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David Cameron suggests greater emphasis on flexible working under a Tory government

A Conservative government would extend flexible working, according to Party leader David Cameron.

Speaking yesterday at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, Cameron said if the Party won the next general election it would build on the work Labour has done on flexible working and extend it.

Closing the conference, Cameron also addressed some of the controversial proposals put forward by his fellow shadow ministers earlier in the week.

He said: "We could have played it safe this week but that is not what we are about... That's not what I am about."

Cameron proposed to cut pay for MPs and freeze it for one parliament and he echoed shadow chancellor George Osborne's announcement on Tuesday to freeze public-sector pay in order to "save jobs". Cameron also announced the 50p tax rate would remain for high earners.

Osborne had argued the state pension age should be raised to 66 and, commenting on this, Cameron added: "Our pension system is out of date and has to change. Working longer will be tough but it will help us support our pensioners."