David Cameron: It was obviously a very emotional day. It’s not just about being the prime minister, it’s more about meeting these incredible veterans and hearing their stories. I remember there was a constituent of mine called Mr Churchill who led a tank up the high road. He spoke to me, and you will never forget it. They are extraordinary people, an extraordinary generation. It’s a privilege to be there.
Paul McNamara: You’re smiling as you speak. How does it feel when you find out that the current prime minister has decided that he sees fit to make an early exit from the 80th?
David Cameron: He went to the Portsmouth key event, the British event, the day before, which was full of veterans and finished well. England has always done these things well. He went to the main event above the British D-Day coast at the wonderful new commemoration center that this government has helped with, and met the veterans there. Then he did not participate in international events, which differed in many ways.
Paul McNamara: Do you have any suggestions?
David Cameron: I’m not talking about my advice. I am part of the team and we act as a team and we defend each other as a team. But to be fair, as soon as he got back to England, he said, ‘I regret my decision, I wish I could have stayed longer.’ Such a person. Instead of digging in and trying to defend his difficult position, he just said, ‘Ok, you make a lot of decisions as prime minister, you know, and sometimes you get it wrong.’ He was very honest about it.
Paul McNamara: What this person can say is that the prime minister does not follow advice. So what do you or your office suggest?
David Cameron: I am not asking for any advice I am giving. He always takes advice.
Paul McNamara: So you gave me some advice?
David Cameron: We’re part of a team, right? We have a team captain. I am loyal to the team captain. We had a private discussion. Then we act, and then we stand together.
Paul McNamara: People listening to this will take it as you suggest.
David Cameron: What I am saying is, this prime minister is taking advice.
Paul McNamara: But just not on this occasion?
David Cameron: Look, the prime minister has to make all the decisions. How long am I staying here? What did I do? The minister I met? And you get some wrong. He was one of these and he immediately admitted it. Such a person. It’s a huge contrast, frankly, with what we saw last night from Keir Starmer saying ‘When I said Jeremy Corbyn would be a great prime minister, I only said that because I thought we would lose the election.’ So he’s not with us right away. Rishi, I think, has been very clear about this.
Paul McNamara: And you will be right with us? Because there are reports that you are, quote, apoplectic.
David Cameron: That is not true. I would be wary of this newspaper story being based on some kind of third party news.
Paul McNamara: Are you satisfied with how this campaign turned out?
David Cameron: I am satisfied. This is a very powerful campaign. Often at the end of 14 years, you find parties struggling to come up with new ideas. But in this campaign, it is a campaign fizzing with new ideas and policy proposals from the Conservatives, all at the expense, and a pretty blank slate from Labour.
Paul McNamara: Would you announce an election in the pouring rain, then go to a campaign event where the Titanic was built? Will you appear on TV last night talking about the disadvantages and your little one doesn’t have Sky TV? You will have people. You must have fired someone by now. Is Rishi Sunak unrelated?
David Cameron: No, no. I have fought election campaigns and the first one, the first TV debate I did, was a disaster for me. I spent the night, awake, worried that I would let my friends down. Campaigns have their ups and downs, but the basics of this campaign are: strong prime minister, strong team, clear plan – weak opposition leader, no team, no plan.
Paul McNamara: Conservative ads on Facebook are now warning of a Labor super majority. You admit defeat.
David Cameron: Not at all. I just don’t spend time in the campaign talking about the polls or the results or the possible results.
Paul McNamara: Labor has a super majority not the Conservatives go to the country and say, we can still win this.
David Cameron: My vision is very clear. The more people who vote Conservative, the better they will do.
Paul McNamara: Okay, so the campaign ad is wrong?. Are they wrong?
David Cameron: I don’t waste my time looking at ads online. I have never heard that word. What constitutes a super majority? It is not true in the UK.
Paul McNamara: A super majority obviously means you won’t be in opposition.
David Cameron: The only math that really matters in British politics is half of 650, which is the number of MPs in the House of Commons, 325. This is a winning position. If you’re first, you have the majority of the government and that’s what we’re going to do.
Paul McNamara: Craig Williams, has it made it easier for you as a party?
David Cameron: Obviously a stupid decision. They are being investigated by the Gambling Commission. I don’t think there is anything else to add.
Paul McNamara: Are you apoplectic when you hear about that?
David Cameron: It’s not really a word that kind of springs to mind. I was quite confused and unhappy. But must account for the Gambling Commission and, of course, in front of the constituents.
Paul McNamara: It doesn’t look good for a party though, does it?
David Cameron: It’s not good. I accept that.
Paul McNamara: Shadow stalking the Conservative Party in 2016 Nigel Farage and UKIP, shadow stalking the Conservative Party this time Nigel Farage, but this time with Reform. Would you allow Nigel Farage to be in the Conservative Party?
David Cameron: It was not my decision. I am not a party leader.
Paul McNamara: You know. what are you What are you then?
David Cameron: He did not join the Conservative Party when I was leader.
Paul McNamara: Finally, you are out of office for seven years. Tomorrow it will be seven months since you returned as foreign secretary. Is it worth it?
David Cameron: I have been trying over the last six months, seven months – what is it – to make sure that we get aid to Gaza. We’ve made some good progress there. I have tried to make sure that we really support Ukraine in the struggle. We have seen this from the UK – 3 billion a year for a long time. This is a huge step forward. A day at work is a privilege, and every day I treat it as a privilege.
Paul McNamara: Does Rishi Sunak always listen to you?
David Cameron: Yes, that’s how it is.
Paul McNamara: always?
David Cameron: Yes, they have a very good team. They work hard to provide our country and listen to ministers and their advice. But he is a leader and we support him.
Paul McNamara: But sometimes they don’t listen.
David Cameron: I didn’t say that.
