Cameron never cared for the Tory Party

Peter Bingle believes David Cameron's decision to stand down as an MP offers a broader insight into the former Prime Minister's character.

Nothing better defines David Cameron as a politician but also as a man than the manner of his departure from British politics. The idea that he decided to stand down to avoid being a 'distraction' to his successor is ludicrous. He simply resigned because he wanted to and could do so. Not a single thought was given about the impact on his successor, his House of Commons and constituency staff, fellow Tory MPs or the Tory Party itself.

The media reaction has rightly been scathing. It confirms Cameron's total fall from grace following the result of the EU referendum ‪on 23rd June. Never has a political career ended so quickly and so badly. His reputation is not in tatters. It is much much worse than that. He has no reputation …

Cameron's decision to quit came as a surprise to many as only recently he had stated that he would continue as Witney's MP until the next election. Yet in so many ways the decision is totally in character. Just as Tony Blair never liked the Labour Party David Cameron has never understood or cared for the Tory Party. Why then should he care a jot about resigning on the day when the House of Commons debated the PM's plans for a new generation of grammar schools? The question answers itself.

A by-election in ultra-safe Witney is not going to cause Theresa May or her closest advisers to lose any sleep. They will hold it comfortably. What should concern them though is what David Cameron will do and more importantly what he will say now that he is no longer encumbered by the constraints of the Tory Whip in the House of Commons.

Theresa May and David Cameron are political chalk and cheese. They could not be more different in terms of background, style and political instinct. At the heart of her government's political programme is a desire to help working class folk be rewarded for hard work and a determination of ensure that their children fulfil their full potential. This was a section of society that baffled David Cameron. He didn't understand them and they didn't vote for him. They are the missing 7 or 8 per cent who voted for Thatcher but never voted for him.

I suspect Cameron will be unable to stand idly by as Theresa May unpicks so many of his policies and takes the Tory Party on a very different path in the years ahead. The fact that so many of his policies failed won't concern him. (To this day nobody really understands what the Big Society was all about!) Like Blair Cameron was always much more about style than content. And Theresa's politically severe and serious style could not be more different. I suspect she won't be sending flirty text messages to newspaper editors.

I could be wrong but I am inclined to the view that Cameron is sufficiently proud and self-believing that he will use his new found freedom to defend his record and attack that of his successor.

In these turbulent political times nothing can be taken for granted or discounted. I doubt, however, that Cameron will take a vow of silence in the months and years ahead. He knows he will be remembered for Brexit and seen as a political chancer who gambled once too often and lost the lot. The fascinating thing is that I'm not sure he cares …