Conference interview: David Cameron on Wales and more

  • Author, David Cornock
  • Role, 大象传媒 Wales Parliamentary correspondent

What can you do in two-and-a-half minutes?

Even would struggle to soft boil an egg in the time allotted for our prime ministerial interview this afternoon. The time limit was understandable when you think David Cameron gave 26 back-to-back interviews to 大象传媒 and ITV nations and regions.

I started on council tax. The UK government is giving councils in England enough money to freeze it - if they stick to spending limits - and there is cash for the Welsh government too.

The Prime Minister believes Welsh ministers should follow their English counterparts, although he went out of his way to stress it was a devolved decision.

I then asked about the cut in MPs. The number of Welsh parliamentary seats is being reduced from 40 to 30 and, behind closed doors at a conference reception, Mr Cameron told party members he didn't want to hear of "blue-on-blue" (Tory) disputes between Tories fighting for the same seat. He gave the impression that "red-on-red" (Labour) arguments were to be welcomed - fuelling Labour suspicions of partisan motives behind the changes.

Finally, (two-and-a-half minutes goes quickly), I asked about Secretary of State for Wales Cheryl Gillan's opposition ("insane" according to a Cabinet colleague) to a high speed rail link through her constituency. How could she remain in government while opposing transport policy?

You can see the answers in the video above.

Meanwhile, two off-camera snippets. The Prime Minister told his Welsh members to call him "David W D Cameron" to follow the house style set by the Tories' leader in the Welsh assembly, Andrew R T Davies.

And a tip for runners at the conference from the Downing Street runner: head for the canals but beware towpath cobbles and the geese - the latter are no respecters of political authority.