Summary

  • David Cameron pledged to raise the income tax threshold to £12,500 and raise the earnings point at which people pay the higher rate to £50,000

  • He promised to protect the NHS in England from spending cuts until 2020 and end exclusive zero-hours contracts

  • The speech came after former Conservative donor Arron Banks defected to UKIP

  • Other speakers included Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon and International Development Secretary Justine Greening

  1. Patrick Kidd, Editor of The Times Diary columnpublished at 12:23 British Summer Time 1 October 2014

    tweets:, external This is a really good speech. Unless you viscerally hate Cameron and the Tories in which case nothing he could say would change you.

  2. Get involvedpublished at 12:22 British Summer Time 1 October 2014

    @Brynleydm tweets:, external @BBCLouise @BBCPolitics Cameron speech full of what no mention of how

  3. Educationpublished at 12:22 British Summer Time 1 October 2014

    David Cameron tells activists the education system has improved significantly thanks to the Conservatives' education reforms - "with teachers who feel like leaders again". But Labour would risk all this, he claims. He attacks shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt, who he claims is trying to restrict the educational advantages he had has a child - whereas "I want to spread them to every child" in the country.

  4. Samantha Cameron hears her husband talk about their daughterpublished at 12:21 British Summer Time 1 October 2014

    Samantha Cameron watching her husband
  5. Home ownershippublished at 12:20 British Summer Time 1 October 2014

    David Cameron turns to housing. He says planning reforms and the Help to Buy scheme have boosted housing supply and helped first-time buyers to get on to the housing ladder. Labour was wrong to oppose these policies, the PM adds. He reiterates the Conservatives' plan for 100,000 new starter homes for first-time buyers under the age of 40 at 20% off the market value. The Conservatives are the party of home ownership once again, Mr Cameron declares.

  6. Paul Waugh, Editor of PoliticsHome.compublished at 12:18 British Summer Time 1 October 2014

    tweets:, external Cameron conference audience feeling 'At last, a proper tax cut for those on middle incomes!'

  7. Forgettingpublished at 12:17 British Summer Time 1 October 2014

    David Cameron goes on the attack now - criticising Ed Miliband for forgetting to mention the deficit in his speech. In a conciliatory note, Mr Cameron says people forget car keys and that he even forget his child in a pub (queue an apology to his wife, Samantha, in the audience). But you cannot be prime minister of this country if you forget to mention the most important issue it faces, he adds.

  8. Ross Hawkins, BBCpublished at 12:16 British Summer Time 1 October 2014

    tweets:, external Cameron takes aim at Nick Clegg's fox

  9. Spending choicepublished at 12:15 British Summer Time 1 October 2014

    Let the message go out that under the Conservatives, if you work hard and do the right thing, we say you should keep all of your own money to spend as you choose, David Cameron tells conference.

  10. PM: Minimum-wage earners to pay "nothing"published at 12:15 British Summer Time 1 October 2014

    David Cameron on taxes
  11. Breaking Newspublished at 12:14 British Summer Time 1 October 2014

    Another tax announcement - David Cameron says far too many people have been dragged into the 40% tax rate - and pledges to bring back "fairness" to tax system. He says a future Tory government would raise the threshold from £41,900 to £50,00.

  12. 'Zilch'published at 12:13 British Summer Time 1 October 2014

    David Cameron says raising the income tax threshold to £12,500 will take one million more people out of income tax, and give a tax cut to 30 million people. Those on the minimum wage working 30 hours a week or more will pay "zilch" in income tax, he says to applause.

  13. Breaking Newspublished at 12:11 British Summer Time 1 October 2014

    A future Conservative government will raise the tax free personal allowance from £10,500 to £12,500, David Cameron pledges.

  14. More on taxespublished at 12:11 British Summer Time 1 October 2014

    We need tax cuts for hard working people, David Cameron tells activists.

  15. Taxespublished at 12:11 British Summer Time 1 October 2014

    David Cameron says he wants working people to be able to take home more of their money. He cites previous action, including raises in the personal income tax allowance - which has taken three million people out of the income tax system altogether: a tax cut for 25 million people, he adds. The PM tells conference he wants to go further - but says it will only be possible by reducing the deficit, which requires a further £25bn of savings.

  16. 'Yorkshireman' trending on Twitterpublished at 12:10 British Summer Time 1 October 2014

    @TradeDesk_Steve tweets:, external Cameron performs an impression of William Hague - says Hague is our greatest living Yorkshireman. @tonyhatfield tweets:, external Odd that political commentators are obsessed in debating whether Hague is 'best living Yorkshireman'. #cpc2014 #bbcdp

  17. Welfare planpublished at 12:09 British Summer Time 1 October 2014

    On tax avoidance, David Cameron adds that companies must "pay what you owe". Turning to welfare, he says the Conservatives will stick to their plan which is "working". He tells activists that 800,00 fewer people are on the main out-of-work benefits thanks to the Conservatives' welfare reforms. He reiterates policy announcements made this week, including more apprenticeships and a lower benefits cap. The Conservatives are the real party of compassion on social justice, Mr Cameron adds.

  18. Corporate taxespublished at 12:05 British Summer Time 1 October 2014

    David Cameron pledges that a future Conservative government will have the lowest corporate taxes in the G20.

  19. If a selfie isn't possible...published at 12:05 British Summer Time 1 October 2014

    Audience member taking a picture of David Cameron
  20. Commitmentspublished at 12:04 British Summer Time 1 October 2014

    David Cameron sets out Conservative commitments for the next five years, including more jobs, help to buy homes, lower taxes - but says these are only possible if the government sticks to its long-term economic plan.