The economic crisis is a tough test for David Cameron

Yesterday morning Iain Dale looked forward to the Conservative Conference:

I shan't shed any tears if the Conservatives get no big headlines from their conference. Steady as she goes, should be the motto of the week. Boring is good.

I don't think that will do for the Tories.

The world economy is facing its gravest crisis for at least 35 years, and the main opposition party should be content if it has nothing much to say? It hardly gives anyone a reason for voting them into government.

And I am not being partisan here. (Perish the thought.) I said much the same about the Liberal Democrats when discussing our recent party political broadcast.

In the Observer, Andrew Rawnsley gave a better summing up of the challenge facing David Cameron:

Over the past 12 months, whether the issue has been Northern Rock or the 10p tax band, the Conservatives have been pretty effective at whacking the government but much less impressive whenever asked to detail what they would do.

When pressed for an answer, Mr Cameron tends to reply with the travel advice of the Irishman: 'I wouldn't start from here.' That might get him through a television interview. It won't get him through a premiership.

Here is where we are and it is a dark and scary place. Here is where millions of voters are shivering in fear about whether they will still have a job or a home in six months time. Not only does the country expect a better answer from the Tories, it deserves a better one.

Just a few weeks ago, Mr Cameron was planning to leave Labour to stew in its unpopularity and keep the substance to a minimum at his own conference. He won't get away with that now. The country looks for seriousness from the man who wants to be its Prime Minister. If he doesn't have any answers, then David Cameron really will find himself on the conference stage without any clothes on.