DEADLY serious, utterly candid and unashamedly moral, the Tories’ 84-page manifesto yesterday unveiled Mayism (a word she hates) and British politics entered a new era.

BY any standards it is an extraordinary document. Detailed, deadly serious, utterly candid and unashamedly moral, the Tories’ 84-page manifesto yesterday unveiled Mayism (a word she hates) and British politics entered a new era.

Gone were the gimmicks, glitz and disingenuity of the Cameron and Blair eras, and the cynical manifestos replete with pledges their authors had no intention of keeping. Nor did Theresa May try to exploit her opponents’ weakness by playing safe.

Instead, with a clear ethical – even Christian – tone, this vicar’s daughter took the riskier option: to be unremittingly honest with the public about the great challenges this country faces, to spell out how she intends to confront them and to promise only what she can deliver.

This was a grown-up politician treating the electorate as grown-ups.

‘It is the responsibility of leaders to be straight with people about the challenges ahead and the hard work required to overcome them,’ she said.

Mrs May is honest about tax, so David Cameron’s reckless tax pledges are scrapped. She will raise the state pension, but the expensive triple-lock is adjusted and winter fuel payments means-tested.

Yes, there will be billions more for schools and the NHS, but she doesn’t pretend there is a magic money tree. Eliminating the deficit will have to wait until 2025.

Nowhere is her approach clearer than with the issue, shamefully dodged by her predecessors, of social care for our elderly.

Yes, homeowners will see assets they have built up over years whittled away by care costs. But the system will at least be made fairer: no one will lose their homes, and no family’s nest egg will fall below £100,000.

Mrs May is honest, too, about her governing philosophy. While recognising that a strong economy comes first, she rejects ‘ untrammelled’ free markets and ‘selfish individualism’. Her government will not ‘walk by on the other side’.

Indeed, keeping to her promise – from the steps of Downing Street last year – to fight for those just managing, she will defend consumers against rapacious capitalism, whether it’s profiteering energy companies, rip- off rail firms or a City elite deaf to outrage over excessive pay.

These policies – and her determination to protect workers and promote social justice – do not, as some of her critics argue, make Mrs May any less a Conservative. Only a true Conservative would ( unlike Mr Cameron) put new grammar schools – providing a ladder of opportunity for working class children – at the centre of a bold vision for a Great Meritocracy.

Funding defence properly, protecting the Union and raising tax thresholds appeal not only to Tory traditionalists, but also to millions of decent, patriotic, hard-working people in the Midlands and the North who have been abandoned by Labour.

Unlike lesser politicians in her Cabinet, Mrs May understands the clear message from the referendum that migration must fall, to lift pressure on public services. So the crucial tens of thousands target stays.

On the most important issue of all, Brexit, she is the only party leader who will not betray the 17million who voted for Leave, and who realises most Remain voters accept the result and just want a prime minister who will go in to bat for Britain.

Her approach is not without risks, especially if she drifts too far to the Left (particularly on the minimum wage). But if she leads Britain through Brexit, restores the alliance of blue collar workers and Middle England voters who swept Margaret Thatcher to power, and implements even half of her ambitious programme, she could transform this country. In doing so, she would restore trust in British politics so badly damaged in recent decades.

The Mail believes wholeheartedly she must be given the chance.