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I'm ready to govern, says Cameron 'I can turn UK around' - 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 sayIn 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 'Dark tunnel'
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."
Mr Cameron said people expected a "sense of optimism" from him: "With all our difficulties and the deficit and the debt and the social problems and the political system that has gone so wrong, it can feel like we are looking down some dark tunnel.
"But there is a bright light at the end of it."
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.