30/12/08 - David Cameron, Finanical Crisis - Positive Alternative

David Cameron with Cllr Rod Bluh, Cllr Justin Tomlinson & Robert Buckland

When the financial crisis happened, I made it clear that the Conservative Party was ready to put aside party differences to help bring stability. That's why we supported the recapitalisation of our banks.

I also said that we would not suspend our critical faculties over this Government's calamitous economic policy decisions - decisions that helped not only cause this crisis by encouraging government and personal debt to spiral out of control, but could also make the recession deeper and last longer.

That's why we have set out a positive alternative, starting with immediate action to tackle the credit problems at the heart of the issue.

It's clear the recapitalisation is failing to restart lending to the real economy, so we've proposed a National Loan Guarantee Scheme to underwrite loans to businesses.

It is vital that this £50bn proposal - which has been welcomed by the business community - is taken forward by the Government right now.

I can't promise it will save the world, but the sooner the Government swallows its pride the sooner we can get credit flowing again, and help Britain's struggling businesses.

Conservatives have always understood and supported businesses, we know what they need to prosper.

We also recognise that they make a difference not just by creating wealth, offering employment, and paying taxes to fund public services, but by making their money in a moral way, treating their employees right, strengthening communities, and playing a positive part in society.

So we don't see the financial crisis as an excuse to bash capitalism, we see it as a challenge to make it work better in the future.

As well as better regulation we need to reinforce the values of trust, integrity and responsibility - with strong institutions, and incentives to do the right thing.

And just as importantly the Government should lead by being as prudent with the public finances as we expect banks to be with private finances, and by being as moral and responsible with the public purse as we expect business to be with consumers' cash.

That's what a Conservative Government would do. Let's hope we get a chance to have one in the coming year.

Thank you for all your support - David Cameron
Leader - Conservative Party

Cllr Justin Tomlinson, Swindon North Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, "As a local resident myself I am seeing first hand the impact of the financial crisis.

"A number of my friends and residents as I represent as a Councillor in the Abbey Meads ward have already been made redundant, or are fearful of their prospects heading into 2009.

I fully support the measures put forward by David Cameron and the Conservative Party.  This is not a time for Gordon Brown to scrabble around for cheap political point scoring, everything must be done to lessen the damage of the financial crisis.''

Robert Buckland, Swindon South Conservative Parliamentary Candidate added: "Despite incresingly desperate attempts by failed Labour politicians to suggest that we would do nothing, the truth is that the next Conservative Government will provide targeted and meaningful support to businesses, rather than embark upon the sort of unfocused spending splurge that is saddling us with debts for years to come.  Gordon Brown's so-called economic strategy ismore about winning an election than the long term economic future of Britain. Only David Cameron and the Conservatives can be relied on to clear up Labour's mess''