Cameron arrives for Tory conference

Sep 27 2008

David Cameron promised to set out an "alternative" to the Government's mismanagements as he arrived for the Conservative Party conference.

The Tory leader backed "short term" action to protect savers and empower the Bank of England to rescue failing institutions.

But he also demanded long term steps to curb debt levels in the public and private sectors.

Mr Cameron arrived at the ICC in Birmingham along with wife Samantha, and helped her out of the car before speaking to awaiting reporters.

Amid continuing global financial turmoil, Mr Cameron insisted it would not be "right" to comment on speculations that Bradford and Bingley is about to be nationalised.

But he added: "In the short term we should legislate to show we are going to protect deposits and savings.

"We also need to give the Bank of England more powers to step in and save failing institutions."

Mr Cameron said the level of debt being carried by both the Government and the private sector would need to be addressed, and hit out at Labour for being too free and easy with public money.

"I do think that they have been very casual with taxpayers' money. We've seen an enormous explosion of debt."

He added: "At a time of economic difficulty it's particularly important that we are here setting out that there is an alternative."