David Cameron when he visited the Kent Messenger offices in 2008

by Andy Gray

agray@thekmgroup.co.uk

Prime Minister David Cameron might struggle with some of the finer points of British history - but he isn’t found wanting when it comes to matters relating to the KM.

The Conservative leader, whose failure to answer questions about the country during an appearance on a US talk show made headlines this week, took time out from his busy schedule to congratulate Maidstone and Weald MP Helen Grant on her work for this newspaper.

In her KM column two weeks ago, Mrs Grant spoke of her newly-bestowed ministerial duties and the ensuing maelstrom of meetings, debates and speeches.

She light-heartedly compared herself to Jim Hacker, the oft-befuddled MP in the early 80s TV political satire, Yes Minister.

It prompted a personal response from the PM, who wrote: “I loved your column in the Kent Messenger last week about how similar your experience of ministerial life is to that Jim Hacker faced in Yes Minister.”

Mr Cameron was embroiled in his US tour when we contacted his office to offer our congratulations on his choice of reading, but a Downing Street spokesman confirmed he has a keen eye on us.

Two years before running the country, the future PM enjoyed a tour of the KM’s offices in Middle Row during a visit to Maidstone in 2008.

“The PM always likes to keep up with what’s going on in Kent,” the spokesman said.

Mrs Grant was made Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice and for Women’s and Equalities issues in a round of Government appointments earlier this month.

And as our rising star MP herself wrote in her column this week: “You saw it here first, the PM reads the KM.”

David Cameron is the first serving British Prime Minister to appear on popular US chat show the Late Show with David Letterman, which aired in the US last night.

During the programme, Mr Cameron had his knowledge of British history and culture put to the test with a series of unrehearsed questions.

Although he was spot on with the date and the origin of the Magna Carta, he was unable to provide its English translation.

He was also non-plussed when asked to name the composer of Rule Britannia, incorrectly guessing Edward Elgar.

As we know you will be reading this, Mr Cameron, the KM is delighted to inform you the translation of Magna Carta is great charter and Thomas Arne wrote Rule Britannia.