President Thabo Mbeki set the seal on a decisive broad policy shift to the left for his final term in office as he lashed out at what he called the "new conservatism" sweeping the world, which enshrined the individual and denigrated the state in a way which could never bring a better life for SA's millions. The president's comments, which might prove to be a watershed in South African politics, came as he introduced his budget vote in the National Assembly.