David Cameron’s Europe Speech
The waiting game is over. David Cameron has given his long-awaited speech on Europe. And what a speech it was. Delivered in London and not the Netherlands as originally planned his speech was close to epic in its length. No doubt the invited business audience felt quite weak at its close…it was an 8 a.m. start after all.
His speech was trailed as a Europe speech. And that’s what his audience got. A well-constructed and well-prepared speech with Europe at its centre.
It’s clear that Mr Cameron knew he had a lot of material to get through. His delivery was rapid and at times breathless. He positively sprinted through this speech that was timed at just under 40 minutes.
Reading from autocue the Prime Minister began his speech with a introduction that referenced the outbreak of the Second World War seventy years ago, Winston Churchill and the collapse of the Eastern Bloc. An eventful introduction that set the EU project into a context that includes Britain.
Reading his speech he appeared animated, crouching into his familiar (dispatch box thumping) body position to define his key points.
Public Speaking Techniques
His speech was rich in technique. Position takers, always a politician’s favourite speech technique were plentiful. Given the need to get his position straight with his own Party, his Westminster allies, the opposition and the rest of Europe position takers were expected:
Some people say that to point this out is irresponsible, creates uncertainty for business and puts a question mark over Britain’s place in the European Union.
But the question mark is already there and ignoring it won’t make it go away.
In fact, quite the reverse. Those who refuse to contemplate consulting the British people, would in my view make more likely our eventual exit.
Some argue that the solution is therefore to hold a straight in-out referendum now.
I understand the impatience of wanting to make that choice immediately.
But I don’t believe that to make a decision at this moment is the right way forward, either for Britain or for Europe as a whole.
So to those who say we have no vision for Europe, I say we have.
There were few light moments in this speech. But there was one:
Let’s stop all this talk of two-speed Europe, of fast lanes and slow lanes, of countries missing trains and buses, and consign the whole weary caravan of metaphors to a permanent siding.
Reaching his peroration the Prime Minister used a classic set of word pairs to consolidate his position:
Because with courage and conviction I believe we can deliver a more flexible, adaptable and open European Union in which the interests and ambitions of all its members can be met.
With courage and conviction I believe we can achieve a new settlement in which Britain can be comfortable and all our countries can thrive.
This proved to be a well-worked speech. Yes, there were a few fluffs along the way as the Prime Minister read the autocue. That wasn’t an issue. It happens, particularly when the speech is read so fast.