This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24358392

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
David Cameron: We're building land of hope and opportunity David Cameron: We're building land of hope and opportunity
(about 1 hour later)
David Cameron vowed to get behind business to create a "land of opportunity for all", in his big speech to close the Conservative conference.David Cameron vowed to get behind business to create a "land of opportunity for all", in his big speech to close the Conservative conference.
His 50-minute address sought to set out dividing lines with "the 1970s-style socialism" he said Labour now offered.His 50-minute address sought to set out dividing lines with "the 1970s-style socialism" he said Labour now offered.
He claimed Britain's economy was finally "turning the corner" and the "land of hope is Tory" while "the land of despair was Labour". He claimed the economy was "turning the corner" and the "land of hope is Tory", while "the land of despair was Labour".
"If Labour's plan for jobs is to attack business, ours is to back business." Mr Cameron also hinted that benefits for under-25s could be cut in an effort to get more young people into work.
In response to the speech Labour said Mr Cameron offered a land of opportunity "for just a privileged few". But Labour said the prime minister had failed to address the "cost-of-living crisis" and offered a land of opportunity "for just a privileged few".
In a clear riposte to Mr Miliband's speech last week, in which he promised to freeze energy prices and increase corporation tax on big business, Mr Cameron told Tory activists "profits, tax cuts and enterprise... are not dirty, elitist words". 'Nag and push'
"Because it's not government that creates jobs, it's businesses. It's businesses that get wages in people's pockets, food on their tables, hope for their families and success for our country." During the 50-minute speech, Mr Cameron contrasted his own party's philosophy with that of the opposition, saying: "If Labour's plan for jobs is to attack business, ours is to back business."
'Quick fixes' He criticised Labour leader Ed Miliband, who promised in his end-of-conference address last week to freeze energy prices and increase corporate tax on big firms, telling Tory activists that "profits, tax cuts and enterprise... are not dirty, elitist words".
Mr Cameron warned that Labour's calls for more state borrowing and spending to ease the "cost of living crisis" would risk putting the UK on the economic trajectory of Greece. Mr Cameron argued that adding more state state borrowing and spending to ease the "cost-of-living crisis" would risk putting the UK on the economic trajectory of Greece.
And he claimed the Labour leader's policies announced last week to tackle the cost of living crisis were already unravelling. "It's all sticking plasters and quick fixes cobbled together for the TV cameras - Red Ed and his Blue Peter economy, " said the prime minister.
"It's all sticking plasters and quick fixes cobbled together for the TV cameras - Red Ed and his Blue Peter economy, " said Mr Cameron. Earlier in the week, Chancellor George Osborne announced plans to make the long-term unemployed undertake work placements if they want to continue receiving benefits.
Mr Cameron spoke for just over an hour, from behind a lectern, often looking straight into the lens of the TV camera in an attempt to communicate directly with voters. In his speech, Mr Cameron did not make any specific policy announcements, but suggested his party was looking at further changes to the welfare system to include in its manifesto for the 2015 general election.
It was wrong that young people could "choose the dole" and right to "offer them something better".
Mr Cameron added: "And let no one paint ideas like this as callous.
"Think about it: with your children, would you dream of just leaving them to their own devices, not getting a job, not training, nothing?
"No - you'd nag and push and guide and do anything to get them on their way… and so must we. So this is what we want to see: everyone under 25 - earning or learning."
'Stand tall'
Mr Cameron, who did not repeat previous no-notes speeches, often looked straight into the lens of the TV camera to address directly the audience outside the Manchester conference centre.
The BBC's chief political correspondent Norman Smith said it was a surprisingly sober speech in parts, with Mr Cameron stressing there was still much work to do to fix Britain's economy.The BBC's chief political correspondent Norman Smith said it was a surprisingly sober speech in parts, with Mr Cameron stressing there was still much work to do to fix Britain's economy.
There were no new policy announcements, as Mr Cameron chose instead to sketch out his vision of the kind of society he wants to build if the Conservatives win a majority at the 2015 general election.
It was not enough just to clean up Labour's "mess" and pay off the deficit, he wanted to "build something better in its place".It was not enough just to clean up Labour's "mess" and pay off the deficit, he wanted to "build something better in its place".
"In place of the casino economy, one where people who work hard can actually get on; in place of the welfare society, one where no individual is written off; in place of the broken education system, one that gives every child the chance to rise up and succeed. He added: "In place of the casino economy, one where people who work hard can actually get on; in place of the welfare society, one where no individual is written off; in place of the broken education system, one that gives every child the chance to rise up and succeed."
"Our economy, our society, welfare, schools all reformed, all rebuilt with one aim, one mission in mind - to make this country at long last, and for the first time ever, a land of opportunity for all. Mr Cameron invoked the spirit of his predecessor Margaret Thatcher, the winner of three general elections, who died earlier this year, saying she had "made our country stand tall again, at home and abroad".
"So it makes no difference whether you live in the North or in the South, whether you're black or you're white, a man or a woman, the school you went to, the background you have, who your parents were - what matters is the effort you put in, and if you put the effort in you'll have the chance to make it. He also made efforts to distance his party, and himself, from the Liberal Democrats, with whom the Tories have ruled in coalition for more than three years.
"That is what the land of opportunity means. That is what finishing the job means." He promised: "When the election comes, we won't be campaigning for a coalition, we will be fighting heart and soul for a majority Conservative government - because that is what our country needs...
'Bigger society'
Distancing his party from the Lib Dems, he said: "When the election comes, we won't be campaigning for a coalition, we will be fighting heart and soul for a majority Conservative government - because that is what our country needs...
"This party at its heart is about big people, strong communities, responsible businesses, a bigger society - not a bigger state.""This party at its heart is about big people, strong communities, responsible businesses, a bigger society - not a bigger state."
During their week in Manchester, Mr Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne have expressed the aim of running a consistent government budget surplus - meaning the government brings in more in revenue than it spends - by 2020. 'Strong message'
Mr Osborne has announced plans to make the long-term unemployed undertake work placements if they want to continue receiving benefits. To cheers, Mr Cameron attacked the Lib Dems for "trying to take all the credit" for lowering the minimum earnings threshold at which people start paying income tax.
Labour vice chairman Michael Dugher said after Mr Cameron's speech: "There's a cost of living crisis facing Britain's hard working families, and he's got nothing to say about it. He joked: "Well, memo to the Lib Dems: you lecturing us on low taxes is like us lecturing you on pointless constitutional tinkering.
"We are Tories, we believe in low taxes and, believe me, we will keep on cutting the taxes of hard-working people in our country."
Mr Cameron received a standing ovation after the speech, his ninth to conference since becoming leader in 2005.
But, afterwards, Labour vice-chairman Michael Dugher accused him of being out of touch, saying: "There's a cost-of-living crisis facing Britain's hard working families, and he's got nothing to say about it.
"David Cameron's pledge to 'finish the job' shows how out of touch he really is. Rather than standing up for hardworking people he has shown he always puts a privileged few first, prioritising a tax cut for those earning over £150,000 a year while everyone else pays more.""David Cameron's pledge to 'finish the job' shows how out of touch he really is. Rather than standing up for hardworking people he has shown he always puts a privileged few first, prioritising a tax cut for those earning over £150,000 a year while everyone else pays more."
But there was a more favourable response from business groups, with CBI director-general John Cridland saying the prime minister had "sent out a strong message about how vital British business is to the future prosperity of people across the UK".
Simon Walker, director-general of the Institute of Directors also welcomed the speech, but warned that firms would "be looking for him to match the sentiment with action - if tax cuts aren't dirty, let's have a few more of them".