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Conservative Party Conference: What David Cameron said about social reform

'We are not a one-trick party' insisted the PM

Wednesday 07 October 2015 13:39 BST
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David Cameron delivers a speech to delegates at the annual Conservative Party Conference in Manchester
David Cameron delivers a speech to delegates at the annual Conservative Party Conference in Manchester

David Cameron has given his keynote speech at the 2015 Conservative Party Conference in Manchester.

This is what the Prime Minister had to say about social reform:

"A more prosperous Britain.

But we must not stop there as we build a Greater Britain.

We are not a one-trick party.

For us, economic success – that’s not the finished article.

It’s the foundation on which we can build a better society.

Our patriotism has never been simply some grand notion of ruling the waves, or riding high in the money markets…

…but a deep compulsion which says: “you make a country greater by making life better for its people.”

You said we wouldn’t win the election – we did.

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And today, that means entering those no-go zones, where politicians often don’t dare to venture.

It means taking on our big social problems…

...entrenched poverty, blocked opportunity, the extremism that blights our communities.

Why?

So when the new mum looks at her new-born baby – the most precious thing she’s ever seen – and she vows to provide for it, she knows she actually can.

When the schoolgirl sits in that classroom, she knows that her studies really can take her to the very top.

When the child of immigrants sees our flag, he feels so loyal to this country – his country – he wants to put on a uniform and defend it.

That is what fires me up. Not pounds and pence, plans and policies, but people.

And to those who say: our social problems are too big and there’s no way you can sort them out.

I say: You said our party wouldn’t change – we have.

You said our long-term economic plan wouldn’t work – it is.

You said we wouldn’t win the election – we did.

So we are going to tackle those big social problems – just you watch us."

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