David Cameron set out a lengthy explanation of his ideas for the 'big society' in his speech to the party conference this afternoon.
Speaking to the party faithful for the first time as prime minister, his speech mentioned fairness nine times, and dwelt on his belief that the British people want a greater stake in society.
"It is a new kind of government because it is realistic about what it can achieve on its own, but ambitious about what we can all achieve together," he said.
"A government that believes in people, that trusts people, that knows its ultimate role is not to take from people but to give, to give power, to give control, to give everyone the chance to make the most of their own life and make better the lives of others.
"Yes, we will play our part – but the part you play will mean even more.
"Your country needs you. It takes two. It takes two to build that strong economy. We'll balance the budget, we'll boost enterprise, but you start those businesses that lead us to growth.
"It takes two to build that big society. We'll reform public services, we'll devolve power, but you step forward to seize the opportunity."
Cameron began his speech by reminding the party they had had "three defeats ... 4,757 days in the wilderness".
He paid tribute to "those who led this party before me".
"William Hague got us back on our feet. Iain Duncan Smith helped us get back our heart. Michael Howard gave us back our confidence."
He said Margaret Thatcher will celebrate her 85th birthday next week as a guest at 10 Downing St.
Cameron defended his decision to seek a coalition.
"I know there are a few who say that we should have sat tight, waited for our opponents to fall out and brought in a minority government.
"But a minority government would have limped through parliament, unable to do anything useful for our country.
"The voters left us with a hung parliament and they wanted us to respond responsibly, to do the right thing, not play political games."
He praised Nick clegg for agreeing to the coalition.
"Nick Clegg is not just sitting in government trying to win a few concessions here and there.
"The Liberal Democrats are proper partners, getting stuck in, making big decisions, shaping what we do and taking responsibility.
"That's why we can form a proper government and you can be proud of what we've done together."
The prime minister also said he will retain "our ultimate insurance policy, we will renew our nuclear deterrent based on the Trident missile system".
He attacked the "sight of the man responsible for the Lockerbie bombing, the biggest mass murderer in British history, set free to get a hero's welcome in Tripoli. No. It was wrong, it undermined our standing in the world, and nothing like that must ever happen again."
Cameron then moved on to the theme of big society.
"The mess this country is in – it's not all because of Labour.
"Of course, they must take some of the blame. Alright - they need to take a lot of the blame.
"Let me just get this off my chest.
"They left us with massive debts, the highest deficit, overstretched armed forces, demoralised public services, endless ridiculous rules and regulations and quangos and bureaucracy and nonsense.
"They left us a legacy of spinning, smearing, briefing, back-biting, half-truths and cover-ups, patronising, old-fashioned, top-down, wasteful, centralising, inefficient, ineffective, unaccountable politics, 10p tax and 90 days detention, an election bottled and a referendum denied, gold sold at half price and council tax doubled, bad news buried and Mandelson resurrected, pension funds destroyed and foreign prisoners not deported, Gurkhas kept out and extremist preachers allowed in.
"Yes, they deserve some blame, and we'll never let them forget it.
"But the point I want to make is this.
"The state of our nation is not just determined by the government and those who run it. It is determined by millions of individual actions – by what each of us do and what we choose not to do."
Cameronn denied his plans for the big society are about creating cover for cuts.
"I was going on about it years before the cuts.
"It's not government abdicating its role, it is government changing its role.
"It's about government helping to build a nation of doers and go-getters, where people step forward not sit back, where people come together to make life better.
"Of course the cynics and the defeatists will say it can't be done, that we're stuck in some inevitable decline.
"But that's what they said in the 70s. They were wrong then – and we'll prove them wrong again.
"We can build a country defined not by the selfishness of the Labour years but by the values of mutual responsibility that this party holds dear.
"A country defined not by what we consume but by what we contribute. A country, a society where we say: I am not alone. I will play my part. I will work with others to give Britain a brand new start."
Cameron announced a new international citizen service, "to give thousands of our young people, those who couldn't otherwise afford it, the chance to see the world and serve others".
He finished his speech with a call to all people to contribute to their local community.
"Society is not a spectator sport. This is your country. It's time to believe it. It's time to step up and own it.
"So mine is not just a vision of a more powerful country. It is a vision of a more powerful people.
"The knowledge in the heart of everyone – everyone – that they are not captive to the circumstances of their birth, they are not flotsam and jetsam in the great currents of wealth and power, they are not small people but big citizens.
"People that believe in themselves. A Britain that believes in itself.
"Not a promise of a perfect country. Just an achievable future of a life more fulfilled and fulfilling for everyone.
"At this time of great national challenge, two parties have come together to help make it happen.
"Yes, this is a new kind of government, but no, not just because it's a coalition.
"Don't let the cynics say this is some unachievable, impossible dream that won't work in the selfish 21st century – tell them people are hungry for it.
"I know the British people and they are not passengers – they are drivers.
"I've seen the courage of our soldiers, the spirit of our entrepreneurs, the patience of our teachers, the dedication of our doctors, the compassion of our care workers, the wisdom of our elderly, the love of our parents, the hopes of our children.
"So come on – let's pull together. Let's come together.
Let's work, together, in the national interest."
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