Members come round to Cameron's vision

"I've been waiting 16 years for a Conservative leader to make a speech like that," a delegate declared after David Cameron closed his first party conference in the top job.

Robson Stroud told politics.co.uk: "There is an element in the party who wants us to hark back to the old days but the world has changed. I'm enthused that we've got someone in charge who's grasped that."

The Pudsey delegate's reaction reflected the general view in Bournemouth, where most Tories agree they are on to a good thing with their new young leader.

"There are some slight things that I'm not so happy with, but I realise that you have got to make changes," said Harvey Cohen, a councillor in Hertsmere borough council.

"In the end you can only change public opinion by being in power. We have got to get to power, and not be stuck in the past anymore."

Simon Card, a delegate from Chesham and Aversham, added: "I've been a member of the party for 42 years and we're back on track after at least ten years. We're really going forward and I'm very pleased about it."

Marguerite Ashley, a member of the Kensington and Chelsea Conservative association, admitted she had "had my doubts" about the election of Mr Cameron.

"I had my doubts about him when he was chosen that, like a lot of people, he was all spin and substance. But I think the substance seems to be there. It's beginning to appear," she said.

Patsy Prince, from the Holborn and St Pancras Tory party, welcomed the fact that Mr Cameron was refusing to set out detailed policies so soon after a general election.

"It's too easy to read out a list of what could be construed as policies when it is only being done for the sake of being seen to be saying something," she argued.

"Sometimes you have to step back and see what needs to be done before you can decide how to be most effective. That's what he's done in this speech."

Mr Cameron has given an indication of his priorities, such as the environment – which was interestingly mentioned by only one of more than a dozen delegates questioned by politics.co.uk – and the family. This last went down very well.

"I loved his stuff on marriage," said Rosie Luff, the daughter of Peter Luff MP. Mr Card, from Chesham, noted: "I know there are problems with single parents that need to be dealt with, but family structure is undoubtedly the right way to be."

Mr Cameron's promise to support the NHS also won praise, with Pudsey delegate Robin Stroud saying: "What I thought was really important was burying the myth that the Tories are the enemies of the NHS. It's a national treasure."

Cllr Geoff Walker from Waltham Forest council noted the problems his area was facing with the NHS, including staff cutbacks and ward closures.

"Generally the whole concept of social justice has now come to the fore…It's essential to look after those people who can't look after themselves," he said.

Mr Cameron said he would not cut NHS spending, in line with his pledge not to promise tax cuts but share the proceeds of growth between taxes and public spending.

And James Randall, a councillor from Ealing, reflected a general acceptance of this stance when he said: "I think people appreciate that you can't have it both ways. If you want to cut taxes, you have to cut services.

"People are now sensible about this. They appreciate that while the Conservative party is a party of low taxation and small government, we are going to have to work towards it.

"The moment we get into power we cannot expect taxes to be slashed, and it would be very foolish to give the electorate that impression."