New cars are on me!

Cameron suggested today that a Tory government would guarantee loans for people to buy cars.

He was talking on the Marr show about his touted Loan Guarantee Scheme – where the Government certifies loans from banks to small businesses.

He then sidetracked on to how the vehicle market had plummeted because people couldn’t get loans to buy cars.

“What we need is the Loan Guarantee Scheme. We need it to be extended to car financing, so actually we can get people to buy cars again,” he said.

That’s a new one. The kind of comment which probably left his press officers looking at each other behind the camera.

If he was serious his scheme overall would be much more ambitious and potentially more costly than previously thought.

All in all he gave a solid performance including a defence to Labour attacks on his plan to abolish income tax for savers.

Notts MP Geoff Hoon was among those deployed this week demanding to know how the plan would be funded.

Cameron held his ground, refusing to commit detail but explaining his policy would be funded by a reduction in spending increase.

More detail is still needed there. But Cameron has the time which the Government, desperate for results from its policies, doesn’t.

The interview was set in the Tory leader’s home, with the surroundings typically managed.

An i-Pod and Ingrid Bergman poster positioned behind Marr claimed, “the man who lives here is modern, yet classy.”

And then there was the obligatory shot of Dave in his kitchen drinking from a mug.

The only shoddiness was provided by BBC technicians who kept losing the picture just when Cameron was about to say something significant.

That included whether he was bringing back Rushcliffe’s Ken Clarke.

His answer suggested there is indeed fire where there is smoke.

“As far as I’m concerned he’s back already,” he’s said.

“One of the things I’ve done is I’ve brought the Conservative Party together. I’ve got all the big beasts.”

Adding: “We'll just have to wait and see.”