TORY leader David Cameron had brushed up on his Gavin and Stacey knowledge for his Q&A session in Barry Comprehensive School on Monday night (February 16).

Answering questions for over an hour from the floor, he threw in plenty of references to the show – once describing a policy he recommends as "lush’ – saying "that’s what you say in Barry isn’t it?"

Speaking from a stage plastered with the slogan Cameron Direct, he explained his visit, saying: "The Vale of Glamorgan is a marginal seat. You are some of the people who will decide the future.

"Alun Cairns is an excellent Parlimentary candidate."

He shared his view on issues from 'British Jobs for British People', economic policy, and education, to those of more local interest such as the MOD's St Athan military academy development and the Severn Barrage.

A dozen protesters lined the gates of the school with banners protesting against the closure of the Vale Council's Bryneithin residential care home – but Mr Cameron stressed a decision had not yet been made.

He said: "I was told this would be brought up.

"No decision has been taken, the council is looking into it.

"There is a review taking place, not some sham review but a real review looking into it."

He encouraged all protesters to make their voice heard to the local council and to look at the findings of the review, saying "It’s not for me to decide."

When asked about the suitability of American contractors bidding for St Athan, he replied: "We have a close relationship with America. The government has made a complete mess of the contract - they have struggled to put one foot in front of the other.

"But the last thing we need to do is launch a wave of nationalism."

Mr Cameron’s non-nationalist stance was furthered when he was asked about Gordon Brown’s ‘British jobs for British People’ slogan, in conjunction with the Aberthaw plant workers who went on strike in support of affected colleagues.

He said that Mr Brown had "nicked the slogan from the BNP" and that there are many British people working across Europe, and the last thing we want is Italian people and Spanish people protesting about our workers over there. "We are in a single European market and that is a good thing" he said.

On green issues he showed his support for the Barrage across the Bristol Channel - a view at odds with Tory Vale parliamentary candidate Alun Cairns - explaining that "we would be mad not to" harness some of the tidal power there in order to rely less on much from Russia and the Middle East.

"It is properly worth a look at," he added.

Mr Cameron left with a round of applause, but some were more impressed than others.

Paul and Diane Baker, of Marine Drive, Barry, thought he was very slick. Paul said: "He was good – he makes Gordon Brown look like a fool. He answered every question."

But others weren't convinced.

Sylvia Bowen, a save Bryneithin campaigner, said: "If you are a Tory then you will like him – he lives for the high flyers and privatisation.

"But I don’t think he lives in the real world – I will be voting Labour, those lot didn’t seem to have any compassion when it comes to the elderly."