Our Plan for Change
Our Plan for Change David Cameron has just delivered his Conference speech, and in it he outlined our Plan for Change. He pledged to rebuild our battered economy, renew our bureaucratised NHS and repair our broken society. And he stressed that in these difficult times, Britain needs leadership, character and judgement: "The leadership to unite your party and build a strong team. The character to stick to your guns and not bottle it when times get tough. The judgment to understand the mistakes that have been made and to offer the country change." David ended his speech, and the 2008 Party Conference, with a rallying cry: "We now have the opportunity, and more than that the responsibility, to bring our country together. Together in the face of this financial crisis. Together in determination that we will come through it. Together in the hope, the belief, that better times will lie ahead."
You can have your say on David's speech in this open thread on The Blue Blog.
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George Osborne has announced a two-year freeze in council tax in order to help families cope with the rising cost of living.
This measure will save a typical Band D household over £200, and millions of families will benefit.
The Shadow Chancellor promised, “Every council tax bill of every family in every council that takes part will be frozen.”
And he said, “Instead of council tax bills that rise year after year under Labour, millions of families will get help at the time they need it most. Conservatives will not leave people to struggle with the credit crunch alone.”
The costs for the council tax freeze will be shared between local and central government.
Any council that makes savings to keep its annual council tax increase to 2.5% or below will receive additional money from central government to reduce council tax bills by a further 2.5%.
This central government funding will be raised by reducing spending on expensive private sector consultants and advertising by £500 million in the first full year of government, and by £1 billion in all subsequent years.
George stressed that as families across the country tighten their belts and live within their means, so must the government.
Yesterday, we published our Plan for a Strong Economy, which sets out a long-term programme of financial and fiscal responsibility.