This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7819575.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Leaders in downturn concern race Leaders in downturn concern race
(10 minutes later)
Britain's political leaders have hit the road in an attempt to show their concern about the economic downturn.Britain's political leaders have hit the road in an attempt to show their concern about the economic downturn.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown is travelling to Swindon and South Wales on the final leg of a regional tour.Prime Minister Gordon Brown is travelling to Swindon and South Wales on the final leg of a regional tour.
Tory leader David Cameron travels to north-east England to meet bosses of car maker Nissan UK, which is cutting 1,200 jobs.Tory leader David Cameron travels to north-east England to meet bosses of car maker Nissan UK, which is cutting 1,200 jobs.
And Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg is visiting a metal manufacturer in his Sheffield constituency.And Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg is visiting a metal manufacturer in his Sheffield constituency.
Mr Brown begins the last leg of a three-day regional tour, which has seen him visit the East Midlands, West Midlands and Derby. Mr Brown is on the last leg of a three-day regional tour, which has seen him visit the East Midlands, West Midlands and Derby.
On a visit to a community school in Swindon, he will explain government plans to spend £21.9bn on school capital projects between 2008 and 2011, which the government claims is a sevenfold increase on 1996/97.On a visit to a community school in Swindon, he will explain government plans to spend £21.9bn on school capital projects between 2008 and 2011, which the government claims is a sevenfold increase on 1996/97.
He will say the investment programme is central to his plan to restore economic growth and create 100,000 jobs, and schools and colleges across England are expected to benefit from refurbishment and rebuilding.He will say the investment programme is central to his plan to restore economic growth and create 100,000 jobs, and schools and colleges across England are expected to benefit from refurbishment and rebuilding.
'Disgrace''Disgrace'
But the announcement was attacked as a sham by the Conservatives, who say the Isambard Community School is not even newly built, as the government claims, and was in fact opened in September 2007. But the announcement was attacked as a sham by the Conservatives, who say the school Mr Brown is visiting, the Isambard Community School, is not even newly built, as the government claims, and was in fact opened in September 2007.
We need the prime minister to focus on fighting the recession, not posing for sham photo opportunities Chris GraylingShadow work and pensions secretary Brown tour: View from the regionsWe need the prime minister to focus on fighting the recession, not posing for sham photo opportunities Chris GraylingShadow work and pensions secretary Brown tour: View from the regions
Shadow cabinet minister Chris Grayling accused Mr Brown of using his regional tour to make a series of "reheated" announcements on apprenticeships and job creation.Shadow cabinet minister Chris Grayling accused Mr Brown of using his regional tour to make a series of "reheated" announcements on apprenticeships and job creation.
"At a time of national economic crisis, to have a prime minister behaving in this way is an absolute disgrace," said Mr Grayling."At a time of national economic crisis, to have a prime minister behaving in this way is an absolute disgrace," said Mr Grayling.
"His tour has consisted of a series of sham announcements."His tour has consisted of a series of sham announcements.
"We've had the government misleading people over their plans on job creation, sexing up old announcements on apprenticeships and business support, and now he's opening up a school that has already been opened."We've had the government misleading people over their plans on job creation, sexing up old announcements on apprenticeships and business support, and now he's opening up a school that has already been opened.
"We need the prime minister to focus on fighting the recession, not posing for sham photo opportunities.""We need the prime minister to focus on fighting the recession, not posing for sham photo opportunities."
Mr Brown has defended the three-day tour by saying meeting people across the country was helping to shape future government policy.Mr Brown has defended the three-day tour by saying meeting people across the country was helping to shape future government policy.
Shadow Chancellor George Osborne has, meanwhile, renewed his attack on Mr Brown's handling of the economic downturn in a speech to a think tank and urged the prime minister to back a Tory plan for a £50bn loan guarantee scheme for businesses.Shadow Chancellor George Osborne has, meanwhile, renewed his attack on Mr Brown's handling of the economic downturn in a speech to a think tank and urged the prime minister to back a Tory plan for a £50bn loan guarantee scheme for businesses.
'Extra support''Extra support'
It comes as Tory leader David Cameron travels to north-east England for talks with senior representatives of Nissan, which is cutting almost a quarter of its workforce at the UK's biggest car plant in Sunderland.It comes as Tory leader David Cameron travels to north-east England for talks with senior representatives of Nissan, which is cutting almost a quarter of its workforce at the UK's biggest car plant in Sunderland.
Mr Cameron will also tour a manufacturing business in Stockton-on-Tees and then visit the City of Sunderland College to meet staff and students to discuss training and development in the current economic climate.Mr Cameron will also tour a manufacturing business in Stockton-on-Tees and then visit the City of Sunderland College to meet staff and students to discuss training and development in the current economic climate.
Not to be outdone, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg will visit a metal manufacturer in his Sheffield constituency as part of what the party is describing as a programme of visits to see how businesses are coping with the effects of the recession.Not to be outdone, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg will visit a metal manufacturer in his Sheffield constituency as part of what the party is describing as a programme of visits to see how businesses are coping with the effects of the recession.
Mr Clegg said: "Businesses up and down the country are feeling the brunt of the recession.Mr Clegg said: "Businesses up and down the country are feeling the brunt of the recession.
"My colleagues and I have been out talking to businesses to see how they are coping during the economic crisis."My colleagues and I have been out talking to businesses to see how they are coping during the economic crisis.
"At our first parliamentary party meeting of the new year next week, the Liberal Democrats will be discussing what extra support businesses will need to see them through the downturn.""At our first parliamentary party meeting of the new year next week, the Liberal Democrats will be discussing what extra support businesses will need to see them through the downturn."
It comes as a survey suggests business confidence in the government's ability to steer the country through a downturn has dropped since autumn.It comes as a survey suggests business confidence in the government's ability to steer the country through a downturn has dropped since autumn.
Just 28% of the leading business figures questioned by pollsters ComRes said they were confident in Mr Brown's ability, compared with 42% in a similar poll last October, while confidence in Chancellor Alistair Darling fell from 25% to 16% over the same period.Just 28% of the leading business figures questioned by pollsters ComRes said they were confident in Mr Brown's ability, compared with 42% in a similar poll last October, while confidence in Chancellor Alistair Darling fell from 25% to 16% over the same period.
Confidence in Mr Cameron was 46% and in his shadow chancellor George Osborne, 29%.Confidence in Mr Cameron was 46% and in his shadow chancellor George Osborne, 29%.
Meanwhile, a YouGov poll in The Sun newspaper puts the Tories seven points clear in the race for the next general election, on 41%, against Labour on 34% and the Lib Dems on 15%.Meanwhile, a YouGov poll in The Sun newspaper puts the Tories seven points clear in the race for the next general election, on 41%, against Labour on 34% and the Lib Dems on 15%.