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After months of complaints that they lack policies, the Conservatives have this week surprised many observers by announcing proposals covering virtually every area of government.
The most significant have come on the economy with plans for a public sector pay freeze in 2011 and an increase in the state pension age to 66 by 2016.
Others have been unveiled on law and order, the NHS, schools and transport.
Here Standard.co.uk analyses key policies to assess the potential costs, consequences and obstacles that could lie ahead.
Economy
The Tories' economic blueprint is almost certain to be the defining element of the conference. In a political gamble, shadow chancellor George Osborne announced a publicsector pay freeze in 2011 for all but those on the lowest wages; cuts to child tax credit and baby bonds; and a rise in the pension age to 66 for men by 2016 — and for women by 2020.
Also promised was a £3 billion cut in Whitehall bureaucracy, including a £50,000 annual cap on new publicsector pensions. Mr Osborne said the
measures would save £23 billion and declared they were essential in the face of the nation's £175 billion deficit.
Questions remain, especially over whether cuts in bureaucracy can deliver savings. Economists warn the plans are still “small fry” when set alongside the extent of Britain's debts.
Doubts exist on how much the pension change would save because of the possibility that many affected will be shifted on to other benefits. There is also concern that quick, deep cuts will worsen not improve the economy.
Education
Parents would get control of the £5,000-a-year the state spends on educating their child. They could spend it anywhere which does not already
charge fees higher than this.
Parents will not be allowed to top up this with
their own cash and poor families would get extra funding. But the scheme could be complicated to run.
Up to 100 failing schools in England could be earmarked for closure within weeks of the Tories taking power, to be replaced with privately-sponsored academies. But the plan resembles
Labour's policy. And will sponsors be
queuing to get involved?
The Tories have promised to go back to basics with the national curriculum: tougher science courses, a renewed literacy drive and traditional history lessons. Heads have been promised new powers to expel unruly pupils.
Law and Order
A blitz on binge drinking, curfews for anti-social teenagers and stronger rights for police to name criminals head the party's law and order plans.
The Tories would tell police they can identify offenders to protect the public. But how significant the change would be is questionable, as police believe naming criminals can make
them “go underground” and hide.
Human rights challenges could be a problem with court orders confining anti-social youths to their homes for up to a month — although the policy may have the advantage of keeping teenagers out of custody.
The easiest plans to implement will be those to fight binge drinking. The blueprint includes big tax rises on super-strength lager and cider and on alcopops, plus a ban on cut-price alcohol and stricter licensing rules.
Health
CUTS to red tape in the NHS have been announced with great fanfare, and the party also wants the elderly to benefit from residential care without having to sell their homes.
The homes initiative will appeal to those who want to leave property to their children, while cutting waste in the NHS is always popular.
But some fear saving £4 billion in administrative costs in four years is not enough. Health Secretary Andy Burnham has already said the NHS must save up to £20 billion.
Under the care home scheme, 65-year-olds can pay £8,000 for care later in life. People who go into care homes pay on average £50,000. But success depends on a calculation that only one in five will need residential care. Critics say the scheme relies on most of its members not needing it.
Welfare
Tougher rules on incapacity benefits which could cut payments to 500,000 claimants form the centre of the Tory plans to reduce the rising welfare bill.
Tests will be introduced to cover all 2.6 million incapacity benefit claimants in three years. Those who fail will be moved to unemployment benefit at a saving of £25 per person each week.
Mr Cameron claims it will save £1 billion over five years and ensure only those who are genuinely incapable of work receive the benefit.
The policy is likely to prove popular, but with previous efforts to lower incapacity claims largely unsuccessful, it is questionable whether the Tories can achieve all they promise.
They also plan to spend up to £7 billion from future savings on expanding private efforts in helping the unemployed into work.
Transport
THE party has produced largely promotorist policies, as well as a pledge to block the construction of a third runway at Heathrow.
The Heathrow promise — with a pledge to resist expansion at Gatwick and Stansted — will be popular with environmentalists and local residents but will face strong opposition from
business and the airline industry.
The party's strength of commitment makes a retreat unlikely, but Mr Cameron will need to show resolve to stand firm.
On motoring, the pledge to stop funding fixed speed cameras may trigger road safety concerns but will prove popular with many drivers.
Motorists are also likely to be cheered by plans to cut motorway reopening times after crashes and to curb road work congestion. Both will prove easier to promise than achieve.
Local Government
MORE freedom for local authorities will be a theme in a Tory government, with more directly elected mayors.
The party wants councils to follow radical Tory authorities such as Barnet and Hammersmith and Fulham.
Barnet will cut costs by £15 million over three years by slashing some services and charging for “additional” ones such as regular waste disposal.
However, such measures could see a backlash from residents. Meanwhile, town hall chiefs would be allowed only salaries of more than £198,000 if
approved by the Chancellor — but councils could then struggle to employ those most appropriate for the jobs.
The Tories also say they can build social housing by abandoning centrally-set targets and replacing these with incentives.
■ Additional reporting by Anna Davis, Jonathan Prynn and Katharine Barney
