<squeak>That's the way to do it</squeak>

So David Cameron won the Conservative leadership election to the surprise of virtually no-one in the end, despite the lengthy odds against him when he began his campaign. It's remarkable what can be accomplished on a the back of a single speech at a party conference isn't it? I recall several several editorial pieces from the Guardian in recent years, commenting on Cameron and George Osbourne's ascent in the party and considering them as potential leaders. Rather prescient of them as it turns out.

I'm heartened by Cameron's victory purely on the basis that it's a recognition that there's room for "nice" in politics. It's very easy to plot a straight line though past Tory leaders on a graph, from John Major, to William Hague, to Ian Duncan-Smith and Michael Howard. They've all embodied, or eventually came to embody, the stereotypical image of the arch-conservative. And really, since the Conservatives fell from power, that's not been a pretty picture. "Nasty" more than "nice"

Cameron, regardless of his virtues and faults doesn't fit on that line. Much of that is likely down to some very careful image management on his part. Despite several potential wobbles along the way, notably his refusal to reveal whether he'd taken drugs at university, he's managed to stay on message and come across rather well. Even the fact that virtually everyone has taken pains to point out how little message there is didn't perturb him. And through it all he's managed to come across as a thoroughly decent sort of chap. Friendly and personable, he's been presenting himself as a "compassionate Conservative" at virtually every opportunity, and in his case it's quite easy to believe it. Whether or not it's actually true is a different matter, but there's little doubt that in terms of changing the public perception of the Conservative party Cameron's already made a lot of headway.

I'll retain my healthy skepticism for the time being, however, particularly in relation to Cameron's views that he wants to bring about an end to the "Punch and Judy" style politics of Westminster. It's a lovely idea in theory, and it plays well to the news cameras. In fact it played just as well to the cameras on innumerable occasions before that. Tony Blair himself used the similar language upon his succession to the Labour leadership and making comments along those lines seems to be something of right of passage for all party leaders regardless of denomination. Needless to say it's made scant difference so far. And as someone who wants an end to such confrontational politics, Cameron isn't above taking potshots at Gordon Brown. Methinks Punch and Judy are here to stay for the foreseeable future.

Still, Cameron has been making noises of which I approve. Admitting that the party in power has made several smart moves and suggesting that these should be built on rather than torn apart when the Conservatives come to power seems like an awfully grown up thing for a politician to say. Again, it may just be careful image management, but I'm all for politics presenting itself as a positive force.

So at this stage there appears to be ground for some optimism. With luck it will last, but I'm sure it won't be too long before cynicism rears it's head again.

It is politics after all