Cameron on... as told to the Witney Gazette (From Witney Gazette)

Cameron on... as told to the Witney Gazette

8:30am Wednesday 26th July 2006 in Witney

His first seven months as Tory leader: We are doing everything differently. This has been a period of really quite dramatic change for the Conservative Party. I've been heartened by the response. The party was longing to be led in a particular direction. There will be no let up in the pace of change.

His three-prong strategy to win the next election: 1. Get the Conservative party back into the mainstream of politics.

2. Put in place long-term policy work.

3. Develop plans to leave a legacy of change for the better.

Health services in Oxfordshire: We should certainly look at the funding formula and make sure it's fair. When you look at what's happening in parts of England in the health service, it's not just a modest reduction, it is quite swathing cuts.

With the Horton Hospital in Banbury there's a danger that the real heart is being taken out of it because if you take out paediatrics from a district general hospital it's no longer a full district general hospital.

On plans for thousands of new homes in the South East: The problem is the top-down planning system. What you need is fundamental reform so more is decided locally and local authorities see greater benefits if they go ahead with development. If you did that you would see some areas would opt for more and some opt for less.

At the moment the problem is that it's in everyone's interest to be a bit of a Nimby because you don't see the benefits of development coming into your area.

On Gordon Brown: I don't think he's been a successful Chancellor. He's had nine years of a benign economic environment and he could have made Britain the Hong Kong of Europe. Instead we have got the highest tax burden in our history. He's squandered a great opportunity.

On going green: In terms of personal behaviour the head teacher's report would be 'could do better'. We are still not always very good at switching off the stand-by buttons but we are trying to install low energy lightbulbs and trying to make sure lights are switched off. With my new house in west London I'm going for a combination of windmills plus solar panels. It will definitely be an environmental improvement of the last one.

On doing his job: I'm enjoying it. It's very challenging because there are so many different parts to it. What's going on in Parliament, what's going on in the country, in the party and in the private life, Prime Minister's questions, big speeches, getting the policies right and setting up the commissions.

On the importance of having a rest: Last weekend I got home at 9.30pm on Friday night and Saturday and Sunday was a quiet weekend. It was really nice. If you're frazzled you will make bad decisions.

On one of his favourite albums, The Queen is Dead by The Smiths: In my office I've got a signed copy because the drummer of The Smiths came to see me about some charity he is trying to get off the ground.

On his cucumbers: Thames Valley is now parched. Everything is dying, my cucumbers are shrivelling in front of my eyes. It's very sad. I've not had enough time with the watering cans.