David Cameron insisted he is “pumped up” and “bloody lively” as he sought to quell criticism of low-key election campaigning.
In a speech to leaders of small businesses which marked a distinctly more combative approach, the Prime Minister admitted that the Conservatives did not always wear their “passion on our sleeves”.
But, with his voice cracking at times and his face flushed, he said no-one should be in any doubt how much he wanted to win the election and head off the threat of an Ed Miliband government propped up by the SNP.
The appearance came after a similarly punchy address to Tory activists in Yeovil on Sunday where Mr Cameron memorably suggested that Labour’s message to voters should be stuck “where the sun don’t shine”.
Unveiling a small business manifesto at the Chartered Institute of Accountants in central London yesterday, Mr Cameron cast the Conservatives as the party of “the small businesses, the entrepreneurs, the techies, the roof tilers, the retailers, the plumbers, the builders”.
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And he warned that the “pro-business environment” would be at risk if Labour wins on May 7.
“You know what they call you? They say business is a predator,” he said.
“This is not some Arnold Schwarzenegger movie. This is what we are staring down the barrel of in 10 days’ time if we don’t get out there and fight for jobs and fight for enterprise and fight for our economy, and that’s what we are going to do.”
He went on: “People want to know what I want it for … When I see those people who work hard and do the right thing, that is what this election is all about.
“If you think I’m going to roll over in the next 10 days and let Ed Miliband and Alex Salmond wreck that, you’ve got another thing coming. It’s a battle for the backbone of Britain, that’s what this election is about.”
Speaking without notes, Mr Cameron added: “To all those people thinking of how to make that choice in the next 10 days’ time, I would say this those of you who’ve worked hard, those of you who’ve put in, those of you who want to build something, you have been in a fight. You have fought for jobs, you’ve fought for our recovery, you’ve kept people on in the difficult times, you are building this country.
“You’ve fought for Britain and I will always fight for you as your Prime Minister, knowing the economy comes first. You can have all the plans, all the dreams, all the policies and all the ideas in the world they don’t amount to a row of beans unless you’ve got a strong economy.
“That’s what we’ve got in Britain. That’s what you’ve all built these last five years. Don’t put it at risk. Don’t let it all go to waste. Get out there and fight we can win.”
The intervention came after the leaders of 5,000 smaller businesses signed a letter to the Daily Telegraph supporting the Tory approach.
The companies, which employ nearly 100,000 people across the country, said they “would like to see David Cameron and George Osborne given the chance to finish what they have started”.