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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Cameron targets by-election win | Cameron targets by-election win |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The row over the scrapping of the 10p rate of tax will be central to the Tories' fight to win the Labour seat of Crewe & Nantwich, David Cameron said. | The row over the scrapping of the 10p rate of tax will be central to the Tories' fight to win the Labour seat of Crewe & Nantwich, David Cameron said. |
| His party will give it their "best shot" to overturn the late Gwyneth Dunwoody's 7,078 majority, he said. | His party will give it their "best shot" to overturn the late Gwyneth Dunwoody's 7,078 majority, he said. |
| He said a vote for the Conservatives on 22 May in Crewe will send a message "to Gordon Brown to do more to help those who will suffer from the 10p tax rate". | |
| Mr Brown is expected to unveil a raft of policy changes to win over voters. | Mr Brown is expected to unveil a raft of policy changes to win over voters. |
| Speaking at his monthly news conference, Mr Cameron said winning the Crewe & Nantwich seat was the Tories' "top campaigning priority". | Speaking at his monthly news conference, Mr Cameron said winning the Crewe & Nantwich seat was the Tories' "top campaigning priority". |
| 'Strong candidate' | 'Strong candidate' |
| He said Thursday's local elections, which saw Labour pushed into third place behind the Lib Dems, had scuppered the idea that the Tories "can't win seats in the north of England". | He said Thursday's local elections, which saw Labour pushed into third place behind the Lib Dems, had scuppered the idea that the Tories "can't win seats in the north of England". |
| "We have got 15 days to overturn Labour's majority of over 7,000," he said. | "We have got 15 days to overturn Labour's majority of over 7,000," he said. |
| The determination amongst members is that we are not going to let the Budget go unless we are satisfied Frank FieldFormer welfare minister | The determination amongst members is that we are not going to let the Budget go unless we are satisfied Frank FieldFormer welfare minister |
| "We're going to give it our best shot. We have a strong local candidate. Our message will focus in particular on the 10p tax rate. | "We're going to give it our best shot. We have a strong local candidate. Our message will focus in particular on the 10p tax rate. |
| "People in Crewe know that the more of them who vote Conservative on May 27, the clearer the message will be to Gordon Brown to do more to help those who will suffer from the 10p tax rate." | "People in Crewe know that the more of them who vote Conservative on May 27, the clearer the message will be to Gordon Brown to do more to help those who will suffer from the 10p tax rate." |
| Mr Cameron is due to meet Conservative candidate Edward Timpson, who will face Tamsin Dunwoody, Labour's choice, and the daughter of veteran MP Mrs Dunwoody. | Mr Cameron is due to meet Conservative candidate Edward Timpson, who will face Tamsin Dunwoody, Labour's choice, and the daughter of veteran MP Mrs Dunwoody. |
| Meanwhile, Labour ministers are rallying round Mr Brown following a disastrous showing in last Thursday's local elections, which were topped off by Tory Boris Johnson seizing London's mayoralty from Ken Livingstone. | Meanwhile, Labour ministers are rallying round Mr Brown following a disastrous showing in last Thursday's local elections, which were topped off by Tory Boris Johnson seizing London's mayoralty from Ken Livingstone. |
| 10p tax revolt back on? | 10p tax revolt back on? |
| Foreign Secretary David Miliband branded talk of a leadership challenge "utter rubbish", while Justice Secretary Jack Straw and International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander insisted Mr Brown's position was secure. | Foreign Secretary David Miliband branded talk of a leadership challenge "utter rubbish", while Justice Secretary Jack Straw and International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander insisted Mr Brown's position was secure. |
| However, there was little sign of comfort for Mr Brown, who claimed Labour "will recover" from its worst local election results in more than 40 years, and told the BBC he took the blame. | However, there was little sign of comfort for Mr Brown, who claimed Labour "will recover" from its worst local election results in more than 40 years, and told the BBC he took the blame. |
| Former welfare minister Frank Field, the leader of Labour's backbench revolt against the scrapping of the 10p tax rate, threatened to revive the protest. | Former welfare minister Frank Field, the leader of Labour's backbench revolt against the scrapping of the 10p tax rate, threatened to revive the protest. |
| Mr Field said unless Mr Brown sets out plans for compensating those who lost out in the controversial tax changes, Labour MPs were prepared to block the Budget. | Mr Field said unless Mr Brown sets out plans for compensating those who lost out in the controversial tax changes, Labour MPs were prepared to block the Budget. |
| Mr Brown also faces the threat of further damage if he suffers a poor performance in the Crewe & Nantwich by-election or a big rebellion over plans to extend the time suspects can be held without charge to 42 days. | Mr Brown also faces the threat of further damage if he suffers a poor performance in the Crewe & Nantwich by-election or a big rebellion over plans to extend the time suspects can be held without charge to 42 days. |
| 'U-turn'? | 'U-turn'? |
| The prime minister is hoping that a series of measures, including scrapping plans to charge households according to how much rubbish they throw out, will seize back the political initiative. | The prime minister is hoping that a series of measures, including scrapping plans to charge households according to how much rubbish they throw out, will seize back the political initiative. |
| Proposals for pilot "pay-as-you-throw" litter schemes were a surprise inclusion in the Climate Change Bill. | Proposals for pilot "pay-as-you-throw" litter schemes were a surprise inclusion in the Climate Change Bill. |
| Downing Street then briefed newspapers at the weekend that Mr Brown would veto any national scheme. | Downing Street then briefed newspapers at the weekend that Mr Brown would veto any national scheme. |
| However, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs confirmed the trials were still going ahead. | However, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs confirmed the trials were still going ahead. |
| The three-year tests are being paid for by £4.5m from central government, while councils are set to contribute at least another £3m for start-up and running costs. | The three-year tests are being paid for by £4.5m from central government, while councils are set to contribute at least another £3m for start-up and running costs. |
| Meeting on poverty | Meeting on poverty |
| But the Local Government Association asked why taxpayers were being asked to pay out £7.5m if Mr Brown had changed his mind. | But the Local Government Association asked why taxpayers were being asked to pay out £7.5m if Mr Brown had changed his mind. |
| LGA environment spokesman Paul Bettison said: "This must be making him dizzy. Millions of pounds have been set aside to pay for councils carrying out these pilots and that will be wasted. | LGA environment spokesman Paul Bettison said: "This must be making him dizzy. Millions of pounds have been set aside to pay for councils carrying out these pilots and that will be wasted. |
| "We're a long way down the process and U-turns always look like dithering. It is the action of someone who does not know what he is doing." | "We're a long way down the process and U-turns always look like dithering. It is the action of someone who does not know what he is doing." |
| Meanwhile, Mr Brown was gathering the bosses of the world's biggest companies on Tuesday to urge them to do more in the fight against global poverty. | Meanwhile, Mr Brown was gathering the bosses of the world's biggest companies on Tuesday to urge them to do more in the fight against global poverty. |
| The heads of 80 top firms, including Microsoft, Vodafone and Coca-Cola will be discussing how to improve skills and create jobs in poor countries. | The heads of 80 top firms, including Microsoft, Vodafone and Coca-Cola will be discussing how to improve skills and create jobs in poor countries. |