David Cameron has said British enterprise needs to up its game in the face of growing competition from developing nations at the Welsh Conservatives Autumn Conference in Swansea.
The PM also set out three big arguments for his party to take on over the economy, welfare and for enterprise and continually mocked bitter rivals Labour.
He lambasted Wales' First Minister Carwyn Jones for trying to pull an episode of Pobol y Cwm on S4C in which a character criticised his government.
"It's like Wilson used to say on Dad's Army 'they don't like it up 'em'," he added.
The television theme continued, when he said Wales needed "the A Team" but had instead got "The Muppet Show".
Later on he then branded Welsh Economy minister and local AM Edwina Hart as "one of the loonies on the fringes" who wanted to "tear down capitalism".
He defended the controversial changes to the benefits system - arguing they would make things fairer for working people.
He said: "What's fair about having a system that pays people to live on benefits when they could seek work? It's not fair. And we are changing it.
"Welfare was meant to help lift people out of poverty - but in too many cases it trapped them in it.
"Real help isn't just giving people a cheque - it's giving them a chance."
While using parts of his speech to justify his government's policies as well as attacking rivals, the 46-year-old Conservative leader stressed the importance of enterprise.
The Prime Minister insisted the UK is at a crossroads and faces some serious challenges ahead.
As well as bringing the country's budget deficit down, Mr Cameron called on fellow Tories to ensure they win "the battle of ideas" in the run up to the next General Election.
And while admitting his party have come under criticism for its cuts to public spending, the PM said he was sticking to his guns.
He said: "We have come to office at a crossroads moment - for Wales and the whole of the United Kingdom.
"It's a moment to do or decline; to sink or swim.
"The whole planet is undergoing the shock of change.
"I've seen it in Sao Paolo in Brazil, Beijing in China, Lagos in Nigeria - the drive of our competitors is palpable.
"A great global race is under way.
"Our country will either be a success story or an also-ran.
"Winning the battle on enterprise is not about us, or our political fortunes.
"Let's remember who and what we're fighting for. For all those people who dream of a better future and who are prepared to work for it."
Mr Cameron's arrival at the Liberty Stadium - the home of Premier League side Swansea City - was perhaps something of a low key affair in comparison with his previous appearances in south Wales.
Party officials had decided not to publicise his appearance ahead of the conference, which took place in an area described as Labour heartlands.
As well as owning all three Swansea constituencies in the House of Commons, Labour also occupies all the Welsh Assembly constituency seats in Wales' second city.
Added to this, The UK government has also came in for criticism locally when it announced it was closing Swansea Coastguard Station.
The difficulties facing the party was something the PM acknowledged early in his 15 minute speech.
He told his 200 plus audience: "Being a Conservative in Wales - it's not always easy.
"You take some flack. But you get out there because of what you believe."
And he sought to boost morale further by claiming his party's fortunes were on the up.
He said: "Back in 2005 our chances in Wales were a bit like Swansea City's chances of getting in the Premier League - or indeed Cardiff's - but look at us now."
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Mr Cameron did find time to pay tribute to the late Margaret Thatcher - whose biggest lesson for him was: "You've got to fight tooth and nail to explain why what you're doing is right."