Papers unconvinced by Cameron

David Cameron's closing speech to the Conservative conference has received a lukewarm reaction from the press.

Fleet Street felt the Tory leader's first conference in the post had gone well without dispelling any of the doubts about him.

Most papers concluded that the event was summed up by a speech, which, while showing the party ready and willing to ensure it can win the next election, had failed to demonstrate that this was about "substance" as much as image.

The Telegraph, influential in Tory circles, said in its editorial on Thursday: "The intent is clear – to kill off the notion that the Tories are out of touch, and out of time, and make them electable again.

"But Mr Cameron has, in the 10 months since he took over as Conservative leader, been vulnerable to the charge that behind his fluent rhetoric, there is little of substance.

"Yesterday's speech did not entirely dispel that impression."

It added that Cameron's defence of civil partnerships raised questions over how he would implement his family-friendly stance.

"His encomium to the family is one we heartily applaud – but what mechanisms will he use to shore up the institution? He did not say," it said.

"And his equating of civil partnerships with traditional marriage may be terribly passe in Notting Hill, but it drew a sharp intake of breath from the conference – and, we suspect, from across the country."

The Times felt that the speech "was a mistake in that it made the substance issue seem a more, not less, relevant concern about Mr Cameron".

"The Tories have, nevertheless, come out of their conference looking as if they are eager to win again," it added.

"Their leader should learn from his errors, and exploit a genuine desire for victory."

The Financial Times agreed that "the Tory tide has turned", but added that Cameron must come to terms with some of the contradictions in his positioning.

"At the seaside in Bournemouth this week, a changed and changing Conservative Party has been on display," it said.

"[But] In spite of the justified good mood of the conference, there are clouds ahead. Mr Cameron will, at some point, have to decide where the Tories stand on Europe.

"The complete absence of this issue from his speech was striking."

The Independent struck a similar tone.

"David Cameron demonstrated both how much has been achieved since last October, but also how very much more there is to do," it concluded.

"It was a vigorous speech, clearly designed more to complete the rebranding of the Conservative Party from 'nasty' to 'nice', than to introduce policies."

Its left-leaning counterpart, the Guardian, however, was not so complimentary about Cameron's performance.

"Mr Cameron was unquestionably the political star of the last 12 months," it acknowledged.

"Yesterday he was frankly disappointing - and for the first time, he is raising doubts about whether he has either the stomach or the strategy to lead the Tories back to power."

Among the tabloids, the Tories will have been relieved to see the top-selling Sun leaping, partially, to their leader's defence.

"It was no surprise that David Cameron's keynote speech to the Tories was devoid of new policy," it said. "That's what he promised.

"Nobody expected a great speech. Mr Cameron is wise not to try matching Tony Blair's carefully polished rhetoric.

"But even a workmanlike speech like this, should contain some material on which voters can get a grip."

The Express, firmly in the Conservative camp, was more forthright.

"This was the moment the Tory faithful had been waiting for: David Cameron's first keynote speech as leader of the Conservative Party," it said.

"And a very good effort it was too. Yes, it was a slow start... But ultimately it was a polished performance, and one that laid out the beginnings of party policy."

However, the powerful Mail summed up the mood of mild let-down and problems to come.

"Yes, we know he loves the NHS, that he wants to cut waste and give doctors greater freedom to exercise their professional judgment, but how, exactly, does he propose to achieve those aims?" it asked.

"If anything, that mystery deepened yesterday, when he appeared to rule out any major reorganisation of healthcare."

And the anti-Tory Mirror saw an opportunity to stick the boot in.

"Labour has an opportunity to regain the initiative after David Cameron exposed himself as a paper tiger," it concluded.

"His big speech to the Conservative conference fell as flat as a pancake, rambling on for nearly an hour without saying anything of substance."