The Conservative Party Conference took place in Birmingham between Sunday 28th September till Wednesday 1st October. It was well attended by West Lancs and South Ribble party activists, members and councillors. Attendees visited many fringe events, key note speeches and much more. The final day was when delegates heard the Prime Minister's speech.
David Cameron pledged to cut taxes for thirty million people if the Conservatives win next year's election. In a speech which ended the conference, he said he would raise the tax-free allowance from £10,500 to £12,500 by 2020.
He also said the threshold for the 40p income tax rate would be raised from £41,900 to £50,000 by the end of a five year Conservative government.
The changes would back people who "do the right thing", he said.
In his speech in Birmingham, Mr Cameron said:
- A Conservative government would protect the NHS budget
- He would "deliver" on a pledge of "English votes for English laws"
- The UK could not "walk on by" in the battle with Islamic State extremists
- Immigration would be at the heart of his EU negotiation strategy
- A vote for UKIP at the next election would be "a vote for Labour"
- He would scrap the Human Rights Act
- Every teenager could have a place on the National Citizenship Service
- Increasing the personal allowance would take one million of the lowest-paid out of income tax and give a tax cut to 30 million more
Many charities and good causes were at the Conference, Cllr Ruth Melling and Edward McCarthy (West Lancs Conservatives Deputy Chairman for Membership and Fundraising) are pictured with the Canals and River Trust.
The next Conference will be held at Manchester Central in Autumn 2015.