David Cameron: Britain will ‘do or decline’

In a speech that was more in tune with the downbeat tone of his Chancellor George Osborne than that of his political rival Boris Johnson, Mr Cameron warned that if the government dilutes its plan A to tackle the deficit, Britain may struggle to borrow on the international money markets.

But he also emphasised the idea that despite such profound difficulties, Britain is a nation which can overcome the problems it is facing: “Unless we act, unless we take difficult, painful decisions, unless we show determination and imagination, Britain may not be in the future what it has been in the past.

“Because the truth is this. We are in a global race today. And that means an hour of reckoning for countries like ours.

“Sink or swim. Do or decline. Though the challenge before us is daunting, I have confidence in our country. Why? Because Britain can deliver. We can do big things.”

But he also pointed to the investment coming into the UK, highlighting moves by companies such as technology giants Google, Intel and Cisco.

Click on the image below to be taken to David Cameron’s conference speech Snowcloud. Hover over the words to see how many times they were said, and click on them to find them in the speech.

Hard working background

In common with Ed Miliband who, in his largely well-received speech to conference, spoke about how family and his comprehensive school education had formed who he is, Mr Cameron spoke movingly about his father: “My dad was a stockbroker from Berkshire. It’s only when your dad’s gone that you realise – not just how much you really miss them – but how much you really owe them.

“My dad influenced me much more than I ever thought. He was born with no heels on his feet and legs about a foot shorter than they’re meant to be. But he never complained – even when he lost both those legs later in life. Because disability in the 1930s was such a stigma, he was an only child. Probably a lonely child.

“But dad was the eternal optimist. To him the glass was always half full. Usually with something alcoholic in it.”

I’m not here to defend privilege, I’m here to spread it. Prime Minister David Cameron

And to counter claims that recent policy announcements from the government suggest it is moving towards the right, Mr Cameron stressed: “The Conservative Party is for everyone: north or south, black or white, straight or gay”, again echoing comments from George Osborne who in his address to conference declared the Conservative Party to be, “the party of low taxes for the many, not low taxes for the few”.

I’m levelling with the British people in my speech at 11.30. It’s sink or swim, do or decline. How we’ll ensure Britain wins the Global Race

— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) October 10, 2012

Reclaiming the centre ground

The battle for the centre ground was taken up in Ed Miliband’s speech where he tried to reclaim Benjamin Disraeli’s “one nation” speech from the Conservatives. Mr Cameron was also keen to show what he and his party have in common with voters despite their privileged backgrounds: “I want more free schools, more academies, more rigorous exams in every school, more expected of every child.

“And to all those people who say: he wants children to have the kind of education he had at his posh school I say: yes – you’re absolutely right. I went to a great school and I want every child to have a great education.

“I’m not here to defend privilege, I’m here to spread it.”

Responding to the speech, Justice Secretary Chris Grayling told Channel 4 News: “What David Cameron tried to set out today is that we face enormous challenges in a competitive world but we have a plan to meet those challenges, to face them and deliver for Britain the belief this country can succeed in the world.

“It’s not going to be easy but we are putting through what we believe are the big changes that are needed to do that.”