Economy dominates Tories' agenda

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7637933.stm

Version 0 of 1.

Conservative supporters are preparing for the party's annual conference, with the state of the economy set to dominate the event.

Shadow chancellor George Osborne speaks on Monday, having said the Tories will inherit a "complete economic mess" if they win the next election.

The party, which has pledged to match Labour's spending commitments up to 2010/11, is reviewing its plans.

Leader David Cameron's speech closes the conference on Wednesday.

Policy detail

The event opens on Sunday, with a discussion on the economy involving Mr Osborne and shadow foreign secretary William Hague taking place.

Mr Cameron's conference speech will be his third as leader, with party members keen for more detail on taxation and economic policies.

The Conservatives have enjoyed substantial leads over Labour in recent opinion polls, having also won the London mayoralty and the Crewe and Nantwich by-election earlier this year.

But in his speech to last week's Labour conference, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the current economic difficulties meant it was "no time for a novice" to be leading the country.

However, Mr Osborne, a close ally of Mr Cameron, said the UK currently had a "divided government and a weak prime minister", which were the "last things that the country needs at a time of crisis".