2 October 2013, 13:15
David Cameron has urged voters to hand him a majority at the next election so that the Tories can build a “land of opportunity”.
The Prime Minister evoked Winston Churchill as he asked Britain to give the Conservatives the tools to “finish the job” of “clearing up the mess” left by Labour.
He said the economy was starting to turn the corner but warned that anyone who thought the struggle was over is “living in a fantasy land”.
In a bid to adopt a more upbeat tone, his party conference speech talked of creating a better Britain and signalled he would slash taxes if he stays in power.
“We are Tories. We believe in low taxes. And believe me – we will keep on cutting the taxes of hard-working people,” he declared.
But he also warned of further austerity as the Conservatives aim to pay off the deficit and then build up a surplus for the future.
Mr Cameron signalled the under-25s would have to “earn or learn” under a Tory government and would not be able to opt for a life on benefits.
But there were no other major policy announcements in his 49-minute address in Manchester, which was mostly delivered directly to the camera.
Instead, the Tory leader sought to draw clear dividing lines with Labour, accusing Ed Miliband of adopting a “crazy” anti-business agenda.
He dismissed Mr Miliband’s promises to cut the cost-of-living as “all sticking plaster and quick fixes” – dubbing it “Red Ed and his Blue Peter economy”.
Borrowing the slogan Mr Miliband repeated 17 times in his own speech, Mr Cameron declared: “I tell you what, Britain deserves better than that lot.”
He insisted profit, wealth creation and enterprise were not “dirty, elitist words” but the driving force behind the recovery.
“It’s businesses that get wages in people’s pockets, food on their tables, hope for their families and success for our country,” he said.
He branded Labour’s plan to hike corporate tax rates for large businesses as “just about the most damaging, nonsensical, twisted economic policy you could possibly come up with”.
And he warned the call for more state borrowing and spending to ease what the Opposition calls a cost-of-living crisis would risk putting the UK on the same track as Greece.
He also rejected Labour accusations that the Tories represent the privileged and said he wanted a society where everyone has “the chance to make it”.
Mr Cameron declared that he is “fighting heart and soul for a majority Conservative government because that is what our country needs”.
But he warned Tory ambitions should not be limited to repairing the damage caused by Labour and eliminating the deficit.
“Finishing the job is about more than clearing up the mess we were left,” he said. “It means building 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.
“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.”
His speech followed a raft of policy announcements aimed at countering Labour’s claim that it is the only party that will tackle the rising cost-of-living.
Tory plans include bringing forward the Help-to-Buy scheme, the prospect of a fuel duty freeze until 2015 and a tax break for some married couples.
Mr Cameron vowed a Tory government would replace the “casino economy” and “welfare society” as well as improve the education system.
He accused Labour of failing Britain’s young people and disadvantaged households by giving up and consigning them to a life on benefits.
“If you expect nothing of people, that does nothing for them. Yes, you must help people, but you help people by putting up ladders that they can climb through their own efforts,” he said.
“It’s this party that is fighting for all those who were written off by Labour. It’s this party that’s for the many, not the few. Yes – the land of despair was Labour, but the land of hope is Tory.”
He also sought to position the Tories as the true defenders of the NHS, hailed the “noble” calling of social work and vowed to drive regeneration in the North of England.
“Make no mistake who’s looking forward in British politics,” Mr Cameron said. “We’ll leave the 1970s-style socialism to others. We are the party of the future.”
Activists gave the speech a standing ovation as Samantha Cameron joined her husband on stage.
The pair left the hall to Fleetwood Mac’s Don’t Stop (Thinking About Tomorrow), famously used by Bill Clinton as the soundtrack to his successful campaign for the US presidency in 1992.
Mr Miliband wrote on Twitter: “David Cameron’s speech shows he does not know where to start in tackling the cost of living crisis facing Britain’s hard-working families.
“The last thing families want is him to ‘finish the job’ when prices have risen faster than wages and average pay is down by almost £1,500.”
Simon Walker, director general of the Institute of Directors, said: “Businesses up and down the country will welcome the Prime Minister’s recognition that they are the driving force behind the economy, creating jobs and putting money in people’s pockets.
“But they will be looking for him to match the sentiment with action. If tax cuts aren’t dirty, let’s have a few more of them. If profit isn’t elitist, let’s allow businesses to keep a little more of it.”
John Longworth, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, added: “David Cameron has set out a clear vision, but the harder task of making it happen still lies ahead.
“The Government cannot afford to become complacent, and must focus on creating an environment that supports enterprise, and puts economic growth at its heart.”
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