text: David Cameron will put small business at the heart of the election campaign today by declaring that the Conservatives are ‘the party of the grafters’. The Prime Minister, who has faced criticism over a campaign lacking in passion, said he made ‘no apology’ for focusing on the economy, insisting: ‘Nothing matters more.’ He will appeal to small firms and the self-employed, saying while Labour sneers at those who work hard, his party backs them. Scroll down for video . David Cameron will put small business at the heart of the election campaign today by declaring that the Conservatives are ‘the party of the grafters’ Yesterday, Mr Cameron defended his campaign against criticism it is too narrow. ‘If you want political excitement, maybe you could go to Greece,’ he said. ‘That’s an exciting country, I am told. I don’t think that’s exciting – I think that’s terrifying. ‘When you get a new job, a new home, get a new childcare place or start a new business... now that’s truly exciting. If you want to take a risk, vote for the other man. My God, he’s got plenty of risks.’ He said Labour’s ‘disastrous’ plans for higher taxes and borrowing would risk the stability of people’s lives. And he told voters: ‘I want you to think about the three million low-paid people we have taken out of income tax, I want you to think about the two million jobs that we have created, I want you to think of the cuts in youth unemployment that we’ve achieved. I want you to think of that and I want you to take that argument that Labour make and stick it where the sun don’t shine.’ Mr Cameron went on: ‘Some people are saying to me, “You are putting too much emphasis on a strong and stable economy and securing our future”. I plead guilty.’ The Tories will today unveil a separate manifesto for small businesses, calling them ‘the lifeblood of the economy’. Thousands of small business leaders will back the party in an open letter. The Prime Minister, who has faced criticism over a campaign lacking in passion, said he made ‘no apology’ for focusing on the economy, insisting: ‘Nothing matters more’ And Mr Cameron – who is understood to have ordered that all campaigning activity is now dedicated to the economy – will set out new proposals to support millions of small firms and self-employed. He is to promise tax breaks and start-up loans, and an end to another £10billion-worth of red tape, to enable the creation of 600,000 businesses a year. The Tories are also promising to review the disadvantages faced by the self-employed, who make up 15 per cent of the workforce. In an echo of the campaign rhetoric of Margaret Thatcher, who famously celebrated Napoleon’s supposed dismissal of Britain as a ‘nation of shopkeepers’, Mr Cameron will say: ‘Small businesses are the backbone of our economy – and Conservatives are behind them 100 per cent. We’re the party of the grafters and the roofers and the retailers and the plumbers. ‘We get them, we respect them, we understand them, we back them. Where Labour sneer, we cheer.’
target: David Cameron will put small business at the heart of election campaign .
  Prime Minister has faced criticism for lacking passion in recent weeks .
  Cameron said he made 'no apology' for Tories focusing on the economy .