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I'm up to the test, Cameron says I'm up to the test, Cameron says
(20 minutes later)
Conservative leader David Cameron has said times will be "tough" if his party wins the next general election 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".
Opening his conference speech he warned there would be "painful" cuts in spending but said he wanted to talk about "how good things could be". 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".
Mr Cameron said there was a "steep climb ahead" but "the view from the summit will be worth it".
His party has proposed spending cuts, pay freezes and pension changes.His party has proposed spending cuts, pay freezes and pension changes.
Last conference 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.
Opening the speech Mr Cameron said there was a "steep climb ahead" but "the view from the summit will be worth it".
Dannatt appointment
He said his "first and gravest responsibility" if he wins power would be towards British troops in Afghanistan and their families.
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.
I won't promise you things I cannot deliver David Cameron Ex-Army chief 'offered Tory role' Secrets of the conference soundbite Analysis: Nervous Tories
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.
"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.
"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.
He said: "The longer we wait for a credible plan, the bigger the bill for our children to pay. The longer we wait, the greater the risk to the recovery. The longer we wait, the higher the chance we return to recession."
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?"
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said no new policy announcements were anticipated in Mr Cameron's speech.BBC political editor Nick Robinson said no new policy announcements were anticipated in Mr Cameron's speech.
The Tory leader is expected instead to focus on the qualities he believes will decide the next election - character, judgement and leadership. The Tory leader would instead focus on the qualities he believes will decide the next election - character, judgement and leadership.
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.
I won't promise you things I cannot deliver David Cameron Ex-Army chief 'offered Tory role' Secrets of the conference soundbite Analysis: Nervous Tories
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.
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague denied it had been a gloomy conference.
He told the BBC: "It's been direct, it's been honest. It's been a week where we very clearly set out what we do in government to get people into work, to control the deficit, to improve the education system.
"I don't think anybody will be able to say any more we don't know what the Conservative policies are. And David Cameron will want to show in his speech today that if we do those things there is a bright future for the country, we can have some hope and optimism and confidence for the future."
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.