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I'm ready to govern, says Cameron | I'm ready to govern, says Cameron |
(10 minutes later) | |
Conservative leader David Cameron has said he has "got what it takes to turn this country around". | Conservative leader David Cameron has said he has "got what it takes to turn this country around". |
He told the Tory spring conference he grew more confident "every day" and that it was his "patriotic duty" to beat Gordon Brown at the election. | He told the Tory spring conference he grew more confident "every day" and that it was his "patriotic duty" to beat Gordon Brown at the election. |
After one opinion poll suggested the Conservatives' lead over Labour had narrowed to two points, Mr Cameron said his party faced a "real fight". | After one opinion poll suggested the Conservatives' lead over Labour had narrowed to two points, Mr Cameron said his party faced a "real fight". |
Labour said voters were becoming more "fearful" of Mr Cameron and his party. | Labour said voters were becoming more "fearful" of Mr Cameron and his party. |
The general election must be held by June, but it is widely expected to take place on 6 May. | The general election must be held by June, but it is widely expected to take place on 6 May. |
'Utter mess' | 'Utter mess' |
The Conservatives have pledged action in six key areas: dealing with the deficit; boosting enterprise; shoring up families; backing the NHS; raising standards in schools; and cleaning up politics. | The Conservatives have pledged action in six key areas: dealing with the deficit; boosting enterprise; shoring up families; backing the NHS; raising standards in schools; and cleaning up politics. |
In this country, with all of our difficulties, we are going to need some salesmanship David Cameron Poll fears stalk Tory conference Have your say | |
In his speech, Mr Cameron, speaking without notes, said: "They don't hand general election victories on a plate to people in this country and quite right too." | In his speech, Mr Cameron, speaking without notes, said: "They don't hand general election victories on a plate to people in this country and quite right too." |
He added: "This is not an election that it would be quite good to win because we have got some good policies... | He added: "This is not an election that it would be quite good to win because we have got some good policies... |
"It is an election we have a patriotic duty to win because this country is in a complete and utter mess, and we have to sort it out." | "It is an election we have a patriotic duty to win because this country is in a complete and utter mess, and we have to sort it out." |
Mr Cameron said the economy was the "key issue" ahead of the election, attacking Mr Brown for "incompetence". | Mr Cameron said the economy was the "key issue" ahead of the election, attacking Mr Brown for "incompetence". |
'Roll up our sleeves' | 'Roll up our sleeves' |
He said: "At this election we are going to take out your record and tear it up, piece by piece." | He said: "At this election we are going to take out your record and tear it up, piece by piece." |
On the budget deficit, Mr Cameron said the government had to "get to grips" with public finances, adding: "I think the British people know that we are right... | On the budget deficit, Mr Cameron said the government had to "get to grips" with public finances, adding: "I think the British people know that we are right... |
"We've got to roll up our sleeves to deal with this deficit and debt." | "We've got to roll up our sleeves to deal with this deficit and debt." |
The Conservative leader also told delegates: "Gordon Brown sometimes says that I'm a bit of a salesman and, you know what, I plead guilty. | The Conservative leader also told delegates: "Gordon Brown sometimes says that I'm a bit of a salesman and, you know what, I plead guilty. |
"In this country, with all of our difficulties, we are going to need some salesmanship. | "In this country, with all of our difficulties, we are going to need some salesmanship. |
"I want to get around the world, not filling up the aeroplane with journalists but businessmen... I want a really clear message to go out that Britain is under new economic management and that we are open for business again." | "I want to get around the world, not filling up the aeroplane with journalists but businessmen... I want a really clear message to go out that Britain is under new economic management and that we are open for business again." |
Mr Cameron said his party's election manifesto would be the "most family-friendly" in British political history and added: "I love the NHS and I will stand up to protect it." | Mr Cameron said his party's election manifesto would be the "most family-friendly" in British political history and added: "I love the NHS and I will stand up to protect it." |
Opinion poll | Opinion poll |
He said: "In the four-and-a-half years that I've been doing this job, every day that goes by I feel more confident that I have, with this team behind me, got what it takes to turn this country around... That's what we badly need to do." | He said: "In the four-and-a-half years that I've been doing this job, every day that goes by I feel more confident that I have, with this team behind me, got what it takes to turn this country around... That's what we badly need to do." |
According to the YouGov poll published in the Sunday Times, the Conservative lead over Labour has narrowed to two points - down from six points last week. | According to the YouGov poll published in the Sunday Times, the Conservative lead over Labour has narrowed to two points - down from six points last week. |
It suggests that 37% would vote Tory, while 35% would opt for Labour and 17% for the Lib Dems. | It suggests that 37% would vote Tory, while 35% would opt for Labour and 17% for the Lib Dems. |
This, the Sunday Times says, could give Labour 317 seats, nine short of an overall majority, with the Tories on a total of 263 MPs. | This, the Sunday Times says, could give Labour 317 seats, nine short of an overall majority, with the Tories on a total of 263 MPs. |
For Labour, Welsh Secretary Peter Hain told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show the latest opinion poll was "part of a trend". | For Labour, Welsh Secretary Peter Hain told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show the latest opinion poll was "part of a trend". |
He added that people were "more and more questioning David Cameron and more and more suspicious and fearful of the Conservatives as we come up to the election". | He added that people were "more and more questioning David Cameron and more and more suspicious and fearful of the Conservatives as we come up to the election". |
"That's what I've been feeling on the ground, campaigning and talking to people." | "That's what I've been feeling on the ground, campaigning and talking to people." |
The Liberal Democrats say only they offer a change to the existing way of conducting politics. | The Liberal Democrats say only they offer a change to the existing way of conducting politics. |
Danny Alexander, chief of staff to party leader Nick Clegg, said: "It's between the old way of doing politics and the real change represented by the Liberal Democrats". | Danny Alexander, chief of staff to party leader Nick Clegg, said: "It's between the old way of doing politics and the real change represented by the Liberal Democrats". |
For its poll, YouGov spoke to 1,436 people from 25 to 26 February. | For its poll, YouGov spoke to 1,436 people from 25 to 26 February. |