsoever.

"David has spent much of his time in the Conservative party and as a public relations guy. Well, it’s not the experience of most people in the streets. That’s the real attack and that’s damaging to him, I think."

Lord Tebbit defended Lady Thatcher's visit to Downing Street, saying the former prime minister knew what she was doing.

Senior Conservative figures had accused Mr Brown of exploiting a vulnerable old woman in inviting Lady Thatcher to Number 10 two weeks ago.

Lord Tebbit said Lady Thatcher was too well-mannered to rebuff the prime minister, but also had been hurt by Mr Cameron's attempts to distance himself from her legacy.

He said the invitation had been "Gordon Brown at his very best; a wonderful mixture of his courtesy and his political nous. After all, Cameron described himself as the 'heir to Blair'; it's only natural that Brown should make himself the 'heir to Thatcher'."