Britain will come through crisis

Cameron says
By Tim Castle and Matt Falloon Reuters - Wednesday, October 1 BIRMINGHAM (Reuters) - Conservative leader David Cameron said on Wednesday Britain would make it through the financial crisis and fix its "broken society" because of the nation's ability to innovate and overcome obstacles.

"We can and will come through," he told party members at the close of the Conservative party conference in Birmingham. "We always do. Not because of our government. But because of the people of Britain."

In a speech re-written at the last moment after the week's turmoil in financial markets, Cameron said his party would work with the government in the short term to protect the economy.

But he said that must not stop the Conservatives from telling the truth about mistakes the government had made.

"We need to learn the lessons and to offer the British people a clear choice.

"It is our responsibility to make sense of this crisis for them and to show them the right way out of it."

He said he would not promise a new dawn. "I'm a man with a plan, not a miracle cure.

"If we win we will inherit a huge deficit and an economy in a mess," he said.

He rejected Prime Minister Gordon Brown's jibe that he was a "novice" and lacked the experience to tackle the economic crisis, saying judgement and character were more important.

It was Cameron's third appearance before party members during a conference that has been overshadowed by the banking crisis, prompting him to make two unscheduled speeches on the economy.

The Conservative poll lead over Labour has been cut in half in recent days as voters have responded positively to Brown's handling of the banking turmoil and his speech at his own party conference last week touting his decade of experience in office.

The Tories would still win a majority if that lead was replicated in an election but voters say they have more trust in Brown to handle a crisis and manage the economy.

During what Cameron said had been a "sober" conference he has ruled out pre-election promises of tax cuts and even refused to rule out tax rises.

In his wide-ranging speech he defended his claim that British society is "broken" but said the solution was not greater punishments but long-term social reform.

He said there was an "angry, harsh culture of incivility" that led to responsible citizens being kicked to death when they stepped in to prevent a crime.

The cure was to help families, bringing back competition in schools and fixing welfare rules that left mothers better off if they lived alone.

"It was a one nation speech and I think it hit the mood of the moment right," said Gordon Guild, 70, a party official from the West Midlands.

"He's put fire in my belly," said retired army officer Tex Pemberton, 69, a West Sussex county councillor. "The man is ready for prime minister."

Labour Treasury Chief Secretary Yvette Cooper dismissed the speech as "warm words and easy populism."