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Family, Community, Country - Cameron's key themes at a serious conference where the message was one of tough times ahead, but better times beyond.

I have just returned from party conference in Manchester.  Whereas in the past my conference experience has been hugely enjoyable, the overall tone of this year's conference was deadly serious. 

Yes there were the usual receptions and social events, but a lot of serious work also took place, and a lot of policy announcements were made that were seen as necessary - rather than populist, sure-fire vote winners.  The proposed freezing of public sector pay, and extending the pension age to 66 are the two most obvious policies that were announced with some reluctance rather than enthusiasm -  because of Labour's financial mess. 

But perhaps most importantly, this conference firmly repositioned the party as a  moderate, progressive party and David Cameron's speech in particular was a defining moment in the history of the modern, compassionate Conservative Party as an article on Conservativehome.com articulates well.

But many other policies on themes such as localism, personal responsibility and reducing the size and role of the state were announced on points of principle that - irrespective of the economic circumstances - make straightforward common sense, and will serve the country well for decades.  [I will be putting more details on the policy announcement in a separate posting over the weekend.]

One great thing that distinguishes Tory conferences from those of the other parties is how accessible the senior party figures are as some of the attached pictures show.  I managed to spend time with David Cameron, Ken Clarke (picture above), Eric Pickles, and Andrew Lansley (picture below) as well as many other MP's and former MP's including Sir Graham Bright who held Luton South for the Conservatives from 1979 to 1997 (pictured here, also with Lady Valerie Bright). 

Every single member of the party leadership I came into contact with had one clear message for me:  to get Labour out and to win government, we have to win in Luton.  David Cameron himself reiterated this message that he first expressed at the Cameron Direct event in Luton this Summer.  He also said how much he had enjoyed visiting Luton, how honest he found the questions the public asked and how well organized the events was.  Many members of the Shadow team have committed to help in the campaign to win Luton South, and to demonstrate to the people of Luton that they are very aware of our issues and concerns.  These visits start next week with Ken Clarke and continue with Julian Brazier, Alistair Burt, Nadine Dorries, Andrew Lansley, Grant Shapps, Chloe Smith and several others all coming to show their support in the coming months.

I also met with representatives from several unions, charities and businesses who attended the conference and whom together employ more than 5,000 Luton workers.  Such businesses as Easyejet, Thomson holidays/TUI, GM/Vauxhall, Asda, Astra Zeneca and EADS were all in attendance and contributing to discussion and debate at the very active 'fringe' events.

Of course, the highlight of the conference was the leaders speech. I think David Cameron established exactly the right tone and set out a clear vision to reconstruct a strong economy, renew our social services, and repair our broken society - through fundamental reform, by reducing 'big government', and by increasing the role for individual and community involvement and responsibility.

Few people can fail to have been touched by the highly personal and emotional comments David Cameron made about the death of his son and therefore the sincerity of his commitment that the Conservative Party is the party of the NHS.

For me, the most significant quote from the speech that brought the whole audience to their feet was this:

"Labour still have the arrogance to think that they are the ones who will fight poverty and deprivation. On Monday, when we announced our plan to Get Britain Working you know what Labour called it? “Callous.”;;;.   Excuse me? Who made the poorest poorer? Who left youth unemployment higher? Who made inequality greater? No, not the wicked Tories… you, Labour: you’re the ones that did this to our society. So don’t you dare lecture us about poverty. You have failed and it falls to us, the modern Conservative Party to fight for the poorest who you have let down."

David Cameron's commitment to helping people from ALL parts of British society is beyond any doubt.  Under David Cameron, the Tory party has been transformed.  We are ready for government, and I am proud to have the opportunity as a parliamentary candidate in a key marginal seat to be part of the change this country so desperately needs.

For a copy of the full speech, click here.  To watch a video of the full speech click here.