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Brown to unveil childcare switch Brown to unveil childcare switch
(10 minutes later)
Gordon Brown will promise more free childcare for poorer families in what is being seen as a make-or-break speech to the Labour Party conference.Gordon Brown will promise more free childcare for poorer families in what is being seen as a make-or-break speech to the Labour Party conference.
The move would be paid for by ending childcare tax breaks worth around £1,000 a year for better off parents.The move would be paid for by ending childcare tax breaks worth around £1,000 a year for better off parents.
The prime minister will also focus on crime and anti-social behaviour in his speech due to begin at about 1415 BST.The prime minister will also focus on crime and anti-social behaviour in his speech due to begin at about 1415 BST.
"Whenever and wherever there is anti-social behaviour, we will be there to fight it," he is expected to say."Whenever and wherever there is anti-social behaviour, we will be there to fight it," he is expected to say.
Downing Street sources said the PM would commit to provide within five years ten hours of free childcare a week for 250,000 two year olds from families "on modest or middle incomes".Downing Street sources said the PM would commit to provide within five years ten hours of free childcare a week for 250,000 two year olds from families "on modest or middle incomes".
We will not stand by and see the lives of the lawful majority disrupted by the behaviour of the lawless minority Gordon BrownPrime minister Sketch: Labour loves Mandelson? At-a-glance: Conference dayWe will not stand by and see the lives of the lawful majority disrupted by the behaviour of the lawless minority Gordon BrownPrime minister Sketch: Labour loves Mandelson? At-a-glance: Conference day
The plans would be paid for by scrapping existing tax relief for childcare called the Employer Supported Childcare scheme which can save basic rate taxpayers as much as £962 a year, rising to £1,195 for top rate payers.The plans would be paid for by scrapping existing tax relief for childcare called the Employer Supported Childcare scheme which can save basic rate taxpayers as much as £962 a year, rising to £1,195 for top rate payers.
The sources refused to say how it defined "middle or modest incomes" and claimed the existing scheme benefited richer families too much saying about a third of the total - went to top rate taxpayers.The sources refused to say how it defined "middle or modest incomes" and claimed the existing scheme benefited richer families too much saying about a third of the total - went to top rate taxpayers.
The announcement is expected during a speech in which the PM will also stress the differences between Labour and the Conservatives in an address seen as vital to ending threats to his leadership and lifting party morale.The announcement is expected during a speech in which the PM will also stress the differences between Labour and the Conservatives in an address seen as vital to ending threats to his leadership and lifting party morale.
Spirits among the Labour delegate in Brighton will not have been boosted on Tuesday morning with the news that an Ipsos Mori survey suggests the Conservatives are on 36%, Labour on 24% and the Liberal Democrats on 25% - the first time since 1982 that this polling firm has recorded Labour in third place.Spirits among the Labour delegate in Brighton will not have been boosted on Tuesday morning with the news that an Ipsos Mori survey suggests the Conservatives are on 36%, Labour on 24% and the Liberal Democrats on 25% - the first time since 1982 that this polling firm has recorded Labour in third place.
'Lawless minority''Lawless minority'
Mr Brown is expected to continue the "fight-back" theme of the conference after Business Secretary Lord Mandelson urged the party faithful to be "fighters, not quitters".Mr Brown is expected to continue the "fight-back" theme of the conference after Business Secretary Lord Mandelson urged the party faithful to be "fighters, not quitters".
On anti-social behaviour the prime minister will tell delegates: "We will not stand by and see the lives of the lawful majority disrupted by the behaviour of the lawless minority.On anti-social behaviour the prime minister will tell delegates: "We will not stand by and see the lives of the lawful majority disrupted by the behaviour of the lawless minority.
"Because the decent, hard working majority are getting evermore angry - rightly so - with the minority who who will talk about their rights but never accept their responsibilities.""Because the decent, hard working majority are getting evermore angry - rightly so - with the minority who who will talk about their rights but never accept their responsibilities."
HAVE YOUR SAYThis new sound-bite is yet a further rehash of old policy brought about by yet more public failingsNick, Amersham Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAYThis new sound-bite is yet a further rehash of old policy brought about by yet more public failingsNick, Amersham Send us your comments
As part of a wider package of crime measures, he will announce moves to combat "problem families" he will claim are causing misery in communities with fourfold increase in the use of Family Intervention Projects.As part of a wider package of crime measures, he will announce moves to combat "problem families" he will claim are causing misery in communities with fourfold increase in the use of Family Intervention Projects.
These are binding contracts which require parents of children guilty of anti-social behaviour to accept one-to-one support or else lose their benefits.These are binding contracts which require parents of children guilty of anti-social behaviour to accept one-to-one support or else lose their benefits.
He will also pledge to force the courts to issue more Drinking Banning Orders - so-called drink Asbos - against anyone convicted of a crime who was under the influence of alcohol at the time.He will also pledge to force the courts to issue more Drinking Banning Orders - so-called drink Asbos - against anyone convicted of a crime who was under the influence of alcohol at the time.
But Conservative leader David Cameron said the government had made it harder for police to tackle anti-social behaviour.But Conservative leader David Cameron said the government had made it harder for police to tackle anti-social behaviour.
"They hardly spend any time on the streets," he said. "They spend all their time at their desks, filling in orders from the Home Office."They hardly spend any time on the streets," he said. "They spend all their time at their desks, filling in orders from the Home Office.
"We've got to get rid of police paperwork, we've got to get them back on the streets and we've got to make them feel empowered to intervene and clear these people off the streets."We've got to get rid of police paperwork, we've got to get them back on the streets and we've got to make them feel empowered to intervene and clear these people off the streets.
"And [we've got to] make them accountable locally so there are consequences if they don't deliver.""And [we've got to] make them accountable locally so there are consequences if they don't deliver."
NewsnightNewsnight
Mr Brown is also thought to be ready to take part in a series of TV debates with David Cameron not just during the general election campaign but before it, the BBC understands.Mr Brown is also thought to be ready to take part in a series of TV debates with David Cameron not just during the general election campaign but before it, the BBC understands.
Months ago, Conservative leader Mr Cameron called for a TV election debate to be held involving Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg as well.Months ago, Conservative leader Mr Cameron called for a TV election debate to be held involving Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg as well.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programmeFROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
If the debates took place they would be the first ever televised prime ministerial debates to be held in Britain.If the debates took place they would be the first ever televised prime ministerial debates to be held in Britain.
Mr Cameron said Mr Brown should "get off the fence, agree to the debate and bring it on".Mr Cameron said Mr Brown should "get off the fence, agree to the debate and bring it on".
"I can't work out if he is dithering or bottling. I suspect it's a combination of both," the Tory leader added."I can't work out if he is dithering or bottling. I suspect it's a combination of both," the Tory leader added.
The scale of the task facing Mr Brown was brought home by two opinion polls on Tuesday.The scale of the task facing Mr Brown was brought home by two opinion polls on Tuesday.
The Ipsos Mori poll putting Labour in third place compares with last month's results which suggested the Tories were on 43%, Labour 26% and the Liberal Democrats 17%.The Ipsos Mori poll putting Labour in third place compares with last month's results which suggested the Tories were on 43%, Labour 26% and the Liberal Democrats 17%.
In a separate poll for BBC Two's Newsnight almost two thirds of voters surveyed said their view of the Labour Party had worsened since Gordon Brown took over as leader.In a separate poll for BBC Two's Newsnight almost two thirds of voters surveyed said their view of the Labour Party had worsened since Gordon Brown took over as leader.
ORB interviewed 1,056 UK adults aged 18 and over by telephone between 11 and 14 September.ORB interviewed 1,056 UK adults aged 18 and over by telephone between 11 and 14 September.