Tories to fight the election on fixing our broken society

He will fight Gordon Brown over solving the grave social problems blighting Britain, including spiralling knife and gun crime, the rise of lawless gangs and yobbish behaviour.

Making clear the Tories would woo voters on social issues rather than the economy - the party's traditional front line - he adapted Bill Clinton's famous phrase to explain: "It's society, stupid."

But he said introducing tax breaks to support and promote strong families would be a top priority in the drive to crack anti-social behaviour.

The Tory leader is desperate to seize back the political initiative from Labour, who have opened up an election-winning ten-point lead in the polls.

In a wide-ranging interview, Mr Cameron said: "What matters in an election is: What's the big question? Social breakdown. What's the big answer? Family and community policy.

"You win an election by answering the big question the country is asking, and to me the big question is 'how do we mend Britain's broken society?'

"I think what you're beginning to see now is that people are linking up the problems. The growth of violent crime and knife crime, the problem of guns and gangs, the breakdown of the family, problems of drug abuse, the problem of educational underachievement."

Highlighting the mantra around which his electoral campaign will be constructed, he said: "To paraphrase Bill Clinton: 'It's society, stupid'."

However, he conceded it "took time" to drum the message home to voters.

Mr Cameron said the Conservatives would reduce "family taxes" in a bid to strengthen households and cut rising levels of anti-social behaviour.

Measures could include lucrative tax breaks for married couples worth £3,000 a year, scrapping inheritance tax and slashing stamp duty.

But he stressed this would not be an upfront tax cut - instead it would be paid for by hitting car and air travel through 'green' levies.

Mr Cameron said: "On the tax front there are these two sets of things we can do. The first is the family tax reductions that will be met by the green tax rises.

"And the second is that over time, as we share the proceeds of growth, some of [John Redwood's] suggestions for reducing tax can be implemented.

"We will produce a very clear package showing which green taxes go up and which family taxes will come down."

Former Cabinet Minister John Redwood last week unveiled the recommendations of his economic competitiveness task force to huge plaudits.

Right-wingers in the Tory Party were especially enthusiastic about proposed tax cuts of more than £21billion, including raising the thresholds for higher rates of income tax.

But Mr Cameron signalled most of the plans would not make it into the manifesto: "I think what he's given us is a very good menu in terms of deregulatory initiatives and tax changes that we can draw on."

He shrugged off the torpor that has weighed down the Tory party over the summer, sparked by unsatisfactory local election results, a row over grammar schools and criticism of his decision to visit Rwanda while his constituency was suffering flooding.

Dismissing Labour's lead in the polls, Mr Cameron said it "didn't excite" him. He insisted he expected Gordon Brown to experience a "bounce" after becoming PM. He said the Tories were "technically and marginally ready" for a snap General Election as early October.

But asked if the party had enough funds to fight a contest, he said: "Not all of it but I think the last 18 months have shown an ability to raise funds from a much broader base. We have not been reliant on a few large donations."

Mr Cameron also poured scorn on accusations he was lurching to the right. He said: "The Conservative Party is in the centre ground and will stay in the centre ground. This Labour attack that I'm some 'mad right winger' just won't work. It's just ludicrous."