David Cameron warned on Wednesday that there is a “price for progress on climate change,” as the Conservative leader closed his party’s annual conference with a speech designed to cement its new positioning in the political centre-ground.

The Tories need to show that they recognise that “there is always a price to be paid” for progress, in order to regain voters’ trust, Mr Cameron said. The party cannot meet its pledge to tackle climate change – as yet unaccompanied by substantive policies – without making difficult decisions, Mr Cameron suggested.