David Cameron#Policies and views

{{further|Family of David Cameron}}

David William Donald Cameron was born on 9 October 1966 at the London Clinic in Marylebone, London,{{Cite news|title= England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837–2008|publisher=FamilySearch|url= https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVW7-QGCZ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329222233/https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVW7-QGCZ |archive-date= 29 March 2016 |access-date= 21 April 2016}} and raised at Peasemore in Berkshire.{{cite book|last1=Elliott|first1=Francis|last2=Hanning|first2=James|title=Cameron: the Rise of the New Conservative|publisher=Harper Perennial|year=2007 |isbn=978-0-00-724367-9}} He has two sisters and an elder brother, Alexander Cameron.{{cite news|last=Wheeler|first=Brian|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4502656.stm |title=The David Cameron Story|work=BBC News|date=6 December 2005|archive-date=24 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824194237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4502656.stm|url-status=live|access-date=27 March 2007}} Cameron is the younger son of Ian Donald Cameron, a stockbroker, and his wife Mary Fleur, a retired Justice of the Peace and the daughter of Sir William Mount, 2nd Baronet.{{Cite book|title=Debrett's Peerage 2011|page=B 714}} He is also a descendant of William IV through one of the king's illegitimate children.

Cameron's father was born at Blairmore House near Huntly, Aberdeenshire, and died near Toulon, France, on 8 September 2010;{{cite web |url=http://beehive.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/default.asp?WCI=SiteHome&ID=2311&PageID=55325|title=David Cameron and Slains Castle|website=The North Scotland Beehive|publisher=Aberdeen Civic Society|date=2 March 2006|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070817233045/http://beehive.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/default.asp?WCI=SiteHome&ID=2311&PageID=55325|archive-date=17 August 2007|url-status=live}} Blairmore was built by Cameron's great-great-grandfather, Alexander Geddes,{{cite news|work=The Times|url=http://find.galegroup.com/ttda/newspaperRetrieve.do?sgHitCountType=None&sort=DateAscend&tabID=T003&prodId=TTDA&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchId=R1&searchType=BasicSearchForm¤tPosition=2&qrySerId=Locale%28en%2C%2C%29%3ALQE%3D%28da%2CNone%2C10%2907%2F24%2F1905%24&retrieveFormat=MULTIPAGE_DOCUMENT&userGroupName=wes_ttda&inPS=true&contentSet=LTO&&docId=&docLevel=FASCIMILE&workId=&relevancePageBatch=CS17101048&contentSet=UDVIN&callistoContentSet=UDVIN&docPage=article |title=Marriages|date=24 July 1905|page=1|archive-date=10 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510180712/http://find.galegroup.com/ttda/newspaperRetrieve.do?sgHitCountType=None&sort=DateAscend&tabID=T003&prodId=TTDA&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchId=R1&searchType=BasicSearchForm¤tPosition=2&qrySerId=Locale%28en%2C%2C%29%3ALQE%3D%28da%2CNone%2C10%2907%2F24%2F1905%24&retrieveFormat=MULTIPAGE_DOCUMENT&userGroupName=wes_ttda&inPS=true&contentSet=LTO&&docId=&docLevel=FASCIMILE&workId=&relevancePageBatch=CS17101048&contentSet=UDVIN&callistoContentSet=UDVIN&docPage=article|url-status=live |access-date=22 March 2013}}{{subscription required}}{{cite news|last1=Howker|first1=Ed|last2=Malik|first2=Shiv|title=David Cameron's family fortune: the Jersey, Panama and Geneva connection|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/apr/20/david-cameron-jersey-panama-geneva|work=The Guardian|date=20 April 2012|archive-date=25 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171225101944/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/apr/20/david-cameron-jersey-panama-geneva|url-status=live|access-date=14 August 2016}} who had made a fortune in the grain trade in Chicago, Illinois, before returning to Scotland in the 1880s.{{cite news|first=Ross|last=Clark|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/core/Content/displayPrintable.jhtml?xml=/property/2002/01/26/pblair26.xml&site=16&page=0|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121209140019/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/core/Content/displayPrintable.jhtml?xml=/property/2002/01/26/pblair26.xml&site=16&page=0|archive-date=9 December 2012|title=Highlands for the high life|work=The Telegraph|date=26 January 2002|access-date=4 September 2007}} Blairmore was sold soon after Ian's birth.

Cameron has said: "On my mother's side of the family, her mother was a Llewellyn, so Welsh. I'm a real mixture of Scottish, Welsh and English."{{cite news|title=David Cameron flies the flag for Britain|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/1572058/David-Cameron-flies-the-flag-for-Britain.html|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/1572058/David-Cameron-flies-the-flag-for-Britain.html|archive-date=10 January 2022|url-access=subscription |url-status=live|last1=Martin|first1=Iain|last2=Porter|first2=Andrew|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=10 December 2007|access-date=10 October 2019}}{{cbignore}} He has also referenced the German Jewish ancestry of one of his great-grandfathers, Arthur Levita, a descendant of the Yiddish author Elia Levita.{{cite web|url=http://conservative-speeches.sayit.mysociety.org/speech/601339|title=David Cameron: Jewish Care|website=SayIt|archive-date=9 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309020003/http://conservative-speeches.sayit.mysociety.org/speech/601339 |access-date=11 November 2015}}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/10692563/David-Cameron-tells-Israelis-about-his-Jewish-ancestors.html |title=David Cameron tells Israelis about his Jewish ancestors|last=Holehouse|first=Matthew|work=The Telegraph|date=12 March 2014|archive-date=26 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026170210/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/10692563/David-Cameron-tells-Israelis-about-his-Jewish-ancestors.html|url-status=live|access-date=10 October 2019}}

Cameron was educated at two private schools. From the age of seven, he was taught at Heatherdown School in Winkfield, Berkshire. Owing to good grades, he entered its top academic class almost two years early.{{cite news|last=Blake|first=Heidi|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/david-cameron/7325369/Heatherdown-Prep-the-exclusive-school-that-taught-David-Cameron-his-ambition.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100302145232/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/david-cameron/7325369/Heatherdown-Prep-the-exclusive-school-that-taught-David-Cameron-his-ambition.html|archive-date= 2 March 2010|title=Cameron at Heatherdown School|work=The Telegraph|date=27 February 2010 |access-date=20 June 2010}} At the age of 13, he went on to Eton College in Berkshire, following his father and elder brother.{{cite book|first1=Francis|last1=Elliott|first2=James|last2=Hanning|date=2007|title=Cameron: The Rise of the New Conservative|publisher=Fourth Estate|page=26|isbn=978-0-00-724366-2}} His early interest was in art. Six weeks before taking his O levels, he was caught smoking cannabis.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/ps/sites/roughguide/hall_of_fame/pages/david_cameron.shtml|title=Hall of Fame, David Cameron|work=BBC Wales|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100510170722/http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/ps/sites/roughguide/hall_of_fame/pages/david_cameron.shtml|archive-date=10 May 2010|access-date=7 August 2009}} He admitted the offence and had not been involved in selling drugs, so he was not expelled; instead he was fined, prevented from leaving the school grounds and given a "Georgic" (a punishment that involved copying 500 lines of Latin text).Elliott and Hanning, p. 32.

Cameron passed twelve O-levels and then three A levels: history of art; history, in which he was taught by Michael Kidson; and economics with politics. He obtained three 'A' grades and a '1' grade in the scholarship level exam in economics and politics.Elliott and Hanning, pp. 45–46. The following autumn, he passed the entrance exam for the University of Oxford, and was offered an exhibition at Brasenose College.Elliott and Hanning, p. 46.

File:Oxford Brasenose College.jpg|alt=Brasenose College in Oxford]]

After leaving Eton in 1984{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/8753662/David-Cameron-Eton-College-should-run-a-state-school.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/8753662/David-Cameron-Eton-College-should-run-a-state-school.html|archive-date=10 January 2022|url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=David Cameron: Eton College should run a state school|work=The Daily Telegraph |date=9 September 2009|first=Graeme|last=Paton|access-date=19 March 2012}}{{cbignore}} Cameron started a nine-month gap year. For three months, he worked as a researcher for his godfather Tim Rathbone, then Conservative MP for Lewes, during which time he attended debates in the House of Commons.Elliott and Hanning, pp. 46–47. Through his father, he was then employed for a further three months in Hong Kong by Jardine Matheson as a 'ship jumper', an administrative post.Elliott and Hanning, pp. 47–48.

Returning from Hong Kong, Cameron visited the then-Soviet Union, where he was approached by two Russian men speaking fluent English. He was later told by one of his professors that it was "definitely an attempt" by the KGB to recruit him.{{cite news|title=Cameron: KGB tried to recruit me|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5021166.stm|work=BBC News|date=28 May 2006 |access-date=6 November 2006|archive-date=28 January 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070128011055/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5021166.stm|url-status=live}}

In October 1985 Cameron began his Bachelor of Arts course in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at Brasenose College, Oxford.[http://www.bnc.ox.ac.uk/288/about-brasenose-31/news-152/brasenose-alumnus-becomes-prime-minister-815.html "Brasenose alumnus becomes Prime Minister"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022150220/http://www.bnc.ox.ac.uk/288/about-brasenose-31/news-152/brasenose-alumnus-becomes-prime-minister-815.html |date=22 October 2013}}. Brasenose College. No date. Retrieved 2 January 2012. His tutor, Vernon Bogdanor, has described him as "one of the ablest" students he has taught,{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/too-good-to-be-true-m0kbgfj0crn|title=Too good to be true?|work=The Sunday Times|date=25 March 2007|access-date=29 March 2007}} with "moderate and sensible Conservative" political views.

Guy Spier, who shared tutorials with Cameron, remembers him as an outstanding student: "We were doing our best to grasp basic economic concepts. David—there was nobody else who came even close. He would be integrating them with the way the British political system is put together. He could have lectured me on it, and I would have sat there and taken notes."{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1840461,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080912043848/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1840461,00.html|archive-date=12 September 2008|title=David Cameron: UK's Next Leader|magazine=Time|date=11 September 2008|first=Catherine|last=Mayer|access-date=2 November 2011}} When commenting in 2006 on his former pupil's ideas about a "Bill of Rights" to replace the Human Rights Act, however, Bogdanor, himself a Liberal Democrat, said: "I think he is very confused. I've read his speech and it's filled with contradictions. There are one or two good things in it but one glimpses them, as it were, through a mist of misunderstanding".{{cite news|title=Professor Vernon Bogdanor on David Cameron|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2006/jul/01/comment.politics|work=The Guardian|date=1 July 2006|first=Stuart|last=Jeffries|archive-date=21 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170521173116/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2006/jul/01/comment.politics|url-status=live|access-date=25 November 2012}}

While at Oxford, Cameron was a member of the Bullingdon Club, an exclusive all-male dining society with a reputation for an outlandish drinking culture associated with boisterous behaviour and damaging property.{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/education/article/how-young-cameron-wined-and-dined-with-the-right-sort-qbm5vn82hk7|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080211134900/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2012918,00.html|title=How young Cameron wined and dined with the right sort|archive-date=11 February 2008|url-status=live|date=28 January 2006|first=Patrick|last=Foster|work=The Times|url-access=subscription}} In his 2019 memoir For the Record, Cameron wrote about being a member of the Bullingdon and its impact on his political career, saying: "When I look now at the much-reproduced photograph taken of our group of appallingly over-self-confident 'sons of privilege', I cringe. If I had known at the time the grief I would get for that picture, of course I would never have joined. But life isn't like that..." and: "These were also the years after the ITV adaptation of Brideshead Revisited when quite a few of us were carried away by the fantasy of an Evelyn Waugh-like Oxford existence."{{cite web|title=Bullingdon Club: behind Oxford University's elite society |url=https://www.theweek.co.uk/65410/bullingdon-club-the-secrets-of-oxford-universitys-elite-society|website=theweek.co.uk|date=16 September 2019|archive-date=1 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601115841/https://www.theweek.co.uk/65410/bullingdon-club-the-secrets-of-oxford-universitys-elite-society|url-status=live|access-date=15 October 2022}} Cameron's period in the Bullingdon Club was examined in a 2009 Channel 4 docudrama, When Boris Met Dave, the title referring to Boris Johnson, another high-profile Conservative Party figure, the then-mayor of London, who had been a member at the same time, and who would go on to be prime minister himself.

Cameron graduated in 1988 with a first-class BA degree (later promoted to an MA by seniority).{{cite news |url=http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2011/03/30/origins-of-the-cameron-balls-feud/ |title=Origins of the Cameron-Balls Feud|last=Rentoul|first=John|work=The Independent|date=30 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2011/03/30/origins-of-the-cameron-balls-feud/|archive-date=30 June 2009|access-date=4 April 2011}}

After graduation, Cameron worked for the Conservative Research Department between September 1988 and 1993. His first brief was Trade and Industry, Energy and Privatisation; he befriended fellow young colleagues, including Edward Llewellyn, Ed Vaizey and Rachel Whetstone. They and others formed a group they called the "Smith Square set", which was dubbed the "Brat Pack" by the press, though it is better known as the "Notting Hill set", a name given to it pejoratively by Derek Conway.{{sfn|Snowdon|2010|p=9}} In 1991 Cameron was seconded to Downing Street to work on briefing John Major for the then twice-weekly sessions of Prime Minister's Questions. One newspaper gave Cameron the credit for "sharper ... Despatch box performances" by Major,"Atticus", The Sunday Times, 30 June 1991 which included highlighting for Major "a dreadful piece of doublespeak" by Tony Blair (then the Labour Employment spokesman) over the effect of a national minimum wage.[https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199091/cmhansrd/1991-06-27/Orals-2.html "House of Commons 6th series, vol. 193, cols. 1133–34"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171120041152/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199091/cmhansrd/1991-06-27/Orals-2.html|date=20 November 2017}}, Hansard. Retrieved 4 September 2007. He became head of the political section of the Conservative Research Department, and in August 1991 was tipped to follow Judith Chaplin as political secretary to the prime minister."Diary", The Times, 14 August 1991.

Cameron lost to Jonathan Hill, who was appointed in March 1992. Instead, he was given the responsibility for briefing Major for his press conferences during the 1992 general election.Wood, Nicholas (13 March 1992). "New aide for Prime Minister". The Times (London). During the campaign, Cameron was one of the young "brat pack" of party strategists who worked between 12 and 20 hours a day, sleeping in the house of Alan Duncan in Gayfere Street, Westminster, which had been Major's campaign headquarters during his bid for the Conservative leadership."Sleep little babies". The Times (London). 20 March 1992. Cameron headed the economic section. It was while working on this campaign that Cameron first worked closely with and befriended Steve Hilton, who was later to become Director of Strategy during his party leadership.Wood, Nicholas (23 March 1992). "Strain starts to show on Major's round the clock 'brat pack{{'"}}. The Times (London). The strain of getting up at 04:45 every day was reported to have led Cameron to decide to leave politics in favour of journalism."Campaign fall-out". The Times. 30 March 1992.

The Conservatives' unexpected success in the 1992 election led Cameron to hit back at older party members who had criticised him and his colleagues, saying "whatever people say about us, we got the campaign right", and that they had listened to their campaign workers on the ground rather than the newspapers. He revealed he had led other members of the team across Smith Square to jeer at Transport House, the former Labour headquarters.Pierce, Andrew (11 March 1992). "We got it right, say Patten's brat pack". The Sunday Times (London). Cameron was rewarded with a promotion to Special Adviser to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Norman Lamont."Brats on the move". The Times (London). 14 April 1992.

Cameron was working for Lamont at the time of Black Wednesday, when pressure from currency speculators forced the pound sterling out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism. At the 1992 Conservative Party conference, he had difficulty trying to arrange to brief the speakers in the economic debate, having to resort to putting messages on the internal television system imploring the mover of the motion, Patricia Morris, to contact him."Diary", The Times, 8 October 1992. Later that month, Cameron joined a delegation of Special Advisers who visited Germany to build better relations with the Christian Democratic Union; he was reported to be "still smarting" over the Bundesbank's contribution to the economic crisis."Peace-mongers". The Times (London). 20 October 1992.

Lamont fell out with John Major after Black Wednesday and became highly unpopular with the public. Taxes needed to be raised in the 1993 Budget, and Cameron fed the options Lamont was considering through to Conservative Campaign Headquarters for their political acceptability to be assessed.Hencke, David (8 February 1993). "Treasury tax review eyes fuel and children's clothes". The Guardian (London). By May 1993, the Conservatives' average poll rating dropped below 30%, where they would remain until the 1997 general election.{{sfn|Snowdon|2010|p=24}} Major and Lamont's personal ratings also declined dramatically. Lamont's unpopularity did not necessarily affect Cameron, who was considered as a potential "kamikaze" candidate for the Newbury by-election, which includes the area where he grew up.White, Michael; Wintour, Patrick (26 February 1993). "Points of Order". The Guardian (London). However, Cameron decided not to stand.

During the by-election, Lamont gave the response "Je ne regrette rien" to a question about whether he most regretted claiming to see "the green shoots of recovery" or admitting to "singing in his bath" with happiness at leaving the European Exchange Rate Mechanism. Cameron was identified by one journalist as having inspired this gaffe; it was speculated that the heavy Conservative defeat in Newbury may have cost Cameron his chance of becoming chancellor himself, even though as he was not a member of Parliament he could not have been."Careless talk". The Times (London). 10 May 1993. Lamont was sacked at the end of May 1993, and decided not to write the usual letter of resignation; Cameron was given the responsibility to issue to the press a statement of self-justification.Smith, David; Prescott, Michael (30 May 1993). "Norman Lamont: the final days" (Focus). The Sunday Times (London).

File:HomeOffice QueenAnnesGate.jpg where Cameron worked during the 1990s|alt=The Home Office at 102 Petty France, where Cameron worked during the 1990s]]

After Lamont was sacked, Cameron remained at the Treasury for less than a month before being specifically recruited by Home Secretary Michael Howard. It was commented that he was still "very much in favour""No score flaw". The Times (London). 22 June 1993. and it was later reported that many at the Treasury would have preferred Cameron to carry on.Grigg, John (2 October 1993). "Primed Minister". The Times (London). At the beginning of September 1993, he applied to go on Conservative Central Office's list of prospective parliamentary candidates (PPCs)."Newbury's finest". The Times (London). 6 September 1993.

Cameron was much more socially liberal than Howard but enjoyed working for him.{{sfn|Snowdon|2010|p=24}} According to Derek Lewis, then Director-General of Her Majesty's Prison Service, Cameron showed him a "his and her list" of proposals made by Howard and his wife, Sandra. Lewis said that Sandra Howard's list included reducing the quality of prison food, although she denied this claim. Lewis reported that Cameron was "uncomfortable" about the list.Leigh, David (23 February 1997). "Mrs Howard's own recipe for prison reform". The Observer (London). In defending Sandra Howard and insisting that she made no such proposal, the journalist Bruce Anderson wrote that Cameron had proposed a much shorter definition on prison catering which revolved around the phrase "balanced diet", and that Lewis had written thanking Cameron for a valuable contribution.{{cite web |last=Anderson |first=Bruce |date=1 March 1997 |title=Derek Lewis: Big job, little man, inaccurate book |url=https://archive.spectator.co.uk/article/1st-march-1997/8/politics |url-status=live |page=8 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240908111719/https://archive.spectator.co.uk/article/1st-march-1997/8/politics |archive-date=8 September 2024 |work=The Spectator}}

During his work for Howard, Cameron often briefed the media. In March 1994, someone leaked to the press that the Labour Party had called for a meeting with John Major to discuss a consensus on the Prevention of Terrorism Act. After an inquiry failed to find the source of the leak, Labour MP Peter Mandelson demanded assurance from Howard that Cameron had not been responsible, which Howard gave.Wintour, Patrick (10 March 1994). "Smith fumes at untraced leak". The Guardian (London).[https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199394/cmhansrd/1994-03-09/Debate-1.html "6th Series, vol. 239 col. 292"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171120031031/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199394/cmhansrd/1994-03-09/Debate-1.html |date=20 November 2017 }}, Hansard, 9 March 1994. Retrieved 4 September 2007. A senior Home Office civil servant noted the influence of Howard's Special Advisers, saying previous incumbents "would listen to the evidence before making a decision. Howard just talks to young public school gentlemen from the party headquarters."{{cite news |last=Cohen |first=Nick |title=Inside Story: Heading for trouble: Michael Howard's strategy on crime faces opposition from police, judges and the prison service |newspaper=The Independent on Sunday |date=20 February 1994 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/inside-story-heading-for-trouble-michael-howards-strategy-on-crime-faces-opposition-from-police-judges-and-the-prison-service-nick-cohen-reports-1395359.html |archive-date=1 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090901075528/http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/inside-story-heading-for-trouble-michael-howards-strategy-on-crime-faces-opposition-from-police-judges-and-the-prison-service-nick-cohen-reports-1395359.html|url-status=live|access-date=22 April 2010}}

In July 1994 Cameron left his role as Special Adviser to work as the Director of Corporate Affairs at Carlton Communications."Smallweed". The Guardian (London). 16 July 1994. Carlton, which had won the ITV franchise for London weekdays in 1991, was a growing media company which also had film-distribution and video-producing arms. Cameron was suggested for the role to Carlton executive chairman Michael P. Green by his later mother-in-law Lady Astor.{{cite news|last1=Robinson |first1=James|last2=Teather|first2=David|title=Cameron – the PR years|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/feb/20/david-cameron-the-pr-years|date=20 February 2010|archive-date=11 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511000719/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/feb/20/david-cameron-the-pr-years|url-status=live|access-date=4 November 2013}} He left Carlton in 1997 to run for Parliament, returning to his job after his defeat.

In 1997 Cameron played up the company's prospects for digital terrestrial television, for which it joined with ITV Granada and Sky to form British Digital Broadcasting. In a roundtable discussion on the future of broadcasting in 1998, he criticised the effect of overlapping different regulators on the industry."We can't wait any longer to map the digital mediascape". New Statesman (London). 3 April 1998. Carlton's consortium did win the digital terrestrial franchise, but the resulting company suffered difficulties in attracting subscribers. Cameron resigned as Director of Corporate Affairs in February 2001 to run for Parliament for a second time, although he remained on the payroll as a consultant.

File:Stafford town centre.jpg, the constituency Cameron contested at the 1997 general election]]

Having been approved for the PPCs' list, Cameron began looking for a seat to contest for the 1997 general election. He was reported to have missed out on selection for Ashford in December 1994, after failing to get to the selection meeting as a result of train delays."Pendennis". The Observer (London). 1 January 1995. In January 1996, when two shortlisted contenders dropped out, Cameron was interviewed and subsequently selected for Stafford, a constituency revised in boundary changes, which was projected to have a Conservative majority.{{sfn|Snowdon|2010|p=24}}{{cite news |author-link=Michael White (journalist) |last=White |first=Michael |title=Seat-seeking missiles |newspaper=The Guardian |date=9 March 1996}} The incumbent Conservative MP, Bill Cash, ran instead in the neighbouring constituency of Stone, where he was re-elected. At the 1996 Conservative Party Conference, Cameron called for tax cuts in the forthcoming Budget to be targeted at the low-paid and to "small businesses where people took money out of their own pockets to put into companies to keep them going".Sherman, Jill (11 October 1996). "Clarke challenged to show gains of economic recovery". The Times (London). He also said the Party "should be proud of the Tory tax record but that people needed reminding of its achievements ... It's time to return to our tax-cutting agenda. The socialist prime ministers of Europe have endorsed Tony Blair because they want a federal pussy cat and not a British lion."[https://archive.today/20120717210551/http://open.bbc.co.uk/catalogue/infax/programme/ANCC839F_E "Conservative Party Conference 1996"]. BBC Archive. 10 October 1996

When writing his election address, Cameron made his own opposition to British membership of the single European currency clear, pledging not to support it. This was a break with official Conservative policy, but about 200 other candidates were making similar declarations.Travis, Alan (17 April 1997). "Rebels' seven-year march". The Guardian (London). Otherwise, Cameron kept closely to the national party line. He also campaigned using the claim that a Labour government would increase the cost of a pint of beer by 24p; however, the Labour candidate, David Kidney, portrayed Cameron as "a right-wing Tory". Initially, Cameron thought he had a 50/50 chance, but as the campaign wore on and the scale of the impending Conservative defeat grew, Cameron prepared himself for defeat.{{sfn|Snowdon|2010|p=3}} On election day, Stafford had a swing of 10.7%, almost the same as the national swing, which made it one of the many seats to fall to Labour: Kidney defeated Cameron by 24,606 votes (47.5%) to 20,292 (39.2%), a majority of 4,314 (8.3%).Elliott and Hanning (2007), pp. 172–5.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/election97/constituencies/533.htm |title=Stafford 1997 election result |publisher=BBC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970429084317/http://www.bbc.co.uk/election97/constituencies/533.htm |archive-date=29 April 1997 |year=1997|access-date=4 September 2007}}

In the round of selection contests taking place in the run-up to the 2001 general election, Cameron again attempted to be selected for a winnable seat. He tried for the Kensington and Chelsea seat after the death of Alan Clark, but did not make the shortlist. He was in the final two but narrowly lost at Wealden in March 2000,White, Michael (14 March 2000). "Rightwingers and locals preferred for safe Tory seats". The Guardian (London). a loss ascribed by Samantha Cameron to his lack of spontaneity when speaking.Elliott and Hanning (2007), p. 193.

Cameron was selected as PPC for Witney in Oxfordshire in April 2000. This had been a safe Conservative seat, but its sitting MP Shaun Woodward (who had worked with Cameron on the 1992 election campaign) had "crossed the floor" to join the Labour Party, and was selected instead for the safe Labour seat of St Helens South. Cameron's biographers Francis Elliott and James Hanning describe the two men as being "on fairly friendly terms".Elliott and Hanning (2007), p. 192. Cameron, advised in his strategy by friend Catherine Fall, put a great deal of effort into "nursing" his potential constituency, turning up at social functions and attacking Woodward for changing his mind on fox hunting to support a ban."Why Shaun Woodward changed his mind" (Letter). The Daily Telegraph. 21 December 2000.

During the election campaign, Cameron accepted the offer of writing a regular column for The Guardian{{'}}s online section.[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/series/davidcamerondiaries "The Cameron diaries"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511000549/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/series/davidcamerondiaries |date=11 May 2017 }} (archive). The Guardian (London). He won the seat with a 1.9% swing to the Conservatives, taking 22,153 votes (45%) to Labour candidate Michael Bartlet's 14,180 (28.8%), a majority of 7,973 (16.2%).Dod's Guide to the General Election June 2001. (Vacher Dod Publishing, 2001). p. 430.{{cite news |work=BBC News |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2001/results_constituencies/constituencies/637.stm |title=Vote 2001: Results & Constituencies: Witney |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160603025819/http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2001/results_constituencies/constituencies/637.stm |archive-date=3 June 2016 |date=2001|url-status=live|access-date=4 June 2024}}

Upon his election to Parliament, Cameron served as a member of the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, a prominent appointment for a newly elected MP. He proposed that the Committee launch an inquiry into the law on drugs,Elliott, Francis; Hanning, James (2007). Cameron: The Rise of the New Conservative. London: Fourth Estate. p. 200. {{ISBN|978-0-00-724366-2}} and urged the consideration of "radical options".[https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmselect/cmhaff/318/1103008.htm "Examination of Witnesses: question 123"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230929225021/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmselect/cmhaff/318/1103008.htm |date=29 September 2023 }}, Hansard, 30 October 2001. Retrieved 4 September 2007. The report recommended a downgrading of ecstasy from Class A to Class B, as well as moves towards a policy of 'harm reduction', which Cameron defended."Let's inject reality into the drugs war", Edinburgh Evening News, 22 May 2002

Cameron endorsed Iain Duncan Smith in the 2001 Conservative Party leadership election and organised an event in Witney for party supporters to hear John Bercow speaking for him.{{Cite book |title=For the Record |last=Cameron |first=David |publisher=William Collins |year=2019 |isbn=978-0-008-23928-2 |page=57}} Two days before Duncan Smith won the leadership contest on 13 September 2001, the 9/11 attacks occurred. Cameron described Tony Blair's response to the attacks as "masterful", saying: "He moved fast, and set the agenda both at home and abroad. He correctly identified the problem of Islamist extremism, the inadequacy of our response both domestically and internationally, and supported—quite rightly in my view—the action to remove the Taliban regime from Afghanistan."{{Cite book |title=For the Record |last=Cameron |first=David |publisher=William Collins |year=2019 |isbn=978-0-008-23928-2 |page=58}}

Cameron determinedly attempted to increase his public visibility, offering quotations on matters of public controversy. He opposed the payment of compensation to Gurbux Singh, who had resigned as head of the Commission for Racial Equality after a confrontation with the police;Johnston, Philip; Barrow, Becky (8 August 2002). "£129,000 for race chief in drunken fracas". The Daily Telegraph (London). and commented that the Home Affairs Select Committee had taken a long time to discuss whether the phrase "black market" should be used."They said what?". The Observer (London). 30 June 2002. Cameron was passed over for a front-bench promotion in July 2002. Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith did invite Cameron and his ally George Osborne to coach him on Prime Minister's Questions in November 2002. The next week, Cameron deliberately abstained in a vote on allowing same-sex and unmarried couples to adopt children jointly, against a whip to oppose; his abstention was noted."Rebels and non-voters". The Times (London). 6 November 2002. The wide scale of abstentions and rebellious votes destabilised the Duncan Smith leadership.

In June 2003 Cameron was appointed a shadow minister in the Privy Council Office as a deputy to Eric Forth, then shadow leader of the House. He also became a vice-chairman of the Conservative Party when Michael Howard took over the leadership in November of that year. He was appointed Opposition frontbench local government spokesman in 2004, before being promoted to the Shadow Cabinet that June as head of policy co-ordination. Later, he became Shadow Education Secretary in the post-election reshuffle.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4651553.stm "Contender: David Cameron"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061127105455/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4651553.stm |date=27 November 2006 }}. BBC News. 29 September 2005. Retrieved 6 November 2006.{{Cite web|title=The Rt Hon Lord Cameron|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/david-cameron|website=gov.uk|access-date=10 October 2024}}

Daniel Finkelstein has said of the period leading up to Cameron's election as leader of the Conservative party that "a small group of us (myself, David Cameron, George Osborne, Michael Gove, Nick Boles, Nick Herbert I think, once or twice) used to meet up in the offices of Policy Exchange, eat pizza, and consider the future of the Conservative Party".{{cite news |last=Finkelstein |first=Daniel |url=http://timesonline.typepad.com/comment/2010/02/the-departure-of-james-purnell-is-a-disaster-for-the-centre-left-because-he-really-matterd--before-the-2005-general-electio.html |title=Why Purnell mattered |work=Comment Central (The Times blog) |date=19 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326042015/http://timesonline.typepad.com/comment/2010/02/the-departure-of-james-purnell-is-a-disaster-for-the-centre-left-because-he-really-matterd--before-the-2005-general-electio.html |archive-date=26 March 2010|access-date=13 April 2010}} Cameron's relationship with Osborne is regarded as particularly close; Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi suggested the closeness of Osborne's relationship with Cameron meant the two effectively shared power during Cameron's time as prime minister.{{cite news |last=Parker |first=George |title=The reinvention of George Osborne |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/d1d65690-c2ae-11e4-a59c-00144feab7de.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210221243/https://www.ft.com/content/d1d65690-c2ae-11e4-a59c-00144feab7de |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription|url-status=live |work=Financial Times|date=6 March 2015|access-date=28 March 2015}} From February 2002 to August 2005, he was a non-executive director of Urbium PLC, operator of the Tiger Tiger bar chain.{{Cite news |last1=Branigan |first1=Tania |last2=White |first2=Michael |date=18 November 2005 |title=Cameron defends drinks industry links – and tells Paxman where he's going wrong |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/nov/18/uk.media|work=The Guardian|issn=0261-3077|access-date=8 June 2024}}

{{further|2005 Conservative Party leadership election}}

File:CameronNewcastle.jpg at Newcastle upon Tyne on the Gateshead Millennium Bridge|upright=0.75]]Following the Labour victory in the May 2005 general election, Michael Howard announced his resignation as leader of the Conservative Party and set a lengthy timetable for the leadership election. Cameron announced on 29 September 2005 that he would be a candidate. Parliamentary colleagues supporting him included Boris Johnson, shadow chancellor George Osborne, shadow defence secretary and deputy leader of the party Michael Ancram, Oliver Letwin{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4304664.stm |title=Tory leadership: Who backed who? |website=BBC News |date=17 October 2005|archive-date=15 December 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051215075053/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4304664.stm|url-status=live|access-date=25 November 2006}} and former party leader William Hague.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4432120.stm |title=Hague backs Cameron as new leader |website=BBC News|date=12 November 2005|archive-date=9 December 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051209011746/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4432120.stm |url-status=live|access-date=25 November 2006}} His campaign did not gain wide support until his speech, delivered without notes, at the 2005 Conservative party conference. In the speech, he vowed to make people "feel good about being Conservatives again" and said he wanted "to switch on a whole new generation".{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4306540.stm|title=Cameron targets 'new generation{{'"}}|website=BBC News|date=4 October 2005|archive-date=21 December 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061221234402/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4306540.stm|url-status=live|access-date=6 November 2006}} His speech was well-received; The Daily Telegraph said speaking without notes "showed a sureness and a confidence that is greatly to his credit".{{cite news |title=David Cameron stakes his claim |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=5 October 2005}}

In the first ballot of Conservative MPs on 18 October 2005, Cameron came second, with 56 votes, slightly more than expected; David Davis had fewer than predicted at 62 votes; Liam Fox came third with 42 votes; and Kenneth Clarke was eliminated with 38 votes. In the second ballot on 20 October 2005, Cameron came first with 90 votes; David Davis was second, with 57; and Liam Fox was eliminated with 51 votes.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4360662.stm |title=Cameron and Davis top Tory poll |website=BBC News |date=20 October 2005|archive-date=15 December 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061215183539/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4360662.stm |url-status=live|access-date=6 November 2006}} All 198 Conservative MPs voted in both ballots.

The next stage of the election process, between Davis and Cameron, was a vote open to the entire party membership. Cameron was elected with more than twice as many votes as Davis and more than half of all ballots issued; Cameron won 134,446 votes on a 78% turnout, to Davis's 64,398.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4502652.stm |title=Cameron chosen as new Tory leader |website=BBC News |date=6 December 2005|archive-date=2 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302224203/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4502652.stm|url-status=live|access-date=25 November 2006}} Although Davis had initially been the favourite, it was widely acknowledged that his candidacy was marred by a disappointing conference speech.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/1504895/Old-challenger-loses-out-to-young-pretender.html |title=Old challenger loses out to young pretender |first1=George |last1=Jones |first2=Brendan |last2=Carlin |date=7 December 2005 |access-date=8 May 2019 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |archive-date=8 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508094213/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/1504895/Old-challenger-loses-out-to-young-pretender.html |url-status=live }} Cameron's election as the leader of the Conservative Party and leader of the opposition was announced on 6 December 2005. As is customary for an opposition leader not already a member, upon election Cameron became a member of the Privy Council, being formally approved to join on 14 December 2005, and sworn of the council on 8 March 2006.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080109024206/http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page8762.asp |title=Privy Council Appointment of David Cameron MP |publisher=10 Downing Street |date=14 December 2005 |archive-date=9 January 2008 |url=http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page8762.asp}}

File:David Cameron interview and photo shoot at Oxfam HQ, Oxford, 29 June, 2006.jpg in 2006]]

Cameron's relative youth, moderate image, and inexperience before becoming leader invited satirical comparison with Tony Blair. Private Eye soon published a picture of both leaders on its front cover, with the caption "World's first face transplant a success".Roshan Lall, Rashmee (16 December 2005).[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1334944.cms "Britain pins its hopes on David"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915100735/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1334944.cms |date=15 September 2018 }}. The Times of India (Mumbai). Retrieved 20 September 2007. On the left, the New Statesman unfavourably likened his "new style of politics" to Tony Blair's early leadership years.{{cite news |last=Cohen |first=Nick |date=8 August 2005 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111124205319/http://www.newstatesman.com/200508080017 |title=The birth of Blameron |work=New Statesman |archive-date=24 November 2011 |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/200508080017}} Cameron was accused of paying excessive attention to appearance: ITV News broadcast footage from the 2006 Conservative Party Conference in Bournemouth showing him wearing four different sets of clothes within a few hours.{{cite news |year=2006 |title=ITV News |publisher=ITN}}{{full citation needed|date=July 2015}} In his column for The Guardian, comedy writer and broadcaster Charlie Brooker described the Conservative leader as "a hollow Easter egg with no bag of sweets inside" in April 2007.Brooker, Charlie (2 April 2007). [https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2007/apr/02/comment.conservatives "David Cameron is like a hollow Easter egg, with no bag of sweets inside. He's nothing. He's no one"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230618130637/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2007/apr/02/comment.conservatives |date=18 June 2023 }}. The Guardian (London). Retrieved 4 September 2007.

On the right of the party, Norman Tebbit, a former Conservative chairman, likened Cameron to Pol Pot, "intent on purging even the memory of Thatcherism before building a New Modern Compassionate Green Globally Aware Party".The Economist (London). 4 February 2006, p. 32. Quentin Davies, who defected from the Conservatives to Labour on 26 June 2007, branded him "superficial, unreliable and [with] an apparent lack of any clear convictions" and stated that Cameron had turned the Conservative Party's mission into a "PR agenda".{{cite news |title=Conservative MP defects to Labour |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6241928.stm |work=BBC News |date=27 June 2007|archive-date=30 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630220724/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6241928.stm |url-status=live|access-date=24 August 2007}} Traditionalist conservative columnist and author Peter Hitchens wrote: "Mr Cameron has abandoned the last significant difference between his party and the established left", by embracing social liberalism.Hitchens, Peter (14 December 2005). [https://www.theguardian.com/comment/story/0,,1666602,00.html "The Tories are doomed"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113141352/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/dec/14/conservatives.uk1 |date=13 November 2023 }}. The Guardian (London). p. 28. Retrieved 6 November 2006. The Daily Telegraph correspondent and blogger Gerald Warner was particularly scathing about Cameron's leadership, saying that it alienated traditionalist conservative elements from the Conservative Party.[http://blogs/telegraph.co.uk/author/geraldwarner Blogs – Gerald Warner]{{dead link |date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}. The Daily Telegraph.

Before he became Conservative leader, Cameron was reportedly known to friends and family as "Dave", though his preference is "David" in public.Rumbelow, Helen (21 May 2005).[https://web.archive.org/web/20110814113529/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article524770.ece "The gilded youth whose son steeled him in adversity"]. The Times (London). Retrieved 4 September 2007. {{subscription required}}Daniel Finkelstein in October 2006 objected to those attempting to belittle Cameron by calling him "Dave". See {{cite news |last=Finkelstein |first=Daniel |date=5 October 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424095541/http://timesonline.typepad.com/comment/2006/10/the_dave_test.html |title=The Dave Test |work=The Times Comment Central (blog) |archive-date=24 April 2011 |url=http://timesonline.typepad.com/comment/2006/10/the_dave_test.html}} Labour used the slogan Dave the Chameleon in their 2006 local elections party broadcast to portray Cameron as an ever-changing populist, which was criticised as negative campaigning by the Conservative press, including The Daily Telegraph,{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=George |last2=Wilson |first2=Graeme |last3=Burleigh |first3=James |title=Blair resorts to cartoon jibes at Dave the chameleon |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1516079/Blair-resorts-to-cartoon-jibes-at-Dave-the-chameleon.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1516079/Blair-resorts-to-cartoon-jibes-at-Dave-the-chameleon.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=19 April 2006|access-date=27 February 2016}}{{cbignore}} though Cameron asserted the broadcast had become his daughter's "favourite video".Rifkind, Hugo (17 May 2006). [https://web.archive.org/web/20060519185114/http://timesonline.typepad.com/ "Well, that worked"]. The Times "People" blog. Retrieved 9 November 2006.

During the leadership election, allegations were made that Cameron had used cannabis and cocaine recreationally before becoming an MP.{{cite news |author-link=Nicholas Lezard |last=Lezard |first=Nicholas |url=https://www.theguardian.com/drugs/Story/0,2763,1638897,00.html |title=What cocaine says about you |newspaper=The Guardian |date=10 November 2005|page=12 |archive-date=13 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113141518/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/nov/10/toryleadership2005.drugsandalcohol |url-status=live|access-date=6 November 2006}} Pressed on this point during the BBC television programme Question Time, Cameron expressed the view that everybody was allowed to "err and stray" in their past.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4340328.stm |title=Cameron pressed on drugs question |work=BBC News |date=14 October 2005 |archive-date=11 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011102513/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4340328.stm |url-status=live|access-date=13 September 2016}} During his 2005 Conservative leadership campaign, he addressed the question of drug consumption by remarking: "I did lots of things before I came into politics which I shouldn't have done. We all did."

{{further|Shadow Cabinet of David Cameron}}

File:DavidCameronHomeOffice.jpg

His Shadow Cabinet appointments included MPs associated with the various wings of the party. Former leader William Hague was appointed to the foreign affairs brief, while both George Osborne and David Davis were retained, as shadow chancellor of the Exchequer and Shadow Home Secretary, respectively. Hague, assisted by Davis, stood in for Cameron during his paternity leave in February 2006.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/feb/14/conservatives.davidcameron|title=Cameron is father for third time|last=Tempest|first=Matthew|date=14 February 2006|work=The Guardian|access-date=20 July 2018 |archive-date=21 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721015724/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/feb/14/conservatives.davidcameron |url-status=live }} In June 2008 Davis announced his intention to resign as an MP, and was immediately replaced as shadow home secretary by Dominic Grieve; Davis' surprise move was seen as a challenge to the changes introduced under Cameron's leadership.{{cite news|last=Porter|first=Andrew|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/conservative/2116367/David-Davis-to-resign-from-shadow-cabinet-and-as-MP.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080615044657/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/conservative/2116367/David-Davis-to-resign-from-shadow-cabinet-and-as-MP.html|archive-date= 15 June 2008|title=David Davis to resign from shadow cabinet and as MP|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=12 June 2008|access-date= 1 November 2009}}

File:David Cameron's visit2.jpg, who was a member of the Shadow Cabinet from 1999 until 2010]]

A reshuffle of the Shadow Cabinet was undertaken in January 2009, with the chief change being the appointment of former Chancellor of the Exchequer Kenneth Clarke as Shadow Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Secretary. Cameron stated that "With Ken Clarke's arrival, we now have the best economic team." The reshuffle also saw eight other changes made.{{cite web|title=The strongest possible Shadow Cabinet|url=http://www.conservatives.com/News/News_stories/2009/01/The_strongest_possible_Shadow_Cabinet.aspx|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090430114321/http://www.conservatives.com/news/news_stories/2009/01/the_strongest_possible_shadow_cabinet.aspx|archive-date= 30 April 2009|date=19 January 2009|website=conservatives.com|access-date= 20 July 2024}}

During his successful 2005 campaign to be elected leader of the Conservative Party, Cameron pledged that the Conservative Party's members of the European Parliament would leave the European People's Party group, which had a "federalist" approach to the European Union.White, Michael; Branigan, Tania (18 October 2005). [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/oct/18/uk.conservatives1?INTCMP=SRCH "Clarke battles to avoid Tory wooden spoon".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302224159/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/oct/18/uk.conservatives1?INTCMP=SRCH |date=2 March 2023 }} The Guardian (London). p. 1. Once elected, Cameron began discussions with right-wing and Eurosceptic parties in other European countries, mainly in eastern Europe; in July 2006, he concluded an agreement to form the Movement for European Reform with the Czech Civic Democratic Party, leading to the formation of a new European Parliament group, the European Conservatives and Reformists, in 2009 after the European Parliament elections.Watt, Nicholas (13 July 2006). [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/jul/13/uk.eu?INTCMP=SRCH "Cameron to postpone creation of new EU group".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302224206/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/jul/13/uk.eu?INTCMP=SRCH |date=2 March 2023 }} The Guardian (London). p. 14.

Cameron attended a gathering at Warsaw's Palladium cinema celebrating the foundation of the alliance.Medek, Jakub (1 June 2009).[http://wyborcza.pl/1,76842,6671792,Kaczynski__Europe_Is_Anti_Catholic.html "Kaczyński: Europe Is Anti-Catholic"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801185429/https://wyborcza.pl/1,76842,6671792,Kaczynski__Europe_Is_Anti_Catholic.html |date=1 August 2020 }}. Gazeta Wyborcza (Warsaw). Retrieved 27 October 2009.

In forming the caucus, which had 54 MEPs drawn from eight of the 27 EU member states, Cameron reportedly broke with two decades of Conservative co-operation with the centre-right Christian Democrats, the European People's Party (EPP),{{cite news |last=Traynor |first=Ian |title=Anti-gay, climate change deniers: meet David Cameron's new friends |work=The Guardian |date=2 June 2009 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/jun/02/david-cameron-alliance-polish-nationalists|archive-date=6 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906181732/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/jun/02/david-cameron-alliance-polish-nationalists |url-status=live|access-date=2 June 2009}} on the grounds that they are dominated by European federalists and supporters of the Lisbon treaty. EPP leader Wilfried Martens, former prime minister of Belgium, stated: "Cameron's campaign has been to take his party back to the centre in every policy area with one major exception: Europe. ... I can't understand his tactics. Merkel and Sarkozy will never accept his Euroscepticism."

Similarly, Cameron's initial "A-List" of prospective parliamentary candidates was attacked by members of his party,{{cite news |title=Don't ditch Tory values, MP warns |work=BBC News |date=13 October 2006 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bradford/6046668.stm|archive-date=29 November 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061129111623/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bradford/6046668.stm|url-status=live|access-date=15 February 2010}} and the policy was discontinued in favour of gender-balanced final shortlists. Before being discontinued, the policy had been criticised by senior Conservative MP and former Prisons Spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe as an "insult to women", and she had accused Cameron of "storing up huge problems for the future".{{cite news |last=McSmith |first=Andy |date=22 August 2006 |title=Cameron push for more female MPs 'an insult to women |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/cameron-push-for-more-female-mps-an-insult-to-women-412870.html |archive-date=8 September 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240908064102/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/cameron-push-for-more-female-mps-an-insult-to-women-412870.html}}

In April 2009 The Independent reported that in 1989, while Nelson Mandela remained imprisoned under the apartheid regime, Cameron had accepted a trip to South Africa paid for by an anti-sanctions lobby firm. A spokesperson for him responded by saying that the Conservative Party was at that time opposed to sanctions against South Africa and that his trip was a fact-finding mission. However, the newspaper reported that Cameron's then superior at Conservative Research Department called the trip "jolly", saying that "it was all terribly relaxed, just a little treat, a perk of the job. The Botha regime was attempting to make itself look less horrible, but I don't regard it as having been of the faintest political consequence." Cameron distanced himself from his party's history of opposing sanctions against the regime. He was criticised by Labour MP Peter Hain, himself an anti-apartheid campaigner.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/revealed-camerons-freebie-to-apartheid-south-africa-1674367.html |title=Cameron's freebie to apartheid South Africa |date=26 April 2009 |last1=Merrick|first1=Jane|last2=Hanning|first2=James |work=The Independent|archive-date=13 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100213100816/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/revealed-camerons-freebie-to-apartheid-south-africa-1674367.html|url-status=live|access-date=13 November 2023}}

At the launch of the Conservative Party's education manifesto in January 2010, Cameron declared an admiration for the "brazenly elite" approach to education of countries such as Singapore and South Korea, and expressed a desire to "elevate the status of teaching in our country".{{Cite news |last=Kirkup |first=James |title=David Cameron pledges 'brazen elitism' in teaching |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=7 February 2010 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/david-cameron/7014885/David-Cameron-pledges-brazen-elitism-in-teaching.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100121015532/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/david-cameron/7014885/David-Cameron-pledges-brazen-elitism-in-teaching.html |archive-date= 21 January 2010 |access-date =15 February 2010}} He suggested the adoption of more stringent criteria for entry to teaching, and offered repayment of the loans of maths and science graduates obtaining first or 2.1 degrees from "good" universities.{{Cite news|title='Only for elite' fear over Tory teaching deal |newspaper=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/only-for-elite-fear-over-tory-student-loans-deal-1871847.html|last=Garner |first=Richard |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130420143843/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/only-for-elite-fear-over-tory-student-loans-deal-1871847.html |url-status=live|archive-date=20 April 2013|date=18 January 2010|access-date=15 February 2010}}

Wes Streeting, then president of the National Union of Students, said: "The message that the Conservatives are sending to the majority of students is that if you didn't go to a university attended by members of the Shadow Cabinet, they don't believe you're worth as much."{{cite press release |url=http://www.nus.org.uk/cy/news/nus-comments-on-david-camerons-proposals-to-create-good-university-shortlist/ |archive-date=7 June 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140607005658/http://www.nus.org.uk/cy/news/nus-comments-on-david-camerons-proposals-to-create-good-university-shortlist/ |publisher=National Union of Students |date=19 January 2010|title=NUS comments on David Cameron's proposals to create 'Good University' shortlist }}

During the parliamentary expenses scandal in 2009, Cameron said he would lead Conservatives in repaying "excessive" expenses and threatened to expel MPs that refused, after the expense claims of several members of his shadow cabinet had been questioned:

We have to acknowledge just how bad this is, the public are really angry and we have to start by saying, "Look, this system that we have, that we used, that we operated, that we took part in—it was wrong and we are sorry about that".{{cite news|title='Appalled' Cameron leads payback|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8044998.stm|work=BBC News|date=12 May 2009|archive-date=17 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090517093452/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8044998.stm|url-status=live|access-date=3 May 2015}}

A day later The Daily Telegraph published figures showing over five years he had claimed £82,450 on his second home allowance.The Guardian (London) 2009 [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/dec/10/david-cameron-mps-expenses David Cameron claimed over £1,000 a month on second home] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418195210/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/dec/10/david-cameron-mps-expenses|date=18 April 2023}} Cameron repaid £680 claimed for repairs to his constituency home.{{cite news |title=David Cameron's expenses |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/shadow-cabinet-expenses/5633166/David-Camerons-expenses.html|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/shadow-cabinet-expenses/5633166/David-Camerons-expenses.html|archive-date=10 January 2022|url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=The Daily Telegraph|date=26 June 2009|access-date=3 May 2015}}{{cbignore}} Although he was not accused of breaking any rules, Cameron was placed on the defensive over mortgage interest expense claims covering his constituency home, after a report in The Mail on Sunday suggested he could have reduced the mortgage interest bill by putting an additional £75,000 of his own money towards purchasing the home in Witney, instead of paying off an earlier mortgage on his London home.{{cite news|title=Cameron backs MP 'sacking' powers|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8075846.stm|work=BBC News|date=31 May 2009|archive-date=6 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090606154150/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8075846.stm|url-status=live|access-date=3 May 2015}} Cameron said that doing things differently would not have saved the taxpayer any money, as he was paying more on mortgage interest than he was able to reclaim as expenses anyway. He also spoke out in favour of laws giving voters the power to "recall" or "sack" MPs accused of wrongdoing. In April 2014 he was criticised for his handling of the expenses row surrounding Culture Secretary Maria Miller, when he rejected calls from fellow Conservative MPs to sack her from the front bench.[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/conservative-mps-expenses/10751516/David-Camerons-handling-of-Maria-Miller-scandal-losing-party-votes.html "David Cameron's handling of Maria Miller scandal losing party votes"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302224207/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/conservative-mps-expenses/10751516/David-Camerons-handling-of-Maria-Miller-scandal-losing-party-votes.html|date=2 March 2023}}. The Daily Telegraph. 8 April 2014.

{{further|2010 United Kingdom general election}}File:Clegg Victory for the Gurkhas.jpg, who later became deputy prime minister, and Lib Dem spokesman Chris Huhne ]]

The Conservatives had last won a general election in 1992. The 2010 general election resulted in the Conservatives, led by Cameron, winning the largest number of seats (306). This was, however, 20 seats short of an overall majority, and resulted in the nation's first hung parliament since February 1974.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results|title=BBC News – Election 2010 – Results – United Kingdom – National Results|work=BBC News|archive-date=14 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414102452/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/|url-status=live|access-date=13 November 2023}}

{{further|2010 United Kingdom government formation}}

Talks between Cameron and then Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg led to an agreed Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition. In late 2009 Cameron had urged the Liberal Democrats to join the Conservatives in a new "national movement", saying there was "barely a cigarette paper" between them on a large number of issues. The invitation was rejected at the time by Clegg who said that the Conservatives were totally different from his party, and that the Lib Dems were the true "progressives" in UK politics.{{cite news|last=Wheeler|first=Brian|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8264994.stm|title=Clegg rejects Tory alliance call|work=BBC News|date=20 September 2009|archive-date=24 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090924234807/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8264994.stm|url-status=live|access-date=13 April 2010}}

{{further|Premiership of David Cameron|Cameron–Clegg coalition|Second Cameron ministry}}

File:Prime Minister David Cameron - official photograph (8947770804).jpg

Elizabeth II, following Gordon Brown's resignation as prime minister on 11 May 2010, extended an invitation to Cameron to establish a new administration based on Brown's recommendation.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8675265.stm |title=David Cameron is UK's new prime minister |date=11 May 2010 |work=BBC News|archive-date=13 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100513181000/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8675265.stm |url-status=live|access-date=11 May 2010}} At age 43, Cameron became the youngest prime minister since Lord Liverpool in 1812, beating the record previously set by Tony Blair in May 1997.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/david-cameron/7712545/David-Cameron-becomes-youngest-Prime-Minister-in-almost-200-years.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100513031801/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/david-cameron/7712545/David-Cameron-becomes-youngest-Prime-Minister-in-almost-200-years.html |archive-date= 13 May 2010 |title=David Cameron becomes youngest Prime Minister in almost 200 years |date=11 May 2010 |work=The Daily Telegraph |first=Andrew |last=Hough|access-date=11 May 2010}} In his first address outside 10 Downing Street, he announced his intention to form a coalition government, the first since the Second World War, with the Liberal Democrats.{{Cite speech |date=12 May 2010 |title=David Cameron's speech outside 10 Downing Street as Prime Minister |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/david-camerons-speech-outside-10-downing-street-as-prime-minister |website=Gov.uk|access-date=14 July 2024|archive-date=8 September 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240908113317/https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/david-camerons-speech-outside-10-downing-street-as-prime-minister}}

{{Blockquote|text=Nick Clegg and I are both political leaders that want to put aside party differences and work hard for the common good and for the national interest. I believe that is the best way to get the strong government that we need, decisive government that we need today. This is going to be hard and difficult work. A coalition will throw up all sorts of challenges. But I believe together we can provide that strong and stable government that our country needs based on those values – rebuilding family, rebuilding community, above all, rebuilding responsibility in our country.|author=David Cameron during his first speech as prime minister, 12 May 2010}}

Cameron outlined how he intended to "put aside party differences and work hard for the common good and for the national interest". As one of his first moves Cameron appointed Nick Clegg, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, as deputy prime minister on 11 May 2010. Between them, the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats controlled 363 seats in the House of Commons, giving them a comfortable majority of 76 seats.{{cite news |last=Lyall |first=Sarah |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/13/world/europe/13britain.html |title=Britain's Improbable New Leaders Promise Big Changes |newspaper=The New York Times |date=12 May 2010|archive-date=16 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516174657/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/13/world/europe/13britain.html |url-status=live|access-date=13 November 2023}}File:Prime Minister, David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg. (4751661312).jpgIn June 2010, Cameron described the economic situation as he came to power as "even worse than we thought" and warned of "difficult decisions" to be made over spending cuts.{{cite news |last=Lyall |first=Sarah |title=Cameron Warns Britons of Austerity |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/08/world/europe/08britain.html |work=The New York Times|date=7 June 2010 |archive-date=25 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325104426/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/08/world/europe/08britain.html |url-status=live|access-date=12 October 2015}} By the beginning of 2015, he was able to claim that his government's austerity programme had succeeded in halving the budget deficit, although as a percentage of GDP rather than in cash terms.{{cite web|title=Factcheck: Has the budget deficit been halved?|url=https://fullfact.org/economy/factcheck-has-budget-deficit-been-halved/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240908111307/https://fullfact.org/economy/factcheck-has-budget-deficit-been-halved/ |archive-date=8 September 2024 |url-status=live |work=Full Fact |date=16 December 2014|first=Sam|last=Ashworth-Hayes|access-date=8 September 2024}}

In December 2010, Cameron attended a meeting with FIFA vice-president Chung Mong-joon, in which a vote-trading deal for the right to host the 2018 World Cup in England was discussed.{{cite news|title=Prince William and David Cameron caught up in Fifa corruption scandal |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/27/prince-william-david-cameron-caught-fifa-corruption-scandal/|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/27/prince-william-david-cameron-caught-fifa-corruption-scandal/|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|work=The Daily Telegraph|archive-date=10 January 2022|date=27 June 2017|access-date=17 November 2024}}{{cbignore}}"[https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/video-news/video-david-cameron-and-prince-william-implicated-in-fifa-corruption-probe-35874189.html Video: David Cameron and Prince William implicated in FIFA corruption probe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190914104818/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/video-news/video-david-cameron-and-prince-william-implicated-in-fifa-corruption-probe-35874189.html |date=14 September 2019}}". Belfast Telegraph. 28 June 2017.

Cameron agreed to holding the 2014 Scottish independence referendum and eliminated the "devomax" option from the ballot for a straight out yes or no vote. His support for the successful Better Together campaign extended to making a successful request to the Queen to intervene.{{cite news |last=Carrell |first=Severin |title=Sturgeon signals Queen should stay out of future Scotland vote |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/19/nicola-sturgeon-signals-queen-should-stay-out-future-scotland-vote |work=The Guardian |date=19 September 2019|archive-date=2 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302224153/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/19/nicola-sturgeon-signals-queen-should-stay-out-future-scotland-vote |url-status=live|access-date=13 November 2023}} He had also backed a successful campaign to retain the status quo in a referendum on changing the voting system, held at the request of his coalition partners. The 2016 referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union meant that his tenure as British prime minister saw an unprecedented three referendums on the UK's constitutional future.File:David_Cameron_Dispatch_Box.jpg in 2012|alt=Cameron at Prime Minister's Questions in 2012]]Cameron supported the introduction of gay marriage, despite more of his own Conservative MPs voting against the move than for it, meaning the support of Lib Dem MPs in government and Labour MPs in opposition was required to allow it to pass.{{cite news |url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/02/05/more-conservative-mps-voted-against-same-sex-marriage-than-for-it/|title=More Conservative MPs voted against same-sex marriage than for it|work=Pink News|date=5 February 2013|archive-date=27 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427145120/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/02/05/more-conservative-mps-voted-against-same-sex-marriage-than-for-it/ |url-status=live|access-date=13 November 2023}} Earlier in his term, he had managed to secure a huge majority for UK participation in UN-backed military action in Libya,{{cite news|title=MPs back United Nations action against Col Gaddafi |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12799937|work=BBC News|date=22 March 2011|archive-date=20 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420143534/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12799937|url-status=live|access-date=5 March 2016}} but Cameron became the first prime minister since 1782 to lose a foreign policy vote in the House of Commons over proposed military action against Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria.{{cite news|last=Wheeler|first=Brian|title=The David Cameron story|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-32592449|work=BBC News|date=9 May 2015|archive-date=20 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320072809/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-32592449 |url-status=live|access-date=5 March 2016}}{{cite news|first1=Nicholas|last1=Watt|first2=Nick|last2=Hopkins|title=Cameron forced to rule out British attack on Syria after MPs reject motion |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/29/cameron-british-attack-syria-mps|work=The Guardian|date=29 August 2013|archive-date=7 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231007205244/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/29/cameron-british-attack-syria-mps |url-status=live|access-date=13 November 2023}} Subsequently, Barack Obama asked congressional approval,{{cite news|title=Text of President Obama's Remarks on Syria |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/01/world/middleeast/text-of-president-obamas-remarks-on-syria.html |newspaper=The New York Times|archive-date=14 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214174554/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/01/world/middleeast/text-of-president-obamas-remarks-on-syria.html?ref=middleeast&_r=0|url-status=live|date=31 August 2013|access-date=13 November 2023}} which was not ultimately granted.

{{see also|United Kingdom government austerity programme}}

File:Uk incomes.png

In response to the Great Recession, Cameron undertook the austerity programme. This was a deficit reduction programme consisting of sustained reductions in public spending, intended to reduce the government budget deficit and the welfare state in the United Kingdom. The National Health Service{{cite web |title=NHS funding protected? |url=http://www.nhscampaign.org/NHS-reforms/no-cuts-to-nhs-budget.html |publisher=NHS Support Federation|archive-date=7 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307223503/http://www.nhscampaign.org/NHS-reforms/no-cuts-to-nhs-budget.html|access-date=19 May 2017}} and education{{cite news |title=School spending stays protected from budget cuts |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-23063018 |work=BBC News |date=26 June 2013|archive-date=15 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915170214/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-23063018 |url-status=live|access-date=13 November 2023}} were "ringfenced" and protected from direct spending cuts.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22363650 |title=Should NHS budget be ring-fenced? |work=BBC News |date=1 May 2013|archive-date=22 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130722212425/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22363650 |url-status=live|access-date=3 September 2016}} Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne claimed they aimed to eliminate the structural deficit (i.e. deficit on current spending as opposed to investment), and to have government debt falling as a percentage of GDP.{{cite web |title=Austerity in Northern Ireland. Where are we and where are we going? |url=https://www.nerinstitute.net/blog/2015/05/06/austerity-in-northern-ireland-where-are-we-and-whe/ |publisher=Nevin Economic Research Institute |first=Paul |last=Mac Flynn |date=6 May 2015|archive-date=9 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009213435/https://www.nerinstitute.net/blog/2015/05/06/austerity-in-northern-ireland-where-are-we-and-whe/ |url-status=live|access-date=13 November 2023}} By 2015 the deficit as a percentage of GDP had reduced to half what it was in 2010.

Cameron said immigration from outside the EU should be subject to annual limits. He said in July 2013 that "in the last decade we have had an immigration policy that's completely lax. The pressure it puts on our public services and communities is too great."{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10197738/David-Cameron-Immigration-is-constant-drain-on-public-services.html|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10197738/David-Cameron-Immigration-is-constant-drain-on-public-services.html|archive-date=10 January 2022|url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=David Cameron: 'Immigration is constant drain on public services'|date=23 July 2013|work=The Daily Telegraph|first=Steven|last=Swinford}}{{cbignore}} In 2015 The Independent reported: "The Conservatives have failed spectacularly to deliver their pledge to reduce net migration to less than 100,000 a year. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) announced a net flow of 298,000 migrants to the UK in the 12 months to September 2014—up from 210,000 in the previous year."{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/generalelection/tory-immigration-pledge-failed-spectacularly-as-figures-show-net-migration-nearly-three-times-as-high-as-david-cameron-promised-10071710.html|title=David Cameron immigration pledge 'failed spectacularly' as figures show net migration almost three times as high as Tories promised|date=26 February 2015|work=The Independent|first=Andrew|last=Grice|archive-date=7 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707150837/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/generalelection/tory-immigration-pledge-failed-spectacularly-as-figures-show-net-migration-nearly-three-times-as-high-as-david-cameron-promised-10071710.html|url-status=live|access-date=20 July 2015}}

{{further|List of international prime ministerial trips made by David Cameron}}

File:UK Prime Minister Visits Troops in Helmand 141003-M-MF313-130.jpg, October 2014|alt=Cameron visiting British troops in Afghanistan in October 2014]]

In 2014 Cameron dismissed warnings that his cuts to the UK defence budget had left it less than a "first class-player in terms of defence" and no longer a "full partner" to the United States.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25763902 |title=David Cameron dismisses Robert Gates' defence cuts warning |last=Beale |first=Jonathan |date=16 January 2014 |work=BBC News|archive-date=16 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116170715/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25763902 |url-status=live|access-date=16 January 2014}}

In the July 2015 budget, Chancellor George Osborne announced that the UK defence spending would meet the NATO target of 2% of GDP.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2015/jul/08/uk-defence-spending-to-be-kept-at-2-of-gdp |title=UK defence spending to be kept at 2% of GDP |date=8 July 2015 |work=The Guardian|archive-date=14 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150814043649/http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2015/jul/08/uk-defence-spending-to-be-kept-at-2-of-gdp |url-status=live|access-date=15 August 2015}}

{{further|Operation Ellamy}}

File:NATO Secretary General (5570935879).jpg speaking to NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (left) at the London Conference on Libya, March 2011|alt=Cameron with William Hague speaking to Anders Fogh Rasmussen at the London Conference on Libya in March 2011]]

Cameron condemned the violence used against anti-Gaddafi protesters at the beginning of the Libyan Civil War{{cite news |title=Libya unrest: David Cameron condemns violence |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12524470|work=BBC News|date=21 February 2011 |archive-date=1 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501132155/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12524470 |url-status=live|access-date=15 February 2013}} After weeks of lobbying by the UK and its allies, on 17 March 2011, the United Nations Security Council approved a no-fly zone to prevent government forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi from carrying out air attacks on anti-Gaddafi rebels.{{cite news |last=Judd |first=Terri |title=Operation Ellamy: Designed to strike from air and sea |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/operation-ellamy-designed-to-strike-from-air-and-sea-2246411.html|newspaper=The Independent |date=19 March 2011 |archive-date=22 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110322041554/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/operation-ellamy-designed-to-strike-from-air-and-sea-2246411.html |url-status=live|access-date=20 March 2011}} Two days later, the UK and the United States fired more than 110 Tomahawk missiles at targets in Libya.{{cite news |title=Libya: US, UK and France attack Gaddafi forces |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12796972|work=BBC News |date=20 March 2011 |archive-date=20 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110320053754/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12796972 |url-status=live|access-date=15 February 2013}}

Cameron said he was "proud" of the role United Kingdom played in the overthrow of Gaddafi's government.{{cite news |title=David Cameron's Libya statement in full |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/house_of_commons/newsid_9581000/9581065.stm |work=BBC News |date=5 September 2011|archive-date=26 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326095134/http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/house_of_commons/newsid_9581000/9581065.stm |url-status=live|access-date=24 March 2016}} Cameron also stated that UK had played a "very important role",{{cite press release |publisher=Ministry of Defence |date=2 September 2011 |title=Britain should be proud of role in Libya |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cameron-britain-should-be-proud-of-role-in-libya|archive-date=8 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408025447/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cameron-britain-should-be-proud-of-role-in-libya |url-status=live|access-date=24 March 2016}} adding that "a lot of people said that Tripoli was completely different to Benghazi and that the two don't get on—they were wrong. ... People who said 'this is all going to be an enormous swamp of Islamists and extremists'—they were wrong".{{cite web |last=Mulholland |first=Hélène |date=2 September 2011 |title=Libya intervention: British forces played key role, says Cameron |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/sep/02/libya-intervention-british-forces-key |newspaper=The Guardian |archive-date=15 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315085111/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/sep/02/libya-intervention-british-forces-key|url-status=live|access-date=24 March 2016}}

In 2015 through 2016 the Foreign Affairs Select Committee conducted an extensive and highly critical inquiry into the British involvement in the civil war. It concluded that the early threat to civilians had been overstated, and that the significant Islamist element in the rebel forces had not been recognised, due to an intelligence failure. By mid-2011, the initial limited intervention to protect Libyan civilians had become a policy of regime change. However, that new policy did not include proper support for a new government, leading to a political and economic collapse in Libya, and the growth of ISIL in North Africa. It concluded that Cameron was ultimately responsible for this British policy failure.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37356873 |title=MPs attack Cameron over Libya 'collapse' |work=BBC News |date=14 September 2016|archive-date=14 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914041944/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37356873 |url-status=live|access-date=14 September 2016}}{{cite news |last=Wintour |first=Patrick |author-link=Patrick Wintour |date=14 September 2016 |title=MPs deliver damning verdict on Cameron's Libya intervention |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/14/mps-deliver-damning-verdict-on-camerons-libya-intervention |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230522105218/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/14/mps-deliver-damning-verdict-on-camerons-libya-intervention |archive-date=22 May 2023|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=14 September 2016}}{{cite report |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmfaff/119/119.pdf |title=Libya: Examination of intervention and collapse and the UK's future policy options |publisher=Foreign Affairs Committee (House of Commons) |date=6 September 2016 |id=HC 119 |archive-date=27 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927090612/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmfaff/119/119.pdf |url-status=live|access-date=14 September 2016}}

US president Barack Obama also acknowledged there had been issues with following up the conflict planning, commenting in an interview with The Atlantic that Cameron had allowed himself to be "distracted by a range of other things".{{cite news |title=Barack Obama is right to criticise David Cameron's handling of Libya;– but the US should not get off the hook |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/barack-obama-is-right-to-criticise-david-cameron-s-handling-of-libya-but-the-us-should-not-get-off-a6926666.html |work=The Independent|archive-date=28 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128224438/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/barack-obama-is-right-to-criticise-david-cameron-s-handling-of-libya-but-the-us-should-not-get-off-a6926666.html|url-status=live|date=11 March 2016|access-date=24 March 2016}}{{cite news |title=Barack Obama accuses David Cameron of getting 'distracted' over Libya and contributing to 's*** show' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/barackobama/12190303/Barack-Obama-accuses-David-Cameron-of-getting-distracted-over-Libya-and-contributing-to-s-show.html|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/barackobama/12190303/Barack-Obama-accuses-David-Cameron-of-getting-distracted-over-Libya-and-contributing-to-s-show.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=10 March 2016|access-date=18 April 2017}}{{cbignore}}{{cite news |last=Goldberg |first=Jeffrey |title=The Obama Doctrine |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/04/the-obama-doctrine/471525/#9 |work=The Atlantic|date=April 2016 |archive-date=18 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918034100/https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/04/the-obama-doctrine/471525/#9 |url-status=live|access-date=18 April 2017}}

{{further|Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute}}

In 2013 in response to Argentina's calls for negotiations over the Falkland Islands' sovereignty, a referendum was called, asking Falkland Islanders whether they supported the continuation of their status as an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom. With a turnout of 91.94%, an overwhelming 99.8% voted to remain a British territory, with only three votes against.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21750909|title=Falklands referendum: Voters choose to remain UK territory|work=BBC News|date=12 March 2013|archive-date=31 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130831043745/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21750909|url-status=live|access-date=16 August 2015}} In light of this, Cameron said: "We believe in the Falkland islanders' right to self-determination. They had a referendum. They couldn't have been more clear about wanting to remain with our country and we should protect and defend them".{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/mar/24/falkland-islands-defended-uk-david-cameron-argentina|title=Falkland Islands will always be defended by UK, says David Cameron |work=The Guardian|date=24 March 2015|archive-date=21 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150821170006/http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/mar/24/falkland-islands-defended-uk-david-cameron-argentina|url-status=live|access-date=16 August 2015}}

File:Prime Minister's Olympic hunger summit (7772208606).jpg (second left) and Mo Farah (right) outside 10 Downing Street|alt=Cameron hosting a hunger summit with Pelé and Mo Farah outside 10 Downing Street]]

Cameron supported Britain's close relationship with Saudi Arabia."[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-cameron-defends-britains-alliance-with-saudi-arabia-and-rejects-accusations-it-funds-isis-a6819106.html David Cameron defends Britain's alliance with Saudi Arabia and rejects accusations it funds Isis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611223243/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-cameron-defends-britains-alliance-with-saudi-arabia-and-rejects-accusations-it-funds-isis-a6819106.html |date=2020-06-11 }}". The Independent. 18 January 2016. In January 2015 he travelled to the Saudi capital Riyadh to pay his respects, following the death of the nation's King Abdullah. According to WikiLeaks, Cameron initiated a secret deal with Saudi Arabia, ensuring both countries were elected onto the UN Human Rights Council."[https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/sep/29/uk-and-saudi-arabia-in-secret-deal-over-human-rights-council-place UK and Saudi Arabia 'in secret deal' over human rights council place ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230729042236/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/sep/29/uk-and-saudi-arabia-in-secret-deal-over-human-rights-council-place |date=2023-07-29 }}". The Guardian. 29 September 2015. The same year his government announced "firm political support" for the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen against the Shi'a Houthis,"[https://news.yahoo.com/britain-offers-saudis-support-over-yemen-strikes-231638019.html Britain offers Saudis support over Yemen strikes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408041039/https://news.yahoo.com/britain-offers-saudis-support-over-yemen-strikes-231638019.html |date=2022-04-08 }}". Yahoo News. 27 March 2015 re-supplying the Saudi military with weapons and providing them with training.{{cite news|title=Yemen crisis: British MPs clash over supplying bombs to Saudi Arabia as coalition launches new air strikes |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/yemen/11557098/Yemen-crisis-British-ministers-clash-over-supplying-bombs-to-Saudi-Arabia-as-coalition-launches-new-air-strikes.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/yemen/11557098/Yemen-crisis-British-ministers-clash-over-supplying-bombs-to-Saudi-Arabia-as-coalition-launches-new-air-strikes.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=23 April 2015 |first=Con |last=Coughlin}}{{cbignore}}"[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/25/david-cameron-brilliant-uk-arms-exports-saudi-arabia-bae David Cameron boasts of 'brilliant' UK arms exports to Saudi Arabia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225193728/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/25/david-cameron-brilliant-uk-arms-exports-saudi-arabia-bae |date=2016-02-25 }}". The Guardian. 25 February 2016."[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-cameron-accused-of-silently-taking-britain-into-saudi-arabia-s-brutal-war-in-yemen-a6822811.html David Cameron accused of silently taking Britain into Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171125210554/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-cameron-accused-of-silently-taking-britain-into-saudi-arabia-s-brutal-war-in-yemen-a6822811.html |date=2017-11-25 }}". The Independent. 20 January 2016.

Cameron reiterated calls for an independent investigation into the alleged war crimes during the final stages of the Sri Lankan Civil War.{{cite news|last=Jivanda|first=Tomas|title=Sri Lanka dismisses David Cameron's call for independent human rights inquiry|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/sri-lanka-dismisses-david-camerons-call-for-independent-human-rights-inquiry-8944157.html|work=The Independent|date=16 November 2013|archive-date=7 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407023740/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/sri-lanka-dismisses-david-camerons-call-for-independent-human-rights-inquiry-8944157.html|url-status=live|access-date=13 November 2023}} "There needs to be proper inquiries into what happened at the end of the war, there needs to be proper human rights, democracy for the Tamil minority in that country" Cameron stated.{{cite news|last=Woodcock|first=Andrew|title=Sri Lanka: Cameron calls for war crimes inquiry |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/sri-lanka-cameron-calls-for-war-crimes-inquiry-1-3189795|newspaper=Scotland on Sunday|date=15 November 2013|archive-date=11 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211103251/https://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/sri-lanka-cameron-calls-for-war-crimes-inquiry-1-3189795|url-status=live|access-date=13 November 2023}}{{cite news|title=Britain's Cameron faces protests in former Sri Lanka war zone|url=http://www.euronews.com/newswires/2205628-torture-claims-cast-shadow-over-sri-lankas-commonwealth-summit/|work=Euronews|date=15 November 2013|last1=Aneez|first1=Shihar|last2=Daniel|first2=Frank Jack|agency=Reuters |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202232935/http://www.euronews.com/newswires/2205628-torture-claims-cast-shadow-over-sri-lankas-commonwealth-summit/|archive-date=2 December 2013}} He stated that, if this investigation was not completed by March 2014, he would press for an independent international inquiry.{{cite news |title=Cameron calls for war crimes inquiry in Sri Lanka |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24967501|work=BBC News |date=16 November 2013|archive-date=3 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203203354/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24967501|url-status=live|access-date=13 November 2023}}{{cite news |title=Britain gives Sri Lanka deadline on war crimes probe|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/south-asia/britain-gives-sri-lanka-deadline-on-war-crimes-probe/article5358307.ece|work=The Hindu|date=16 November 2013|archive-date=24 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524085517/http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/south-asia/britain-gives-sri-lanka-deadline-on-war-crimes-probe/article5358307.ece |url-status=live|access-date=13 November 2023}}{{cite news|title=David Cameron puts Sri Lanka on notice over war crime allegations|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-17/an-david-cameron-puts-sri-lanka-on-notice-over-war-crime-allega/5097278|work=ABC News|date=17 November 2013|archive-date=8 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308055346/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-17/an-david-cameron-puts-sri-lanka-on-notice-over-war-crime-allega/5097278|url-status=live|access-date=13 November 2023}} This followed a visit to Jaffna, a war-ravaged town in the northern part of Sri Lanka; Cameron was the first foreign leader to visit Jaffna since the island once colonised by Britain became independent in 1948.{{cite news|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/top-story/40318.html |title=Residents in Jaffna have hopes raised with Cameron's visit to the North |date=16 November 2013 |work=The Sunday Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131118204730/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/top-story/40318.html |archive-date=18 November 2013|access-date=16 November 2013}}{{cite news|last=Robinson |first=Nick|title=Cameron in Northern Sri Lanka|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24954387|work=BBC News |date=15 November 2013|author-link=Nick Robinson (journalist)|archive-date=8 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608190534/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24954387|url-status=live|access-date=13 November 2023}} Cameron was mobbed by demonstrators, mostly women, seeking his assistance in tracing missing relatives.{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/nov/15/david-cameron-car-surrounded-sri-lankan-protesters-tamil |title=David Cameron's car surrounded by Sri Lankan protesters |date=15 November 2013|last=Mason|first=Rowena|work=The Guardian|archive-date=16 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116073808/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/nov/15/david-cameron-car-surrounded-sri-lankan-protesters-tamil|url-status=live|access-date=16 November 2013}}{{cite news |last=Doherty|first=Ben |title=Tamil protesters mob British Prime Minister in Jaffna |url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/tamil-protesters-mob-british-prime-minister-in-jaffna-20131116-2xn4a.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=16 November 2013|archive-date=2 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302224154/https://www.smh.com.au/world/tamil-protesters-mob-british-prime-minister-in-jaffna-20131116-2xn4a.html|url-status=live|access-date=13 November 2023}}

In a speech in Ankara in July 2010, Cameron stated unequivocally his support for Turkey's accession to the EU, citing economic, security and political considerations, and claimed that those who opposed Turkish membership were driven by "protectionism, narrow nationalism or prejudice".{{cite press release |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120929080950/http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/pms-speech-in-turkey/ |url=http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/pms-speech-in-turkey/ |title=PM's speech in Turkey |date=27 July 2010 |publisher=Prime Minister's Office |archive-date=29 September 2012}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-10767768 |work=BBC News |title=Cameron 'anger' at slow pace of Turkish EU negotiations |date=27 July 2010|archive-date=4 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104234645/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-10767768 |url-status=live|access-date=13 November 2023}} In that speech, he was also critical of Israeli action during the Gaza flotilla raid and its Gaza policy, and repeated his opinion that Israel had turned Gaza into a "prison camp", having previously referred to Gaza as "a giant open prison".{{cite news |last1=Watt |first1=Nicholas |last2=Sherwood |first2=Harriet |date=27 July 2010 |title=David Cameron: Israeli blockade has turned Gaza Strip into a 'prison camp' |newspaper=The Guardian}} These views were met with mixed reactions.{{cite news |url=http://www.thejc.com/lifestyle/the-simon-round-interview/38184/interview-gideon-levy |last=Round |first=Simon |date=16 September 2010 |title=Interview: Gideon Levy: The veteran Israeli journalist says his country has behaved unacceptably over Gaza |newspaper=The Jewish Chronicle|archive-date=17 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417223935/https://www.thejc.com/lifestyle/the-simon-round-interview/38184/interview-gideon-levy |url-status=live|access-date=5 June 2011}}{{cite news |url=http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Op-EdContributors/Article.aspx?id=183421 |last=Shoval |first=Zalman |date=2 August 2010 |title=David Cameron looking both ways |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|archive-date=25 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110225202327/http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Op-EdContributors/Article.aspx?id=183421 |url-status=live|access-date=5 June 2011}} The Cameron government declined to formally recognise the Ottoman Empire's massacres of Armenians as a "genocide".{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/on-the-middle-east/2015/apr/23/britain-sidesteps-armenian-genocide-recognition-a-century-after-killings |title=Britain sidesteps Armenian genocide recognition a century after killings |newspaper=The Guardian |date=23 April 2015|archive-date=16 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616105758/http://www.theguardian.com/world/on-the-middle-east/2015/apr/23/britain-sidesteps-armenian-genocide-recognition-a-century-after-killings |url-status=live|access-date=13 November 2023}}

During the EU referendum campaign, Cameron stated that Turkey was unlikely to be ready to join the EU "until the year 3000", at its current rate of progress.{{cite news |first=George |last=Parker |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/de1efd42-2001-11e6-aa98-db1e01fabc0c.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/de1efd42-2001-11e6-aa98-db1e01fabc0c.html |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |title=Turkey unlikely to join EU 'until the year 3000', says Cameron |website=Financial Times |date=22 May 2016 |access-date=11 August 2016}}

At the end of May 2011 Cameron stepped down as patron of the Jewish National Fund,{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/may/29/david-cameron-resigns-patron-jnf?INTCMP=SRCH |last=Sherwood |first=Harriet |date=29 May 2011 |title=David Cameron resigns as patron of the Jewish National Fund |newspaper=The Guardian|archive-date=5 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105052313/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/may/29/david-cameron-resigns-patron-jnf?INTCMP=SRCH |url-status=live|access-date=6 June 2011}}{{cite news |url=http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=223268 |last=Paul |first=Jonny |date=2 June 2011 |title=Cameron denies political pressure led to JNF resignation|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|access-date=6 June 2011 |archive-date=12 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012211004/http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=223268 |url-status=live }} becoming the first British prime minister not to be patron of the charity in the 110 years of its existence.{{cite news |title=Cameron's JNF split: it was Israel |url=http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/49789/camerons-jnf-split-it-was-israel|newspaper=The Jewish Chronicle|date=2 June 2011 |last=Rosen |first=Robyn |archive-date=6 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606064513/http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/49789/camerons-jnf-split-it-was-israel |url-status=live|access-date=10 June 2011}}

In a speech in 2011, Cameron said: "You have a prime minister whose commitment and determination to work for peace in Israel is deep and strong. Britain will continue to push for peace, but will always stand up for Israel against those who wish her harm". He said he wanted to reaffirm his "unshakable" belief in Israel within the same message.{{cite news |url=http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/54855/camerons-jewish-roots-inform-new-year-message |title=Cameron's Jewish roots inform New Year message |newspaper=The Jewish Chronicle |date=16 September 2011|archive-date=15 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915011833/http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/54855/camerons-jewish-roots-inform-new-year-message |url-status=live|access-date=18 September 2012}} He also voiced his opposition to the Goldstone Report, claiming it had been biased against Israel and not enough blame had been placed on Hamas.

In March 2014, during his first visit to Israel as prime minister, Cameron addressed Israel's Knesset in Jerusalem, where he offered his full support for peace efforts between Israelis and Palestinians, hoping a two-state solution might be achieved.[http://www.timesofisrael.com/full-text-of-british-pm-david-camerons-knesset-speech/ "Full text of British PM David Cameron's Knesset speech"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302225653/https://www.timesofisrael.com/full-text-of-british-pm-david-camerons-knesset-speech/ |date=2 March 2023 }}. The Times of Israel (Jerusalem). 12 March 2014. He also made clear his rejection of trade or academic boycotts against Israel,[https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-26526096 "Prime minister's belief in Israel 'unbreakable{{'"}}] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302224153/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-26526096 |date=2 March 2023 }}. BBC News. 12 March 2014. acknowledged Israel's right to defend its citizens as "a right enshrined in international law", and made note of the Balfour Declaration of 1917, as "the moment when the State of Israel went from a dream to a plan, Britain has played a proud and vital role in helping to secure Israel as a homeland for the Jewish people." During his two-day visit, he met with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and with Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas.[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/10692563/David-Cameron-tells-Israelis-about-his-Jewish-ancestors.html "David Cameron tells Israelis about his Jewish ancestors"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026170210/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/10692563/David-Cameron-tells-Israelis-about-his-Jewish-ancestors.html |date=26 October 2017 }}. The Daily Telegraph (London). 12 March 2014. Senior Foreign Office minister Baroness Warsi resigned over the Cameron government's decision not to condemn Israel for the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict, saying that the government's "approach and language during the current crisis in Gaza is morally indefensible".Wintour, Patrick (5 August 2014). [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/aug/05/lady-warsi-resigns-government-gaza-stance "Lady Warsi resigns over UK's 'morally reprehensible' stance on Gaza"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103122444/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/aug/05/lady-warsi-resigns-government-gaza-stance |date=3 November 2023 }}. The Guardian.

{{see also|William Hague#Syria}}

File:David Cameron and Barack Obama at the G20 Summit in Toronto.jpg during the 2010 G20 Toronto summit|alt=Cameron meeting Barack Obama during the 2010 G20 Toronto summit]]

In August 2013 Cameron lost a motion in favour of bombing Syrian armed forces in response to the Ghouta chemical attack, becoming the first prime minister to suffer such a foreign-policy defeat since 1782.{{Cite news |date=30 August 2013 |title=Syria crisis: Cameron loses Commons vote on Syria action |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-23892783 |work=BBC News |archive-date=8 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240908110435/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-23892783 |url-status=live|access-date=8 September 2024}} In September 2014, MPs passed a motion in favour of British planes joining, at the request of the Iraqi government, a bombing campaign against Islamic State (IS) targets in Iraq;{{cite news |last=Norton-Taylor |first=Richard |date=30 September 2014 |title=RAF planes bomb Islamic State targets in Iraq for the first time |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/30/raf-planes-bomb-islamic-state-targets-iraq-first-time |work=The Guardian |archive-date=21 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721230408/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/30/raf-planes-bomb-islamic-state-targets-iraq-first-time |url-status=live|access-date=20 July 2015}} the motion explicitly expressed parliament's disapproval of UK military action in Syria.{{cite news |title=MPs approve air strikes against IS in Iraq – is Syria next? |url=http://www.channel4.com/news/is-iraq-commons-vote-david-cameron-ed-miliband |work=Channel 4 News |date=26 September 2014|archive-date=25 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725072729/http://www.channel4.com/news/is-iraq-commons-vote-david-cameron-ed-miliband |url-status=live|access-date=25 July 2015}} Cameron promised that, before expanding UK air strikes and ground support to include IS units in Syria, he would seek parliamentary approval.{{cite news |last=Haynes |first=Deborah |author-link=Deborah Haynes |date=17 July 2015 |title=British pilots bomb Syria in defiance of Commons vote |work=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/british-pilots-bomb-syria-in-defiance-of-commons-vote-g8spxgqwfjk |url-access=subscription|issn=0140-0460 |archive-date=6 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006190125/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/british-pilots-bomb-syria-in-defiance-of-commons-vote-g8spxgqwfjk |url-status=live|access-date=6 October 2021}}

In July 2015 a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by Reprieve revealed that, without the knowledge of UK parliamentarians, RAF pilots had, in fact, been bombing targets in Syria, and that Cameron knew of this.{{cite news |last1=Halliday |first1=Josh |last2=MacAskill |first2=Ewen |author2-link=Ewen MacAskill |last3=Perraudin |first3=Frances |date=17 July 2015 |title=British pilots took part in anti-Isis bombing campaign in Syria |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jul/17/british-pilots-took-part-in-anti-isis-bombing-campaign-in-syria |work=The Guardian |access-date=20 July 2015 |archive-date=1 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101135346/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jul/17/british-pilots-took-part-in-anti-isis-bombing-campaign-in-syria |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Turner |first1=Camilla |last2=Swinford |first2=Steven |date=17 July 2015 |title=David Cameron 'knew British pilots were bombing Syria' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/11745689/British-pilots-in-air-strikes-against-Isil-in-Syria-live.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/11745689/British-pilots-in-air-strikes-against-Isil-in-Syria-live.html |archive-date=10 January 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=20 July 2015}}{{cbignore}} The Prime Minister, along with Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, faced strong criticism, including from Conservative MPs, for not informing the Commons about this deployment; the Ministry of Defence said that the pilots concerned were "embedded" with foreign military forces, and so were "effectively" operating as such, while Fallon denied that MPs had been, as he put it, "kept in the dark".{{cite news |last=Ridley |first=Louise |date=17 July 2015 |title=Syria Air Strikes By UK Pilots Break Cameron's Promise Of Vote On Military Intervention, Claims Tory MP |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/07/17/syria-air-strikes-uk-bombings_n_7816328.html |newspaper=The Huffington Post UK|archive-date=19 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150719210550/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/07/17/syria-air-strikes-uk-bombings_n_7816328.html |url-status=live|access-date=20 July 2015}}{{cite news |last=Wintour |first=Patrick |date=20 July 2015 |title=Tory and Labour MPs warn defence secretary against mission creep in Syria |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jul/20/tory-and-labour-mps-warn-defence-secretary-against-mission-creep-in-syria |work=The Guardian |access-date=25 July 2015 |archive-date=25 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725111410/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jul/20/tory-and-labour-mps-warn-defence-secretary-against-mission-creep-in-syria |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Fallon denies MPs 'kept in dark' about UK role in Syrian air strikes |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33599610 |work=BBC News |date=20 July 2015 |access-date=25 July 2015 |archive-date=23 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723042128/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33599610 |url-status=live }} The Reprieve FoI request also revealed that British drone pilots had been embedded, almost continuously, with American forces at Creech Air Force Base since 2008. These drone operators, who were "a gift of services", meaning the UK still paid their salaries and covered their expenses, had been carrying out operations that included reconnaissance in Syria to assist American strikes against IS.{{cite news |last=MacAskill |first=Ewen |date=22 July 2015 |title=RAF personnel assigned to US unit carrying out drone strikes against Isis |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jul/22/raf-personnel-assigned-us-unit-carrying-out-drone-strikes-reprieve-charity |work=The Guardian|archive-date=23 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723042111/http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jul/22/raf-personnel-assigned-us-unit-carrying-out-drone-strikes-reprieve-charity |url-status=live|access-date=24 July 2015}}

Fallon said that it was "illogical" for the UK not to bomb ISIL in Syria, for the organisation does not "differentiate between Syria and Iraq" and is "organised and directed and administered from Syria".{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/01/uk-strategy-of-not-attacking-isis-in-syria-is-illogical-says-defence-secretary |title=UK strategy of not attacking Isis in Syria is illogical, says Decence Secretary |work=The Guardian |date=1 July 2015|archive-date=5 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805052417/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/01/uk-strategy-of-not-attacking-isis-in-syria-is-illogical-says-defence-secretary |url-status=live|access-date=12 August 2015}} Following the terrorist attacks on Paris in November 2015, for which Islamic State claimed responsibility, Cameron began pushing for a strategy for the Royal Air Force to bomb Syria in retaliation.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-34897288 |title=David Cameron: World uniting to fight 'evil threat' of IS |work=BBC News |date=23 November 2015|archive-date=2 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302153806/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-34897288 |url-status=live|access-date=5 March 2016}} Cameron set out his case for military intervention to Parliament on 26 November, telling MPs that it was the only way to guarantee Britain's safety, and would be part of a "comprehensive" strategy to defeat IS.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34939109 |title=Jeremy Corbyn 'cannot support UK air strikes in Syria' |work=BBC News |date=26 November 2015 |access-date=27 November 2015 |archive-date=27 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151127025540/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34939109 |url-status=live }} On 3 December 2015, MPs voted 397–223 in favour of launching air strikes against ISIL targets in Syria. The vote for military action was supported by all but seven members of the Parliamentary Conservative Party, as well as 66 Labour MPs who backed the government in defiance of their leader, Jeremy Corbyn, who had expressed his opposition to air strikes.{{cite news |title=Syria air strikes: MPs authorise UK action against Islamic State |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-34989302 |work=BBC News |date=3 December 2015 |access-date=5 March 2016 |archive-date=26 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326005412/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-34989302 |url-status=live }}

{{Main|2015 United Kingdom general election}}

File:PM-DPM-St David's Day Agreement announcement.jpg

Cameron was re-elected UK prime minister on 7 May 2015 with a majority in the Commons.{{Cite tweet |first=David |last=Cameron |user=David_Cameron |number=595112367358406656 |archive-date=8 September 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240908071829/https://x.com/david_cameron/status/595112367358406656 |title=Britain faces a simple and inescapable choice – stability and strong Government with me, or chaos with Ed Miliband}} The Conservative Party's decisive victory in the general election was a surprise, as most polls and commentators had suggested the outcome was too close to call and that the result would be a second hung parliament.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/07/labour-one-point-lead-tories-final-icm-poll |title=Labour has one-point lead over Tories in final Guardian/ICM poll |archive-date=8 September 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240908072256/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/07/labour-one-point-lead-tories-final-icm-poll |work=The Guardian |date=7 May 2015 |last=Clark |first=Tom }} Cameron said of his first term when returned as prime minister for a second term that he was "proud to lead the first coalition government in 70 years" and offered particular thanks to Clegg for his role in it.{{cite news |last=Dathan |first=Matt |title=David Cameron to lead majority Conservative Government after extraordinary and unexpected night |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/generalelection/election-results-david-cameron-on-course-to-lead-a-majority-conservative-government-after-10234750.html|newspaper=The Independent |date=8 May 2015 |archive-date=23 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123205312/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/generalelection/election-results-david-cameron-on-course-to-lead-a-majority-conservative-government-after-10234750.html|url-status=live|access-date=5 March 2016}} Forming the first Conservative majority government elected since 1992, David Cameron became the first prime minister to be re-elected immediately after a full term with a larger popular vote share since Lord Salisbury at the 1900 general election.

In response to the November 2015 Paris attacks, Cameron secured the support of the House of Commons to extend air strikes against ISIS into Syria.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34989302 |title=Syria air strikes: MPs authorise UK action against Islamic State |work=BBC News |date=3 December 2015|archive-date=2 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151202224918/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34989302 |url-status=live|access-date=13 November 2023}} Earlier that year, Cameron had outlined a five-year strategy to counter Islamist extremism and subversive teachings.{{cite news |title=The four pillars of David Cameron's counter-extremism strategy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jul/20/the-four-pillars-of-david-camerons-counter-extremism-strategy |newspaper=The Guardian |archive-date=16 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016065151/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jul/20/the-four-pillars-of-david-camerons-counter-extremism-strategy |url-status=live|date=20 July 2015|access-date=14 October 2015}}

File:David cameron annouces resignation.jpg

As promised in the election manifesto, Cameron set a date for a referendum on whether the UK should remain a member of the European Union, and announced that he would be campaigning for Britain to remain within a "reformed EU".{{cite news |title=EU referendum: Cameron sets June date for UK vote |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-35621079 |publisher=BBC News|date=20 February 2016 |archive-date=30 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830054302/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-35621079 |url-status=live|access-date=5 March 2016}} The terms of the UK's membership of the EU were re-negotiated, with agreement reached in February 2016.{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/cameron-to-make-statement-in-parliament-tomorrow/article8262733.ece |title=Cameron to make statement in Parliament tomorrow |date=21 February 2016 |newspaper=The Hindu|archive-date=25 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225164631/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/cameron-to-make-statement-in-parliament-tomorrow/article8262733.ece |url-status=live|access-date=13 November 2023}} The option to leave came to be known as Brexit (a portmanteau of "British" and "exit").

The referendum was held on 23 June 2016. The result was approximately 52% in favour of leaving the European Union and 48% against, with a turnout of 72%.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/25/world/europe/britain-brexit-european-union-referendum.html |title=Britain Votes to Leave E.U., Stunning the World |last=Erlanger |first=Steven |date=23 June 2016 |newspaper=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |access-date=24 June 2016 |archive-date=24 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624045559/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/25/world/europe/britain-brexit-european-union-referendum.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/24/eu-referendum-results-live-brexit-wins-as-britain-votes-to-leave/ |title=EU referendum results live: Brexit wins as Britain votes to leave European Union|archive-date=24 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624072940/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/24/eu-referendum-results-live-brexit-wins-as-britain-votes-to-leave/|url-status=live|access-date=24 June 2016}} On 24 June, a few hours after the results became known, Cameron announced that he would resign the office of prime minister by the start of the Conservative Party Conference in October 2016. In a speech the next day outside 10 Downing Street, he stated that, on account of his own advocacy on behalf of remaining in the EU: "I do not think it would be right for me to try to be the captain that steers our country to its next destination."{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-36615028 |title=EU referendum: UK votes to leave in historic referendum |access-date=24 June 2016 |work=BBC News |date=24 June 2016 |archive-date=24 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724232549/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-36615028 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/24/eu-referendum-results-live-brexit-wins-as-britain-votes-to-leave/ |title=EU referendum live: David Cameron resigns as UK shocks the world by voting for Brexit |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624072940/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/24/eu-referendum-results-live-brexit-wins-as-britain-votes-to-leave/ |archive-date=24 June 2016 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=30 June 2016 |last=Hughes |first=Laura}}{{Cite web |url=https://soundcloud.com/guardianpoliticsweekly/prime-minister-david-camerons-statement-on-brexit |title=Guardian Politics Weekly Soundcloud: Prime Minister David Cameron's statement on Brexit|archive-date=13 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813073255/https://soundcloud.com/guardianpoliticsweekly/prime-minister-david-camerons-statement-on-brexit |url-status=live|access-date=13 November 2023}}{{Cite news|title=Brexit: David Cameron's resignation statement in full|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36619446|work=BBC News|date=24 June 2016|access-date=9 July 2024|archive-date=7 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240707033939/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36619446|url-status=live}}

There was some strong criticism made of Cameron and his government following the referendum. Matthew Norman, in an opinion piece in The Independent, called the referendum an act of "indescribably selfish recklessness".{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/david-cameron-resigns-resignation-next-prime-minister-brexit-eu-referendum-result-a7100076.html |title=David Cameron will go down in history as the Prime Minister who killed his country |work=The Independent |first=Matthew |last=Norman |date=24 June 2016|archive-date=20 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180220033151/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/david-cameron-resigns-resignation-next-prime-minister-brexit-eu-referendum-result-a7100076.html |url-status=live|access-date=27 June 2016}} In late July, Parliament's Foreign Affairs Select Committee was told that Cameron had refused to allow the Civil Service to make plans for Brexit, a decision the committee described as "an act of gross negligence".{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/20/david-cameron-accused-gross-negligence-brexit-contingency-plans |title=Cameron accused of 'gross negligence' over Brexit contingency plans |work=The Guardian |first=Patrick |last=Wintour |date=20 July 2016|archive-date=10 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110140515/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/20/david-cameron-accused-gross-negligence-brexit-contingency-plans|url-status=live|access-date=21 July 2016}} His farewell speech as he left No. 10 accompanied by his family stressed the value of selfless public service.{{cite news |last=Hughes |first=Laura |title=Whitehall mandarins block "cronies" honours list over ethical concerns |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/22/whitehall-blocks-david-camerons-cronies-honours-list-over-ethica/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/22/whitehall-blocks-david-camerons-cronies-honours-list-over-ethica/ |archive-date=10 January 2022|url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=22 July 2016|access-date=22 July 2016}}{{cbignore}}

The Conservative Party leadership election was scheduled for 9 September and the new leader was expected to be in place by the autumn conference, set to begin on 2 October.{{cite web|title=New Tory leader 'should be in place by 9 September'|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-36640889|date=28 June 2016 |work=BBC News|archive-date=28 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160628152029/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-36640889 |url-status=live|access-date=29 June 2016}} On 11 July, following the withdrawal of Andrea Leadsom from the Conservative Party leadership election and the confirmation of Theresa May as the new leader of the Conservative Party, Cameron announced he would hold a final cabinet meeting on 12 July and then, following a final Prime Minister's Questions, submit his resignation to the Queen on the afternoon of 13 July. Cameron delivered his resignation speech in front of 10 Downing Street on 11 July. Cameron's resignation speech attracted further attention when he walked away humming a tune, picked up by microphone, after he had finished his speech.{{cite news|title=David Cameron hums a merry tune as he hands over to Theresa May |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/12/david-cameron-hums-a-merry-tune-as-he-hands-over-to-theresa-may|work=The Guardian|date=11 July 2016|access-date=21 July 2024}} After his final Prime Minister's Questions, Cameron received a standing ovation from MPs; his final comment was, "I was the future once"—a reference to his 2005 quip to Tony Blair, "he was the future once". Cameron then submitted his resignation to the Queen later that day.{{cite news |url=https://www.royal.uk/resignation-right-honourable-david-cameron-mp-prime-minister |title=Resignation of The Right Honourable David Cameron MP as Prime Minister |last=Adam.Vallance |newspaper=The Royal Family |date=12 July 2016|archive-date=18 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818171904/https://www.royal.uk/resignation-right-honourable-david-cameron-mp-prime-minister|url-status=live|access-date=17 July 2016}}

Although no longer serving as prime minister, Cameron originally stated that he would continue inside Parliament, on the Conservative backbenches.{{cite news |author= |title=Cameron bows out of his final PMQs |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/13/david-cameron-resigns-theresa-may-queen-prime-minister-live/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/13/david-cameron-resigns-theresa-may-queen-prime-minister-live/ |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=13 July 2016}}{{cbignore}} On 12 September, however, he announced that he was resigning his seat with immediate effect,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-37342152 |title=David Cameron quits as Conservative MP for Witney |work=BBC News |date=12 September 2016|archive-date=12 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160912175227/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-37342152 |url-status=live|access-date=12 September 2016}} and was appointed to the Manor of Northstead. He was succeeded as MP for Witney by fellow Conservative Robert Courts.{{cite news |url=http://www.witneygazette.co.uk/news/14815246.AS_IT_HAPPENED__Conservative_Robert_Courts_elected_as_Witney_s_new_MP/ |title=AS IT HAPPENED: Witney by-election count and results |author=Oliver, Matt |work=Witney Gazette |date=21 October 2016 |access-date=24 September 2019 |archive-date=21 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421145937/https://www.witneygazette.co.uk/news/14815246.happened-witney-by-election-count-results/ |url-status=live }} The Washington Post described him as having "sped away without glancing back" once Theresa May had "vaulted herself out of the hurricane-strength political wreckage of Britain's vote to leave the European Union."{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/what-does-brexit-mean-with-divorce-talks-looming-britain-still-doesnt-have-a-clue/2016/09/16/b2cb7718-79d1-11e6-8064-c1ddc8a724bb_story.html |title=What does Brexit mean? With divorce talks looming, Britain still doesn't have a clue. |last=Witte |first=Griff |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=17 September 2016|archive-date=6 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206062751/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/what-does-brexit-mean-with-divorce-talks-looming-britain-still-doesnt-have-a-clue/2016/09/16/b2cb7718-79d1-11e6-8064-c1ddc8a724bb_story.html |url-status=live|access-date=18 September 2016}}

File:Rt Hon. David Cameron, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2016 (33595223693).jpg meeting in April 2017|alt=Cameron speaks at a World Travel and Tourism Council meeting in April 2017]]

In October 2016 Cameron became chairman of the National Citizen Service Patrons.{{cite news|last=Simpson|first=Fiona |title=David Cameron reveals next job after quitting politics|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron-reveals-next-job-after-quitting-politics-a3366716.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123120635/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron-reveals-next-job-after-quitting-politics-a3366716.html|work=Evening Standard|date=12 October 2016|archive-date=23 November 2023|url-status=live|access-date=12 October 2016}} In January 2017, he was appointed president of Alzheimer's Research UK to address misconceptions surrounding dementia and campaign for medical research funding to tackle the condition.{{cite news|title='Dementia is not inevitable' says David Cameron as he becomes President of Alzheimer's Research UK|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/01/25/dementia-not-inevitable-says-david-cameron-becomes-president/|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/01/25/dementia-not-inevitable-says-david-cameron-becomes-president/|archive-date=10 January 2022|first=Sarah|last=Knapton|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=25 January 2017|url-status=live|url-access=subscription|access-date=19 July 2024}}{{cbignore}}

All appointments post-premiership have to be approved by the UK government's Advisory Committee on Business Appointments. In addition to the two posts above, they also approved the following positions:{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cameron-david-prime-minister-acoba-recommendation/summary-of-business-appointments-applications-rt-hon-david-cameron|title=Summary of business appointments applications – Rt Hon David Cameron|access-date=16 September 2018|archive-date=2 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102225119/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cameron-david-prime-minister-acoba-recommendation/summary-of-business-appointments-applications-rt-hon-david-cameron|url-status=live}}

• Consultant for Illumina Inc.
• Vice-chair, UK China Fund
• Director, ONE
• Consultant for First Data Corp.
• Member of Council on Foreign Relations
• Chairman, LSE-Oxford Commission on Growth in Fragile States
• Registered member of Washington Speakers Bureau
• Chairman of advisory board, Afiniti{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/31/david-cameron-takes-job-with-us-artificial-intelligence-firm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302224156/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/31/david-cameron-takes-job-with-us-artificial-intelligence-firm|title=David Cameron takes job with US artificial intelligence firm|date=31 May 2019|archive-date=2 March 2023|work=The Guardian|access-date=31 May 2019|url-status=live}}
• Speaker Booking Agency{{cite web|title=David Cameron Agent, David Cameron Speaker Engagement Appearances, David Cameron Booking Fee for Corporate Events and Endorsements|url=https://www.speakerbookingagency.com/booking-request/david-cameron|access-date=15 July 2024|archive-date=14 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114040822/https://www.speakerbookingagency.com/booking-request/david-cameron|url-status=live}}

Cameron maintained a low profile following his resignation as prime minister and the subsequent Brexit negotiations. In January 2019, following May's defeat in the House of Commons over her draft withdrawal agreement, Cameron gave a rare interview to reporters outside his house in Notting Hill, saying he backed May's Brexit deal with the EU and did not regret calling the 2016 referendum.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-politics-46891769/david-cameron-i-don-t-regret-calling-referendum |title=Cameron: I don't regret calling referendum |work=BBC News|archive-date=3 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803181138/https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-politics-46891769/david-cameron-i-don-t-regret-calling-referendum |url-status=live|access-date=16 January 2019}} However, he later said that the outcome of the referendum had left him "hugely depressed", and told The Times he knew "some people will never forgive me". He confessed: "Every single day I think about it, and the fact that we lost, and the consequences, and the things that could have been done differently, and I worry desperately".{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-49690618 |work=BBC News |title=Cameron: Johnson and Gove behaved 'appallingly' |date=13 September 2019|archive-date=14 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190914084250/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-49690618 |url-status=live|access-date=13 September 2019}}

In the months following Boris Johnson's election as prime minister, Cameron began criticising Johnson's Brexit strategy, including his decision to prorogue parliament ahead of the Brexit deadline of 31 October, and the removal of the whip from Conservative MPs who voted to block a no-deal Brexit. Additionally, he accused Johnson, as well as Michael Gove, of behaving "appallingly" during the referendum campaign of 2016.

In September 2020, Cameron became the fifth former prime minister to criticise the UK Internal Market Bill, over which he said he had "misgivings". He said the "bigger picture" was about trying to get a trade deal with the EU, urging the government to "keep that context [and] that big prize in mind."{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-54145202|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240304153641/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-54145202|title=Fifth ex-PM speaks out against post-Brexit bill|work=BBC News|date=14 September 2020|archive-date=4 March 2024|url-status=live|access-date=14 September 2020}}

{{Main|For the Record (book)}}

Cameron published a memoir, For the Record, on 19 September 2019 through HarperCollins. He was reported to have signed an £800,000 contract for the book.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/04/22/david-camerons-memoirs-delayed-next-year-amid-fears-former-prime/|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/04/22/david-camerons-memoirs-delayed-next-year-amid-fears-former-prime/|archive-date=10 January 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|title=David Cameron's memoirs 'delayed until next year' amid fears former Prime Minister has writer's block|last=Hope|first=Christopher|date=22 April 2018|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=1 April 2019}}{{cbignore}} According to the Guardian, the book was initially scheduled for 2018, but was delayed so Cameron would not be perceived as a "backstreet driver" in the ongoing Brexit negotiations.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/16/david-cameron-book-for-the-record-to-be-published-in-september|title=David Cameron's book to be published in September|last=Perraudin|first=Frances|date=16 May 2019|work=The Guardian|archive-date=8 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608183639/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/16/david-cameron-book-for-the-record-to-be-published-in-september|url-status=live|access-date=16 May 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://news.sky.com/story/for-the-record-david-camerons-autobiography-gets-release-date-11721627|title=For The Record: David Cameron's autobiography gets release date|work=Sky News|date=17 May 2019|first=Alan|last=McGuinness|archive-date=16 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190516195850/https://news.sky.com/story/for-the-record-david-camerons-autobiography-gets-release-date-11721627|url-status=live|access-date=16 May 2019}} The book gives an insight into his life at 10 Downing Street, as well as inside explanations of the decisions taken by his government. Cameron said that his aim in writing the book was to "correct the record" where he thought it was wrong.{{Cite news |last=Ross |first=Tim |date=25 September 2019 |title=David Cameron For the Record Book Review: Legacy Beyond Brexit |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-09-25/david-cameron-for-the-record-book-review-legacy-beyond-brexit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001192704/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-09-25/david-cameron-for-the-record-book-review-legacy-beyond-brexit |archive-date=1 October 2019|newspaper=Bloomberg.com|url-status=live|access-date=1 October 2019}}

{{further|Greensill scandal}}

During Cameron's premiership, the financier Lex Greensill was an unpaid advisor who had access to eleven government departments.{{cite news|last=Swinford|first=Steven|date=29 March 2021|title=David Cameron 'told friends he would make $60m from Greensill deal'|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/david-cameron-greensill-deal-claims-lobbying-tfd6j7ln3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120024932/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/david-cameron-greensill-deal-claims-lobbying-tfd6j7ln3|archive-date=20 November 2023|work=The Times|url-status=live|issn=0140-0460|access-date=11 April 2021}} In 2018 he became an advisor to Greensill Capital and held share options in the company{{cite news|last1=Smith|first1=Robert|last2=Pooler|first2=Michael|last3=Storbeck|first3=Olaf|title=The unravelling of Lex Greensill: a mix of bravado and financial alchemy|url=https://www.ft.com/content/7e79117f-cbf5-4765-82ca-7e8f1fb5915b|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/7e79117f-cbf5-4765-82ca-7e8f1fb5915b|archive-date=10 December 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|work=Financial Times|date=5 March 2021|access-date=11 April 2021}} reportedly worth as much as $60 million as well as being paid over $1 million each year for 25 days' work per year.{{cite web|date=13 July 2021|title=David Cameron earned more than $1m a year as Greensill lobbyist|url=https://www.cityam.com/david-cameron-earned-more-than-1m-a-year-as-greensill-lobbyist/|website=CityAM|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320200208/https://www.cityam.com/david-cameron-earned-more-than-1m-a-year-as-greensill-lobbyist/|archive-date=20 March 2023|url-status=live|access-date=13 July 2021}} A Panorama investigation concluded that, overall, through a combination of his salary and share sales, Cameron earned around $10 million before tax for 30 months' part-time work.{{cite news|title=Greensill: David Cameron 'made $10m' before company's collapse|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58149765|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240323224551/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58149765|work=BBC News|date=9 August 2021|archive-date=23 March 2024|url-status=live|access-date=10 August 2021}}

In 2019 Cameron arranged for a private meeting with Lex Greensill and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock; under Hancock, several NHS trusts went on to use Greensill Capital's Earnd app.{{cite news|date=11 April 2021|title=Matt Hancock 'had private drink' with David Cameron and Lex Greensill|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-56706619|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225194835/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-56706619|archive-date=25 February 2024|url-status=live|access-date=11 April 2021}} In 2020 a few months before Greensill Capital collapsed, Cameron lobbied the government to bend the rules to allow it to receive Covid Corporate Financing Facility loans.{{cite web |date=16 March 2021|title=David Cameron fails to respond over Greensill Capital claims|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/mar/16/david-cameron-fails-to-respond-over-greensill-capital-claims|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120031325/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/mar/16/david-cameron-fails-to-respond-over-greensill-capital-claims|work=The Guardian|archive-date=20 November 2023|url-status=live|access-date=19 March 2021}}{{cite news|date=19 March 2021|title=Labour seeks probe over Cameron Greensill lobbying|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-56455352|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302224153/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-56455352|archive-date=2 March 2023|url-status=live|access-date=19 March 2021}}{{cite news|last=Moon|first=Louise|date=18 March 2021|title=David Cameron lobbied ex-colleagues for Greensill access to Covid loan scheme|work=The Daily Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2021/03/18/david-cameron-lobbied-former-colleagues-greensill-access-covid/|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2021/03/18/david-cameron-lobbied-former-colleagues-greensill-access-covid/|archive-date=10 January 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|issn=0307-1235|access-date=19 March 2021}}{{cbignore}}{{cite news|date=19 March 2021|title=Cameron lobbied UK government on behalf of Greensill Capital – report|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/mar/19/cameron-lobbied-uk-government-behalf-greensill-access-covid-loans-reports-says|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224052020/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/mar/19/cameron-lobbied-uk-government-behalf-greensill-access-covid-loans-reports-says|work=The Guardian|archive-date=24 February 2024|first=Kalyeena|last=Makortoff|url-status=live|access-date=19 March 2021}} He sent several text messages to Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, who ultimately declined to help Greensill; Cameron also held ten virtual meetings with permanent secretaries Tom Scholar and Charles Roxburgh to try to obtain money for Greensill.{{cite news|date=22 March 2021|title=David Cameron personally advocated for collapsed firm Greensill with Bank of England|url=https://www.channel4.com/news/david-cameron-personally-advocated-for-collapsed-firm-greensill-with-bank-of-england|work=Channel 4|archive-date=23 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323000745/https://www.channel4.com/news/david-cameron-personally-advocated-for-collapsed-firm-greensill-with-bank-of-england|url-status=live|access-date=23 March 2021}}{{cite news|date=21 March 2021|title=David Cameron texted Rishi Sunak to get Covid loans for Greensill, says report|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/mar/21/david-cameron-texted-rishi-sunak-to-get-covid-loans-for-greensill-says-report|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120024436/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/mar/21/david-cameron-texted-rishi-sunak-to-get-covid-loans-for-greensill-says-report|archive-date=20 November 2023|work=The Guardian|first=Kalyeena|last=Makortoff|url-status=live|access-date=22 March 2021}} The government-owned British Business Bank lent Greensill up to £400m through a different scheme, leading to a potential £335m loss to the taxpayer.{{cite news|last=Syal|first=Rajeev|title=Greensill given access to Covid loans without detailed checks, watchdog reveals|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/jul/07/greensill-given-access-to-covid-loans-without-detailed-checks-watchdog-reveals|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120024250/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/jul/07/greensill-given-access-to-covid-loans-without-detailed-checks-watchdog-reveals|work=The Guardian|date=6 July 2021|archive-date=20 November 2023|url-status=live|access-date=10 August 2021}} After press revelations in 2021 regarding the extent of Greensill Capital's access, a formal investigation was launched by the UK lobbying registrar to be led by Nigel Boardman, a non-executive board member of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.{{cite news|date=25 March 2021|archive-date=20 November 2023|title=David Cameron faces investigation into possible lobbying law breach|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/mar/25/david-cameron-faces-investigation-into-possible-lobbying-law-breach|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120032403/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/mar/25/david-cameron-faces-investigation-into-possible-lobbying-law-breach|work=The Guardian|url-status=live|access-date=25 March 2021}}{{cite news|date=12 April 2021|title=Greensill: Government to investigate Cameron's lobbying|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-56720141|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225201359/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-56720141|archive-date=25 February 2024|access-date=12 April 2021|url-status=live}}

In January 2023, Cameron was assigned to teach politics in a three-week course at New York University Abu Dhabi. He was to lecture students on "practising politics and government in the age of disruption", which included topics like the Ukraine war and migration crisis.{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/c4e46b1a-be31-450f-8d2b-ee5e99a8bb01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120061553/https://www.ft.com/content/c4e46b1a-be31-450f-8d2b-ee5e99a8bb01|title=David Cameron lands teaching job at Abu Dhabi University|access-date=16 December 2022|work=The Financial Times|date=16 December 2022|archive-date=20 November 2023|url-status=live}}

In May 2023, Cameron expressed support for the Rwanda asylum plan and Suella Braverman's policies against illegal immigration into the UK, arguing in an interview with LBC: "I think if you don't have a better answer to the things that the government is doing to try and stop this illegal trade, then I think there's no point criticising."{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/05/24/david-cameron-defends-suella-braverman-rwanda-migrants/ |title=David Cameron defends Suella Braverman's Rwanda migration policy |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=24 May 2023|last1=Hymas |first1=Charles |archive-date=8 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608183927/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/05/24/david-cameron-defends-suella-braverman-rwanda-migrants/ |url-status=live|access-date=14 June 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/david-cameron-rwanda-policy-people-smugglers/ |title=Sending migrants to Rwanda 'best available option' to crush people-smuggling gangs, David Cameron says |access-date=14 June 2023 |archive-date=11 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230611215335/https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/david-cameron-rwanda-policy-people-smugglers/ |url-status=live }}

Cameron gave evidence to the UK COVID-19 Inquiry on 19 June 2023.{{cite news |last1=Corless |first1=Blathnaid |last2=Johnston |first2=Neil |date=19 June 2023 |title=David Cameron admits prioritising flu pandemic was 'mistake' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/06/19/covid-inquiry-latest-david-cameron-gives-evidence-live/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114173342/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/06/19/covid-inquiry-latest-david-cameron-gives-evidence-live/ |archive-date=14 January 2024 |access-date=19 June 2023 |work=The Daily Telegraph |issn=0307-1235}}

In Rishi Sunak's cabinet reshuffle on 13 November 2023, Cameron was appointed Foreign Secretary, replacing James Cleverly, who became Home Secretary. It was also announced simultaneously that he would receive a life peerage, thus making Cameron a member of the House of Lords and the first former prime minister to be raised to the peerage since Margaret Thatcher.{{Cite web |title=Peerages awarded to former UK prime ministers|work=House of Lords Library |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231114105234/https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/peerages-awarded-to-former-prime-ministers/ |archive-date=14 November 2023 |url-status=live |date=13 November 2023 |url=https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/peerages-awarded-to-former-prime-ministers/|first=Thomas|last=Brown}} He was created Baron Cameron of Chipping Norton, of Chipping Norton in the County of Oxfordshire on 17 November 2023.{{London Gazette|date=22 November 2023|issue=64237|page=23554}}{{Cite news|last=Smith|first=Benedict|date=17 November 2023|archive-date=11 April 2024|title=David Cameron to be known as Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/11/17/david-cameron-chipping-norton-territorial-designation/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240411154313/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/11/17/david-cameron-chipping-norton-territorial-designation/|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|access-date=17 November 2023}} Cameron was introduced to the House of Lords on 20 November, supported by Nicholas True, Baron True and Susan Williams, Baroness Williams of Trafford.{{cite Hansard|title=Introduction: Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton|jurisdiction=Parliament of the United Kingdom|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2023-11-20/debates/E466D82E-67CB-4AE0-8635-5F531D9EC874/IntroductionLordCameronOfChippingNorton|house=House of Lords|date=20 November 2023|volume=834|column=593}} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120212509/https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2023-11-20/debates/E466D82E-67CB-4AE0-8635-5F531D9EC874/IntroductionLordCameronOfChippingNorton |date=20 November 2023 }}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-67478628|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240117212034/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-67478628|title=Former PM David Cameron becomes Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton|date=20 November 2023|archive-date=17 January 2024|work=BBC News|url-status=live}}

His tenure was dominated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Gaza war, and the Gaza humanitarian crisis. Cameron visited 35 countries and territories during his tenure as Foreign Secretary, and was deputised in the House of Commons by Andrew Mitchell. Cameron visited the site of the Be'eri massacre, part of the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, on 23 November to meet Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen. Afterwards, he met the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss among other urgent matters, facilitating further aid to Gaza.{{cite news |last=Vasilyeva |first=Nataliy |date=23 November 2023 |title=Cameron: I've seen things I'll never forget at kibbutz targeted by Hamas |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/11/23/lord-cameron-israel-i-have-seen-things-ill-never-forget/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226184304/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/11/23/lord-cameron-israel-i-have-seen-things-ill-never-forget/ |archive-date=26 February 2024 |work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=24 November 2023}} Cameron said in an interview with the BBC that he told Israeli officials that "they must abide by international humanitarian law" and that the number of Palestinian casualties was "too high". He also said that the "settler violence" against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank is "completely unacceptable".{{cite news |date=25 November 2023 |title=Israel in diplomatic dispute with Spain and Belgium over Gaza bombardment |url=https://www.ft.com/content/2529d2d6-4eba-4078-ba49-0a5e80b6af6b |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329232120/https://www.ft.com/content/2529d2d6-4eba-4078-ba49-0a5e80b6af6b |archive-date=29 March 2024 |work=Financial Times}} Cameron backed a "sustainable ceasefire" in the Gaza Strip on 17 December, called for more aid to reach Gaza, and called for the Israeli government to "do more to discriminate sufficiently between terrorists and civilians". He, however, rejected calls for a "general and immediate ceasefire", differentiating this from the "sustainable ceasefire" he called for alongside German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock.{{cite web |date=17 December 2023 |title=Why the UK and Germany back a sustainable ceasefire: article by the Foreign Secretary and the German Foreign Minister |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/why-the-uk-and-germany-back-a-sustainable-ceasefire-article-by-the-foreign-secretary-and-the-german-foreign-minister |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118104216/https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/why-the-uk-and-germany-back-a-sustainable-ceasefire-article-by-the-foreign-secretary-and-the-german-foreign-minister |archive-date=18 January 2024|website=gov.uk|access-date=23 December 2023}}

File:Foreign Secretary David Cameron attends COP28 (53376969086).jpg with Bill Gates]]

In January 2024 he expressed concern about potential breaches of international law by Israel, specifically addressing the need for Israel to restore water supplies to Gaza.{{cite news |date=9 January 2024 |title=David Cameron squirms as he's confronted over Israeli 'war crimes' |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/24038357.david-cameron-squirms-confronted-israeli-war-crimes/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110001132/https://www.thenational.scot/news/24038357.david-cameron-squirms-confronted-israeli-war-crimes/ |archive-date=10 January 2024 |access-date=10 January 2024 |work=The National}} Cameron said in the same month that "Israel is acting in self-defence after the appalling attack on October 7" and denied that Israel is committing war crimes in Gaza. He dismissed South Africa's ICJ genocide case against Israel as "nonsense", saying that Israel is "a democracy, a country with the rule of law, a country with armed forces that are committed to obeying the rule of law".{{cite news |last=Lynch |first=David |date=14 January 2024 |title=Lord Cameron denies suggesting Israel has committed war crimes in Gaza |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/israel-cameron-international-court-of-justice-gaza-mps-b2478376.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408164153/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/israel-cameron-international-court-of-justice-gaza-mps-b2478376.html |archive-date=8 April 2024|work=The Independent|access-date=3 February 2024}} Cameron announced in late January that the government would consider recognising Palestine as a country, while also adding that would help to make a two-state solution "irreversible".{{cite news |last=Quinn |first=Ben |date=30 January 2024 |title=UK will consider recognising Palestinian state, says David Cameron |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/30/uk-will-consider-recognising-palestinian-state-says-david-cameron |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240410072113/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/30/uk-will-consider-recognising-palestinian-state-says-david-cameron |archive-date=10 April 2024|work=The Guardian|access-date=30 January 2024}} In April 2024 Cameron threatened the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, that the UK would "defund the court and withdraw from the Rome Statute" if it issued arrest warrants for Israeli politicians. The court subsequently issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.{{Cite web |title=Exclusive: David Cameron threatened to withdraw UK from ICC over Israel war crimes probe |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/david-cameron-threatened-withdraw-uk-icc-over-israel-war-crimes-probe |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=Middle East Eye |language=en}}

Cameron supported the February 2024 US Senate bill to allocate military aid to Ukraine, Taiwan and Israel, saying that he did not want the West to "show weakness displayed against Vladimir Putin in 2008, when he invaded Georgia, or the uncertainty of the response in 2014, when he took Crimea and much of the Donbas—before coming back to cost us far more with his aggression in 2022".{{cite news |date=15 February 2024 |title=Lord Cameron: I do not want us to show the weakness displayed against Putin in 2008, when he invaded Georgia |url=https://accentnews.ge/en/article/107253-kemeroni-ar-minda-vachvenot-sisuste-romelic-put |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240218011438/https://accentnews.ge/en/article/107253-kemeroni-ar-minda-vachvenot-sisuste-romelic-put |archive-date=18 February 2024|work=Accent News|access-date=18 February 2024}} In the event the Senate bill failed to pass in the House of Representatives, where it was stalled by the GOP partisans of Donald Trump.{{cite news |last=Mascaro |first=Lisa |date=8 February 2024 |title=Broken Congress: It can't fix the border, fund allies or impeach Mayorkas as GOP revolts |url=https://apnews.com/article/congress-fails-mayorkas-impeachment-border-bill-3bb2de710406cd5c5314e855c75efbef |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240423093051/https://apnews.com/article/congress-fails-mayorkas-impeachment-border-bill-3bb2de710406cd5c5314e855c75efbef |archive-date=23 April 2024 |work=AP News}}{{cite news |last=Shutt |first=Jennifer |date=13 February 2024 |title=U.S. Senate sends to the House a $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan • Missouri Independent |url=https://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/13/u-s-senate-sends-to-the-house-a-95-billion-aid-package-for-ukraine-israel-taiwan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327133340/https://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/13/u-s-senate-sends-to-the-house-a-95-billion-aid-package-for-ukraine-israel-taiwan/ |archive-date=27 March 2024}} At last a redrafted legislative package was put forward by Speaker Mike Johnson each of which passed the House with bipartisan support and large majorities on 20 April,{{cite news |last1=Tait |first1=Robert |last2=Greve |first2=Joan E. |last3=Michael |first3=Chris |date=20 April 2024 |title=US House approves $61bn in military aid for Ukraine after months of stalling |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/20/us-house-approves-61bn-aid-ukraine |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240423102515/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/20/us-house-approves-61bn-aid-ukraine |archive-date=23 April 2024 |work=The Guardian}} but not before Cameron was snubbed by Johnson.{{cite news |date=9 April 2024 |access-date=8 September 2024 |title=UK's Cameron meets with McConnell — but not Johnson — during Capitol Hill swing |first1=Katherine |last1=Tully-McManus |first2=Olivia |last2=Beavers |url=https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/04/09/congress/camerons-hill-visit-00151340 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20240908060919/https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/04/09/congress/camerons-hill-visit-00151340 |archive-date=8 September 2024 |work=Politico }}

File:Foreign Secretary David Cameron visits Palestine (53351627337).jpg overlooking the West Bank]]

Iran attacked Israel in April 2024 with 301 drones and missiles, and the UK aided Israel to shoot them all down with RAF Eurofighter Typhoons.{{cite news |last1=Sabbagh |first1=Dan |last2=Courea |first2=Eleni |date=14 April 2024 |title=RAF shot down Iranian drones heading for Israel, Sunak confirms |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/apr/14/raf-shot-down-iran-drones-israel-sunak |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240421021550/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/apr/14/raf-shot-down-iran-drones-israel-sunak |archive-date=21 April 2024 |work=The Guardian}} Cameron told LBC radio host Nick Ferrari that, were the UK to offer the same sort of support to Ukraine, it would represent a "dangerous escalation".{{cite news |date=15 April 2024 |title=Ukraine backers blast 'double standard' after allies rush to Israel's defense |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-backers-israel-double-standard-united-states-iran-attack-united-kingdom-france-russia/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240423060805/https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-backers-israel-double-standard-united-states-iran-attack-united-kingdom-france-russia/|work=Politico|archive-date=23 April 2024|access-date=23 April 2024}} In the same month, he became the first British foreign secretary to visit Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan.{{Cite news |last=Lloyd |first=Nina |date=22 April 2024 |title=David Cameron seeks 'new era' in UK-Central Asia relations on visit to region |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-cameron-tajikistan-kyrgyzstan-uzbekistan-b2532476.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240509225654/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-cameron-tajikistan-kyrgyzstan-uzbekistan-b2532476.html |archive-date=9 May 2024|work=The Independent|access-date=20 May 2024}} In June 2024 Cameron was tricked by Russian pranksters Vovan and Lexus, posing as former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko. Cameron, duped into believing he was actually speaking to Poroshenko, made a series of disclosures relating to the war in Ukraine, including details from a private dinner he had with then-U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump.{{cite news|title=Russian pranksters release hoax video call with UK's David Cameron about Ukraine |last=Osborn|first=Andrew |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-pranksters-release-hoax-video-call-with-uks-david-cameron-about-ukraine-2024-06-26/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240626221446/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-pranksters-release-hoax-video-call-with-uks-david-cameron-about-ukraine-2024-06-26/|work=Reuters|date=26 June 2024|archive-date=26 June 2024|access-date=27 June 2024|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=David Cameron is target of prank phone call|last=Osborn|first=Andrew

|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/david-cameron-is-target-of-prank-phone-call-fc65p7dhg|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240626104321/https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/david-cameron-is-target-of-prank-phone-call-fc65p7dhg|work=The Times|date=26 June 2024|archive-date=26 June 2024|url-status=live|url-access=subscription|access-date=27 June 2024}}

After the Conservatives lost the 2024 general election in a landslide to the opposition Labour Party led by Keir Starmer, Cameron was succeeded by David Lammy, whom he congratulated.{{Cite tweet |title=Congratulations @DavidLammy on your appointment as Foreign Secretary. At a time when the world is more dangerous, more volatile, more confrontational, than most of us have ever known, your new role is more important than ever. The @FCDOGovUK is full of great talent and experience that exemplifies the very best of the British civil service. I know they will serve you as well as they have served me. I will be willing you on as you get to work, standing up for Britain's interests, and wish you well. |user=David_Cameron |first=David |last=Cameron |date=6 July 2024 |number=1809293824075661733 |archive-date=8 September 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240908065230/https://x.com/David_Cameron/status/1809293824075661733 |url-status=live}} A few days later he announced that he would be retiring from frontline politics whilst continuing to support the party, with Mitchell becoming shadow foreign secretary in Sunak's shadow cabinet instead.{{Cite news |last=Hymas |first=Charles |date=8 July 2024 |title=David Cameron to step back from frontline politics |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/07/08/politics-election-keir-starmer-tories-latest-news/#1720456456221 |access-date=8 July 2024 |work=The Telegraph |archive-date=8 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240708195937/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/07/08/politics-election-keir-starmer-tories-latest-news/#1720456456221 |url-status=live }}{{Cite tweet |title=It's been a huge honour to serve as Foreign Secretary, but clearly the Conservative Party in opposition will need to shadow the new Foreign Secretary from the Commons. So I told Rishi Sunak that I would step back. I'm delighted that the Shadow Foreign Secretary role has gone to my good friend Andrew Mitchell. As a committed Conservative I will continue to support the Party and help where I can as we rebuild from the very disappointing election result. |number=1810403593176101306 |first=David |last=Cameron |date=9 July 2024 |archive-date=8 September 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240908070531/https://x.com/David_Cameron/status/1810403593176101306 |user=David_Cameron |url-status=live}} However, he maintains his House of Lords seat.{{Cite web|date=8 July 2024|title=David Cameron steps back from frontline politics – but keeps Lords seat for life|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-cameron-lords-life-election-defeat-b2576205.html|website=The Independent|access-date=9 July 2024|archive-date=8 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240708234736/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-cameron-lords-life-election-defeat-b2576205.html|url-status=live}}

{{further|Political positions of David Cameron}}

Cameron described himself in December 2005 as a "modern compassionate conservative" and spoke of a need for a new style of politics, saying that he was "fed up with the Punch and Judy politics of Westminster".{{cite news |last=Freedland |first=Jonathan |author-link=Jonathan Freedland |date=7 December 2005 |title=Enough of this love-in: Bush was a compassionate conservative too |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/dec/07/conservatives.toryleadership20051 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021003557/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/dec/07/conservatives.toryleadership20051 |archive-date=21 October 2013 |access-date=6 November 2006 |work=The Guardian|url-status=live}} He was "certainly a big Thatcher fan, but I don't know whether that makes me a Thatcherite",{{cite news |date=17 November 2005 |title=Cameron: Tories need new identity |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4446864.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828001635/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4446864.stm |archive-date=28 August 2016 |access-date=12 September 2016 |work=BBC News}} saying he was a "liberal Conservative", though "not a deeply ideological person."{{cite news |last=Rawnsley |first=Andrew |author-link=Andrew Rawnsley |date=18 December 2005 |title='I'm not a deeply ideological person. I'm a practical one' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/dec/18/conservatives.interviews |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603025950/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/dec/18/conservatives.interviews |archive-date=3 June 2016|work=The Guardian|access-date=12 September 2016}} As leader of the opposition, Cameron asserted that he did not intend to oppose the government as a matter of course, and would offer his support in areas of agreement. He has urged politicians to concentrate more on improving people's happiness and "general well-being", instead of focusing solely on "financial wealth".{{cite news |date=22 May 2006 |title=Make people happier, says Cameron |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/5003314.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806143722/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/5003314.st |archive-date=6 August 2016 |access-date=12 September 2016 |work=BBC News}} There were claims that he described himself to journalists at a dinner during the leadership contest as the "heir to Blair".{{cite news|title=Horror as Cameron brandishes the B word |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,17129-1811591,00.html|last=Pierce |first=Andrew |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060109185617/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,17129-1811591,00.html |archive-date=9 January 2006 |work=The Times|date=5 October 2005|access-date=25 November 2006}}

In his first Conservative conference speech as party leader in Bournemouth in 2006, he described the National Health Service as "one of the 20th Century's greatest achievements". He went on to say: "Tony Blair explained his priorities in three words: education, education, education. I can do it in three letters: N.H.S." He also talked about his severely disabled son, Ivan, concluding: "So, for me, it is not just a question of saying the NHS is safe in my hands—of course it will be. My family is so often in the hands of the NHS, so I want them to be safe there."{{cite news |date=4 October 2006 |title=NHS safe in my hands says Cameron |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5403798.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512191706/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5403798.stm |archive-date=12 May 2021 |access-date=6 July 2014 |work=BBC News}}

File:Merkel Obama Cameron G8 2011.jpg and then German chancellor Angela Merkel at Deauville, France, May 2011]]

Cameron said that he believed in "spreading freedom and democracy, and supporting humanitarian intervention" in cases such as the genocide in Darfur, Sudan. He said he rejected neoconservatism because, as a conservative, he recognises "the complexities of human nature, and will always be sceptical of grand schemes to remake the world."{{cite news |date=4 October 2006 |title=In full: Cameron speech |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/5407714.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009155445/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/5407714.st|work=BBC News |archive-date=9 October 2019 |access-date=12 September 2016}} A supporter of multilateralism, as "a country may act alone—but it cannot always succeed alone", he believes multilateralism can take the form of acting through "NATO, the UN, the G8, the EU and other institutions", or through international alliances.{{cite news |date=11 September 2006 |title=In full: Cameron on foreign policy |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/5336082.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603221020/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/5336082.st |archive-date=3 June 2016|work=BBC News|access-date=12 September 2016}} Cameron said: "If the West is to help other countries, we must do so from a position of genuine moral authority" and "we must strive above all for legitimacy in what we do."

Cameron believes that British Muslims have a duty to integrate into British culture, but noted in an article published in 2007, that the Muslim community finds aspects such as high divorce rates and drug use uninspiring, and: "Not for the first time, I found myself thinking that it is mainstream Britain which needs to integrate more with the British Asian way of life, not the other way around."{{cite news |last=Cameron |first=David |date=13 May 2007 |title=What I learnt from my stay with a Muslim family |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2007/may/13/comment.communities |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826002648/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2007/may/13/comment.communities |archive-date=26 August 2013 |access-date=13 April 2010 |work=The Observer}} In his first speech as PM on radicalisation and the causes of terrorism in February 2011, Cameron said that "state multiculturalism" had failed.{{cite news |date=5 February 2011 |title=State multiculturalism has failed, says David Cameron |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12371994 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110206050919/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12371994 |archive-date=6 February 2011 |work=BBC News|access-date=5 February 2011}} In 2010 he appointed the first Muslim member of the British cabinet, Baroness Warsi, as a minister without portfolio, and in 2012 made her a special minister of state in foreign affairs. She resigned, however, in August 2014 over the government's handling of the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict.

While urging members of his party to support the coalition's proposals for same-sex marriage, Cameron said that he backed gay marriage not in spite of his conservatism, but because he is a conservative, and claimed it was about equality.{{cite news |last=Green |first=Jessica |date=5 October 2011 |title=David Cameron urges Tories to back gay marriage |url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/10/05/david-cameron-urges-tories-to-back-gay-marriage/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702112058/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/10/05/david-cameron-urges-tories-to-back-gay-marriage/ |archive-date=2 July 2016|work=Pink News|access-date=12 September 2016}} In 2012 Cameron publicly apologised for Thatcher-era policies on homosexuality, specifically the introduction of the controversial Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988, which he described as "a mistake".{{cite news |last=Faiola |first=Anthony |date=29 March 2012 |title=British Conservatives lead charge for gay marriage |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/british-conservatives-lead-charge-for-gay-marriage/2012/03/29/gIQAzatzjS_story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310095946/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/british-conservatives-lead-charge-for-gay-marriage/2012/03/29/gIQAzatzjS_story.html |archive-date=10 March 2016 |newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=26 August 2017}}

{{further|Political positions of David Cameron#Welfare}}

In 2006 Cameron described poverty as a "moral disgrace"Mulholland, Hélène (24 November 2006). [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/nov/24/conservatives.socialexclusion "Cameron: poverty is a 'moral disgrace{{'"}}] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224033950/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/nov/24/conservatives.socialexclusion|date=24 December 2016}}. The Guardian (London). and promised to tackle relative poverty.Eaton, George (24 June 2015). [http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/06/david-cameron-has-retreated-his-promises-child-poverty-will-it-cost-him "David Cameron has retreated from his promises on child poverty – but will it cost him?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701003101/http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/06/david-cameron-has-retreated-his-promises-child-poverty-will-it-cost-him|date=1 July 2015}}. New Statesman (London). In 2007 Cameron promised: "We can make British poverty history, and we will make British poverty history". The same year he also stated: "Ending child poverty is central to improving child well-being".[http://www.cpag.org.uk/ending-child-poverty-by-2020 "Ending child poverty by 2020"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721030925/http://www.cpag.org.uk/ending-child-poverty-by-2020|date=21 July 2015}}. Child Poverty Action Group. n.d. In 2015 Polly Toynbee questioned Cameron's commitment to tackling poverty, contrasting his earlier statements agreeing that "poverty is relative" with proposals to change the government's poverty measure, and saying that cuts in child tax credits would increase child poverty among low-paid working families.Toynbee, Polly (2 July 2015). [https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jul/02/david-cameron-abolishes-poverty-poor "David Cameron abolishes poverty, just like that"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224035642/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jul/02/david-cameron-abolishes-poverty-poor|date=24 December 2016}}. The Guardian (London). Cameron denied that austerity had contributed to the 2011 England riots, instead blaming street gangs and opportunistic looters.{{Cite news |last1=Abbas |first1=Mohammed |last2=Croft |first2=Adrian |date=11 August 2011 |title=Cameron denies austerity drive caused UK riots |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-riot/cameron-denies-austerity-drive-caused-uk-riots-idUSTRE7760G820110811 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029030959/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-riot/cameron-denies-austerity-drive-caused-uk-riots-idUSTRE7760G820110811 |archive-date=29 October 2018|work=Reuters|access-date=25 November 2018}}

In 2010 Cameron was given a score of 36% in favour of lesbian, gay and bisexual equality by Stonewall.[http://www.stonewall.org.uk/ "MPs' voting records"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302191519/http://stonewall.org.uk/|date=2 March 2013}}. Stonewall. 2010. Prior to 2005 Cameron was opposed to gay rights, calling it a "fringe agenda" and attacking Prime Minister Tony Blair for "moving heaven and earth to allow the promotion of homosexuality in our schools" by repealing the anti-gay Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988.{{cite news |last=Hari |first=Johann |date=4 February 2010 |title=Let's talk about sex: Johann Hari grills David Cameron over gay rights |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/lets-talk-about-sex-johann-hari-grills-david-cameron-over-gay-rights-1888688.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706194607/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/lets-talk-about-sex-johann-hari-grills-david-cameron-over-gay-rights-1888688.html|archive-date=6 July 2017|work=The Independent|access-date=26 August 2017}} Cameron is recorded by Hansard as having voted against same-sex adoption rights in 2002, but he denies this, claiming he abstained from the three-line whip imposed on him by his party. In 2008, he wanted lesbians who receive IVF treatment to be required to name a father figure, which received condemnation from LGBT equality groups. However, Cameron supported commitment for gay couples in a 2005 speech, and in October 2011 urged Conservative MPs to support gay marriage.

In November 2012 Cameron and Nick Clegg agreed to fast-track legislation for introducing same-sex marriage.{{cite news |last=Roberts |first=Scott |date=22 November 2012 |title=Source: David Cameron to introduce equal marriage legislation within weeks |url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/11/22/source-david-cameron-to-introduce-equal-marriage-legislation-within-weeks/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130106183157/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/11/22/source-david-cameron-to-introduce-equal-marriage-legislation-within-weeks/ |archive-date=6 January 2013|work=Pink News|access-date=28 December 2012}} Cameron stated that he wanted to give religious groups the ability to host gay marriage ceremonies, and that he did not want to exclude gay people from a "great institution".{{cite news |date=7 December 2012 |title=Gay marriage: David Cameron backs church role |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-20642428 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923194038/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-20642428 |archive-date=23 September 2016 |access-date=13 September 2016 |work=BBC News}} In 2013 the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 became law despite opposition from more than half of his fellow Conservative MPs, including Cabinet ministers Owen Paterson and David Jones.{{cite news |date=5 February 2013 |title=Gay marriage: MPs back bill despite Conservative backbench opposition |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21346220 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160227195447/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21346220 |archive-date=27 February 2016 |access-date=30 March 2013 |work=BBC News}} He also subsequently appointed two women who had voted against same-sex marriage as ministers in the Government Equalities Office, Nicky Morgan and Caroline Dinenage following the 2015 general election.{{cite news |last=Mason |first=Rowena |date=12 May 2015 |title=Cameron appoints another gay marriage opponent to Equalities Office |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/12/david-cameron-appoints-another-gay-marriage-opponent-to-equalities-office |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224035728/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/12/david-cameron-appoints-another-gay-marriage-opponent-to-equalities-office |archive-date=24 December 2016|work=The Guardian|access-date=13 September 2016}}

In August 2013 he rejected calls by Stephen Fry and others to strip Russia from hosting the 2014 Winter Olympics due to its anti-gay laws.{{cite news |date=10 August 2013 |title=Fry's Russia Winter Olympics switch call rejected by PM |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-23645141 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924055327/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-23645141 |archive-date=24 September 2016 |access-date=13 September 2016 |work=BBC News}} Cameron did not attend the games, but denied it was a boycott in protest at Russia's laws, having previously raised the issue of gay rights in the country with Vladimir Putin.{{cite news |last1=Grice |first1=Andrew |last2=Wright |first2=Oliver |date=20 December 2013 |title=David Cameron to skip Sochi Olympics – but insists it's not a boycott |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-cameron-to-skip-sochi-olympics--but-insists-its-not-a-boycott-9019066.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223055000/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-cameron-to-skip-sochi-olympics--but-insists-its-not-a-boycott-9019066.html |archive-date=23 February 2014|work=The Independent|access-date=8 February 2014}}

In 2009 Cameron said "the restoration of family values and a new commitment to economic and social responsibility" were "key to repairing 'broken Britain{{'"}}.{{cite news |last=Prince |first=Rosa |date=29 March 2009 |title=David Cameron: family values the key to responsible society |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/5070968/David-Cameron-family-values-the-key-to-responsible-society.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/5070968/David-Cameron-family-values-the-key-to-responsible-society.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=19 September 2020}}{{cbignore}} In 2013 Cameron described himself as "a marriage man, I am a great supporter of marriage. I want to promote marriage, defend marriage, encourage marriage." As such, he rejected calls from Conservative MP Christopher Chope to extend civil partnership rights to heterosexual couples, saying: "I think we should be promoting marriage rather than looking at any other way of weakening it."{{cite news |last=Watt |first=Nicholas |date=6 February 2013 |title=Gay marriage: PM rejects call to allow civil partnerships for straight couples |url=http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/feb/06/pm-straight-couples-civil-partnerships |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223010444/http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/feb/06/pm-straight-couples-civil-partnerships |archive-date=23 February 2014 |access-date=10 February 2014 |work=The Guardian}} In 2018 the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that this position was discriminatory.{{cite news |date=31 December 2019 |title=Civil partnerships: First mixed-sex unions take place |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-50953410 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629211235/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-50953410 |archive-date=29 June 2020 |access-date=19 September 2020 |work=BBC News}}

Assisted dying

In November 2024, Cameron announced he was in favour of Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on assisted dying, having previously opposed legalising the practice.{{cite news |last=Cameron |first=David |date=27 November 2024 |title=David Cameron: Why I'm now back in assisted dying |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/872f6fd7-ca67-4327-b4a9-14f62cd37661?shareToken=810def77003a311f470390d639d661af |work=The Times}}

Cameron criticised Gordon Brown (when Brown was Chancellor of the Exchequer) for being "an analogue politician in a digital age" and referred to him as "the roadblock to reform".{{cite news |date=22 March 2006 |title=Cameron attacks 'past it' Brown |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4833440.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061223032442/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4833440.stm |archive-date=23 December 2006 |access-date=6 November 2006 |work=BBC News}} As prime minister, he reacted to press reports that Brown could be the next head of the International Monetary Fund by hinting that he may block the appointment, citing the huge national debt that Brown left the country with as a reason for Brown not being suitable for the role.{{cite news |date=19 April 2011 |title=Cameron hints at blocking Brown bid for IMF job |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-13127225 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126010343/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-13127225 |archive-date=26 November 2018 |access-date=25 November 2018 |work=BBC News}}

He said that John Prescott "clearly looks a fool" after Prescott's personal indiscretions were revealed in spring 2006, and wondered if the Deputy Prime Minister had broken the ministerial code.{{cite news |date=2 May 2006 |title=Cameron: Prescott looks a 'fool' |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4964082.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920035903/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4964082.stm |archive-date=20 September 2016 |access-date=12 September 2016 |work=BBC News}} During a speech to the Ethnic Media Conference in November 2006, Cameron also described Ken Livingstone, the mayor of London, as an "ageing far left politician" following Livingstone's criticism of Trevor Phillips, head of the Commission for Racial Equality.{{cite news |date=30 November 2006 |title=Cameron attacks 'outdated' mayor |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6157517.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231119231518/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6157517.stm |archive-date=19 November 2023 |access-date=12 September 2016 |work=BBC News}}

File:British PMs 2011.png, Tony Blair, John Major and Deputy PM Nick Clegg, during Barack Obama's address in Westminster Hall, June 2011]]

In April 2006 Cameron accused the UK Independence Party of being "fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists, mostly",{{cite news |last=Assinder |first=Nick |date=4 April 2006 |title=UKIP and Cameron's war of words |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4875502.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011162748/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4875502.stm |archive-date=11 October 2016 |access-date=12 September 2016 |work=BBC News}} leading UKIP MEP Nigel Farage (who became leader in September of that year) to demand an apology for the remarks. Right-wing Conservative MP Bob Spink, who later defected to UKIP, also criticised the remarks,{{cite news |last=Carlin |first=Brendan |date=6 April 2006 |title=Tory MP defends Ukip in racist row |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1514976/Tory-MP-defends-Ukip-in-racist-row.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1514976/Tory-MP-defends-Ukip-in-racist-row.html |archive-date=10 January 2022|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=12 September 2016}}{{cbignore}} as did The Daily Telegraph.{{cite news |date=5 April 2006 |title=UKIP deserves better |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/telegraph-view/3624131/UKIP-deserves-better.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/telegraph-view/3624131/UKIP-deserves-better.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |access-date=12 September 2016 |work=The Daily Telegraph}}{{cbignore}} Cameron was seen encouraging Conservative MPs to join the standing ovation given to Tony Blair at the end of his last Prime Minister's Question Time; he had paid tribute to the "huge efforts" Blair had made and said Blair had "considerable achievements to his credit, whether it is peace in Northern Ireland or his work in the developing world, which will endure".{{cite news |date=27 June 2007 |title=Cameron praises Blair achievement |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6245346.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011000029/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6245346.stm |archive-date=11 October 2016 |access-date=12 September 2016 |work=BBC News}}

In January 2007 Cameron made a speech in which he described extremist Islamic organisations and the British National Party as "mirror images" to each other, both preaching "creeds of pure hatred".{{cite news |last=Mulholland |first=Hélène |date=29 January 2007 |title=Muslim extremists are mirror image of BNP, says Cameron |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2007/jan/29/religion.politics |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130831003959/http://www.theguardian.com/society/2007/jan/29/religion.politics |archive-date=31 August 2013 |access-date=13 April 2010 |work=The Guardian }} Cameron is listed as being a supporter of Unite Against Fascism.{{cite web |title=Founding signatories |url=http://uaf.org.uk/about/founding-signatories/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605122524/http://uaf.org.uk/about/founding-signatories/ |archive-date=5 June 2010 |access-date=17 April 2010 |publisher=Unite Against Fascism}}

In September 2015 after the election of Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader, Cameron called the party a "threat" to British national and economic security, on the basis of Corbyn's defence and fiscal policies.{{cite news |last=Stone |first=Jon |date=13 September 2015 |title=David Cameron claims Jeremy Corbyn is a 'threat to national security' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-cameron-claims-jeremy-corbyn-is-a-threat-to-national-security-10498651.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925151505/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-cameron-claims-jeremy-corbyn-is-a-threat-to-national-security-10498651.html |archive-date=25 September 2015 |access-date=23 September 2015 |work=The Independent}}

In an interview on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross in 2006, Cameron said that he supported the decision of the then Labour Government to go to war in Iraq, and said that he thought supporters should "see it through".{{cite news |date=23 June 2006 |title=Cameron backs Blair on Iraq war |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5108584.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060820132037/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5108584.stm |archive-date=20 August 2006 |access-date=20 December 2013 |work=BBC News}} He also supported a motion brought by the SNP and Plaid Cymru in 2006, calling for an inquiry into the government's conduct of the Iraq war. In 2011 he oversaw the withdrawal of British soldiers from Iraq. He repeatedly called for the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq war to conclude and publish its findings, saying: "People want to know the truth".{{cite news |last=MacAskill |first=Ewan |date=21 August 2015 |title=David Cameron pushes Chilcot for Iraq report: 'We want this inquiry finished' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/aug/21/david-cameron-pushes-chilcot-iraq-report-we-want-this-inquiry-finished |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927234056/http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/aug/21/david-cameron-pushes-chilcot-iraq-report-we-want-this-inquiry-finished |archive-date=27 September 2015|work=The Guardian|access-date=27 September 2015}}

Cameron was a strong advocate of increased ties between India and the United Kingdom, describing Indian–British relations as the "New Special Relationship" in 2010.{{cite news |last=Morris |first=Chris |author-link=Chris Morris (journalist) |date=27 July 2010 |title=Does India want a 'special relationship' with UK? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10782552 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205044437/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10782552 |archive-date=5 February 2016|work=BBC News|access-date=25 November 2018}}{{cite news |last=Nelson |first=Dean |date=7 July 2010 |title=Ministers to build a new 'special relationship' with India |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/conservative/7877719/Ministers-to-build-a-new-special-relationship-with-India.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721012315/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/conservative/7877719/Ministers-to-build-a-new-special-relationship-with-India.html |archive-date=21 July 2010 |work=The Daily Telegraph}}

In October 2012 as Narendra Modi rose to prominence in India, the UK rescinded its boycott of the then-Gujarat state Chief Minister over religious riots in Gujarat in 2002 that left more than 2,000 dead,{{cite news |last=Burke |first=Jason |date=22 October 2012 |title=UK government ends boycott of Narendra Modi |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/oct/22/uk-ends-boycott-narendra-modi |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914031502/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/oct/22/uk-ends-boycott-narendra-modi |archive-date=14 September 2013 |access-date=12 May 2013 |work=The Guardian}} and in November 2013, Cameron commented that he was "open" to meeting Modi.{{cite news |last=Mason |first=Rowena |date=14 November 2013 |title=Cameron open to meeting Indian Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/nov/14/david-cameron-open-meeting-narendra-modi |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224032843/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/nov/14/david-cameron-open-meeting-narendra-modi |archive-date=24 December 2016 |access-date=11 December 2016 |work=The Guardian}} Modi was later elected as prime minister in a landslide majority, leading to Cameron calling Modi and congratulating him on the "election success",{{cite news |last=Roy |first=Shubhajit |date=17 May 2014 |title=Barack Obama dials Modi |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/barack-obama-dials-modi-modi/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520004729/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/barack-obama-dials-modi-modi/? |archive-date=20 May 2014 |access-date=21 May 2014 |work=The Indian Express}} one of the first Western leaders to do so.{{cite news |last=Najar |first=Nida |date=19 May 2014 |title=In Modi's Twitter Diplomacy, A Notable Omission |url=http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/05/19/in-modis-twitter-diplomacy-some-notable-omissions/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527222829/http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/05/19/in-modis-twitter-diplomacy-some-notable-omissions/ |archive-date=27 May 2014 |newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=31 May 2014}}

File:The Foreign Secretary visits Israel (53485734419).jpg at Jerusalem, January 2024]]

In January 2024, Cameron dismissed South Africa's ICJ genocide case against Israel as "nonsense", saying that Israel is "a democracy, a country with the rule of law, a country with armed forces that are committed to obeying the rule of law".

In October 2015 Xi Jinping, the president of the People's Republic of China, paid a state visit to the United Kingdom under the Premiership of Cameron. Such episodes including the Chinese leader famously having a pint with Cameron at a local pub in Buckinghamshire,{{Cite news |date=5 December 2016 |title=Chinese buy President Xi and David Cameron visit pub |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-38212539 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117075642/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-38212539 |archive-date=17 November 2023 |access-date=17 November 2023 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} and Queen Elizabeth hailing the visit as "milestone" during state banquet,{{Cite news |date=20 October 2015 |title=Xi Jinping visit: UK-China ties 'will be lifted to new height' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-34571436 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117075640/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-34571436|archive-date=17 November 2023|work=BBC News|access-date=17 November 2023}} symbolised the increased cordiality between China and the United Kingdom under Cameron, in spite of the controversies around the state visit and the concerns with China's superpower status. The state visit was the third formal Anglo–Chinese diplomatic meetings, which involves either head of states or head of governments, following Cameron's visit to China in 2013 and then–Premier Li Keqiang's UK visit in 2014; the year 2015 alone also marked an unprecedented level of bilateral meetings and visits.{{Cite web |date=16 October 2015 |title=觀點：中英開創兩國關係「黃金期」 |url=https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/trad/china/2015/10/151016_viewpoint_china_uk_relations_golden-year |trans-title=Point of view: China and Britain create the "golden period" of relations between the two countries |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117075640/https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/trad/china/2015/10/151016_viewpoint_china_uk_relations_golden-year |archive-date=17 November 2023|website=BBC News 中文 |language=zh-hant|access-date=17 November 2023}}

The unprecedented level of friendly relations with China has also led to many, including the PRC and Cameron himself, marking his premiership as a "golden-era" of UK–China relations, where bilateral cooperation between the countries reached its apex. The UK government was even seen expressing interests in participating in Chinese diplomatic projects under Xi Jinping, such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).{{Cite web |title=A "Golden Era" for China–UK Relations |url=https://www.chinausfocus.com/foreign-policy/a-golden-era-for-chinauk-relations |first=Zhang |last=Bei |date=6 February 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117075644/https://www.chinausfocus.com/foreign-policy/a-golden-era-for-chinauk-relations |archive-date=17 November 2023 |access-date=17 November 2023 |website=China-US Focus}} By 2023, upon Cameron's appointment as Foreign Secretary, eight years apart from the state visit of Xi, he was associating by media outlets, home and abroad, with the keyword "golden era",{{Cite news |date=17 October 2015 |title=China, Britain to benefit from 'golden era' in ties – Cameron |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/world/china-britain-to-benefit-from-golden-era-in-ties-cameron-idUSKCN0SB10M/ |access-date=17 November 2023 |work=Reuters |language=en-US |archive-date=8 September 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240908091523/https://www.reuters.com/article/world/china-britain-to-benefit-from-golden-era-in-ties-cameron-idUSKCN0SB10M/ |first=Estelle |last=Shirbon |editor-first=Gareth |editor-last=Jones |url-status=live}} even dubbing Cameron himself as "Lord Golden Era",{{Cite web |date=14 November 2023 |title=Lord 'Golden Era' Cameron returneth |url=https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/china-watcher/lord-golden-era-cameron-returneth/ |first1=Stuart |last1=Lau |first2=Phelim |last2=Kine |editor-first=Christian |editor-last=Oliver |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220064451/https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/china-watcher/lord-golden-era-cameron-returneth/ |archive-date=20 February 2024 |access-date=17 November 2023 |website=POLITICO |language=en}} prompting concerns over the stances of the Sunak government towards China as the latter welcomed Cameron's appointment as Foreign Secretary.{{Cite news |last=Hawkins |first=Amy |date=15 November 2023 |title=Concerns as China welcomes David Cameron's return as Foreign Secretary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/nov/15/concerns-as-china-welcomes-david-camerons-return-as-foreign-secretary |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117003806/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/nov/15/concerns-as-china-welcomes-david-camerons-return-as-foreign-secretary |archive-date=17 November 2023|work=The Guardian|issn=0261-3077|access-date=17 November 2023}}

File:Vladimir Putin and David Cameron (2015-11-16) 01.jpg at the G20 Antalya summit, Turkey, 16 November 2015]]

In the years after Cameron became UK prime minister, UK relations with Russia initially showed a marked improvement. In 2011 Cameron visited Russia, and in 2012, Putin visited the UK for the first time in seven years, holding talks with Cameron, and also visiting the 2012 London Olympics together.{{cite news |date=2 August 2012 |title=Vladimir Putin and David Cameron find common ground but no action on Syria |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/aug/02/cameron-putin |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203084413/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/aug/02/cameron-putin |archive-date=3 December 2023 |access-date=11 December 2023 |work=The Guardian}}

In May 2013 Cameron flew to meet Putin at his summer residence in Sochi, Bocharov Ruchei, to hold talks on the Syria crisis. Cameron described the talks as "very substantive, purposeful and useful", and the leaders exchanged presents with each other. At that time, it was suggested that Cameron could use his good relations with both US president Barack Obama, and President Putin to act as a 'go-between' in international relations.{{cite news |date=10 May 2013 |title=David Cameron hails talks with Russia over Syria as 'purposeful and useful' |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/david-cameron-hails-talks-russia-1881465 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203091836/https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/david-cameron-hails-talks-russia-1881465 |archive-date=3 December 2023|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=3 December 2023}} However, Cameron's relations to Russia soured drastically following the Russo-Ukrainian War. Cameron criticised the 2014 Crimean status referendum as a "sham", with voters having "voted under the barrel of a Kalashnikov", stating "Russia has sought to annex Crimea.... This is a flagrant breach of international law and something we will not recognise."{{cite news |date=21 March 2014 |title=Ukraine crisis: David Cameron attacks Crimea vote 'under barrel of a Kalashnikov' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/ukraine-crisis-david-cameron-attacks-crimea-vote-under-barrel-of-a-kalashnikov-9207145.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211064438/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/ukraine-crisis-david-cameron-attacks-crimea-vote-under-barrel-of-a-kalashnikov-9207145.html |archive-date=11 December 2023 |access-date=11 December 2023 |work=The Independent}} Cameron has gone on to be a fierce critic of Russia, and Putin, and supporter of Ukraine.{{cite news |date=7 December 2023 |title=Blast from the past: David Cameron warns US against Munich-style appeasement of Putin |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/david-cameron-warns-munich-appeasement-putin |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211064529/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/david-cameron-warns-munich-appeasement-putin |archive-date=11 December 2023 |access-date=11 December 2023}}

In April 2016 then Labour MP for Bolsover, Dennis Skinner was reprimanded by House Speaker John Bercow for referring to Cameron as 'Dodgy Dave' (related to Skinner's contention of Cameron's dishonesty) in a parliamentary debate about the Panama Papers. Skinner was instructed by Bercow to repeat his question without referring to Cameron using the adjective 'dodgy'. When Skinner repeated his question, once again referring to Cameron as 'Dodgy Dave', he was ordered to leave parliament for the remainder of that day's session.{{cite news |title=David Cameron Questioned After Panama Papers Uproar|url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/live/david-cameron-speech/dodgy-dave-remarks-draws-rebuke/|access-date=14 December 2023 |date=11 April 2016}}{{cite news |title=Dennis Skinner Gets Thrown Out Of Commons For Calling Cameron 'Dodgy Dave'|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/dennis-skinner-gets-thrown-out-of-commons-for-calling-cameron-dodgy-dave_uk_570bc0cae4b0fa55639d7523|date=11 April 2016|access-date=17 December 2023}} In July 2016, Skinner once again referred to Cameron as 'Dodgy Dave' in parliament, however this time he was not reprimanded, or asked to leave.{{cite news |title=Celebrities Dennis Skinner just called Cameron 'Dodgy Dave' again at PMQs|url=https://www.indy100.com/celebrities/dennis-skinner-just-called-david-cameron-dodgy-dave-again-at-pmqs-7301551|date=6 July 2023|access-date=14 December 2023}}

"Dodgy Dave" has gained usage in the media, and on social media, when Cameron is being referred to disparagingly.{{cite news |title=Dennis Skinner's infamous 'dodgy Dave' comment resurfaces amid David Cameron return |url=https://www.indy100.com/politics/dennis-skinner-dodgy-dave-greensill|access-date=14 December 2023 |date=14 November 2023}}{{cite news |title=The Return of Dodgy Dave and the Exile of Suella Braverman |url=https://www.irishnews.com/opinion/columnists/2023/11/18/news/jake_o_kane_the_return_of_dodgy_dave_cameron_and_the_exile_of_suella_braverman-3777330/|access-date=18 December 2023 |date=18 November 2023}}{{cite news |title=The Return of Dodgy Dave |url=https://www.irishnews.com/opinion/columnists/2023/11/18/news/jake_o_kane_the_return_of_dodgy_dave_cameron_and_the_exile_of_suella_braverman-3777330/|access-date=18 December 2023 |date=13 November 2023}}{{cite news |title=David Cameron lobbying: Bank of England documents suggest 'Dodgy Dave' turned to 'Desperate Dave' over Greensill |url=https://news.sky.com/story/david-cameron-lobbying-bank-of-england-documents-suggest-dodgy-dave-turned-to-desperate-dave-over-greensill-12284033|access-date=22 April 2021 |date=13 November 2023}}{{cite news |title=Which Nickname Should David Cameron be Remembered By |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/dodgy-dave-remembered-by/|date=13 November 2023|access-date=13 April 2016}}

File:Conservative Party Reception.jpg

As leader of the Conservative Party, Cameron was accused of relying on "old-boy networks", and criticised by his party for the imposition of selective shortlists of women and ethnic minority prospective parliamentary candidates.{{Cite news|title=Under the Green Oak, an old elite takes root in Tories |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/aug/12/uk.conservatives|last=Taylor |first=Matthew |date=12 August 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509071146/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/aug/12/uk.conservatives |archive-date=9 May 2021 |access-date=15 February 2010 |newspaper=The Guardian}} Several of Cameron's senior appointments, such as George Osborne as chancellor of the Exchequer, are former members of the Bullingdon Club. Michael Gove conceded it was "ridiculous" how many fellow Cabinet ministers were old Etonians, though he placed the blame on the failings of the state education system rather than Cameron.{{cite news |date=14 March 2014 |title=How far will Michael Gove go? |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/ebe8018c-aa45-11e3-8497-00144feab7de.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/ebe8018c-aa45-11e3-8497-00144feab7de.html |archive-date=10 December 2022 |access-date=5 March 2016 |work=Financial Times}} However, Michael Mosbacher, co-founder of Standpoint, wrote that Cameron's cabinet has the lowest number of Etonians of any past Conservative government: "David Cameron's government is the least patrician, least wealthy and least public-school-educated—indeed the least Etonian Conservative-led government this country has ever seen".Mosbacher, Michael (June 2013). [http://standpointmag.co.uk/features-june-13-the-myth-of-camerons-etonian-chumocracy-michael-mosbacher-elitism "The Myth of Cameron's Eton 'Chumocracy{{'"}}] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140706071148/http://standpointmag.co.uk/features-june-13-the-myth-of-camerons-etonian-chumocracy-michael-mosbacher-elitism|date=6 July 2014}}. Standpoint. Retrieved 8 May 2014.

File:David Cameronspeaking2.jpg

Following poor results in the May 2012 local elections after a difficult few months for the government, with Labour increasing its lead in the polls, there were concerns from Conservative MPs about Cameron's leadership and his electability. David Davies, the chairman of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee, accused the Conservative leadership of "incompetence", and hinted that it could risk Cameron's leadership.{{cite web |date=10 May 2012 |title=MP tells David Cameron of his frustration at 'incompetence at government's highest levels' |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/mp-tells-david-cameron-frustration-2030582 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617101743/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/mp-tells-david-cameron-frustration-2030582 |archive-date=17 June 2016}} Nadine Dorries warned the Prime Minister that a leadership challenge could happen.{{cite news |title=Nadine Dorries tells David Cameron to change policies or lose Tory leadership |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/may/06/nadine-dorries-david-cameron-leadership|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019204432/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/may/06/nadine-dorries-david-cameron-leadership|work=The Guardian|archive-date=19 October 2013|date=6 May 2012|access-date=21 May 2013}}

Later that year, Conservative MP Brian Binley openly said that Cameron's leadership was like being a "maid" to the Liberal Democrats, and accused him of leading the party to defeat. In January 2013, it was revealed that Adam Afriyie was planning his own bid for the Conservative leadership with the support of fellow MPs Mark Field, Bill Wiggin, Chris Heaton-Harris, Patrick Mercer, Jonathan Djanogly and Dan Byles. The Times and ConservativeHome revealed that a "rebel reserve" of 55 Conservative MPs gave firm pledges to a co-ordinating MP to support a motion of no confidence and write to Brady simultaneously, more than the 46 MPs needed to trigger a vote of no confidence.{{cite web |date=20 January 2013 |title='Rebel reserve' of 55 Conservative MPs 'is being gathered for Cameron leadership challenge' |url=http://conservativehome.blogs.com/thetorydiary/2013/01/rebel-reserve-of-55-conservative-mps-is-being-gathered-for-cameron-leadership-challenge.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523235328/http://conservativehome.blogs.com/thetorydiary/2013/01/rebel-reserve-of-55-conservative-mps-is-being-gathered-for-cameron-leadership-challenge.html |archive-date=23 May 2013|publisher=Conservative Home|access-date=21 May 2013}} Andrew Bridgen openly called for a vote of confidence in Cameron's leadership, and claimed that the Prime Minister had a "credibility problem", but he dropped his bid for a contest a year later.{{cite web |date=7 April 2014 |title=Tory MP Andrew Bridgen drops bid to oust Cameron |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-26923973 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924055259/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-26923973 |archive-date=24 September 2016 |access-date=13 September 2016 |work=BBC News}}

In 2007 Cameron appointed Andy Coulson, former editor of the News of the World, as his director of communications. Coulson had resigned as the paper's editor following the conviction of a reporter in relation to illegal phone hacking, although stating that he knew nothing about it.{{cite news |last=Douglas |first=Torin |date=21 January 2011 |title=Andy Coulson quits Downing Street communications role |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12251456 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110122050800/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12251456 |archive-date=22 January 2011 |access-date=30 October 2011 |work=BBC News}}{{cite news |last1=Merrick |first1=Jane |last2=Hanning |first2=James |last3=Chorley |first3=Matt |last4=Brady |first4=Brian |date=10 July 2011 |title=The Battle of Wapping, Mk II – Press, Media |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/the-battle-of-wapping-mk-ii-2310041.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110712032119/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/the-battle-of-wapping-mk-ii-2310041.html |archive-date=12 July 2011 |access-date=30 October 2011 |work=The Independent}} In June 2010, Downing Street confirmed Coulson's annual salary as £140,000, the highest pay of any special adviser to UK Government.{{cite news |date=10 June 2010 |title=David Cameron's PR director Andy Coulson paid £140,000 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10285825 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312010350/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10285825 |archive-date=12 March 2024 |access-date=13 September 2016 |work=BBC News}}

In January 2011, Coulson left his post, saying that coverage of the phone-hacking scandal was making it difficult to give his best to the job. In July 2011, Coulson was arrested and questioned by police in connection with further allegations of illegal activities at the News of the World, and released on bail. Despite a call to apologise for hiring Coulson by the Leader of the Opposition, Cameron defended the appointment, saying that he had taken a conscious choice to give someone who had screwed up a second chance.{{cite news |title=Prime Minister's 'gross error of judgment' over former editor Andy Coulson |url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/news/Prime-Minister39s-39gross-error-of.6797112.jp|work=The Scotsman|date=6 July 2011|access-date= 21 July 2024}} The same month, in a special parliamentary session at the House of Commons, arranged to discuss the News International phone hacking scandal, Cameron said that he "regretted the furore" that had resulted from his appointment of Coulson, and that "with hindsight" he would not have hired him.{{cite news |date=20 July 2011 |title='Sorry' David Cameron sees values of hindsight |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/sorry-david-cameron-sees-values-of-hindsight-2317454.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120024923/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/sorry-david-cameron-sees-values-of-hindsight-2317454.html |archive-date=20 November 2023|work=The Independent|access-date=20 July 2011}} Coulson was detained and charged with perjury by Strathclyde Police in May 2012.{{cite news |last=Rose |first=Gareth |date=31 May 2012 |title=Scottish police charge Andy Coulson with Tommy Sheridan trial perjury |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/scottish-news/top-stories/scottish-police-charge-andy-coulson-with-tommy-sheridan-trial-perjury-1-2326534 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120601191307/http://www.scotsman.com/news/scottish-news/top-stories/scottish-police-charge-andy-coulson-with-tommy-sheridan-trial-perjury-1-2326534 |archive-date=1 June 2012 |access-date=31 May 2012 |work=The Scotsman}}{{cite news |last1=Carrell |first1=Severin |last2=Wintour |first2=Patrick |author-link2=Patrick Wintour |date=30 May 2012 |title=Andy Coulson charged with perjury |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/may/30/andy-coulson-charged-with-perjury |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019204429/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/may/30/andy-coulson-charged-with-perjury |archive-date=19 October 2013 |access-date=31 May 2012 |work=The Guardian}} Coulson was convicted of conspiracy to hack phones in June 2014. Prior to the jury handing down their verdict, Cameron issued a "full and frank" apology for hiring him, saying: "I am extremely sorry that I employed him. It was the wrong decision and I am very clear about that." The judge hearing Coulson's trial was critical of the Prime Minister, pondering whether the intervention was out of ignorance or deliberate, and demanded an explanation.{{cite news |title=David Cameron has explaining to do over apology for hiring Andy Coulson |url=http://www.thelondonnews.net/index.php/sid/223255805/scat/c08dd24cec417021/ht/David-Cameron-has-explaining-to-do-over-apology-for-hiring-Andy-Coulson |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140627234131/http://www.thelondonnews.net/index.php/sid/223255805/scat/c08dd24cec417021/ht/David-Cameron-has-explaining-to-do-over-apology-for-hiring-Andy-Coulson |archive-date=27 June 2014|work=The London News|access-date=27 June 2014}}

Although Lord Michael Ashcroft played a significant role in the 2010 election, he was not offered a ministerial post.{{cite news |last=Oborne |first=Peter |date=27 June 2012 |title=Lord Ashcroft's Tory Right is stopping the Coalition working |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/9359539/Lord-Ashcrofts-Tory-Right-is-stopping-the-Coalition-working.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/9359539/Lord-Ashcrofts-Tory-Right-is-stopping-the-Coalition-working.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |access-date=30 June 2012 |work=The Daily Telegraph}}{{cbignore}} In June 2012, shortly before a major Conservative rebellion on House of Lords reform,{{cite news |date=11 July 2012 |title=Lords reform: Coalition suffers biggest rebellion |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18786890 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120711102955/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18786890 |archive-date=11 July 2012 |access-date=11 July 2012 |work=BBC News}} journalist Peter Oborne credited Ashcroft with "stopping the Coalition working" by moving policy on Europe, welfare, education and taxation to the right. According to Oborne, Ashcroft, owner of both the ConservativeHome and PoliticsHome websites and a "brutal critic of the Coalition from the start", had established "megaphone presence" in the on-line media. He believes Cameron's philosophy of liberal conservatism has been destroyed by "coordinated attacks on the Coalition" and "the two parties are no longer trying to pretend that they are governing together."

In The Observer, Andrew Rawnsley commented that he believes that Ashcroft uses carefully timed opinion polls to "generate publicity", "stir trouble for the Prime Minister" and influence the direction of the party.{{cite news |last=Rawnsley |first=Andrew |date=5 January 2014 |title=Lord Ashcroft's big bucket of cold water to douse Tory optimism |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/05/lord-ashcroft-poll-dowses-tories-optimism |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110125100/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/05/lord-ashcroft-poll-dowses-tories-optimism |archive-date=10 January 2014 |access-date=20 January 2014 |work=The Observer}} In 2015, Ashcroft released Call Me Dave, an unauthorised biography of Cameron written with journalist Isabel Oakeshott, which attracted significant media attention for various lurid allegations about Cameron's time at university. The book includes an anonymous anecdote about Cameron, now referred to as Piggate, in which he allegedly inserted his penis into a dead pig's head. No evidence for the anecdote has been produced. Many commentators have described the accusations as a "revenge job" by Ashcroft, who was not offered a senior role in government when Cameron came to power in 2010.{{cite news |title=Lord Ashcroft's Cameron biography bears hallmarks of revenge job |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/sep/21/lord-ashcrofts-cameron-biography-bears-hallmarks-of-revenge-job |access-date=22 September 2015 |newspaper=The Guardian|archive-date=11 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111172001/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/sep/21/lord-ashcrofts-cameron-biography-bears-hallmarks-of-revenge-job |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Kirkup |first1=James |title=A pig, some drugs and a disappointed billionaire: the life of David Cameron |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/11880588/A-pig-some-drugs-and-a-disappointed-billionaire-the-life-of-David-Cameron.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/11880588/A-pig-some-drugs-and-a-disappointed-billionaire-the-life-of-David-Cameron.html |archive-date=10 January 2022|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=21 September 2015}}{{cbignore}} Ashcroft initially claimed the book was "not about settling scores", while Oakeshott said that they had held back publication until after the 2015 general election to avoid damaging Cameron and the Conservatives' electoral chances.{{cite news |date=21 September 2015 |title=Lord Ashcroft 'not settling scores' with David Cameron book |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34312744 |access-date=23 September 2015 |work=BBC News |archive-date=22 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922102029/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34312744 |url-status=live }} Ashcroft subsequently admitted that the initiation allegations "may have been case of mistaken identity" and has stated that he has a personal "beef" with Cameron.{{cite news |last1=Brooks-Pollock |first1=Tom |title=Piers Gaveston Society: The elite Oxford University club at the centre of claims David Cameron put his genitals in a dead pig |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/piers-gaveston-society-the-elite-oxford-university-club-at-the-centre-of-claims-david-cameron-put-his-genitals-in-a-dead-pig-10510602.html|newspaper=The Independent|archive-date=21 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921151206/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/piers-gaveston-society-the-elite-oxford-university-club-at-the-centre-of-claims-david-cameron-put-his-genitals-in-a-dead-pig-10510602.html |url-status=live|access-date=21 September 2015}}{{cite news |last1=Khomami |first1=Nadia |date=21 September 2015 |title=David Cameron, a pig's head and a secret society at Oxford University – explained |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/sep/21/david-cameron-piers-gaveston-society-what-we-know-oxford-secret |access-date=21 September 2015 |newspaper=The Guardian|archive-date=4 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404091805/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/sep/21/david-cameron-piers-gaveston-society-what-we-know-oxford-secret |url-status=live }}{{cite news |date=21 September 2015 |title=David Cameron pig claims: How Twitter reacted to allegations about PM's time at university |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-cameron-pig-claims-how-twitter-reacted-to-allegations-about-pms-time-at-university-10511302.html |newspaper=The Independent|archive-date=23 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923031802/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-cameron-pig-claims-how-twitter-reacted-to-allegations-about-pms-time-at-university-10511302.html |url-status=live|access-date=22 September 2015}} Cameron later went on to deny these allegations and stated that Ashcroft's reasons for writing the book were clear and the public could see clearly through it.{{cite news |date=28 September 2015 |title=PM Says He's 'Too Busy' To Sue Lord Ashcroft |url=http://news.sky.com/story/1559948/pm-says-hes-too-busy-to-sue-lord-ashcroft |publisher=Sky News}}

File:Anti-David Cameron protest 03.jpg calling for Cameron to resign over the Panama Papers scandal, April 2016|alt=Protester calling for Cameron's resignation over the Panama Papers scandal in April 2016]]

An ICM poll in September 2007 saw Cameron rated the least popular of the three main party leaders.Glover, Julian (19 September 2007).[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/sep/19/uk.polls "The swing against Cameron"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608183926/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/sep/19/uk.polls |date=8 June 2024 }}. The Guardian (London).Glover, Julian; Wintour, Patrick (30 June 2007). [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/jun/30/uk.polls1 "Brown effect propels Labour to election-winning lead"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608183927/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/jun/30/uk.polls1 |date=8 June 2024 }}. The Guardian (London). Retrieved 30 June 2007. A YouGov poll on party leaders conducted on 9–10 June 2011 found 44% of the electorate thought he was doing well and 50% thought he was doing badly, while 38% thought he would be the best PM and 35% did not know.{{cite web |url=http://cdn.yougov.com/cumulus_uploads/document/tusru1sddr/YG-Archives-Trackers-Leaders.pdf |archive-date=8 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240908103808/http://cdn.yougov.com/cumulus_uploads/document/tusru1sddr/YG-Archives-Trackers-Leaders.pdf |title=The Party Leaders |work=YouGov |access-date=14 June 2011}} In the run up to the 2015 election, Cameron achieved his first net positive approval rating in four years, with a YouGov poll finding 47% of voters thought he was doing well as prime minister compared with 46% who thought he was doing badly.{{cite news |last1=McLellan |first1=Kylie |date=6 April 2015 |title=Cameron's approval ratings turn positive ahead of election – poll |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-election-cameron-idUKKBN0MW0EC20150406 |access-date=23 September 2015 |work=Reuters |archive-date=6 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106105224/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-election-cameron-idUKKBN0MW0EC20150406 }}

In September 2015, an Opinium poll had similar results to the one shortly before the election, with voters split with 42% who approved of him and 41% who did not.{{cite web |date=September 2015 |title=Opinium Research Results / Tables |url=http://ourinsight.opinium.co.uk/sites/ourinsight.opinium.co.uk/files/vi_15_09_2015_tables_0.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404204955/http://ourinsight.opinium.co.uk/sites/ourinsight.opinium.co.uk/files/vi_15_09_2015_tables_0.pdf |archive-date=4 April 2016|website=Ourinsight.opinium.co.uk|access-date=21 April 2016}} Cameron had significantly better net approval ratings in polls conducting in December and January (getting −6 in both) than Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (who got −38 and −39).{{cite web |date=January 2016 |title=YouGov Survey Results |url=https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/mm8d71xdb9/InternalResults_160115_Corbyn_W.pdf |website=D256d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net |archive-date=12 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512160735/https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/mm8d71xdb9/InternalResults_160115_Corbyn_W.pdf |url-status=live|access-date=21 April 2016}} However, following the Panama Papers leak in April 2016, his personal approval ratings fell below Corbyn's.{{cite news |date=8 April 2016 |title=Jeremy Corbyn more popular than David Cameron for first time, new poll reveals |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/new-poll-shows-cameron-less-popular-than-corbyn-for-first-time-a6974891.html |work=The Independent |access-date=26 August 2017 |archive-date=10 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510153044/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/new-poll-shows-cameron-less-popular-than-corbyn-for-first-time-a6974891.html |url-status=live }}

In the months immediately following his resignation from the post of prime minister, a number of commentators gave negative evaluations of Cameron's premiership. The University of Leeds' 2016 survey of post-war prime ministers, which collected the views of 82 academics specialising in the history and politics of post-war Britain, ranked Cameron as the third-worst prime minister since 1945, ranking above only Alec Douglas-Home and Anthony Eden. 90% of respondents cited his calling and losing of the Brexit referendum as his greatest failure.{{cite web |last=Cowburn |first=Ashley |date=12 October 2016 |title=David Cameron rated third worst Prime Minister since end of World War Two |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-cameron-worst-prime-minister-ranking-third-since-ww2-a7358171.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224191518/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-cameron-worst-prime-minister-ranking-third-since-ww2-a7358171.html |archive-date=24 February 2024 |access-date=26 December 2017 |work=The Independent}}

File:PM_on_set_of_'This_Morning'_(9237728689).jpg and Phillip Schofield on the set of This Morning in 2013|alt=Cameron with Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield in 2013]]

Cameron made a cameo appearance in the BBC television programme Top Gear{{'}}s India Special, where he tells the trio of Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond to "stay away from India" after initially denying the group's request to improve economic relations with India in a letter and suggested that they mend fences with Mexico. He later stated through his aides that he did not like the special that he cameoed in, and that he had the "utmost respect" for the people of India.{{cite news |date=13 January 2012 |title=Cameron did not like BBC India special he appeared in |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/219018/cameron-did-not-like-bbc.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120035802/https://www.deccanherald.com/content/219018/cameron-did-not-like-bbc.html |archive-date=20 November 2023 |access-date=23 August 2020 |work=Deccan Herald}} Cameron was portrayed by comedian Jon Culshaw in ITV's satirical sketch show Newzoids,{{cite news |date=17 August 2016 |title=Latest Newzoids – May, Corbyn and Princess Charlotte are joining cast |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/news/latest-newzoids-may-corbyn-and-princess-charlotte-are-joining-cast/34972020.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240120001221/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/news/latest-newzoids-may-corbyn-and-princess-charlotte-are-joining-cast/34972020.html |archive-date=20 January 2024 |work=Belfast Telegraph|access-date=11 May 2023}} and by Mark Dexter in the Channel 4 television films Coalition and Brexit: The Uncivil War. In 2019 he was interviewed for The Cameron Years, a BBC mini-documentary series on his premiership.{{cite news |date=19 September 2019 |title=The Cameron Years, Trailer |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07nl8bm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230513174809/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07nl8bm |archive-date=13 May 2023|work=BBC News|access-date=11 May 2023 }}

Amid the Jimmy Savile sexual abuse scandal on 8 November 2012, Cameron was interviewed by Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby on This Morning, and Schofield presented him with a list he had obtained from the internet of five people named as paedophiles in connection with the North Wales child abuse scandal.{{cite news |date=9 November 2012 |title=Phillip Schofield 'paedophile list' move criticised by Cameron |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20265581 |access-date=9 November 2012 |website=BBC News}} The names of several former senior Conservative politicians were visible on the list.{{cite news |last=Burrell |first=Ian |date=8 November 2012 |title=Downing Street attacks Phillip Schofield for ambushing Prime Minister with internet-sourced list of suspected paedophiles |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/downing-street-attacks-phillip-schofield-for-ambushing-prime-minister-with-internetsourced-list-of-suspected-paedophiles-8297661.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220526/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/downing-street-attacks-phillip-schofield-for-ambushing-prime-minister-with-internetsourced-list-of-suspected-paedophiles-8297661.html |archive-date=26 May 2022 |access-date=8 November 2012 |newspaper=The Independent}} Cameron responded by warning against a witchhunt, "particularly about people who are gay".{{cite web |last=Mulholland |first=Helene |date=8 November 2012 |title=David Cameron warns against 'witch-hunt' amid paedophilia allegations |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/nov/08/david-cameron-warns-witch-hunt-paedophilia |access-date=2 June 2023 |work=The Guardian}} Schofield was widely criticised for his action, with broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby describing his behaviour as "cretinous".{{cite news |last=Mason |first=Rowena |date=8 November 2012 |title=Phillip Schofield reported to Ofcom over paedophile list |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/9665470/Phillip-Schofield-reported-to-Ofcom-over-paedophile-list.html |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph}} ITV's director of television, Peter Fincham, said that Schofield was "wrong" in confronting Cameron and the broadcaster had agreed to co-operate fully with government regulator Ofcom's investigation into the matter. The investigation was initiated after Ofcom received 415 complaints from viewers. Schofield later apologised, blaming a misjudged camera angle. Schofield and ITV later paid £125,000 compensation to settle a libel suit from one of those falsely accused, Alistair McAlpine, Baron McAlpine of West Green.{{cite web |last=Gover |first=Dominic |date=22 November 2012 |title=Lord McAlpine Wins £125,000 from ITV for Philip Schofield Child Sex Smears |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/mcalpine-paedophile-itv-wrong-407659}}

File:Camerons2010spelsburu.JPG

Cameron married Samantha Sheffield, the daughter of Sir Reginald Sheffield, 8th Baronet, and Annabel Lucy Veronica Jones (later Viscountess Astor) in 1996.{{cite news|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/03/21/political-leaders-wives-samantha-cameron-in-60-seconds/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612184642/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/03/21/political-leaders-wives-samantha-cameron-in-60-seconds/|title=Political leaders' wives: Samantha Cameron in 60 seconds|first=Geraldine|last=Cooper|date=1 April 2015|archive-date=12 June 2021|url-status=live|access-date=29 April 2024}} They have had four children. Their first child, Ivan Reginald Ian, was born on 8 April 2002 in Hammersmith and Fulham, London, with a rare combination of cerebral palsy and a form of severe epilepsy called Ohtahara syndrome, requiring round-the-clock care. Recalling the receipt of this news, Cameron was quoted as saying: "The news hits you like a freight train ... You are depressed for a while because you are grieving for the difference between your hopes and the reality. But then you get over that, because he's wonderful."Can Boy Wonder save the Tories?". The Sunday Times (London). 9 October 2005. Ivan was cared for at the specialist NHS Cheyne Day Centre in West London, which closed shortly after he left it. Ivan died at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London, on 25 February 2009, aged six.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7909562.stm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308161719/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7909562.stm|title=Cameron's eldest son Ivan dies|date=25 February 2009|archive-date=8 March 2012|work=BBC News|url-status=live|access-date=25 February 2009}}

The Camerons have two daughters, Nancy Gwen (born 2004) and Florence Rose Endellion (born 2010),{{cite news |title=Camerons announce birth of fourth child |date=24 August 2010 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11074163 |work=BBC News |access-date=24 August 2010 |archive-date=24 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100824190449/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11074163 |url-status=live }} and a son, Arthur Elwen (born 2006).{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/mar/22/david-cameron-wife-samantha-baby |title=David Cameron's wife expecting baby |newspaper=The Guardian |date=22 March 2010 |access-date=17 May 2014 |first=Paul |last=Owen |archive-date=8 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608183927/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/mar/22/david-cameron-wife-samantha-baby |url-status=live }} Cameron took paternity leave when Arthur was born, and this decision received broad coverage.{{cite news|first=Roland|last=White|title=Cameron puts in for spot of paternity leave|work=The Sunday Times|date=5 February 2006|archive-date=12 October 2008|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article727123.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012184430/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article727123.ece}} {{subscription required}} It was also stated that Cameron would be taking paternity leave after his second daughter was born. She was born at the Royal Cornwall Hospital on 24 August 2010, three weeks prematurely, while the family was on holiday in Cornwall. Her third given name, Endellion, is taken from the village of St Endellion near where the Camerons were holidaying.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11089358|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825200412/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11089358|title=Camerons reveal daughter's name|work=BBC News|date=25 August 2010|archive-date=25 August 2010|url-status=live|access-date=25 August 2010}}{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE67N3DN20100824|title=UK PM David Cameron's wife gives birth to baby girl|work=Reuters|date=24 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825043630/https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE67N3DN20100824|archive-date=25 August 2010|access-date=24 August 2010|first=Adrian|last=Croft|url-status=live}}

File:David Cameron at SXSW London June 2025.jpg in June 2025.]]

In early May 2008, the Camerons decided to enroll their daughter Nancy at a state primary school. For three years before that, they had been attending its associated church, St Mary Abbots,{{cite web |last=Lloyd |first=Russell |url=http://www.stmaryabbotschurch.org/ |title=Welcome to our church |date=n.d. |access-date=2 December 2012 |archive-date=25 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090925093000/http://www.stmaryabbotschurch.org/ |url-status=live }} near the Cameron family home in North Kensington.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7392744.stm "Leaders make state school choices"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512225613/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7392744.stm |date=12 May 2008 }}. BBC News. 9 May 2008. Cameron's constituency home is in Dean, Oxfordshire, and the Camerons have been described as key members of the Chipping Norton set.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/interactive-graphics/9124278/Whos-who-in-the-Chipping-Norton-set.html|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/interactive-graphics/9124278/Whos-who-in-the-Chipping-Norton-set.html|archive-date=10 January 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live |title=Who's who in the Chipping Norton set|work=The Daily Telegraph|last=Dewar|first=Caroline|access-date=6 May 2012|date=5 March 2012}}{{cbignore}}

It was announced that Cameron would miss Prime Minister's Questions on 8 September 2010 to fly to southern France to see his father, Ian Cameron, who had had a stroke with coronary complications. Later that day, his father died.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-camerons-father-dies-after-stroke-2073550.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100911081722/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-camerons-father-dies-after-stroke-2073550.html|title=David Cameron's father dies after stroke|work=The Independent|date=8 September 2010|archive-date=11 September 2010|access-date=8 September 2010|first=James|last=Tapsfield|url-status=live}} Cameron attended a private ceremony for the funeral of his father on 17 September 2010 in Berkshire, which prevented him from hearing the address of Pope Benedict XVI in Westminster Hall, an occasion he would otherwise have attended.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/david-cameron/8009233/David-Cameron-attends-fathers-funeral.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100920032726/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/david-cameron/8009233/David-Cameron-attends-fathers-funeral.html|archive-date= 20 September 2010|title=David Cameron attends father's funeral|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=17 September 2010|access-date=23 November 2010}} In 2012 Cameron was criticised for leaving his daughter alone in a pub. Cameron had apparently left and forgotten her.{{cite news|title=David Cameron left daughter behind after pub visit|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/jun/11/david-cameron-daughter-behind-pub|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214165516/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/jun/11/david-cameron-daughter-behind-pub|work=The Guardian|date=11 June 2012|archive-date=14 December 2023|url-status=live|access-date=28 June 2024}}

In October 2010, Cameron inherited £300,000 from his father's estate. Ian Cameron, who had worked as a stockbroker in the City of London, used multimillion-pound investment funds based in offshore tax havens, such as Jersey, Panama City and Geneva, to increase the family wealth. In 1982, Ian Cameron created the Panamanian Blairmore Holdings, an offshore investment fund, valued at about $20 million in 1988, "not liable to taxation on its income or capital gains", which used bearer shares until 2006.(3 April 2016) [https://panamapapers.icij.org/the_power_players/ The Power Players David Cameron – Ian Cameron] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407162414/https://panamapapers.icij.org/the_power_players/ |date=7 April 2016 }} The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Retrieved 5 April 2016

In April 2016, following the Panama Papers financial documents leak, Cameron faced calls to resign, after it was revealed that he and his wife Samantha had invested in Ian Cameron's offshore fund.{{cite news |title=David Cameron's terrible week ends with calls for resignation over Panama Papers|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2016/apr/08/david-cameron-panama-papers-offshore-fund-resignation-calls|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803001005/https://www.theguardian.com/news/2016/apr/08/david-cameron-panama-papers-offshore-fund-resignation-calls|work=The Guardian|first=Rowena|last=Mason|date=8 April 2016|archive-date=3 August 2023|url-status=live|access-date=10 April 2016}} He owned £31,500 of shares in the fund and sold them for a profit of £19,000 shortly before becoming prime minister in 2010, which he paid full UK tax on.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2016/apr/07/david-cameron-admits-he-profited-fathers-offshore-fund-panama-papers|title=David Cameron admits he profited from father's offshore fund|first1=Robert|last1=Booth|first2=Holly|last2=Watt|first3=David|last3=Pegg|work=The Guardian|date=7 April 2016|access-date=16 November 2019|archive-date=1 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201230330/https://www.theguardian.com/news/2016/apr/07/david-cameron-admits-he-profited-fathers-offshore-fund-panama-papers|url-status=live}} Cameron argued that the fund was set up in Panama so that people who wanted to invest in dollar-denominated shares and companies could do so, and because full UK tax was paid on all profits he made, there was no impropriety.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35997299|title=What's the deal with offshore funds?|first1=Kevin|last1=Peachey|first2=Edward|last2=Curwen|work=BBC News|date=8 April 2016|access-date=16 November 2019|archive-date=28 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828001449/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35997299|url-status=live}} A protest was held in London in April 2016, demanding Cameron's resignation.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36006447|title=Downing Street protesters call for Cameron to resign|work=BBC News|date=9 April 2016|archive-date=26 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026013209/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36006447|url-status=live|access-date=16 November 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/resign-cameron-protests-thousands-to-gather-at-downing-street-to-ask-prime-minister-to-step-down-a6976036.html|title='Resign Cameron' protests: Thousands to gather at Downing Street to ask Prime Minister to step down|first=Andrew|last=Griffin|work=The Independent|date=9 April 2016|archive-date=7 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007060442/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/resign-cameron-protests-thousands-to-gather-at-downing-street-to-ask-prime-minister-to-step-down-a6976036.html|url-status=live|access-date=16 November 2019}}

In 2009 the New Statesman estimated his wealth at {{Nowrap|£3.2 million}}, adding that Cameron is expected to inherit "million-pound legacies" from both sides of his family.Shackle, Samira; Hegarty, Stephanie; Eaton, George (1 October 2009). [http://www.newstatesman.com/uk-politics/2009/10/oxford-universitywealth-school "The new ruling class"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091004124121/http://www.newstatesman.com/uk-politics/2009/10/oxford-universitywealth-school |date=4 October 2009 }}. New Statesman (London). Retrieved 16 November 2019.

File:G8 leaders watching football.jpg, Angela Merkel, François Hollande and others watch the penalty shootout of the 2012 UEFA Champions League Final, with Cameron celebrating Chelsea's victory over Bayern Munich|alt=Cameron watches the penalty shootout of the 2012 UEFA Champions League Final with Barack Obama, Angela Merkel, François Hollande]]

Before becoming prime minister, Cameron regularly used his bicycle to commute to work. In early 2006, he was photographed cycling to work, followed by his driver in a car carrying his belongings. His Conservative Party spokesperson subsequently said that this was a regular arrangement for Cameron at the time.{{cite news|title=Hypocrisy claim over Cameron bike|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4953922.stm|work=BBC News|date=28 April 2006|access-date=4 August 2009|archive-date=13 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013154427/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4953922.stm|url-status=live}}

Cameron is an occasional jogger and in 2009 raised funds for charities by taking part in the Oxford 5K and the Great Brook Run.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/8432439.stm "David Cameron runs in charity mud race"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608183930/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/oxfordshire/8432439.stm |date=8 June 2024 }}. BBC News. 28 December 2009. Retrieved 28 December 2009.

Cameron supports Aston Villa.{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Lisa|date=20 May 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120929122341/http://www.birminghampost.net/midlands-birmingham-sport/west-midlands-sports/aston-villa-fc/2008/05/20/david-cameron-not-bothered-by-euro-clash-he-s-a-villa-fan-65233-20935561/|url=http://www.birminghampost.net/midlands-birmingham-sport/west-midlands-sports/aston-villa-fc/2008/05/20/david-cameron-not-bothered-by-euro-clash-he-s-a-villa-fan-65233-20935561/ |title=David Cameron not bothered by Euro clash – he's a Villa fan|work=Birmingham Post |archive-date=29 September 2012}} A member of MCC, he is also a keen cricket fan and has appeared on Test Match Special.{{cite news|last=Ross|first=Tim|title=David Cameron caught out by Geoffrey Boycott at Lord's|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/10191089/David-Cameron-caught-out-by-Geoffrey-Boycott-at-Lords.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/10191089/David-Cameron-caught-out-by-Geoffrey-Boycott-at-Lords.html|archive-date=10 January 2022|url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=19 July 2013}}{{cbignore}}

A 2012 biography, Cameron: Practically a Conservative, stated that "If 'chillaxing' was an Olympic sport then David Cameron, would win a gold medal", citing Cameron's fondness for relaxing. The biography stated that Cameron's "ability to separate his private life from his professional life is seen as an asset by some friends, and by others as a sign of complacency in the midst of a double dip recession."{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/may/19/david-cameron-chillaxing-hobbies-biography|title=David Cameron's 'chillaxing' hobbies revealed in new biography|work=The Guardian|date=19 May 2012|archive-date=8 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608183928/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/may/19/david-cameron-chillaxing-hobbies-biography|url-status=live|access-date=14 December 2023}}

At a Q&A in August 2013, Cameron described himself as a practising Christian and an active member of the Church of England.{{cite news|title=PM tackled on religion at Q&A session|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23618181 |work=BBC News|access-date=29 August 2013|date=8 August 2013}} On religious faith in general, he said: "I do think that organised religion can get things wrong but the Church of England and the other churches do play a very important role in society."{{cite news |last=Gammell|first=Caroline|title=David Cameron: my fears and my faith|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/6514974/David-Cameron-my-fears-and-my-faith.html|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/6514974/David-Cameron-my-fears-and-my-faith.html |archive-date=10 January 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|access-date=29 August 2013|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=6 November 2009}}{{cbignore}} He said he considers the Bible "a sort of handy guide" on morality.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/10582329/David-Cameron-reveals-family-rules-at-Number-10.html|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/10582329/David-Cameron-reveals-family-rules-at-Number-10.html|archive-date=10 January 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|title=David Cameron reveals family rules at Number 10|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=19 January 2014|access-date=20 January 2014|last=Edgar|first=James}}{{cbignore}} He viewed Britain as a "Christian country", and aimed to put faith back into politics.{{cite news|last=Bingham|first=John|title=David Cameron puts God back into politics|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/10771339/David-Cameron-puts-God-back-into-politics.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/10771339/David-Cameron-puts-God-back-into-politics.html|archive-date=10 January 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live |access-date=21 April 2014|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=16 April 2014}}{{cbignore}}

• {{Cite book |last1=Cameron |first1=David |last2=Jones |first2=Dylan |title=Cameron on Cameron: Conversations with Dylan Jones |year=2008 |publisher=Fourth Estate |isbn=978-0-00-728536-5}}
• {{Cite book |last=Cameron |first=David |title=Tory Policy Making: The Conservative Research Department, 1929-2009 |year=2009 |publisher=Conservative Research Department |isbn=978-1-905116-04-1}}
• {{Cite book |last=Cameron |first=David |title=For the Record |year=2019 |publisher=William Collins |isbn=978-1-78517-659-3 |title-link= For the Record (book)}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Library resources box

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• Alexandre-Collier, Agnès. "David Cameron, Boris Johnson and the 'populist hypothesis' in the British Conservative Party." Comparative European Politics 20.5 (2022): 527–543 [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9006487/ online]
• Allen, Chris. "Cameron, Conservatives and a Christian Britain: a critical exploration of political discourses about religion in the contemporary United Kingdom." Societies 8.1 (2018): 5–20 doi:10.3390/soc8010005
• Ashcroft, Michael. Call Me Dave: The Unauthorised Biography of David Cameron (Biteback Publishing, 2015) [https://books.google.com/books?id=dhqVCgAAQBAJ&dq=%22david+cameron%22+minister&pg=PT4 online].
• Atkins, Judi, Timothy Heppell, and Kevin Theakston. "The rise of the novice cabinet minister? The career trajectories of cabinet ministers in British Government from Attlee to Cameron." Political Quarterly 84.3 (2013): 362–370. [https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/78664/2/theakston4.pdf online]
• Bale, Tim. "The oratory of David Cameron." in Conservative orators from Baldwin to Cameron (Manchester University Press, 2016) pp. 182–197.
• {{Cite book |last=Bale |first=Tim |author-link=Tim Bale |title=The Conservative Party: From Thatcher to Cameron |year=2011 |publisher=Polity Press |isbn=978-0-7456-4858-3}}
• Bennister, Mark, and Richard Heffernan. "The limits to prime ministerial autonomy: Cameron and the constraints of coalition." Parliamentary Affairs 68.1 (2015): 25–41. [https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/download/77cf1e081cee909879f7da3d38cfc1284f4ccb9a8fd12c38265256ec720429e3/159335/Cameron_Parliamentary_Affairs_FINAL_EDIT_APRIL_MBRH.pdf online]
• Bennister, Mark, and Richard Heffernan. "Cameron as prime minister: The intra-executive politics of Britain's coalition government." Parliamentary Affairs 65.4 (2012): 778–801. [https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/download/35de242981343ead72e68db44a9dfb2593384b939c768b2b821f5c2da5523a52/274140/BennisterHeffernan_FINAL_2012_PA.pdf online]
• {{Cite book |last1=Elliott |first1=Francis |last2=Hanning |first2=James |title=Cameron: Practically a Conservative |year=2012 |publisher=Fourth Estate |isbn=978-0-00-743642-2}}, a full biography
• Evans, Stephen. "Consigning its past to history? David Cameron and the Conservative Party." Parliamentary Affairs 61.2 (2008): 291–314.
• Evans, Stephen. "'Mother's Boy': David Cameron and Margaret Thatcher." British Journal of Politics and International Relations 12.3 (2010): 325–343.
• Goodlad, Graham. "The Fall of David Cameron." Political Insight 7.2 (2016): 16–19.
• Hayton, Richard. "British conservatism after the vote for Brexit: The ideological legacy of David Cameron." British Journal of Politics and International Relations 20.1 (2018): 223–238. [https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/122446/3/HAYTON%20British%20Conservatism%20after%20the%20vote%20for%20Brexit%20.pdf online]
• Heppell, Timothy. Cameron: The politics of modernisation and manipulation (Manchester University Press, 2019) [https://books.google.com/books?id=o9C8DwAAQBAJ&dq=%22david+cameron%22+conservative&pg=PT6 online].
• Heppell, Timothy. "Cameron and liberal conservatism: Attitudes within the parliamentary conservative party and conservative ministers." British Journal of Politics and International Relations 15.3 (2013): 340–361.
• {{Cite book |last1=Heppell |first1=Timothy |last2=Seawright |first2=David |title=Cameron and the Conservatives: The Transition to Coalition Government |year=2012 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=978-0-230-31410-8}}
• {{Cite book |last=Hitchens |first=Peter|author-link=Peter Hitchens |title=The Cameron Delusion |year=2010 |publisher=Continuum |isbn=978-1-4411-3505-6}}; argues the Tory Party's is a failure on all fronts but one: its ability to win office without principle.
• Honeyman, Victoria. "From liberal interventionism to liberal conservatism: The short road in foreign policy from Blair to Cameron." British Politics 12 (2017): 42–62. [https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/90411/5/BP%20- online]
• {{Cite book |last1=Lee |first1=Simon |last2=Beech |first2=Matt |title=The Cameron-Clegg Government: Coalition Politics in an Age of Austerity |year=2011 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=978-0-230-29644-2}}
• {{Cite book |last1=Lee |first1=Simon |last2=Beech |first2=Matt |title=The Conservatives under David Cameron: Built to Last? |year=2009 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=978-0-230-57565-3}}
• {{Cite book |last=Nadler |first=Jo-Anne|author-link=Jo-Anne Nadler |title=David Cameron: The Regeneration Game |year=2007 |publisher=Politico's Publishing |isbn=978-1-84275-194-7}}
• Newman, Jack, and Richard Hayton. "The ontological failure of David Cameron's 'modernisation' of the Conservative Party." British Politics 17.3 (2022): 253–273. [https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/170186/1/NEWMAN%20%26%20HAYTON%20Ontological%20Failure%20of%20David%20Cameron%27s%20Modernisation%20%28FINAL%29.pdf online]
• {{Cite book |last=O'Hara |first=Kieron|author-link=Kieron O'Hara |title=After Blair: David Cameron and the Conservative Tradition |year=2007 |publisher=Icon Books |isbn=978-1-84046-795-6}}
• Pike, Karl. "Reform to conserve: Europe and David Cameron's Conservatism." Journal of Political Ideologies 29.2 (2024): 310–329. [https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/13569317.2022.2045459 online]
• Sassoon, David. "The worst British Prime Minister ever" The Political Quarterly (2020) 91#2 pp. 473–78, review of Cameron's For the Record
• {{Cite book |last=Seymour |first=Richard|author-link=Richard Seymour (21st-century writer) |title=The Meaning of David Cameron |year=2010 |publisher=O Books |isbn=978-1-84694-456-7}} [https://books.google.com/books?id=lCtbIPZbUTwC&dq=%22david+cameron%22+minister&pg=PA1 online]
• Smith, Julie. "Gambling on Europe: David Cameron and the 2016 referendum." British Politics 13 (2018): 1–16.
• {{Cite book |last=Snowdon |first=Peter|author-link=Peter Snowdon |title=Back from the Brink: The Extraordinary Fall and Rise of the Conservative Party |year=2010 |publisher=HarperPress |isbn=978-0-00-730884-2}}
• Theakston, Kevin. "David Cameron as prime minister." in Cameron and the conservatives: The transition to coalition government (Palgrave Macmillan UK, 2012) pp. 194–208.
• {{Cite book |last1=Toynbee |first1=Polly|author-link=Polly Toynbee |last2=Walker |first2=David |title=Dogma and Disarray: Cameron at Half-Time |year=2012 |publisher=Mount Caburn Publishing |isbn=978-0-9573953-0-5}}
• {{Cite book |last1=Toynbee |first1=Polly |last2=Walker |first2=David |title=Cameron's Coup |year=2015 |publisher=Guardian Books |isbn=978-1-78335-043-8|title-link=Cameron's Coup}}

• {{Cite book |last=Jones |first=Dylan |author-link=Dylan Jones |title=Cameron on Cameron: Conversations with Dylan Jones |year=2010 |publisher=Fourth Estate |isbn=978-0-00-728537-2 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/camerononcameron0000came}}
• [https://www.theguardian.com/profile/davidcameron David Cameron's articles] at The Guardian
• David Cameron: My Legacy: What I Will Be Remembered For. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform 2017, {{ISBN|978-1-542-56472-4}} (50 p.)
• Cameron, David. For the Record (William Collins, 2019). 732 pp. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-923X.12820

{{UK MP links |parliament=mr-david-cameron/1467 |hansard=mr-david-cameron |hansardcurr=2439 |guardian=6188/david-cameron |publicwhip=David_Cameron |theywork=david_cameron |record=avid-Cameron/Witney/661 |bbc=25752.stm |journalisted=david-cameron}}

• {{TED speaker|david_cameron}}
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• {{IMDb name|2090098}}

• {{AlJazeera topic|person/david-cameron}}
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• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090302161529/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/david-cameron/ David Cameron] collected news and commentary at The Daily Telegraph
• Brian Wheeler, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4502656.stm The David Cameron story], BBC News, 6 December 2005

{{Sister project links|author=yes|wikt=no|v=no|b=no|n=Category:David Cameron|commons=Category:David Cameron|d=Q192}}

• {{IMDb name}}
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• [https://members.parliament.uk/member/1467/contact Profile] at UK Parliament
• [https://www.gov.uk/government/people/david-cameron David Cameron] official government website
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20160409010953/https://www.conservatives.com/OurTeam/David_Cameron David Cameron] official Conservative Party profile
• {{YouTube|id=z9hqE5HVVQk|title=A Day in the Life of David Cameron|channel=|show=|time=0s}}

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