Schwarzenegger gives UK's Cameron conservative pep talk

By Karyn Chenoweth Sep 30, 2007, 19:40 GMT

08/27/2007 - Arnold Schwarzenegger - © Chris Hatcher / PR Photos

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Sunday gave Britain's main opposition Conservative Party a blueprint for winning back power, hearts and minds and overhauling Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

The Austrian-born actor, now California's popular Governor, told the Conservative leader David Cameron to focus on issues that matter to the British people rather than the existing political parties.

Reuters reports that British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is reported to be considering calling a general election in the coming weeks, with his Labour Party riding high over the Conservatives in the opinion polls since he took over from Tony Blair back in June.

Via live satellite link, Schwarzenegger spoke to the Conservatives' annual conference in Blackpool, on the north-west English coast..

Schwarzenegger said: "Our job is to recognize the issues that matter to the people the most and to solve them.

"Issues like health care, balanced budgets, economic development, education reform, public safety, infrastructure and of course global warming and protecting the environment.

"These are not conservative or liberal issues. They are issues everyone cares about."

Calling Cameron a "dynamic leader," he praised Cameron's leadership on climate change, which has forced it high up the British political and social agenda.

"By being a strong and forceful voice on climate change, David Cameron has revived your Conservative Party's green heritage and helped strengthen Britain's resolve to set an example on this issue," the Republican California governor said.

"That is the kind of leadership people are hungry for. They want action and results, not ideology and stalemate.

"They prefer progress with messy compromise, over defeat with pristine principles," Schwarzenegger noted.