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Cameron targets by-election win Cameron targets by-election win
(20 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".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.
Our message will focus in particular on the 10p tax rate and how Gordon Brown is hurting the people of Crewe with tax increases just at the moment their cost of living is going up David CameronConservative leaderOur message will focus in particular on the 10p tax rate and how Gordon Brown is hurting the people of Crewe with tax increases just at the moment their cost of living is going up David CameronConservative leader
"Obviously it's going to be a tall order, but we're going to give it our best shot. We have a strong local candidate and a real focus from the entire organisation."Obviously it's going to be a tall order, but we're going to give it our best shot. We have a strong local candidate and a real focus from the entire organisation.
"Our message will focus in particular on the 10p tax rate and how Gordon Brown is hurting the people of Crewe with tax increases just at the moment their cost of living is going up."Our message will focus in particular on the 10p tax rate and how Gordon Brown is hurting the people of Crewe with tax increases just at the moment their cost of living is going up.
"People in Crewe know that the more of them who vote Conservative on 22 May, 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 22 May, 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.
He said he was ready for a general election, should it come sooner than 2010, saying they were on a "permanent" election footing.He said he was ready for a general election, should it come sooner than 2010, saying they were on a "permanent" election footing.
He said a Tory government's top priority would be the NHS, reform of schools, welfare and making families stronger.He said a Tory government's top priority would be the NHS, reform of schools, welfare and making families stronger.
Tax code changes?Tax code changes?
He urged Mr Brown to reopen the Budget, which he described as "a disaster".He urged Mr Brown to reopen the Budget, which he described as "a disaster".
"It was immoral to tax 5.3m low-paid people in order to stand up and look like a tax cutter in the House of Commons, to kind of buy the votes of Middle England," he said."It was immoral to tax 5.3m low-paid people in order to stand up and look like a tax cutter in the House of Commons, to kind of buy the votes of Middle England," he said.
Meanwhile, Labour ministers were rallying round Mr Brown following the poor 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 were rallying round Mr Brown following the poor showing in last Thursday's local elections, which were topped off by Tory Boris Johnson seizing London's mayoralty from Ken Livingstone.
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.
10p tax revolt back on?10p tax revolt back on?
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.
"It's crucial that people who have lost out from the 10p don't feel deserted by us," he told the BBC."It's crucial that people who have lost out from the 10p don't feel deserted by us," he told the BBC.
"I plead with the government to act today and give us a public statement on what I know they are committed to and working on in private.""I plead with the government to act today and give us a public statement on what I know they are committed to and working on in private."
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 a big rebellion emerges over plans to extend the time suspects can be held without charge to 42 days.
Rubbish tax
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.
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.
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.