" I believe that character is not about telling people what they want to hear but about telling them what they need to know , " he said . " It 's about having the courage to set your mission and the courage to take the tough decisions and stick to them without being blown off course , even when the going is difficult . " With me , what you see is what you get -- and the stakes are high , we dare not risk the recovery for our task above all else is to preserve and expand the jobs and lift the standards of life of the British people .