Summary

  • In his speech, Chancellor George Osborne promised to freeze working-age benefits for two years

  • Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said the government was getting more people on the housing ladder

  • Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith closed the day by saying welfare changes were making work pay

  1. Goodbye for nowpublished at 17:09 British Summer Time 29 September 2014

    That wraps up our live text coverage of today's proceedings at Conservative Party conference. You can watch the whole thing, highlights and George Osborne's keynote speech in full by clicking on the Key Video tab. And don't forget that Andrew Neil will bring us his round-up of events on BBC Two at 23:20 BST. If you don't fancy staying up that late, catch it on the Live Coverage tab above. See you again tomorrow, for the penultimate day of the conference.

  2. Mark Easton, Home Editor for BBC Newspublished at 16:57 British Summer Time 29 September 2014

    tweets:, external Two-thirds of those affected by proposed benefits freeze are in working households. @hmtreasury

  3. Paper reactionpublished at 16:57 British Summer Time 29 September 2014

    The Mirror

    The Mirror, external is critical of George Osborne's plans to freeze benefits for working-age people, headlining that it will "push more people below the poverty line". The paper states that the chancellor's decision to reduce the welfare bill to contribute to a further £25bn of spending cuts in the next parliament "has provoked fury among those who feel working people on benefits are already struggling".

  4. Paper reactionpublished at 16:53 British Summer Time 29 September 2014

    The Guardian

    The Guardian's Nicholas Watt, external writes: "Osborne's speech was designed to frame the Tories' two key pre-election messages on the economy. These are that the party has taken tough decisions to stabilise the economy in the current parliament to begin the process of eliminating the structural budget deficit. The second message is that only the Conservatives - which he sought to characterise as the party of a low-tax future - can eliminate the deficit and build on the economic recovery."

  5. Paper reactionpublished at 16:49 British Summer Time 29 September 2014

    The Daily Mail

    The Daily Mai, externall reports that 10 million families would lose £500 under George Osborne's plan to freeze working-age benefits for two years, if the Conservatives win the general election. The move by the chancellor is expected to save £3bn. The paper also says of Mr Osborne: "He paid tribute to the British public for enduring the hard years of austerity to fix the economy, but warned in total another £25bn in cuts is needed to balance the books, including a fresh squeeze on public sector pay."

  6. Super Tuesdaypublished at 16:42 British Summer Time 29 September 2014

    It's been a day of announcements - with pledges to freeze working-age benefits for two years and to introduce pre-paid benefit cards for welfare claimants. Proceedings recommence at 10.30 BST on Tuesday. Those addressing the party include London Mayor Boris Johnson, Home Secretary Theresa May, Justice Secretary Chris Grayling and the secretaries of state for health and education - Jeremy Hunt and Nicky Morgan.

  7. Rupert Oldham-Reid, Researcher at the Centre for Social Justicepublished at 16:38 British Summer Time 29 September 2014

    tweets:, external IDS plan to trial prepaid cards for ppl with an addiction to protect families. Idea outlined in @csjthinktank report Ambitious for Recovery

  8. Opposing 'evil'published at 16:32 British Summer Time 29 September 2014

    Impressing upon conference the importance of getting people to vote Conservative at the general election, Iain Duncan Smith says: "Tell them this: 'If you want to stay behind your doors, all that is required for the triumph of evil is that the good should do nothing - do not number yourself amongst them.'" His speech goes down well in the hall. That ends today's main conference business.

    A standing ovation for Iain Duncan Smith's speech
  9. Bright future?published at 16:30 British Summer Time 29 September 2014

    George Osborne visited Jaguar Land Rover's new assembly plant in Solihull before his speech to conference.

    George Osborne at Jaguar Land Rover"s new assembly plant in SolihullImage source, PA
  10. 'Join the crusade'published at 16:25 British Summer Time 29 September 2014

    Iain Duncan Smith's message to Conservatives is to go out "heads held high" and help to change Britain for the better. Knock on doors, tell the public about what we're doing, what we're offering, he counsels. And challenge your neighbours to come on board because "we are doing the right things for the right reasons" to secure the a better future for all. In an activist-rousing conclusion, he says: "'Join us,' you should say to them. 'Join us on that crusade because we care about our country,'" before adding: "Conference, it's time."

    Iain Duncan Smith
    Image caption,

    'Your country needs you'

  11. George Osbornepublished at 16:14 British Summer Time 29 September 2014

    tweets:, external Have taken difficult decision to freeze working age benefits for 2 years to help Britain deal with our debts and secure the recovery

  12. Robin Brant, BBCpublished at 16:13 British Summer Time 29 September 2014

    tweets:, external Tories level with labour in Ashcroft poll which was conducted over the weekend #CPC14

  13. British jobspublished at 16:13 British Summer Time 29 September 2014

    Iain Duncan Smith says half the rise in employment under Labour was accounted for by foreign nationals, whereas over the last year 600,000 more British people are now in work under the current government. "Each and every one of those is a British life transformed," he adds.

  14. Elephant outside the roompublished at 16:12 British Summer Time 29 September 2014

    Anti-High Speed 2 protesters have been making their point known.

    ElephantImage source, Getty Images
  15. Bad habitspublished at 16:08 British Summer Time 29 September 2014

    Iain Duncan Smith says benefits should be spent on families and not on feeding "destructive" habits, such as alcohol or drug addiction.

  16. Breaking Newspublished at 16:08 British Summer Time 29 September 2014

    A future Conservative government would introduce pre-paid benefits cards for welfare claimants to ensure they cannot spend their money on alcohol, drugs or gambling, Iain Duncan Smith announces.

  17. Hello, Mr Mayorpublished at 16:08 British Summer Time 29 September 2014

    Boris Johnson is in Birmingham ahead of his speech tomorrow.

    Boris JohnsonImage source, Getty Images
  18. Breaking Newspublished at 16:05 British Summer Time 29 September 2014

    Iain Duncan Smith announces that the roll-out of the Universal Credit scheme will be "accelerated".

  19. 'Cultural change'published at 16:04 British Summer Time 29 September 2014

    Iain Duncan Smith insists the government is restoring fairness to "hard-working taxpayers" who fund the welfare bill. "This is cultural change worth fighting for," he tells the hall. He goes on to espouse the benefits of his flagship Universal Credit benefit system, which simplifies existing benefits into one.