Nick Clegg may have been accused of sounding rather like a certain US politician recently (all those references to "hope" and "change") but David Cameron has just taken Obama mimicry to a whole new level.

Here's how he ended his speech on the "broken society" today:

Inspired by the Big Society, not crushed by the effects of big government. Based on hope, optimism and faith in each other. Not rules, regulations and fear of each other. This is what Barack Obama called the audacity of hope. Now it is our turn to dare to believe that we can change our world. Together. All of us. So let's do it.

I think it's safe to assume that Obama, who opposed the Iraq war, supports "spreading the wealth" and believes in the power of government, does not believe that Cameron, who backed the war, plans to cut tax for the rich and believes, absurdly, that "big government" caused the financial crisis, is fit to claim his mantle.

Indeed, on policy areas from Lords reform ("a third-term issue" for Cameron) to the voting system, the Tory leader is not the candidate of change but the candidate of the status quo.

In any case, is it not an indictment of the right that Cameron now attempts to improve his image by comparing himself to a left-liberal politician? It's as good a reminder as any that this is a progressive, not a conservative moment.

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