Member Article

Cameron claims "pain will be worth it"

David Cameron will today set out a vision of Britain under the Conservatives after the country has recovered from the recession and paid off its debts.

After the image of cuts and austerity presented by shadow chancellor George Osborne on Tuesday, the Conservative leader will tell his party conference in Manchester that while Britain faces “ steep climb ahead“ as it struggles to bring the public finances under control, “the view from the summit will be worth it”.

In his final speech to the annual gathering before a general election, Mr Cameron will promise that a Conservative government will “reward those who take responsibility” and support families, savers, entrepreneurs, have-a-go heroes and troops.

At the same time he will accept that “painful” cutbacks in public spending must follow a Conservative victory in the election expected in the spring.

The Tory leader’s optimistic tone reflects concern that the party’s focus on Britain’s “debt crisis” could leave voters feeling that they offer no light at the end of the tunnel.

Following the shadow chancellor’s speech, which proposed a one-year freeze on public sector pay, multi-billion pound cuts in state spending and an increase in the retirement age to 66, Mr Cameron acknowledged that voters would not be “crying with delight” at the unpopular measures needed to bring down the £175 billion state deficit.

But the first poll taken after Mr Osborne unveiled his austerity package showed Tories increasing their lead over Labour to 14 points, with YouGov’s daily tracker for Sky News putting the Conservatives on 43% (up two since Tuesday), Gordon Brown’s party on 29% (up one) and Liberal Democrats on 17% (down one).

However 28% of those questioned said they would prefer shadow business secretary Kenneth Clarke to be chancellor in a Tory government against 21% for Mr Osborne.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .