David Cameron: the worst Prime Minister in UK history?

[Andalublue]

So, farewell then, David Cameron. You failed to deal with the Eurosceptics in the party of which you were supposed to be the leader, so you tossed a coin for the future of your country, the EU and the global economy, and guess what? It came up tails. Now you're legging it with your huge pension-for-life and your dad's ill-gotten riches stashed in Panama and somehow we're supposed to be moved by the catch in your voice and the doe-eyed look of tragedy on your wife's face?

Certainly, you're getting no sympathy whatsoever from any source I can find, either domestic, European or global.

So, can anyone think of a single thing you achieved in your 6 years of do-nothing incompetence? Economic probity? How's that looking now? Controlling immigration? I think the verdict's in on that. Good management of public services? Find a single person in the police, NHS, social services or public education who has a good thing to say about your administration.

Add to this the very real and highly probable split of the UK into England and Wales, a Scotland still in Europe, and renewed sectarian division in Northern Ireland, now that the genie of a united Ireland referendum is on the table, and he goes from being a nincompoop to be a wrecking ball of an entire society.

In comparison, Gordon Brown looks like a political giant; Blair mendacious but at least competent; Major, flawed, but with the balls to front up to the 'bastards' in his own party.

I think Cameron's 'legacy' is secure as the worst PM in living memory. Anyone disagree?

 

[Crovax]

So, farewell then, David Cameron. You failed to deal with the Eurosceptics in the party of which you were supposed to be the leader, so you tossed a coin for the future of your country, the EU and the global economy, and guess what? It came up tails. Now you're legging it with your huge pension-for-life and your dad's ill-gotten riches stashed in Panama and somehow we're supposed to be moved by the catch in your voice and the doe-eyed look of tragedy on your wife's face?

So, can anyone think of a single thing you achieved in your 6 years of do-nothing incompetence? Economic probity? How's that looking now? Controlling immigration? I think the verdict's in on that. Good management of public services? Find a single person in the police, NHS, social services or public education who has a good thing to say about your administration.

In comparison, Gordon Brown looks like a political giant; Blair mendacious but at least competent; Major, flawed, but with the balls to front up to the 'bastards' in his own party.

I think Cameron's 'legacy' is secure as the worst PM in living memory. Anyone disagree?

Yawn. Excuse me if I have heard this one before, all the lefties claim Thatcher was the worst ever, then Blair was the worst ever, now it's Cameron...

 

[Milo]

He will be remembered as the guy who broke up the UK. Poor guy.

 

[Andalublue]

Yawn. Excuse me if I have heard this one before, all the lefties claim Thatcher was the worst ever, then Blair was the worst ever, now it's Cameron...

Thatcher was terrible, sowed the seeds of this disaster. Blair was mendacious, but not the worst ever and I don't think anyone has claimed that. At least he was competent in managing domestic policy. Time will tell, but Cameron's legacy, already terrible, will only deteriorate, and it's not just 'lefties' saying that. Ask the right-wingers across the world.

Here's the right-wing Spanish press take on him:

David Cameron: the man who split Europe

Here's what the right-wing of his own party think of him, and not on the subject of Brexit:

The Prime Minister's rank incompetence

And from yur own US media:

'Lucky' Cameron Exposed as one of UK?'s worst Prime mInisters

There you go, three voices, none 'lefty', all agreeing that he's at least 'one of the worst'.

 

[Andalublue]

He will be remembered as the guy who broke up the UK. Poor guy.

Not so poor. He'll be receiving a pension of over $5 million from the taxpayers he's just condemned to another, and probably permanent, recession.

 

[Infinite Chaos]

~ So, can anyone think of a single thing you achieved in your 6 years of do-nothing incompetence? ~

We're (for a short time) the 5th biggest economy in the world again - we overtook France in the last 3 years and that is during Cameron's leadership. We may lose that position again as we face more austerity and uncertainty over our future but this is the zenith of the UK's global standing and economic prowess in this last 40 year period.

Another thing he's achieved (ironically) is that our politicians and public can't blame the EU anymore for the rubbish decisions made. We can't blame Poles and other Eastern Europeans when our young can't get jobs, we can't blame immigrants because of our recession, lack of housing, poor management of resources and more austerity. All those excuses have been wiped away.

~ the taxpayers he's just condemned to another, and probably permanent, recession.

Not so fast, there was huge demand for the referendum. 17.5 million voters voted for Brexit and yeah, they will likely pay for it unless there is a sea change in attitudes and industry here but those same demands and party splits over Europe lost Thatcher her job and gave Major his headache while in power.

Thursday was always coming Andy - some people think "rule Britannia" or "United Kingdom" but for the Scots who want freedom and for the 17.5 who wanted out - they may hate him but Cameron gave the public a democratic say in the future of their country.

The choice is one I hugely disagree with because we haven't gained anything, those 17.5 million will one day accept they voted for something that they couldn't get and they were lied to but right now, they are happy even if they hate Cameron for being Bremain.

 

[Crovax]

Thatcher was terrible, sowed the seeds of this disaster. Blair was mendacious, but not the worst ever and I don't think anyone has claimed that. At least he was competent in managing domestic policy. Time will tell, but Cameron's legacy, already terrible, will only deteriorate, and it's not just 'lefties' saying that. Ask the right-wingers across the world.

Here's the right-wing Spanish press take on him:

David Cameron: the man who split Europe

Here's what the right-wing of his own party think of him, and not on the subject of Brexit:

The Prime Minister's rank incompetence

And from yur own US media:

'Lucky' Cameron Exposed as one of UK?'s worst Prime mInisters

There you go, three voices, none 'lefty', all agreeing that he's at least 'one of the worst'.

Blair surely deserves title of Britain’s worst Prime Minister - Yorkshire Post

 

[PeteEU]

I think Cameron's 'legacy' is secure as the worst PM in living memory. Anyone disagree?

First off "living memory" is quite a long time.

Secondly lets see his record.

He has been at it for 5+ years, the deficit is still one of the highest in Europe, the UK debt is one of the highest in the world, the economy is on life support and he has not tackled the structural problems that plaque the UK like wealth-fare reform and banking reform.

Now this has to be compared to other Prime Minsters.

Brown: Basically continued the Blair legacy but did not react fast enough to. To be honest he was only there for 3 years.

Blair: Pretty okay Prime Minister despite his brownnosing of the US. The economy was booming under him, although that was in many ways "fake" due to the whole sub-prime crap in the US. But cant argue against the economic benefits under him.. and yes I dont like him either.

John Major: Continued the Thatcher legacy. Boring guy but no major issues that could cause collapse problems. Only real negative was that he did not deal with the EU skeptic back benchers then, so we would not be in the problem we are today.

Thatcher: Yes this is a tricky one. No one can deny that she had a big part in saving the UK from the problems of the 70s, but she also put in place stuff that have lead to the situation we are in today. Scotland independence drive is basically her fault.

Callaghan: Dont know much about him to be honest. But considering the time he was PM in, then he could be one of the "worst".

Harold Wilson: 2 different terms, and can argue that he was the reason for the collapse of the UK economy in the 1960s and 70s. Would be a tad simplistic though, since the rot had started long before he took power.

Edward Heath. Lead the UK into the EEC/EU. Arguably saved the UK, along with Maggie from being the Greece of the 1970s.

Think we are near the end of "living memory" now.

So for me it is a toss up between Harold Wilson and Cameron with Cameron taking because of the monumental **** ups his government has done over the last 6 years.

 

[Andalublue]

Not so fast, there was huge demand for the referendum.

No, there wasn't. It was entirely driven by Cameron's inability to deal with his Eurosceptic MPs. He could have ignored the UKIP rhetoric, just as he ignored plenty of other policies advocated in large numbers in the country at large. Just indeed as Blair ignored a far bigger anti-war movement.

17.5 million voters voted for Brexit and yeah, they will likely pay for it unless there is a sea change in attitudes and industry here but those same demands and party splits over Europe lost Thatcher her job and gave Major his headache while in power.

So, you admit that it was all about internal Tory party dynamics. That's what I said.

Thursday was always coming Andy - some people think "rule Britannia" or "United Kingdom" but for the Scots who want freedom and for the 17.5 who wanted out - they may hate him but Cameron gave the public a democratic say in the future of their country.

A democratic say on something about which the general public were, and remain, largely ignorant. Should we submit decisions on the technical decisions of surgery, nuclear power or sewage treatment? No, because it is not reasonable to expect the general public would have the technical knowledge to make an informed decision. It's pretty clear from the Brexit campaign that people had scant understanding of the economic impact that Brexit will bring.

As Ken Clarke said on AQ last night; "I don't think referenda are a very good way of dealing with complex issues that require knowledge and understanding of a number of specialisms". (Listen to quote at around 47:00).

The choice is one I hugely disagree with because we haven't gained anything, those 17.5 million will one day accept they voted for something that they couldn't get and they were lied to but right now, they are happy even if they hate Cameron for being Bremain.

Well, the topic is the legacy and reputation of Cameron. I'm not feeling the love.

 

[Infinite Chaos]

~ Harold Wilson: 2 different terms, and can argue that he was the reason for the collapse of the UK economy in the 1960s and 70s. Would be a tad simplistic though, since the rot had started long before he took power ~

Yeah, when the country needed a Harold Macmillan we got Harold Wilson and Tony Benn as Industry Secretary who nationalised everything in sight.

I will disregard Lord Home simply from his short tenure and compare history from the two Harolds. One gave us the golden era and the other nationalised everything and led to the industrial disasters of the 70's. Wilson is responsible for taking an engine working really well into something riven by strikes and really bad practice.

Macmillan quickly restored the country’s confidence and its fortunes. In domestic policy, he was determined to avoid the mass unemployment he had witnessed in the 1930s as MP for Stockton-on-Tees. A champion of economic planning and a moderniser at heart, as living standards and prosperity in Britain increased he was able to claim that the British public had “never had it so good”.

Looking at the pool of possible candidates to replace Cameron, I don't see anyone who will give us drive and determination to make Brexit work.

~ Cameron's inability to deal with his Eurosceptic MPs
So, you admit that it was all about internal Tory party dynamics. That's what I said.

Yes I do and this was a boil that brought down Thatcher and badly affected Major's premiership. History and facts are on my side, the Conservative split on Europe is and was an open civil war for 30 years.

~ A democratic say on something about which the general public were, and remain, largely ignorant. Should we submit decisions on the technical decisions of surgery, nuclear power or sewage treatment? No, because it is not reasonable to expect the general public would have the technical knowledge to make an informed decision. It's pretty clear from the Brexit campaign that people had scant understanding of the economic impact that Brexit will bring.

Manc Skipper said it earlier this morning, the public have been fed lies for 30 years and conditioned to hate and blame the EU for the poor decision making on all sides. And I do think this is something that had to be faced whether people knew the details or not. It's clear most who voted Brexit did it because they thought they would be able to control immigration and secure some fantasy deal with the EU - I'm sad that campaign on both sides did nothing to educate and what we also had were poor arguments and counter arguments which had poor facts behind them.

That boil had to be lanced.

~ (Listen to quote at around 47:00).

I watched it, a snippet was on the news today.

~ Well, the topic is the legacy and reputation of Cameron. I'm not feeling the love.

I don't "love" and the topic was is he the worst, I've given my opinion - Harold Wilson took Macmillan's golden legacy and led us to the industrial destruction of this country in the 70's and 80's.

 

[PeteEU]

I don't "love" and the topic was is he the worst, I've given my opinion - Harold Wilson took Macmillan's golden legacy and led us to the industrial destruction of this country in the 70's and 80's.

One could argue that this started long before, with the delusional world view by Churchill and Attlee after the war.. Eden too kinda.. Basically trying to keep as much of the Empire alive as possible and the costs involved in that.

 

[William Rea]

So, farewell then, David Cameron. You failed to deal with the Eurosceptics in the party of which you were supposed to be the leader, so you tossed a coin for the future of your country, the EU and the global economy, and guess what? It came up tails. Now you're legging it with your huge pension-for-life and your dad's ill-gotten riches stashed in Panama and somehow we're supposed to be moved by the catch in your voice and the doe-eyed look of tragedy on your wife's face?

Certainly, you're getting no sympathy whatsoever from any source I can find, either domestic, European or global.

So, can anyone think of a single thing you achieved in your 6 years of do-nothing incompetence? Economic probity? How's that looking now? Controlling immigration? I think the verdict's in on that. Good management of public services? Find a single person in the police, NHS, social services or public education who has a good thing to say about your administration.

Add to this the very real and highly probable split of the UK into England and Wales, a Scotland still in Europe, and renewed sectarian division in Northern Ireland, now that the genie of a united Ireland referendum is on the table, and he goes from being a nincompoop to be a wrecking ball of an entire society.

In comparison, Gordon Brown looks like a political giant; Blair mendacious but at least competent; Major, flawed, but with the balls to front up to the 'bastards' in his own party.

I think Cameron's 'legacy' is secure as the worst PM in living memory. Anyone disagree?

Cameron is a symptom of a generation that squandered the prosperity built by a post war generation and who are now wreaking revenge on our young to pay for it. The demographics of voting are that if you are young and educated you most likely voted remain. That generation has now lost that along with the prospect of owning a home, leaving University without tens of thousands of pounds of debt and numerous other things that are being dismantled by a series of crazed dogmatic right wing governments. It's starting to make the early 80s look like a golden age. Cameron has been one in a long line of disastrous centrist and hard right administrations.

 

[Andalublue]

Yeah, when the country needed a Harold Macmillan we got Harold Wilson and Tony Benn as Industry Secretary who nationalised everything in sight.

Macmillan benefitted from stable international economic climate, and still had the resources of the Empire to shore up the creaking post-war reconstruction at home. Wilson inherited an ossified imperial structure and had to reimagine and reconstruct the entire aparatus of state, which he did. Well. He also instituted nothing short of a social revolution - legalising abortion, divorce, homosexuality. He ended widespread censorship and ended capital punishment. He instituted comprehensive education which gave poor kids like me the chance of a decent shot. He kept the UK out of Vietnam. His management of the economy was highly successful. The problems of the Seventies were caused by Heath, his Three-Day Week, and the global oil crisis of 1973.

Looking at the pool of possible candidates to replace Cameron, I don't see anyone who will give us drive and determination to make Brexit work.

True that. I wonder how many of them will remember their own outrage at Brown's refusal to call a general election. History tells us that that was a monumental mistake (as I thought at the time btw) but I suspect the temptation for Boris to govern without mandate will be too strong.

Yes I do and this was a boil that brought down Thatcher and badly affected Major's premiership. History and facts are on my side, the Conservative split on Europe is and was an open civil war for 30 years.

Yup. Let's hope the nation remembers this when the s*** is spraying all over the shop.

Manc Skipper said it earlier this morning, the public have been fed lies for 30 years and conditioned to hate and blame the EU for the poor decision making on all sides. And I do think this is something that had to be faced whether people knew the details or not. It's clear most who voted Brexit did it because they thought they would be able to control immigration and secure some fantasy deal with the EU - I'm sad that campaign on both sides did nothing to educate and what we also had were poor arguments and counter arguments which had poor facts behind them.

Have you heard the Brexiters lining up to claim that they never promised to reduce immigration anyway. Chris Grayling on AQ? was doing it, and wasn't the first.

That boil had to be lanced.

For the interests of the Tory party, yes. Not for the good of the nation. That had nothing to do with it.

I don't "love" and the topic was is he the worst, I've given my opinion - Harold Wilson took Macmillan's golden legacy and led us to the industrial destruction of this country in the 70's and 80's.

You're clearly wrong. Wilson created modern Britain and brought about most of the civil liberties we now take for granted. He was a giant.

 

[Andalublue]

Cameron is a symptom of a generation that squandered the prosperity built by a post war generation and who are now wreaking revenge on our young to pay for it. The demographics of voting are that if you are young and educated you most likely voted remain. That generation has now lost that along with the prospect of owning a home, leaving University without tens of thousands of pounds of debt and numerous other things that are being dismantled by a series of crazed dogmatic right wing governments. It's starting to make the early 80s look like a golden age. Cameron has been one in a long line of disastrous centrist and hard right administrations.

For some reason the system wouldn't allow me to like your post. Right-wing conspiracy?

Consider it liked.

 

[PoS]

No, there wasn't. It was entirely driven by Cameron's inability to deal with his Eurosceptic MPs. He could have ignored the UKIP rhetoric, just as he ignored plenty of other policies advocated in large numbers in the country at large. Just indeed as Blair ignored a far bigger anti-war movement. So, you admit that it was all about internal Tory party dynamics. That's what I said.

A democratic say on something about which the general public were, and remain, largely ignorant. Should we submit decisions on the technical decisions of surgery, nuclear power or sewage treatment? No, because it is not reasonable to expect the general public would have the technical knowledge to make an informed decision. It's pretty clear from the Brexit campaign that people had scant understanding of the economic impact that Brexit will bring.

As Ken Clarke said on AQ last night; "I don't think referenda are a very good way of dealing with complex issues that require knowledge and understanding of a number of specialisms". (Listen to quote at around 47:00).

Well, the topic is the legacy and reputation of Cameron. I'm not feeling the love.

I think youre putting the blame on Cameron too much there- he couldn't ignore calls for a referendum because his ministers would have revolted with a no confidence vote. The seeds were sown for a Brexit years before- he just happened to be running the country when it finally burst. In the end the people voted, you cant argue against that.

 

[Infinite Chaos]

One could argue that this started long before ~

Everything is a consequence of something done before - we could go all the way back to Henry VIII or even further to find original sin. I'm basing my judgement on what I lived through.

Cameron is a symptom of a generation that squandered the prosperity built by a post war generation and who are now wreaking revenge on our young to pay for it. The demographics of voting are that if you are young and educated you most likely voted remain. ~

My students were fuming yesterday, they likened it to the worst Xmas jumper given you by a well meaning elderly relative.

Macmillan benefitted from stable international economic climate, and still had the resources of the Empire to shore up the creaking post-war reconstruction at home.

Nearly all Western Nations post war benefitted from rebuilding after the war however that said, he wasn't called "Supermac" for his genitalia but for his handling of the economy. :mrgreen:

- legalising abortion, divorce, homosexuality. He ended widespread censorship and ended capital punishment. He instituted comprehensive education which gave poor kids like me the chance of a decent shot. He kept the UK out of Vietnam.

Granted, but I won't accept the economy doing well, the ruins of more and more powerful unions and poor management started in the 60's and continued into the 70's.

The problems of the Seventies were caused by Heath, his Three-Day Week, and the global oil crisis of 1973.

Heath handled things badly but he was already facing unions who could bring the country down. When did those unions gain that power?

~ Have you heard the Brexiters lining up to claim that they never promised to reduce immigration anyway. Chris Grayling on AQ? was doing it, and wasn't the first.

First rule of politics - put out your confessions, lies and bad news when there are even bigger stories going on. First the £8billion NHS lie and then the immigration confession - even Higgins was confessing here that "we would have to give something up" to gain access to the EU single market.

That still leaves the true reckoning to come when those council estate tenants who were telling us "it's because of the immigrants innit" are still not in work, still looking at life on rundown sink estates and now nobody to blame.

For the interests of the Tory party, yes. Not for the good of the nation. That had nothing to do with it.

The EU was something all the parties had problems with - just look at which political leader has been condemned for his lacklustre and half hearted performance. The Labour Party was basically made up of Brexit voters and a leader who really couldn't support the cause as emotionally as he would support a Palestinian cause and a Parliamentary Labour Party caught in the middle largely wishing for remain.

Wilson created modern Britain and brought about most of the civil liberties we now take for granted.

He also squandered the industrial legacy and allowed the unions to grow into the monster they would become in the 70's.

 

[William Rea]

I think youre putting the blame on Cameron too much there- he couldn't ignore calls for a referendum because his ministers would have revolted with a no confidence vote. The seeds were sown for a Brexit years before- he just happened to be running the country when it finally burst. In the end the people voted, you cant argue against that.

The referendum was a sop to prevent the Conservatives from falling apart; The benefit of a Conservative split might have been to get all the major parties agreeing on some form of PR in our election system to get some real democracy, the Labour Party would probably also have split between Greens and Liberals as well. I don't think that Cameron is actually the worst but, he is the PM that gambled with his country in order to keep power and, no amount of flag waving is going to absolve the Conservative Party of that stark reality, remember that when you see them waving flags at the next party conference.

For me, the vote was too close to move on and, those calling for unity have missed the point, this is going to divide the UK worse than any borders around the home nations.

 

[William Rea]

...The EU was something all the parties had problems with - just look at which political leader has been condemned for his lacklustre and half hearted performance. The Labour Party was basically made up of Brexit voters and a leader who really couldn't support the cause as emotionally as he would support a Palestinian cause and a Parliamentary Labour Party caught in the middle largely wishing for remain...

Corbyn was too little too late on this issue. Almost unforgivable.

 

[code1211]

So, farewell then, David Cameron. You failed to deal with the Eurosceptics in the party of which you were supposed to be the leader, so you tossed a coin for the future of your country, the EU and the global economy, and guess what? It came up tails. Now you're legging it with your huge pension-for-life and your dad's ill-gotten riches stashed in Panama and somehow we're supposed to be moved by the catch in your voice and the doe-eyed look of tragedy on your wife's face?

Certainly, you're getting no sympathy whatsoever from any source I can find, either domestic, European or global.

So, can anyone think of a single thing you achieved in your 6 years of do-nothing incompetence? Economic probity? How's that looking now? Controlling immigration? I think the verdict's in on that. Good management of public services? Find a single person in the police, NHS, social services or public education who has a good thing to say about your administration.

Add to this the very real and highly probable split of the UK into England and Wales, a Scotland still in Europe, and renewed sectarian division in Northern Ireland, now that the genie of a united Ireland referendum is on the table, and he goes from being a nincompoop to be a wrecking ball of an entire society.

In comparison, Gordon Brown looks like a political giant; Blair mendacious but at least competent; Major, flawed, but with the balls to front up to the 'bastards' in his own party.

I think Cameron's 'legacy' is secure as the worst PM in living memory. Anyone disagree?

He was bad for britain.

However, the consecutive losers of Obama and Bush make him look downright Churchillian.

 

[Chagos]

Mediocrity makes neither for accusations of great villainy nor does it give grounds for adoration. "Great" leaders will usually concentrate both, in the process walking the knife's edge of the disparity in public (and party) opinion and displaying the balls it takes to do that.

At the end of the day, all specifics already adequately addressed by others here, Cameron is no more than a mediocre schmuck.

Was that, always will be and consequently deserves no superlative in any direction.

 

[manise]

I think youre putting the blame on Cameron too much there- he couldn't ignore calls for a referendum because his ministers would have revolted with a no confidence vote.

What was the likelihood that Cameron's ministers would have revolted with a no confidence vote? 80%? 50%? From what I've read, Cameron could have survived an intra-party challenge on Brexit.

 

[Hawkeye10]

He will be remembered as the guy who broke up the UK. Poor guy.

A good day for Merkel, now she will not get all the blame for the pain that follows gross recklessness.

And I thought that USA won the question of who has the worst leaders.

It is time for a rethink on that.

 

[Milo]

A good day for Merkel, now she will not get all the blame for the pain that follows gross recklessness.

And I thought that USA won the question of who has the worst leaders.

It is time for a rethink on that.

USA doesn't have the worst leaders, just the worst voters.

Cameron was an idiot, and deserve the blame. The only reason he made the referendum was because he was certain that he would win, not because he wanted to give Britain the opportunity to decide their future.

 

[Andalublue]

USA doesn't have the worst leaders, just the worst voters.

Cameron was an idiot, and deserve the blame. The only reason he made the referendum was because he was certain that he would win, not because he wanted to give Britain the opportunity to decide their future.

That's true. He thought a remain vote would make the Eurosceptics go away; kill off Boris's leadership ambitions; confirm George's continuity leadership; strengthen his hand within EU Council of Ministers meetings; and cement his legacy as the One Nation Tory consumate winner. Wrong on all counts.

What a change a year makes. May 2015, he wins a general election and is feted as a political genius. June 2016 he goes down in the history books as the greatest failure since Eden and Suez. I have a feeling that the person feeling the greatest degree of schadenfreude this weekend must be Nick Clegg. :lamo

 

[Jetboogieman]

Blair was mendacious, but not the worst ever and I don't think anyone has claimed that. At least he was competent in managing domestic policy.

Honestly I really liked Blair, I think if it hadn't of been for Iraq, he'd be considered one of the best Prime Ministers of the modern age.