British PM David Cameron calls for same 'drive to succeed' that is seen in Delhi

LONDON: British Prime Minister David Cameron today tried to enthuse the Conservative party and the people by insisting that things will soon improve economically and called for the same "drive to succeed" that is seen in Delhi, Shanghai or Lagos.

Faced with mounting criticism that his government's plan to cut deficit by carrying out deep funding cuts, among other measures, was not succeeding, Cameron urged the people to stick with his spending cuts plan for a better future.

"When you step off the plane in Delhi or Shanghai or Lagos, you can feel the energy, the hunger, the drive to succeed. We need that here. Frankly, there's too much 'can't do' sogginess around. We need to be a sharp, focused, can-do country," he said in his closing speech to the Conservative party's conference in Manchester, northwest England.

Cameron began the day with yet another indicator of continuing downturn: latest official figures showed that the UK economy grew by 0.1 per cent between April and June, less than the estimated 0.2 per cent.

"Some say that to succeed in this world, we need to become more like India, or China, or Brazil. I say: we need to become more like us. The real us. Hard-working, pioneering, independent, creative, adaptable, optimistic, can-do," he said in the address aimed more to the wider public than his fiscally conservative party delegates.

Cameron added: "That's the spirit that has made this United Kingdom what it is: a small country that does great things; one of the most incredible success stories in the history of the world. And it's a spirit that's alive and well today".