Read David Cameron's speech notes

Just four sheets of handwritten notes formed the backbone of David Cameron’s 66-minute speech to his party yesterday, The Times can reveal.

The Conservative leader began the speech promising an “off the cuff” address that would explain to voters why he is ready to lead the country.

Flourishing his notes yesterday, he told the Winter Gardens that he would not be needing an Autocue or a copy of his speech in full. He spoke for more than an hour, referring only occasionally to the notes, which were positioned next to a watch on a table.

Yesterday The Times obtained those four slightly crumpled handwritten pages, written in blue fountain pen.

Set out in ten sections with bullet points, phrases in urgent block capitals and sections underlined, Mr Cameron’s aide memoire is reminiscent of revision notes for an exam.

Headed simply, “SPEECH”, prompts include “What I believe”, “Old Politics Failing”, as well as sections on families, education, the NHS, crime and “new threats” to Britain such as global warming.

With first-name references to his Shadow Cabinet, Mr Cameron also reminds himself to pick out “William” [Hague] and “Sayeeda” [Warsi, the Shadow Minister for Community Cohesion and first Muslim woman of a Shadow Cabinet or Cabinet] for rounds of applause.

In places his notes also read like a weather report, with the story of the boy in the North of England who told him he was going to fail a GCSE exam highlighted as “HULL STORM”, followed by a “YOUNG MAN STORM” a few passages later. Elswhere, “the winds of change can be HARSH as well as INVIGORATIVE”, he states.

Beginning his address yesterday, Mr Cameron said: “Today I want to make a speech about why I want to lead our country,” he said. “I’m afraid it is going to be bit longer and I haven’t got an Autocue and I haven’t a script, I’ve just got a few notes so it might be a bit messy; but it will be me.”

On that basis, The Timesshowed Mr Cameron’s notes to a handwriting expert to see if she could identify any clues as to his character.

Elaine Quigley, a psychologist and editor of the Graphologist journal, said last night: “The writing is spare and clean, presumably for ease of reference, but the dots and crossbars of the letters also show a close attention to detail and focus.

“Despite being rough notes, he has not abbreviated anything and is consistent in style – which is perhaps a product of his education. The lack of curls on his “y”s or “g”s show a lack of emotion and suggest he does not like making grand dramatic gestures.

“There is a sense of sincerity that this is what he believes, and he shows signs of being very thoughtful and deliberate in his aims.”

“These notes could not be more opposite to those of Tony Blair,” she said, but added that contrasts with Mr Brown were less obvious.

Times Recommends

• Secret files show Thatcher's role in coup plot
• Veterans to boycott Shell after ban on poppy sales
• 'I survived so please let Baby RB live too'