David Cameron has spelled out public sector reform, especially in education and welfare, as the battleground for the next election.
In his speech to the Conservative Party conference, he argued that his focus on more academies and free schools, his capping of housing benefit and his welfare changes were designed to help the poor and under-privileged, not hurt them.
He told delegates: 'The reason we want to reform schools and cut welfare dependency is because we want to help the poor. It's our battleground for the next election.'
Taking a swipe at the 'educational establishment and left-wing local authorities' for allegedly opposing academies and free schools, he insisted every child deserved a good education.
'This is my plan - million of children sent to independent schools in the state sector...I want children to have the same education as posh school...I'm not here to defend privilege, I'm here to spread it,' added Mr Cameron.
The Prime Minister insisted he would stick to fiscal plans adding: 'We're here because we spent too much and borrowed too much. How on earth can the answer be more borrowing and more spending?'
He also joked: 'I've been explaining Big Society for three years. The Olympic Gamesmakers did it in three weeks.'
