Tory leader David Cameron, in his closing speech to the Conservative conference in Bournemouth, warned of green taxes to come and launched a stinging attack on Tony Blair's Government.

Mr Cameron told representatives: "I want to deal directly with this issue of substance. Substance is not about producing a 10-point plan - it is about deeper things than that.

"It is about knowing what you believe, it is about a clear idea of the Britain you want to see. For us, that Britain is based on the idea of social responsibility.

"I don't think that announcing policies in a rush amounts to substance. Real substance is about taking time to think things through, not trotting out easy answers that people might want to hear.

"It's about sticking to your guns. It's about character, judgment and consistency."

Mr Cameron addressed right-wing critics calling for tax cuts head on, saying: "Let's talk about tax. Everyone in this hall, me included, knows that a low tax economy is a strong economy. But some people want me to flash up some pie in the sky tax cuts to show what we stand for.

"Let me tell you straight. That is not substance and that is not what we stand for.

"Do you know what I think? I think that, when some people talk about substance, what they mean is they want the old policies back. Well, they're not coming back. We're not going back.

"We will not take risks with the economy. We will not make promises we can't keep. We believe in sound money and stability always comes first."

The Witney MP said he would question the approach of the White House on foreign policy and insisted he would be "a British prime minister pursuing a British foreign policy".

On the NHS, the Tory leader insisted: "As our economy grows, one of the most important calls on the proceeds of that growth is the NHS. The NHS is vitally important to every family in this country. It certainly is to my family."

Mr Cameron, whose son, Ivan, four, suffers from cerebral palsy, went on: "I believe that the creation of the NHS is one of the greatest achievements of the 20th century.

"It is founded on the noble but simple ideal that no person should ever have to worry about their health care.

"But when your family relies on the NHS all the time - day after day, night after night - you really know just how precious it is.

"For me, it's not a question of saying the NHS is safe in my hands. My family is so often in the hands of the NHS and I want them to be safe there.

"Tony Blair once explained his priority in three words: education, education, education. I can do it in three letters. NHS."

He attacked Labour changes to the NHS, saying its staff were now "utterly bewildered", adding: "What a shambolic way to treat people."

He pledged: "No more pointless reorganisations - yes, change is necessary in the NHS but the changes we want to make are based on our idea: social responsibility."

The Conservative leader told his conference he would back successful Labour initiatives, such as Bank of England independence and the minimum wage, promising to increase it if possible.

But he then rounded on Mr Blair, saying: "People voted for him but he let them down. So let's not think that people are going to jump from Labour straight into our arms. This is going to be slow, patient, hard work.

"For too long, the big political decisions in this country have been made in the wrong place. Not round the Cabinet table, where they should be, but on the sofa in Tony Blair's office.

"No notes are taken. No one knows who's accountable. No one takes the blame when things go wrong.

"That arrogant style of government must come to an end. I will restore the proper processes of government."

Heralding proposals for new green taxes, Mr Cameron said: "I want to tell the British people some uncomfortable truths - there is a price for progress in tackling climate change.

Of course, low-energy light bulbs, hybrid cars - even a windmill on your roof - can make a difference and also save money. But these things are not enough.

"Government must show leadership by setting the right framework: binding targets for carbon reduction year on year.

"That would create a price for carbon in our economy. What does that mean? It means that things which produce more carbon will get more expensive. Going green is not some fashionable, pain-free option. It will place a responsibility on business, it will place a responsibility on all of us."

He challenged Mr Blair to put a climate change Bill in his last Queen's Speech.