Cameron faces 'hostile' audience during college visit

David Cameron faced a hostile audience of students and job seekers during a visit to a college today.

The Tory leader was booed as he spoke to around 100 people gathered at Lewisham College in south-east London.

He was forced to defend his party's policies and pledges as they grilled him about how he would improve the economy if he was voted in to power at the next election.

At the end of the session, Mr Cameron said he welcomed the chance for a "proper live public meeting", adding: "Politics should be lively.

"There should be arguments, there should be debates about what happened in the past.

"I got the thumbs-up from the man who said he didn't like Margaret Thatcher.

"This is what politics should be like."

Wearing a white shirt and navy suit trousers to address the crowd, Mr Cameron said: "I have been around the college this morning and I have seen what you do and the training you are undertaking and the apprenticeships you are taking part in and it's incredibly impressive what you are doing.

"I want you to know that if I become prime minister, I will do everything I can to make sure we get this economy moving and to make sure there are good jobs for you to go to and make sure there are apprenticeships you can take part in, and to make sure the economy of this country starts moving again."

He said a Tory government would act to cut the debt by "dealing with it straightaway" and help the private sector to increase jobs and apprenticeships by, for example, allowing new businesses not to pay National Insurance on their first 10 employees.

Mr Cameron dismissed Labour arguments about experience, saying: "I think we need a new hand on the tiller.

"We need some energy and some enthusiasm to get things changed."

But his upbeat message failed to win over members of the audience.

Asked what made him different, Mr Cameron replied: "Because we are going to deal with the debt quicker.

"We are going to have to make some difficult decisions."

Another student said he wanted to know how and when Mr Cameron was going to turn round the economy and how long it was going to take.

Mr Cameron said his party would produce a budget within 50 days of the election and highlighted plans to make it easier for companies to employ people and to start up businesses.

He later argued the Conservatives were not afraid to tell people about the "difficult stuff" such as freezing public sector pay, stopping tax credits for people earning more than £50,000, and raising the retirement age to 66.

"I am telling you the difficult stuff now because I think you have the right to hear it," he said.

Mr Cameron also pledged to make MPs' expenses "transparent".

Jacob Hewitt, 29, an unemployed trainee plumber, asked him why politicians could claim on expenses when they earned a good salary.

Mr Cameron said MPs had to live in two different places - their constituency and near Parliament - with associated costs but added: "We are saying 'no more paying for food', 'no more paying for furniture', 'none of the rubbish'...Every single thing must be transparent.

"If they break the rules they will be turfed out of Parliament by their constituents."

Afterwards Mr Hewitt, from Bermondsey, south-east London, said: "As somebody who is signing on I get a bit offended about the money they are spending on expenses.

"I get a lot of stick for claiming so I think it's two-faced of them.

"I feel they should just have their wage - I don't understand why they should have their expense account. I don't understand how they can't get by with the wage they have."

Mr Cameron was asked by reporters about the possibility of a hung Parliament and any deal with the Liberal Democrats after Nick Clegg said he would not be a "kingmaker".

He avoided revealing what the Tories would do in the event of there being no majority, saying: "I am fighting this election to win this election outright and I think we can win this election outright.

"I think that would be better for Britain if we did.

"We need a government that can make long-term decisions and act in the interests of the country, five years ahead, not just five minutes ahead.

"One think Nick Clegg said is right - it's going to be up to the British people to decide."

During the visit, Mr Cameron also spent time talking to small groups of apprentices, students and staff before going on a tour of the college.