I've heard this somewhere before

The insightful Martin Kettle today describes David Cameron's speech about 'progressive conservatism' to Demos yesterday as important. In particular he noted that:

Cameron's speech may have sounded as if it was about political philosophy. Yet it was at least as much a speech about politics. In particular, it was a speech about how Cameron wants to govern. Towards the end, Cameron makes it clear - I paraphrase - that he wants to campaign for office as a progressive conservative and then, in office, to govern as a progressive conservative.

Now, I seem to remember a certain other politician of recent times who came to office, claiming that he would govern in a similar way; as a 'compassionate conservative'.

And look how well that went. As Bill Clinton said of the philosophy, it boiled down to:

"I want to help you. I really do. But you know, I just can't."

Can Cameron break that expectation? I'm not convinced.