Disappearing Dave - Why is Cameron always missing?

[Gromit]

While the Commons is buzzing with anticaption at todays work, Cameron is in South Africa, presumably looking for more worthy projects deserving of our aid.

Todays Telegraph notes:
// Not for the first time, Mr Cameron is in the wrong place today, giving us the spectacle of a British prime minister at a press conference with a foreign leader answering questions about wholly domestic matters. Today it was Pretoria and questions about Sir Paul Stephenson. Two weeks ago, it was Kabul and questions about Milly Dowler.

Mr Cameron’s discomfort about this is visible. Haunted by his decision in 2007 to visit Rwanda instead of his own flooded constituency, the PM is also all too aware that Ed Miliband is using all the agility of an Opposition leader to set the pace. Hence the sudden shortening of the PM’s Africa trip and the move to extend the Commons session until Wedesday. //

Presumably Milliband will again take centre stage today. Last week many commentators were calling Cameron cowardly for choosing not to appear in the Commons when the heat was on.

Is he being...
deliberately evasion?
Unlucky?
Poorly advised?
Or a combination of all three?

[Gromit]

Deliberately evasive, even.

[Bobbisox]

I agree Gromit, his priorities should lie here , especially today

[sandyRoe]

If he still had Andy Coulson to smooth things out he wouldn't be in this pickle.

[missnemesis]

Too much of the previous prime minister styleee about DC I think. He's way too busy courting international favour to be bothering about what's going on in Britain.

[Bobbisox]

he's certainly oily, reminds me of TB

[jno]

very true, sandy. Maybe he should hire that Mandelson chap (who seems to be available to the highest bidder and is probably this side of criminal).

The government is doing the right thing in drumming up business abroad, but maybe it needs to be left to the trade minister... I suppose we do have one.

[Zeuhl]

He is the Prime Minister of a major nation - quite rightly a big part of his job is international relations with visits arranged months in advance.

Contrary to popular opinion he doesn't actually run the country - there are several large ministries each headed by a team of Ministers who do that.

[Bobbisox]

Zeuhl, it may look better for him if he was here today?



(btw, hope your Japanese friends are ok now)

[AB Editor]

He's nothing like as good as Tony. Tony was a real performer, Cameron, despite his background in PR, seems unable to present a slick statesmanly face to the public.

As to the heart of this question, he's probably unlucky and poorly advised (while SandyRoe may have been making light of Coulson's departure Cameron needs someone in his corner to keep the whole thing on track).

[missnemesis]

That's true zeuhl however his own country is going to hell in a very fast hand basket and he, as our supposed leader, should be here sorting this mess out not kiss a$$ing some other country.

[Sqad]

Bobbi

<<<Disappearing Dave>>

He hasn't disappeared...I for one know where he is.

A PM's schedule is organized months ahead....well before the scandal broke.

What can he do in the UK that he couldn't control via communication technology.

Zeuhl is correct....delegation is the name of the game.

[Zeuhl]

<<Zeuhl, it may look better for him if he was here today? >>

Agreed - he is losing serious point-scoring opportunities to the Opposition.

Folks in Japan are better thanks though life is not back to normal (whatever that is in Tokyo)
Cheers Bobbi

[Bobbisox]

Gromit said Disappearing Dave sqad, I merely answered :-)

[Sqad]

Bobbi......if my memory serves me......you started a thread on why is Great Britain ..Great.......and there was a long thread of posters eulogising, the NHS our Electoral System, our Police Force and our system of Government.


Seems to have gone t1ts up according to this thread.

[Sqad]

Bobbi....LOL...correct.

[missnemesis]

\\\ What can he do in the UK that he couldn't control via communication technology. ///

That's not entirely the point sqad. He should be here, in person, at least pretending he gives a sh!t about his 'own'

For the general populous how things 'look' matter and it always 'looks' like DC is never around when he is needed.

[Sqad]

missnemessis....maybe! maybe!

[ichkeria]

The country doesn't need Cameron, today or any other day
Seriously though, although I am not a fan, I can't see whay he "needs" to be here today. Why today? Ok, Ed might show him up, but that's to his personal disadvantage, not the country's.
The wonders of modern communication technology will be put to good use no doubt.

[Gromit]

It is not entirely a domestic issue and Cameron is just out of range of the Sugar that is being thrown. Coulsen could be involved in bunging money to the police, and Cameron trusted him. Let's hope he is not as gullible when he is in South Africa, or Afghanistan or any other place he has to assess people and their honesty.
Last week, while all this was being discussed in the commons, Cameron stayed away, launching something so unimportant, that I can't even remember what it was. Surely that could have been rearranged an later?

Sometimes it appears like he is deliberately keeping out of the picture and staying away from situations where the oppostion can ask him awkward questions.

[jake-the-peg]

PMs love foreign trips - makes them look statesman-like and they rarely have to actually deliver something.

Remember Tony Blair was forever jumping on or off a plane too