At home, David Cameron and the Conservatives are working towards a long-term economic plan to build a stronger, more competitive economy. It is clearly working. Of course it is still painful but we can now see improvements. As the economy improves then so does our ability to look after the frail, sick and needy.

We have made the difficult decisions in the national interest to secure Britain’s economic future:

• We’re reducing the deficit and have already cut it by a third. This safeguards our economy for the long-term and keeps mortgage rates low (NS, Public Sector Finances: June 2013, 19 July 2013).

• We’re helping businesses to create more jobs. Because we have backed small business and enterprise with better infrastructure and lower jobs taxes there are 1.6 million new jobs and 400,000 new businesses – that’s 1.6 million more people with the security of a pay packet each month (ONS, Public Sector Employment, 18 December 2013; BIS, Business Population Estimates for the UK and Regions 2013, 23 October 2013).

• We’re cutting income tax for over 25 million people. We have delivered an typical tax cut of £705 for over 25 million people and taken 3.2 million people out of tax altogether helping hardworking people to be more financially secure (HMT, Budget 2011, p. 35; HMT, Autumn Statement 2012, p. 8; HMT, Budget 2013, pp 51-52).

• We are capping welfare. So that no out-of work household can claim more than the average working family earns, ensuring our economy delivers for people who want to work hard and play by the rules (DWP website, accessed 16 May 2012).