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David Cameron

148 quotes

“If an EU migrant's child is living abroad, then they should receive no child benefit or child tax credit, no matter how long they have worked in the UK and no matter how much tax they have paid”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2016 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: EU reform deal: What Cameron wanted and what he got BBC News (20 February 2016).
“I would say to Boris what I say to everybody else which is that we will be safer, we'll be stronger, we'll be better off inside the EU. I think the prospect of you know linking arms with Nigel Farage and George Galloway and taking a leap into the dark is the wrong step for our country and if Boris and if others really care about being able to get things done in our world then the EU is one of the ways in which we get them done.”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2016 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Interviewer on The Andrew Marr Show (BBC), as cited in "Referendum on knife edge as Boris joins exit campaign" The Times (21 February 2016)
“[Leaving the European Union] could hurt working people for years to come”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2016 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: EU referendum: Leaving EU a 'leap in the dark' says Cameron BBC News (22 February 2016).
“[Having to negotiate new trading rules from scratch would lead to a long period of unacceptable uncertainty for British business.] Seven years of not knowing what the arrangements would be for trading with Europe... Seven years of uncertainty for businesses wanting to invest in Britain not knowing what our relationship with Britain would be. They cannot be justified. They cannot be in our national interest. We should reject that out of hand.”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2016 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Boris Johnson: EU exit 'win-win for us all', in the BBC (published 11 March 2016).
“I make no apology for the fact that we are sending to every household in this country this leaflet, which sets out what the government's view is and why we come to that view. We're not neutral in this. We think it would be a bad decision to leave - for the economy, jobs, investment, family finances and universities.”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2016 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: EU referendum: PM 'makes no apology' for £9m EU leaflets BBC News (7 April 2016).
“If there is one constant in the ebb and flow of our island story, it is the character of the British people.”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2016 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quoted from 'British strength and security in the world' speech (9 May 2016).- 11:50 -12:00
“Above all we are obstinately practical, rigorously down-to-earth, natural debunkers. We approach issues with a cast of mind rooted in common sense, we're rightly suspicious of ideology and sceptical of grand schemes and grandiose promises.”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2016 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quoted from 'British strength and security in the world' speech (9 May 2016).- 11:50 -12:00
“You shouldn't try to hold an independent sovereign nation in an organisation against its will.”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2016 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: EU referendum: Cameron says UK exit could put peace at risk BBC News (9 May 2016).
“isolationism has never served this country well”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2016 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: EU referendum: Cameron says UK exit could put peace at risk BBC News (9 May 2016).
“Nine out of 10 economists say there'll be a profound shock if we leave the EU. That means there will be less money - not more. It's also why so many doctors and nurses support remaining in the EU.”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2016 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: EU referendum: Kinnock urges young voters to prevent 'Brexit by default' BBC News (4 June 2016).
“An EU exit would put a bomb under our economy”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2016 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Cameron likens Brexit to putting 'bomb under economy' BBC News (6 June 2016).
“The right thing to do is to fight for a great Britain in the EU and not take the Little England option of Nigel Farage”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2016 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: ITV debate: Farage and Cameron face EU questions BBC News (8 June 2016).
“our economy would be smaller [if the UK left the single market]”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2016 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: EU referendum: Cameron issues Brexit pensions warning BBC News (12 June 2016).
“If we restrict our access [to the single market] we will be less well off and that obviously affects what we can spend on our public services,”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2016 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Reality Check: Would Brexit mean cuts to pensions, defence and the NHS? BBC News (12 June 2016).
“It is deeply concerning that the Leave campaign is criticising the independent Bank of England. We should listen to experts when they warn us of the dangers to our economy of leaving the European Union.”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2016 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: EU referendum: Leave Tories attack 'scare stories' BBC News (16 June 2016).
“[leaving the EU and the single market is] not the right way to control immigration”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2016 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: David Cameron EU Question Time: PM attacks 'untrue' Leave claims BBC News (19 June 2016).
“The British people have voted to leave the European Union and their will must be respected”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2016 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Brexit: David Cameron to quit after UK votes to leave EU BBC News (24 June 2016).
“I have also always believed that we have to confront big decisions, not duck them. That is why we delivered the first coalition government in 70 years, to bring our economy back from the brink.”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2016 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech delivered outside outside 10 Downing Street, announcing that he would resign as prime minister after British voters chose to leave the European Union in a referendum (June 24, 2016), see David Cameron's resignati…
“I will do everything I can as Prime Minister to steady the ship over the coming weeks and months but I do not think it would be right for me to try to be the captain that steers our country to its next destination.”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2016 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech delivered outside outside 10 Downing Street, announcing that he would resign as prime minister after British voters chose to leave the European Union in a referendum (June 24, 2016), see David Cameron's resignati…
“Britain is a special country. We have so many great advantages: a Parliamentary democracy where we resolve great issues about our future through peaceful debate; a great trading nation, with our science and arts, our engineering and our creativity, respected the world over. And while we are not perfect, I do believe we can be a model for the multi-racial, multi-faith democracy, where people can come and make a contribution and rise to the very highest that their talent allows.”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2016 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech delivered outside outside 10 Downing Street, announcing that he would resign as prime minister after British voters chose to leave the European Union in a referendum (June 24, 2016), see David Cameron's resignati…
“It might be in my party's interest for him to sit there, it's not in the national interest and I would say, for heaven's sake man, go.”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2016 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speaking to Leader of the Opposition Jeremy Corbyn in the House of Commons during Prime Minister's Questions (June 29, 2016), see David Cameron to Jeremy Corbyn: For heaven's sake, go, BBC News (June 29, 2016)
“while Britain is leaving the European Union, it will not, it should not and in my view it won't turn its back on Europe”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2016 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: David Cameron: UK 'will not turn its back on Europe' BBC News (29 June 2016)
“Thank you very much. Doo, doo, doo, doo. Right.”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2016 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Whistling after announcing his resignation, 11 July 2016
“The last thing I would say is that you can achieve a lot of things in politics and get a lot of things done; in the end, public service and the national interest is what it is all about. Nothing is really impossible if you put your mind to it. After all, as I once said, I was the future once.”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2005 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Last statement to the House of Commons as Prime Minister, ending by paraphrasing his 2005 comment to Tony Blair, "he was the future once" (July 13, 2016), see Hansard
“[A strong election victory would allow Theresa May to] stand up to people who want an extreme Brexit either here or in Brussels”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2017 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: General election 2017: David Cameron on need to stop 'extreme Brexit' BBC News (11 May 2017).
“Brexit turned out less badly than we first thought. [The Leave vote was] a mistake not a disaster.”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2018 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: David Cameron: Brexit's turned out 'less badly than first thought' BBC News (24 January 2018).
“[I regret the] difficulties and the problems we've been having trying to implement the [Brexit] result”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2019 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: David Cameron: I don't regret calling EU referendum BBC News (16 January 2019).
“I hope [Theresa May] wins the vote tonight, I'm sure she will. I hope then that Parliament can come together and find an alternative partnership agreement with the European Union, that's the right way forward, that's what her deal was about last night and she has my support as she does this.”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2019 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: David Cameron: I don't regret calling EU referendum BBC News (16 January 2019).
“The thing about the greased piglet is that he manages to slip through other people’s hands where mere mortals fail”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2019 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: 'Greased piglet' Boris Johnson could pass deal says David Cameron Guardian (17 October 2019).
“Today’s decision on HS2 is the wrong one. It will help to fuel the views of those who argue that we can no longer think or act for the long term as a country; that we are heading in the wrong direction. [...] I regret this decision and in years to come I suspect many will look back at today’s announcement and wonder how this once-in-a-generation opportunity was lost.”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2023 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Johnson and Cameron lambast Sunak’s decision to scrap HS2 northern leg", The Telegraph (5 October 2023)
“[On his appointment as foreign secretary] I said yes surprisingly quickly actually, because I wasn't expecting it at all.”
David Cameron (born 1966) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“When you are PM you are doing so many things at once. It's nice to focus on one thing, even if that one thing is the whole world!”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2024 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: From an interview, as cited in Christina Lamb "David Cameron: ‘Why did I take the job? Rishi Sunak asked!’", The Sunday Times (12 May 2024).
“He [Nigel Farage] is currently trying to destroy the Conservative Party by standing for Reform. [...] I want to be as sure as we can that we get no Reform members of parliament and the Conservative Party can move forward.”
David Cameron (born 1966) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“[W]hat I want is robust policy and measured language. I think with these populists what you get is inflammatory language and hopeless policy.”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2024 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: From an interview, as cited in "David Cameron: Reject Farage’s 'inflammatory language and hopeless policy'", The Times (14 June 2024).
“Greeks complained vigorously that Macedonia already existed as a region of Greece and so could not be a separate country as well. This seems churlish in the extreme. The Greeks have their own country, their own name and have been showered with financial assistance since joining the EU. These people - the Macedonians - have recently escaped communism and have virtually nothing. And as if Greek pettiness wasn't enough the Albanians tend to dream of incorporating a large slice of FYR Macedonia into a Greater Albania while the Bulgars tend to think of the country as part of a Greater Bulgaria.Yet as far as I could see, the country - and I am determined to call it Macedonia - has a perfect right to exist. The population is overwhelmingly Macedonian, with a distinctive language, culture and history. It is poorer than some of the other old Yugoslav republics, but considerably richer than Albania. The people are civilised, friendly and highly educated. Even my tour guide had an MBA... From now on I will call our esteemed EU partner "the former Ottoman possession of Greece".”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2003 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Macedonian job" (10 September 2003), David Cameron Diaries, quoted in The Guardian.
“It is the next big scandal waiting to happen. It's an issue that crosses party lines and has tainted our politics for too long, an issue that exposes the far-too-cosy relationship between politics, government, business and money. I'm talking about lobbying – and we all know how it works. The lunches, the hospitality, the quiet word in your ear, the ex-ministers and ex-advisors for hire, helping big business find the right way to get its way. In this party, we believe in competition, not cronyism. We believe in market economics, not crony capitalism. So we must be the party that sorts all this out.”
David Cameron (born 1966) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We cannot tolerate in any sense the idea that this country is allowed to look both ways and is able, in any way, to promote the export of terror, whether to India or whether to Afghanistan or anywhere else in the world. That is why this relationship is important. It should be a relationship based on a very clear message: that it is not right to have any relationship with groups that are promoting terror. Democratic states that want to be part of the developed world cannot do that. The message to Pakistan from the US and the UK is very clear on that point. The point I was simply making in response to a question is we have to be clear in our dealings with the Pakistanis, as we are and as the Americans are, that it is unacceptable for any support to be given from within Pakistan for any terrorist organisations that export terror. I choose my words very carefully, which is that it is unacceptable for anything to happen within Pakistan that is about supporting terrorism elsewhere.”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2010 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: David Cameron. Pakistan must not be allowed to promote export of terror: Cameron The Financial Express; Dhaka. 29 July 2010.
“In terms of the future, our country has a hung parliament where no party has an overall majority and we have some deep and pressing problems — a huge deficit, deep social problems, a political system in need of reform. For those reasons, I aim to form a proper and full coalition between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats. I believe that is the right way to provide this country with the strong, the stable, the good and decent government that I think we need so badly. Nick Clegg and I are both political leaders who 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.”
David Cameron (born 1966) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“One of the tasks that we clearly have is to rebuild trust in our political system. Yes, that's about cleaning up expenses, yes, that's about reforming parliament, and yes, it's about making sure people are in control and that the politicians are always their servants and never their masters. But I believe it's also something else — it's about being honest about what government can achieve. Real change is not what government can do on its own, real change is when everyone pulls together, comes together, works together, when we all exercise our responsibilities to ourselves, our families, to our communities and to others. And I want to help try and build a more responsible society here in Britain, one where we don't just ask what are my entitlements but what are my responsibilities, one where we don't ask what am I just owed but more what can I give, and a guide for that society that those that can should and those who can't we will always help. I want to make sure that my Government always looks after the elderly, the frail, the poorest in our country. We must take everyone through us on some of the difficult decisions that we have ahead. Above all it will be a Government that is built on some clear values, values of freedom, values of fairness and values of responsibility. I want us to build an economy that rewards work, I want us to build a society with stronger families and stronger communities and I want a political system that people can trust and look up to once again.”
David Cameron (born 1966) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I am very sorry that Andy Coulson has decided to resign as my Director of Communications, although I understand that the continuing pressures on him and his family mean that he feels compelled to do so. Andy has told me that the focus on him was impeding his ability to do his job and was starting to prove a distraction for the Government. During his time working for me, Andy has carried out his role with complete professionalism. He has been a brilliant member of my team and has thrown himself at the job with skill and dedication. He can be extremely proud of the role he has played, including for the last eight months in Government. I wish Andy all the very best for his future, which I am certain will be a successful one.”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2011 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Resignation of Andy Coulson statement (21 January 2011)
“I think some of these schemes - and I think particularly of the Jimmy Carr scheme - I have had time to read about and I just think this is completely wrong. People work hard, they pay their taxes, they save up to go to one of his shows. They buy the tickets. He is taking the money from those tickets and he, as far as I can see, is putting all of that into some very dodgy tax avoiding schemes. That is wrong. There is nothing wrong with people planning their tax affairs to invest in their pension and plan for their retirement - that sort of tax management is fine. But some of these schemes we have seen are quite frankly morally wrong. The Government is acting by looking at a general anti-avoidance law but we do need to make progress on this. It is not fair on hard working people who do the right thing and pay their taxes to see these sorts of scams taking place.”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2012 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: About comedian Jimmy Carr's tax arrangements, speaking to ITV News during a round of TV interviews during his trip to Mexico - "David Cameron Brands Jimmy Carr's Tax Arrangements 'Morally Wrong'", The Huffington Post UK…
“I’m against these aggressive tax avoidance schemes but I’m not just against them, this Government has taken a huge amount of steps to legislate and toughen the laws and go after aggressive tax avoidance schemes for the very simple reason that if people go after these schemes and aggressively avoid tax they’re making it the case that everyone else has to pay higher taxes as a result so I think we should be very clear, tax evasion is illegal and for that you can be prosecuted, you can go to prison for tax evasion. Tax avoidance is in these cases, very aggressive tax avoidance schemes, they are wrong and we should really persuade not to do them and that’s why we have these court cases where the court looks at whether a scheme is really about avoiding tax rather than anything else and the court was very clear in this case.”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2014 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: On Good Morning Britain speaking about his view of tax avoidance schemes and if Gary Barlow should give back his OBE following claims that the singer took part in one - Prime Minister David Cameron speaks to Good Mornin…
“What we are fighting, in Islamist extremism, is an ideology. It is an extreme doctrine. And like any extreme doctrine, it is subversive. At its furthest end it seeks to destroy nation-states to invent its own barbaric realm. And it often backs violence to achieve this aim – mostly violence against fellow Muslims – who don’t subscribe to its sick worldview. But you don’t have to support violence to subscribe to certain intolerant ideas which create a climate in which extremists can flourish. Ideas which are hostile to basic liberal values such as democracy, freedom and sexual equality. Ideas which actively promote discrimination, sectarianism and segregation. Ideas – like those of the despicable far right – which privilege one identity to the detriment of the rights and freedoms of others. And ideas also based on conspiracy: that Jews exercise malevolent power; or that Western powers, in concert with Israel, are deliberately humiliating Muslims, because they aim to destroy Islam. In this warped worldview, such conclusions are reached – that 9/11 was actually inspired by Mossad to provoke the invasion of Afghanistan; that British security services knew about 7/7, but didn’t do anything about it because they wanted to provoke an anti-Muslim backlash. And like so many ideologies that have existed before – whether fascist or communist – many people, especially young people, are being drawn to it. We need to understand why it is proving so attractive.”
David Cameron (born 1966) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“This extremist ideology is not true Islam. I have said it myself many, many times, and it’s absolutely right to do so. And I’ll say it again today. But simply denying any connection between the religion of Islam and the extremists doesn’t work, because these extremists are self-identifying as Muslims. ... It is an exercise in futility to deny that. And more than that, it can be dangerous. To deny it has anything to do with Islam means you disempower the critical reforming voices; the voices that are challenging the fusing of religion and politics; the voices that want to challenge the scriptural basis which extremists claim to be acting on; the voices that are crucial in providing an alternative worldview that could stop a teenager’s slide along the spectrum of extremism.”
David Cameron (born 1966) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Parts of the Muslim Brotherhood have a highly ambiguous relationship with violent extremism. Both as an ideology and as a network it has been a rite of passage for some individuals and groups who have gone on to engage in violence and terrorism. It has stated its opposition to al-Qaida (AQ) but it has never credibly denounced the use made by terrorist organisations of the work of Sayyid Qutb, one of the Brotherhood’s most prominent ideologues. Individuals closely associated with the Muslim Brotherhood in the UK have supported suicide bombing and other attacks in Israel by Hamas, an organisation whose military wing has been proscribed in the UK since 2001 as a terrorist organisation, and which describes itself as the Palestinian chapter of the Muslim Brotherhood.”
David Cameron (born 1966) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Aspects of the Muslim Brotherhood’s ideology and activities therefore run counter to British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, equality and the mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. The Muslim Brotherhood is not the only movement that promotes values which appear intolerant of equality and freedom of faith and belief. Nor is it the only movement or group dedicated in theory to revolutionising societies and changing existing ways of life. But I have made clear this government’s determination to reject intolerance, and to counter not just violent Islamist extremism, but also to tackle those who create the conditions for it to flourish.”
David Cameron (born 1966) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It has not been a great week. I know that I should have handled this better, I could have handled this better. I know there are lessons to learn and I will learn them. Don't blame Number 10 Downing Street or nameless advisers, blame me... I want to be open. [...] I was obviously very angry about what people were saying about my dad. I loved my dad, I miss him every day... He was a wonderful father and I'm very proud of everything he did. But I mustn't let that cloud the picture. The facts are these: I bought shares in a unit trust, shares that are like any other sorts of shares and I paid taxes on them in exactly the same way. I sold those shares. In fact, I sold all the shares that I owned, on becoming prime minister. [...] Later on I will be publishing the information that goes into my tax return, not just for this year but the years gone past because I want to be completely open and transparent about these things. I will be the first prime minister, the first leader of a major political party, to do that and I think it is the right thing to do.”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2016 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: After his father was named in the Panama Papers, as cited in "David Cameron: I could have handled tax row better", BBC News (9 April 2016)
“The Prime Minister has asked me to serve as his Foreign Secretary and I have gladly accepted. We are facing a daunting set of international challenges, including the war in Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle East. At this time of profound global change, it has rarely been more important for this country to stand by our allies, strengthen our partnerships and make sure our voice is heard. While I have been out of front-line politics for the last seven years, I hope that my experience – as Conservative Leader for eleven years and Prime Minister for six – will assist me in helping the Prime Minister to meet these vital challenges.”
David Cameron (born 1966) first seen 2023 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Post on X/Twitter (13 November 2023), as cited in "David Cameron returns to UK government as foreign secretary", The Guardian (13 November 2023)