David Cameron admits UK government must ‘raise its game’ after tough month

THE government needs to raise its game, Prime Minister David Cameron admitted today, saying some ministers needed to “learn lessons” about communicating with the public.

• After series of political blunders, David Cameron admits government must do better

• Episodes involving Abu Qatada, fuel strike threat and ‘granny-tax’ have embarrassed the coalition

• Cameron says being PM is ‘huge honour’ as he defends accusations of lack of focus on the job

But he insisted the coalition’s “driving vision” remain intact and defended his own position after a “difficult” month.

The Westminster government has faced serious criticism in the past weeks over issues including the potential tanker drivers strike, the budget and the rearrest of Abu Qatada.

Mr Cameron defended under-fire Home Secretary Theresa May over the case, saying the Home Office had “checked repeatedly” with the court during the process.

“It had checked repeatedly throughout that process, it was working on that basis and all the case law pointed in that direction so it was very clear and Theresa May has been very clear about this,” he said.

“The Home Office was working on the basis of the deadline being the Monday night and that is something that they had checked with the court.”

He went on: “They were told throughout that the deadline expired on the Monday night.

“Was the Government right to try to move as rapidly as possible to remove this man from our country because he has no right to be here and is a threat to our country? I think they were.”

Asked about the tough time faced by the Tory-led coalition with the Liberal Democrats, he said: “Everything we are doing is about helping people who work hard and do the right thing and making this country more pro-enterprise, more pro-get-up-and-go, more pro-work, more pro-effort.

“That is the driving vision. That is the mission.

“You have difficult weeks or difficult months. I want us to raise our game and do better. But the vision and the long-term are what matters.”

He went on: “In two years, to have a couple of bad months is not surprising.”

Responding to claims that he was not giving the job his full attention, he said he was working “very, very hard” but that it was vital to maintain family life to avoid becoming “fried and exhausted” and make mistakes.

“It certainly doesn’t feel like that from my perspective. It is a huge honour to do this job, it is an immense privilege. It is extremely hard work, I work very, very hard at it. I am normally at my kitchen table at quarter to six in the morning going through my boxes and papers.

“I try to have around me a very strong team of people and I am fortunate in an excellent Cabinet.”

But he acknowledged that mistakes were made over the potential fuel strike - notably Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude’s call for voters to fill “jerry cans” with petrol and keep them in their garages.

“I accept we need to learn lessons around communication,” he said.

Responding to criticism that he was seen to devote too much time to the school run, “date nights” with wife Samantha and watching DVD box sets, he said: “It has got to be possible to be a decent husband, a good father and a good Prime Minister at the same time. If it isn’t possible then there’s something wrong.”