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I'm up to the test, Cameron says I'm up to the test, Cameron says
(41 minutes later)
Tory leader David Cameron has said times will be "tough" if his party wins power but he is "ready to be tested".Tory leader David Cameron has said times will be "tough" if his party wins power but he is "ready to be tested".
In his last conference speech ahead of an election he warned there would be "painful" spending cuts but he wanted to look at "how good things could be". In his last conference speech ahead of an election he said he wanted to "put Britain back on her feet".
His party has proposed spending cuts, pay freezes and pension changes. He also said the death of his son Ivan in February had made him ask "do I really want to do this".
Ahead of his speech there was a video meesage from U2 singer Bono, a previous Labour conference guest, praising the pledge to safeguard international aid. He said his "first and gravest responsibility" if he wins power would be towards British troops in Afghanistan and their families.
Opening the speech Mr Cameron said there was a "steep climb ahead" but "the view from the summit will be worth it".Opening the speech Mr Cameron said there was a "steep climb ahead" but "the view from the summit will be worth it".
Dannatt appointmentDannatt appointment
He said his "first and gravest responsibility" if he wins power would be towards British troops in Afghanistan and their families. He confirmed that former head of the Army General Sir Richard Dannatt would become a Tory defence adviser and may serve in a future Conservative government.
He also confirmed that former head of the Army General Sir Richard Dannatt would become a Tory defence adviser and may serve in a future Conservative government. The wide ranging speech saw Mr Cameron promise to tackle welfare dependency and anti-social behaviour, boost business, improve the NHS and put a cap on some immigration.
He reiterated several previous Conservative pledges but concentrated on delivering his vision of what a Conservative government would do for Britain.
He said policies had been outlined during the week but whatever plans were made it was "unpredictable events that come to dominate a government".
Don't you dare lecture us about poverty. You have failed and it falls to us, the modern Conservative Party, to fight for the poorest who you have let down David Cameron Ex-Army chief 'offered Tory role' Secrets of the conference soundbite Analysis: Nervous ToriesDon't you dare lecture us about poverty. You have failed and it falls to us, the modern Conservative Party, to fight for the poorest who you have let down David Cameron Ex-Army chief 'offered Tory role' Secrets of the conference soundbite Analysis: Nervous Tories
The wide ranging speech saw Mr Cameron reiterate a Conservative pledge to raise the state pension age to allow them to link the basic state pension with earnings, reduce "big government" and rebuild "responsibility". "It's your character, your temperament and your judgement, not your policies and your manifesto that really make the difference," he said.
He pledged to recognise "marriage and civil partnership in the tax system" and abolish "the couples penalty" in the benefit system. In a message to voters, he said a Tory government would back savers, workers, entrepreneurs and families.
And he added: "If you're frightened, we'll protect you, if you risk your safety to stop a crime, we'll stand by you, if you risk your life to fight for your country, we will honour you."
Mr Cameron's plans to start reducing spending immediately to tackle the budget deficit - predicted to reach £175bn in this financial year - have been criticised by Labour ministers who say the party is isolated and would prolong the recession.
'Rotten edifice'
But Mr Cameron said the "longer we wait for a credible plan, the bigger the bill for our children to pay".
He said "responsible thing to do" was to tackle the debt and asked: "What is compassionate, what is progressive about spending more on debt interest than on helping the poorest children in our country?"
And in a fierce attack on the Labour government he said they, not the "wicked Tories" had made "the poorest poorer" and made inequality greater.And in a fierce attack on the Labour government he said they, not the "wicked Tories" had made "the poorest poorer" and made inequality greater.
Conference members got to their feet to applaud as he said: "So don't you dare lecture us about poverty. You have failed and it falls to us, the modern Conservative Party, to fight for the poorest who you have let down."Conference members got to their feet to applaud as he said: "So don't you dare lecture us about poverty. You have failed and it falls to us, the modern Conservative Party, to fight for the poorest who you have let down."
He pledged to reduce "big government" and rebuild "responsibility" and criticised the "rotten edifice" of ID cards.
He also said a Conservative government would recognise "marriage and civil partnership in the tax system" and abolish "the couples penalty" in the benefit system.
Reducing debtReducing debt
In a reference to the death of his six-year-old son Ivan in February, he said "this year will only ever mean one thing" to him and his wife Samantha.In a reference to the death of his six-year-old son Ivan in February, he said "this year will only ever mean one thing" to him and his wife Samantha.
"When such a big part of your life suddenly ends, nothing else - nothing outside - matters. It's like the world has stopped turning and the clocks have stopped ticking," he said."When such a big part of your life suddenly ends, nothing else - nothing outside - matters. It's like the world has stopped turning and the clocks have stopped ticking," he said.
"You ask yourself all over again: do I really want to do this? You think about what you really believe and what sustains you," he said. He said it made him ask "do I really want to do this" and paid tribute to his wife saying she "sustains me the most".
"I know what sustains me the most. She is sitting right there and I'm incredibly proud to call her my wife."
He rejected Labour criticism that his plans to start cutting spending now could prolong the recession, saying the "longer we wait for a credible plan, the bigger the bill for our children to pay".
He said "responsible thing to do" was to tackle the debt and asked: "What is compassionate, what is progressive about spending more on debt interest than on helping the poorest children in our country?"
He said, if his party won power, it would keep the government's Sure Start scheme but "improve it", it would extend flexible working and would "transform" health visitors.
The conference in Manchester is the Tories' last before the general election and has seen the party seeking to show it is ready to govern.The conference in Manchester is the Tories' last before the general election and has seen the party seeking to show it is ready to govern.
Policy pledges outlined have included measures it says are needed to put the UK's economy back on track, such as a public sector pay freeze and raising the age at which the state pension can be claimed.Policy pledges outlined have included measures it says are needed to put the UK's economy back on track, such as a public sector pay freeze and raising the age at which the state pension can be claimed.
The first opinion poll - the daily YouGov tracker for Sky News - since the measures were announced suggested that voters had not taken fright at the plans.The first opinion poll - the daily YouGov tracker for Sky News - since the measures were announced suggested that voters had not taken fright at the plans.
The poll suggests the Conservatives had increased their lead over Labour to 14 points. The survey of about 1,000 people was conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday.The poll suggests the Conservatives had increased their lead over Labour to 14 points. The survey of about 1,000 people was conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday.