Wednesday at Conservative conference 2012: As it happened

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the final day of the Conservatives' annual conference in Birmingham. Prime Minister David Cameron will be taking to the stage later this morning, but before that Culture Secretary Maria Miller will speak in a session on "Celebrating the UK".

In his speech, the prime minister is expected to warn that the UK is facing an "hour of reckoning" with tough economic challenges ahead. Aides say it will also be a highly personal speech where Mr Cameron will speak about his family and his values.

From the BBC's Brian Wheeler, in Birmingham: Britannia Unchained, a book of economic essays by "rising stars" of the Tory party including Dominic Raab and Priti Patel, is topping the bestseller lists at Blackwell's book stall. It also sold very well at last week's Labour conference apparently.

Foreign Secretary William Hague has been out doing the media rounds this morning with a series of interview. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that on the economy the PM's speech will include a "clear recognition that the world has changed". "It is tougher, it's not going to change back to how it was ten years ago," he said.

On gay marriage, William Hague told the BBC he supported the move because "successful political parties move with their societies". On Monday, a rally on the fringes of the conference against plans to allow same-sex couples to marry was attended by hundreds of people.

From the BBC's Brian Wheeler, in Birmingham: Had a nice chat with the staff on the Harvey Nicholls stand yesterday. Everything was going swimmingly until I asked how much champagne they were selling. They're not allowed to say...

London Mayor Boris Johnson may have charmed the conference yesterday but he has not had the same effect on Max Hastings, whose article in today's Daily Mail is headed: "If Boris ever becomes PM, I'm on the first plane out of Britain".

In the Daily Mail, Max Hastings describes his former journalist colleague Boris Johnson as "an authentic star" and "a magnificent journalist and showman" but warns Conservatives against choosing him as their leader. "He proved himself the perfect maître d' for the London Olympics. But few maître d's are fit to cook the dinner," he writes.

Max Hastings gets personal in an attack on Boris Johnson in this morning's Daily Mail: "Most politicians are ambitious and ruthless, but Boris is a gold medal egomaniac." Mr Hastings thinks that voters are obsessed by "the X Factor culture" rather than looking for politicians with "gravitas". He also believes that the London mayor is "a far more ruthless, and frankly nastier, figure than the public appreciates".

From the BBC's Brian Wheeler, in Birmingham: The best-selling item on the Harvey Nicholls stand is something called Benefit Mascara. Wonder if it will still be here next year?

Liberal Democrat Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, put in an appearance at a conference fringe meeting last night. He claimed that yesterday's IMF report, which downgraded the UK's growth forecast, "by and large... argues we should continue on the path we're on". Mr Alexander said the "headwinds" facing the economy had been "stronger then expected".

Former Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan has said the Conservative Party "is losing its reputation for competence". Speaking at an event on how the Conservatives can win in 2015, Ms Gillan - who lost her job in the last cabinet reshuffle - said the party needs to be clear about how they are going to decouple from the Lib Dems.

Labour are on the attack ahead of David Cameron's speech to the party faithful today. Shadow Cabinet Office minister Michael Dugher says Mr Cameron "can't be the one nation prime minister we need to lead the way".

From the BBC's Brian Wheeler, in Birmingham: Who said the Conservatives weren't serious about tackling the super-rich?

From the BBC's Brian Wheeler, in Birmingham: Last night's Demos fringe meeting "Women scorned: Exploring the impact of austerity on women" did not draw much of a crowd. Chairman Jenni Russell said she was "tempted to say something" about the Tories not taking the issue seriously. But she didn't.

Health minister Anna Soubry is asked on the BBC News Channel why party leaders feel the need to tell their personal back story. She says it's nothing new. Margaret Thatcher defined herself as "the grocer's daughter from Grantham".

After meeting with the PM, members of the Hacked Off campaign said they were reassured Mr Cameron had not ruled out statutory regulation of the press.

BBC News Channel chief political correspondent Norman Smith says David Cameron will use an autocue in his big speech rather than "wandering around without notes" as Labour leader Ed Miliband did last week.

From the BBC's Brian Wheeler, in Birmingham: George Osborne's Parliamentary aide Amber Rudd told a Demos fringe that although women have been worst affected by public sector cuts they "have picked up jobs elsewhere" and were increasingly "working for themselves".

From the BBC's Brian Wheeler, in Birmingham: MP Amber Rudd has called for more "clarity" for employers about when new mothers are going to return to work: "I think we should have some persuasion technique so that women don't take the longest maternity leave they can and leave the employer still waiting and guessing."

The final day of conference opens with the "celebrating the UK" session. Culture Secretary Maria Miller is due to speak in a few minutes' time.

The Guardian website has "David Cameron party conference bingo" - enabling readers to keep track of the buzzwords the prime minister could use in his speech.

Culture Secretary Maria Miller takes to the stage, saying that "Britain has regained its pride" over the summer under "a Conservative government".

Culture Secretary Maria Miller says she believes in marriage. She gets applause when she adds the state should not stop people getting married without good reason, "and I don't believe being gay is one of them".

Maria Miller leaves the stage, to make way for a panel discussion. A ripple of laughter passes through the hall as sports minister Hugh Robertson is left sitting uncomfortably on his own for a few moments waiting for Olympic medallists to join him on stage.

Hugh Robertson is joined by Joanna Rowsell, cycling gold medallist and Anne Panter, who won a bronze medal as part of the field hockey team.

David Cameron has used his new Twitter feed to condense his upcoming speech into 140 characters: I'm levelling with the British people in my speech at 11.30. It's sink or swim, do or decline. How we'll ensure Britain wins the Global Race

Lord Coe takes the stage to a standing ovation from the hall. Despite being a Tory peer, he was warmly greeted by the Labour conference last week for his role in the London 2012 Olympics.

Lord Coe thanks the prime minister, the cabinet and the mayor of London for their contribution to the Olympics. Former Prime Minister Sir John Major gets another thank you for overseeing the establishment of the National Lottery.

Lord Coe tells conference the Paralympics "changed attitudes to disability, not just for a summer, but forever".

From the BBC's Gavin Stamp, in Birmingham: You get used to think tanks and pressure groups sponsoring fringe meetings but they was a more unusual name on the conference agenda last night. The Carlton Club, a London watering hole for Conservative politicians since 1832, put on its first ever gathering - addressed by the former Defence Secretary Liam Fox.

The BBC's Gavin Stamp continues: At last night's event, Liam Fox set out a road map for the Tories to win in 2015 - cut taxes and regulation, boost enterprise and get tough with Europe. Economic conditions were far worse in the early 1980s and the party triumphed at the ballot box by staying true to its values, he pointed out.

Lord Coe's speech ends to another standing ovation and he leaves the stage. Now New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is on stage as a guest speaker.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, keeping with the Olympic theme, describes David Cameron as "a gold medal prime minister". He also thanks the conference for "letting a Yank crash the party".

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg backs private sector investment and the coalition's changes to planning laws. He says such measures "will create jobs at no cost to taxpayers".

Michael Bloomberg describes David Cameron as "a Conservative in the very best sense of the word" who refuses "to buy into the something for nothing philosophy that is so common in world politics".

The audience rises to its feet to applaud New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. David Cameron is expected to make his keynote speech in a few minutes.

Foreign Secretary William Hague is on stage to introduce the prime minister.

David Cameron gets his own special podium as the one in the hall is changed from a white one to a wooden one.

And we're off. David Cameron takes the stage to a standing ovation from the gathered crowds.

The prime minister tells his party: "We were entering into government at a grave moment in the modern history of Britain. At a time when people felt uncertainty, even fear."

David Cameron says that the people of the UK always "thought we can pay our way" but now it falls to his government "to say - we cannot assume that any longer".

Mr Cameron says his best moment of the summer was "putting that gold medal around the neck of Ellie Simmonds".

The prime minister tells his party: "By the end of 2014, all UK combat operations in Afghanistan will have come to an end. Nearly all our troops will be home." Party members rise to applaud.

The prime minister praises Lord Coe - "what a giant he was this summer" - and also praises London Mayor Boris Johnson, calling him "the zinger on the zipwire".

David Cameron: "For years people said you'll never reform public sector pensions, the trade unions won't stand for it. Well, we've done it, and it's going to cut the cost to the taxpayer almost in half."

The prime minister tells his party to "be proud of what we've done already. Two million of the lowest-paid workers being taken out of income tax altogether. Over eighteen million households helped with a freeze in their council tax".

Sartorial news from the BBC's Rebecca Keating. She says Samantha Cameron is wearing a dress by Joseph for her husband's speech, which is the same brand worn by Ed Miliband's wife for his speech.

David Cameron says developing countries are "on the rise" while "the old powers are on the slide".

David Cameron calls on people to "build an aspiration nation".

Of the Conservatives, David Cameron says: "We don't preach about one nation but practise class war. We just get behind people who want to get on in life."

The prime minister tells his party: "While the intellectuals of other parties sneer at people who want to get on in life, we here salute you. They call us the party of the better off. No: We are the party of the want to be better off."

David Cameron: "Conservatives think: Let's just get on with the job and help people and not bang on about it. It's not our style. But there's a problem with that. It leaves a space for others to twist our ideas and distort who we are: The cartoon Conservatives who don't care."

David Cameron says his mission as Conservative leader is "to show the Conservative party is for everyone: North or South, black or white, straight or gay".

David Cameron: "A strong private sector. Welfare that works. Schools that teach. These three things are essential to helping our people rise."

David Cameron pays tribute to what he calls "the grit and resolve of George Osborne". Thanks to the chancellor, "we have cut a quarter off the deficit in the past two years," he says.

On borrowing, the prime minister says: "Right now, while we've got a deficit, the people we're borrowing money from believe that we'll pay it back - because we've set out a tough plan to cut spending and live within our means."

David Cameron says: "Labour's plan to borrow more is actually a massive gamble with our economy and our future. And it would squander the sacrifices we've already made."

David Cameron: "We're here because they (Labour) spent too much and borrowed too much. How can the answer be more spending and more borrowing? I honestly think Labour haven't learned a single thing."

The prime minister calls Labour not a one nation party but "the party of one notion - borrowing".

David Cameron attacks Ed Miliband's description of "a tax cut as the government writing people a cheque". The prime minister says: "When people earn money, it's their money. So, if we cut taxes, we're not giving them money - we're taking less of it away."

David Cameron tells conference: "We're making things again. We had a trade surplus in cars last year for the first time in almost 40 years."

David Cameron says the UK is "the most enterprising, buccaneering, creative, dynamic nation on earth".

David Cameron on planning reform: "For a business to expand, it needs places to build. If it takes too long, they'll just build elsewhere."

Saying that business will be put off if planning decisions take too long, the prime minister adds: "If we're going to be a winner in this global race we've got to beat off this suffocating bureaucracy once and for all."

Fact check from the BBC economics analyst Stephen Coulter: David Cameron's claim on new jobs - true that 1m private sector jobs have been created, but many of them are part time.

David Cameron: "We need to build more houses in Britain."

David Cameron: "If we want our people to rise so Britain can rise, we must tackle welfare."

The prime minister says the government's welfare reforms are "are just as profound as those of Beveridge 60 years ago".

David Cameron says unemployed people "have to sign a contract that says: You do your bit and we'll do ours". He adds that "it makes clear: You have to seek work and take work - or you will lose your benefit".

David Cameron claims a trade union official described the work experience programme as "state sponsored slavery". The prime minister calls that view "an appalling, snobbish attitude to the idea of work".

On education, the prime minister says: "This is Britain's real school report and the verdict is clear: Must try harder."

David Cameron says his plan is "millions of children sent to independent schools - independent schools, in the state sector".

Fact check on health claims: When David Cameron said that the number of doctors, dentists and midwives was up, he doesn't mention that there are fewer nursing staff than in May 2010 - down overall despite the increase in the number of midwives. However, overall the number of full time equivalent, professionally qualified staff in the NHS has risen by a fraction of a per cent since the coalition took office.

David Cameron praises the Harris Academy in Peckham, south east London and asks: "Why can't every school be that way? Why can't every child have those chances?"

The prime minister says: "When inspirational teachers and parents - in Hammersmith, in Norwich, in Bristol and in Wigan - wanted to open free schools, the left-wing establishment said no."

David Cameron asks: "Isn't the greatest disadvantage of all being written off by those so in hock to a culture of low expectations that they have forgotten what it's like to be ambitious?"

David Cameron says there will no slowing of education reforms. "Michael Gove and I are not waiting for an outbreak of sanity in the headquarters of the NUT or an embrace of aspiration in the higher reaches of Labour before we act," he says.

The prime minister insists: "I'm not here to defend privilege, I'm here to spread it."

David Cameron talks about his background: "I don't have a hard luck story. My dad was a stockbroker from Berkshire."

David Cameron talks about his late father, who was born with disabilities. He says his dad's story in "not a hard luck story, but a hard work story".

David Cameron lists Britain's achievements and adds: "We even persuaded the Queen to jump out of a helicopter to make the rest of the world smile... there is absolutely nothing we cannot do."

David Cameron ends his speech: "We know what it takes to win. To win in the tough world of today. To win for all our people. To win for Britain. So let's get out there and do it."

Samantha Cameron joins her husband on stage as the party gives him a standing ovation.

In his speech the prime minister was saying: "I know we're not where we hoped to be" on the deficit and the economy "but I know that we can do it". And he was warning us that if we don't, the country is sunk.

From BBC political correspondent Paul Rowley: David Cameron mentioned the word "aspiration" or variations of it seven times in his speech. He used the phrase "on the rise" - mostly "Britain is on the rise" - 10 times.

Conservative party members are reacting positively to the speech on the BBC's Daily Politics. One gave the speech "10 out of 10" while another said the atmosphere in the hall had been "electric" and even suggested David Cameron was "the messiah".

Conservative MP Chris Kelly tells the Daily Politics that he would have given the speech "10 out of 10" if the prime minister had promised a referendum on the EU. He says he is "disappointed".

Former Justice Secretary Ken Clarke tells the BBC David Cameron "stopped the right-wing nonsense" that prevented his party getting elected. He says the speech was a "clear and serious explanation" of the task ahead for the prime minister.

Another party member is asked on the Daily Politics to compare David Cameron's speech with Boris Johnson's yesterday. He says he "couldn't possibly comment," but then does, saying that the prime minister's speech showed "statesmanship".

Culture Secretary Maria Miller tells the Daily Politics that David Cameron made a "powerful" speech. Conservatives "are clearly setting out the battleground for the future of this country," she says.

The Daily Mirror's Kevin Maguire tells Daily Politics David Cameron's failure to praise the police in his speech could be the "final nail in the coffin of Andrew Mitchell". The chief whip has been under pressure after he denied calling police officers "plebs".

Journalist Kevin Maguire's verdict on David Cameron's speech: "If you put a dress on him and give him a handbag, he sounded at times like a slightly harsher Margaret Thatcher".

Sam Coates of the Times tells the Daily Politics the prime minister "stoked fear" in his speech. He suggests that saying "things are getting better, don't let the other side mess it up" could be a "defensive sign".

Labour's shadow Cabinet Office minister, Michael Dugher says: "This was a defensive speech, from an out of touch, clearly rattled leader, who cannot be the one nation prime minister we need."

Labour's Michael Dugher says the PM did not mention "the double dip recession or the one million young people out of work" in his speech. And he "failed to mention the police once" - a "total disgrace" at a time of police cutbacks, Mr Dugher says.

Craig Bennett of Friends of the Earth says: "It's good to hear the prime minister salute the fact that Britain is number one in the world for offshore wind and tidal power - but this has happened despite the actions of his anti-green chancellor."

The National Union of Teachers has responded to the education section of Mr Cameron's speech. General secretary Christine Blower said: "The prime minister is wrong. Adults do not need time to adjust to the government's educational reforms, they just don't want or need them."

The Spectator's Fraser Nelson doesn't think the speech "was written to be a political landmark". He writes: "It sounded more like a party rally speech than a party conference speech, but it was none the worse for that. The Conservatives are, after all, a party that badly needs to be rallied."

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said David Cameron's speech was "absolutely tremendous". "It was a much better speech than (Ed) Miliband. This is the real world," he says.

Tory Party Chairman Grant Shapps is on Radio 4's World at One programme now. You can listen live on the BBC's online radio player here.

There wasn't the sense in the hall of "cor, blimey" as there had been in the case of Ed Miliband's speech to the Labour conference, but David Cameron did try to answer his party's critics.

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling describes Mr Cameron's speech as "very good". "I think it lays out the scale of the challenge we have got but also how inadequate the challenge from the other side us," he says.

David Cameron was trying to answer those who describe the Tories as the party of the rich by saying the party in fact supported the "want to be better off".

The SNP say David Cameron's speech confirms the anti-Scottish independence campaign is being "led by the Tories". Deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon says the speech was "appallingly complacent".

The general secretary of the Unite trade union says the speech "conjured up the politics of fear". Len McCluskey reckons David Cameron's policies are "designed to benefit a minority, when what we need is a manifesto of hope for the many".

Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers says of David Cameron's speech: "I thought it was fabulous."

Tory Chairman Grant Schapps tells BBC Radio 4's The World at One that controversy over the How To Corp website is a "very old story" and he hasn't been involved in the site in recent years. The Advertising Standards Authority has closed its investigation into the site.

Phillip Blond of think-tank ResPublica, and the author of the book Red Tory, has praised David Cameron's "argument for radical Conservative policies". He said the PM "had the sense that we needed a new fresh goal - whether that was enough, I'm not sure."

Watch a clip of David Cameron telling his party conference Britain is "still greatest country on earth" here.

Joss Garman of Greenpeace says David Cameron has "allowed the UK to slip in the global green energy race". Mr Garman asks: "Why is he happy for the "greenest government ever" to change colour?"

Paul Kenny, general secretary of the GMB union, says: "As the economy sinks it is easy for Cameron to talk about swimming for those on decks of luxury yachts". He says the Conservatives and Lib Dems have "allowed Osborne to tank the economy".

Alison Garnham of the Child Poverty Action Group says "rising child poverty will be the real cap on aspiration" and "steep cuts" in tax credits have pushed many families who live below the poverty line "into deeper hardship".

As we come to the end of our round-up of reaction to David Cameron's speech, here's a reminder of BBC political editor Nick Robinson's verdict: The PM was saying "we're not where we hoped to be" on the deficit and the economy "but I know we can do it". And he was warning us that if we don't, the country is sunk. There wasn't the sense in the hall of "cor, blimey" as there had been in the case of Ed Miliband's speech to the Labour conference, but David Cameron did try to answer his party's critics.

The close of Conservative conference brings an end to the three largest Westminster parties' conferences. But conference season continues with the SNP meeting in Perth from 18-21 October. You can catch up on all our coverage on the BBC News website's special conference report.