Upbeat Cameron challenges Brown to go to the polls

Cameron sets out beliefs in conference speech

Wednesday, 03, Oct 2007 12:00

David Cameron today launched the Conservatives' general election campaign by challenging Gordon Brown to go to the polls.

In his closing speech to the Conservative conference, the Tory leader attacked Labour for their decade of broken promises and outlined his alternative for change.

Against a theme tune of You Can Get It If You Really Want Mr Cameron set out his positive vision for a Conservative Britain, designed to contrast with the "cynicism" of Gordon Brown's "old politics".

On health, he promised to abandon top-down targets and measure success through performance outcomes. GPs would have a choice of private or NHS hospitals to refer patients to and patients would be able to access GPs at times that suited them.

On education, Mr Cameron reiterated a pledge to scrap appeal tribunals to improve school discipline. He backed calls for setting by ability and said pupils should be taught by tried and tested techniques.

The Tory leader also said charities and businesses should be encouraged to found schools to offer parents wider choice.

He revealed a Conservative government would withhold benefits from anyone that turns down a job offer for which they are qualified. Voluntary and private sector companies would also be brought in to run benefits agencies.

Mr Cameron insisted the benefits system encourages couples to live apart, confirming this would be reformed under the Tories. And he stood by controversial proposals for tax incentives for married couples.

On crime, he disputed Mr Brown's claims Britain is not broken and called for tougher sentencing powers for magistrates and less red tape for the police.

He renewed the Conservatives' commitment to scrap the Human Rights Act, but attempted to appeal to the liberal vote by stressing his commitment to juries and plans to scrap the ID card scheme.

On foreign affairs he promised to be "realistic and not utopian" and showed a clear break from Tony Blair's humanitarian foreign policy.

"You cannot drop a fully formed democracy out of an aeroplane," he told delegates.

Mr Cameron spoke more strongly in support of troops, pledging to mend the "broken" military covenant.

The environment featured less prominently than may have been expected 12 months ago.

He acknowledged it had been unpopular among some factions to discuss the green agenda, but insisted it was the right thing to do.

Mr Cameron addressed his privileged background head on, which many warned would contrast unfavourably with Mr Brown's anecdotes growing up as the son of a Scottish minister.

He told a packed conference floor: "The great privilege of my up-bringing was not the wealth, it was the warmth."

Today's speech was billed as the appearance of Mr Cameron's political career, as Mr Brown makes the final decision on a November general election behind the scenes.

Returning to the stage where he fought for the Tory leadership, Mr Cameron said he was no longer appealing to lead the party, but the country.

Describing himself as a public servant and arguing for the need for change and inspiration, he concluded: "Mr Brown, what is it going to be? Why don't you go ahead and call that election?"

He added: "Call that election, we will fight, Britain will win."

The prime minister is yet to give an official indication he will call a snap general election, rebutting all questions with the insistence he is "getting on with the job".

However, a number of preparations have been put in place to allow Mr Brown to call an election on Tuesday night.