Conservative conference: David Cameron’s speech, full text

In May 2010, this party stood on the threshold of power for the first time in more than a decade.

We knew then that it was not just the ordinary duties of office that we were assuming.

We were entering into Government at a grave moment in the modern history of Britain.

At a time when people felt uncertainty, even fear.

Here was the challenge:

To make an insolvent nation solvent again.

To set our country back on the path to prosperity that all can share in.

To bring home our troops from danger while keeping our citizens safe from terror.

To mend a broken society.

Two and a half years later of course I can’t tell you that all is well, but I can say this:

Britain is on the right track.

As Prime Minister it has fallen to me to say some hard things and to help our country face some hard truths.

All of my adult life, whatever the difficulties, the British people have at least been confident about one thing.