London - British Conservative opposition leader David Cameron Wednesday presented himself as a future potential leader who would tackle economic and social challenges to lead Britain into "better times."

Cameron, 41, told delegates in a closing speech at the Conservatives' annual conference in Birmingham that Britain needed a "change of direction" after more than a decade of Labour government.

Without mentioning Prime Minister Gordon Brown by name, Cameron said he would show "leadership, character and judgement" if the Conservatives were chosen to lead a government after the next general election, due at the latest by mid-2010.

Brown, who has been able lately to improve his battered image by guiding Britain through the present financial and economic turbulence, had only experience on his side, said Cameron, who has never been part of a government.

"Experience is the argument of the incumbent over the ages. Experience is what they always say when they try to stop change," said Cameron.

However, he could not promise a "miracle cure" or "overnight transformation" for Britain if and when the Conservatives came to power.

They would inherit a "huge deficit" and an "economy in a mess," said Cameron. A Conservative government would need to do "difficult and unpopular things" for the long term good of the country, he said, in a reference to possible tax rises and spending cuts.

"I know that. I'm ready for that," said Cameron, adding that he believed Britain would come through the current difficulties to "better times ahead."

The Conservatives have consistently had a two-digit lead over Labour over the past few months, which narrowed from 19 per cent to 12 per cent this week after Brown appeared to have silenced critics in his own party with an appeal for unity at Labour's party conference last week. (dpa)