Conservative Conference 2013

It lasted just under an hour but in his keynote speech at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester the Prime Minister made more references to the North West than almost any other region in the country, including London.

Much of the speech was dedicated to attacking Labour's economic record and the party's plans for a future Britain. His alternative to Ed Miliband's 'Britain can to better than this' mantra was the notion of Britain as a "Land of opportunity', and in it, the north-west plays a prominent role:

• Blackpool, said Mr Cameron, should be the 'centre of Europe' for the shale gas industry.

• Manchester should have aspirations to be the "world leader in advanced materials"

• The North West needs High Speed Rail: "This country has been too London-centric for far too long" he said.

Today is the final day of the Conservative party conference in Manchester.

The Prime Minister will deliver his keynote speech to mark the end of the event.

It's estimated the conference has generated £24.6million for the city's economy.

GP surgeries in Radcillfe in Greater Manchester will be the first in the North West to trial opening during evenings and weekends.

Prime Minister David Cameron has announced £50m of funding so GPs can help relieve pressure on A&E departments. Patients here will get the new service in a few weeks.

A retired army officer from Dukinfield has defended his decision to heckle the Defence Secretary during a speech at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester.

76-year-old Joe Eastwood, and another former officer, were both ejected from the conference hall.

They had protested against a decision to disband to the second battalion of the Royal Fusiliers, which recruits in the North West.

David Cameron has been speaking to Granada's Political Correspondent Alison Mackenzie at this years Conservative Party Conference in Manchester.

Chancellor George Osborne told the Conservative Party conference, "We are going to finish what we started".

He said there was "no feeling of a task completed or a victory won":

George Osborne said the Conservative Party is not considering striking local deals with the UK Independence Party (Ukip) in the upcoming General Election.

A number of high-profile Tories have floated the possibility of an alliance with Ukip in the run-up to the election to avoid splitting the right-wing vote.

When asked if he was ready to consider such a deal, the Chancellor told Sky News: The short answer is no. What the Conservative Party is doing is talking to the country, in marked contrast to the other political parties who are talking about themselves and positioning themselves.

"We've got a big, simple offer for the country. The economy is on the right track and we are going to see our plan through."

The Conservative Party Conference continues in Manchester today. Yesterday 40,000 marched through Manchester protesting against cuts. But speaking to Granada Reports, George Osborne says the economy is on the mend, and the North West has benefitted.

Chancellor George Osborne said there is "no something for nothing any more" when it comes to the long-term unemployed.

Mr Osborne told Daybreak: "What we're saying is people are going to have to do something in return for those benefits.

"There is no option of doing nothing for your benefits, no something for nothing any more. People are going to have to do things to get their dole.

"This is all activity that is going to help them get ready for the real world of work."

Chancellor George Osborne said previous governments "of all colours" had "abandoned" the long-term unemployed.

Mr Osborne told Daybreak: "They allowed them to sort of recycle into job centres collecting the dole and people didn't really do anything about them. I think it's wrong.

"We have got to learn from what went wrong in the past. We've got to help these people, but in return expect them to put something back into their community."