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David Cameron will deliver his first speech to a Conservative Party conference as prime minister this afternoon, bringing to a close the gathering that has been overshadowed by the row over child benefit.
The Conservatives have suffered a second day of bad headlines in the press after they unveiled plans that would mean middle class voters stand to lose £2,500 a year in a three-child household if either parent earns £44,000 or more.
In his speech this afternoon the prime minister is expected to acknowledge the controversy, and try to alleviate some of the anger by focusing on a planned tax break for married couples.
Speaking to ITV News yesterday Cameron apologised for failing to warn people adequately about the child benefit plan.
"We did not outline all of those cuts, we did not know exactly the situation we were going to inherit. But, yes, I acknowledge, this was not in our manifesto," he said.
He added: "Of course I'm sorry about that but I think we need to be clear about why we're doing what we're doing."
The Tory high command did receive some good news this morning, after a YouGov poll for The Sun suggested that 83 per cent of voters supported the changes to child benefit.
Defending the plan, William Hague said it was "tough but fair" and said amending the change so it applied to households rather than individuals would create "a whole new complex change to the tax system and means-testing child benefit".
He added: "Really, it is tough but it is fair... I think it is right to do what we are embarking on."
But some Conservatives have suggested the benefit change will be looked at again. Speaking at a fringe event last night work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith said the government would “be able to rectify and ameliorate some of these issues."
"Come the spending review this will be brought into context", he said. "This is one element of a larger package...I’m sure action will be taken. We’re trying to get the balance right."
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