Cameron's great escape @ No 10

There was a great sense of anticipation here in No 10, Arturo and I were ensconced next to a DAB radio at 8 am.  We were eagerly awaiting 'Boy David' Cameron's BBC Radio 4 Today programme interview.  We knew John Humphrys, the Welsh Dragon of an interviewer, would tease out  the PM's little foibles.

At least, that was what we expected to hear.  Instead, the PM sounded as if he was positively enjoying himself!  Every swashbuckling stroke was parried with what seemed effortless ease.  Every question received a trite, well-rehearsed response! When he was asked about the difficult month the government has had, our slick PM side-stepped the issue.  He ended by using a well-rehearsed phrase:

"There's also a driving passion and vision to change this country and make it much more on the side of hard working people who do the right thing."

Good sound-bite, eh? Then JH went on to ask about 'aggressive tax avoidance' in the case of a well known businessman.

Prime Minister David Cameron has been pressed on if the decision to employ Sir Philip Green as a government adviser contradicts the government's stance on aggressive tax avoidance. Pressed by John Humphrys on whether Sir Philip's tax strategy - whereby he transferred ownership of his company to his wife, registered in Monaco, to avoid tax - amounted to "morally repugnant" tax avoidance, he refused to comment on an individuals' tax affairs. But he accepted that "that sort of thing" was not acceptable, and that in general it was not sensible to have dealings with people who aggressively avoided tax.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9715000/9715304.stm
Arturo nearly burst a blood vessel at that point! "What about last week's PMQs!" Arturo shouted at me. "Cameron must have talked about Ken Livingstone's tax avoidance every time he opened his mouth!" Arturo was right. How come it's alright to comment on Labour problems to do with tax avoidance but not one of the Tory Pretty-Boys and their spouses?

Chris Bryant on Twitter commented:

So today Cameron won't comment on someone's tax affairs on air. Last Wednesday I recall that's all he wanted to talk about.

Polly Curtis on Twitter said:

Trying to work out which friends Cameron just lost by agreeing not to meet with people who aggressively avoid taxes.

One thing can be said of 'Boy David' Cameron - all the training he received as a PR man has given him the same silver-tongued slickness that was the hallmark of Tony Blair. But look what happened to Blair - remember where his tongue got him? We don't yet know what the ultimate nadir of disgrace will be for the once-adored prince of politics!

Maybe what 'Boy David' Cameron needs to do is to meet a trio of witches on some blasted heath to show him the fate that awaits him if he follows the Blairlike path of disaster! There's an old adage that all politicians who think smooth words will get them places need to repeat to themselves every day. It's

Deeds not words

that count in the end. Words soon fade but the mess that slick PR men get us into with their well-rehearsed speeches is not easily forgiven or forgotten. Arturo and I will be watching Nick Robinson tonight on BBC News at Ten. Before that we're going to scavenge round the kitchen. 'Bye'