David Cameron has spelled out public sector reform, especially in education and welfare, as the battleground for the next election.

In his speech to the Conservative Party conference, he argued that his focus on more academies and free schools, his capping of housing benefit and his welfare changes were designed to help the poor and under-privileged, not hurt them.

He told delegates: 'The reason we want to reform schools and cut welfare dependency is because we want to help the poor. It's our battleground for the next election.'

Taking a swipe at the 'educational establishment and left-wing local authorities' for allegedly opposing academies and free schools, he insisted every child deserved a good education.