Cameron urges 'positive vision'

Mr Cameron said the Tories must offer a vision as well as hope

The Conservatives must offer a "positive vision of change" to help people through the "dark days" facing the country, David Cameron has said.

In a new year message to party members, the Tory leader said all possible steps must be taken to limit the length and severity of the economic downturn.

The government had "lost its moral compass" and been "corrupted by power", he said.

Labour said he would "do nothing" for families while it offered "real help".

The Conservatives have sought to repel Labour claims that they do not have an alternative to the government's economic recovery plan.

'Constructive ideas'

Emphasising the need for positive proposals to help the UK through a likely recession, Mr Cameron said the government's approach - based on a large increase in borrowing and tax cuts to stimulate spending - was irresponsible.

He said the Tories must show the public that they had learnt the lessons of the financial crisis while continuing to offer "constructive" ideas to keep people in work and their homes.

People are looking to us for hope in these dark days and we must be ready to offer it David Cameron

"People are looking to us for hope in these dark days and we must be ready to offer it," he said.

On Tuesday, the party said there was acute anxiety about future prospects in all sectors of the housing market as figures showed average house prices fell 12% in England and Wales in the last year.

It published research indicating that more than 40% of mortgage holders, local authority tenants and private renters were worried about not being able to meet their payments over the next year.

Election ready

Mr Cameron also said the Conservatives had a duty to offer its vision of what type of economy and society it wanted to build, were it to come to power.

The bedrock, he said, should be "responsible government and responsible business" with an emphasis on lower taxes, less state interference and sustainable growth.

He also said the Tories must be ready for an election "at any time".

Instead of a message of hope and optimism, all we get from the Tories is yet more over-hyped cynicism Andy Burnham Culture Secretary

Voters now faced a clearer choice between the two main parties than for many years, he added.

"People can see that Labour have been in power too long," he added.

"They have been corrupted by power and their arrogance means that they cannot now even see their mistakes, let alone correct them."

He criticised recent comments by Gordon Brown that the economic situation would be a "test of character" for the British people.

Mr Brown has acknowledged 2009 will be a tough year but maintained Britain is better prepared to deal with the slowdown than other countries and praised the country's "can-do attitude".

But Mr Cameron said: "The prime minister tells us to find our blitz spirit when he is the one dropping the bombs - the tax and debt bombshells that are taking Britain to the brink of bankruptcy."

For the government, Culture Secretary Andy Burnham said the government had acted to cut VAT, bring forward investment in schools, GP surgeries and infrastructure and increase child benefit.

He added: "This just shows that David Cameron will say anything to disguise the fact he would do nothing.

"Families and businesses need action and real help now not overblown rhetoric.

"Instead of a message of hope and optimism, all we get from the Tories is yet more over-hyped cynicism."