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Tories spell out benefit cut plan Tories spell out benefit cut plan
(10 minutes later)
The Conservatives say they would pay for their £600m plan to "get Britain working" by cutting the incapacity benefit bill.The Conservatives say they would pay for their £600m plan to "get Britain working" by cutting the incapacity benefit bill.
People on Employment Support Allowance who are deemed fit to work would be put on the jobseeker's allowance, reducing their benefits by £25 a week.People on Employment Support Allowance who are deemed fit to work would be put on the jobseeker's allowance, reducing their benefits by £25 a week.
The government has been piloting ways to get people off incapacity benefit.The government has been piloting ways to get people off incapacity benefit.
But David Cameron is keen to allay fears of a return to 1980s-style dole queues if his party wins power.But David Cameron is keen to allay fears of a return to 1980s-style dole queues if his party wins power.
Mr Cameron's position on the Lisbon Treaty is also under the microscope amid calls for a referendum on it whether it has been ratified or not. Mr Cameron's position on the Lisbon Treaty is also under the microscope at the Conservative Party's conference in Manchester, amid calls for a referendum, whether it has been ratified or not.
But the Tory leader wants to concentrate on what he has described as a "big, bold" shake-up of the welfare system.But the Tory leader wants to concentrate on what he has described as a "big, bold" shake-up of the welfare system.
Proposing to end support for the economy and scrap the New Deal is entirely wrong and downright daft Chancellor Alistair DarlingProposing to end support for the economy and scrap the New Deal is entirely wrong and downright daft Chancellor Alistair Darling
He told the BBC the New Deal would be among schemes replaced by personalised help to get the jobless and those on incapacity benefit into work.He told the BBC the New Deal would be among schemes replaced by personalised help to get the jobless and those on incapacity benefit into work.
There would also be training courses for those unemployed for more than six months - with benefits cut if they refused to take the offer up.There would also be training courses for those unemployed for more than six months - with benefits cut if they refused to take the offer up.
The idea is for private training firms to be employed to prepare the unemployed for work and also to assess all 2.6m people on incapacity benefit to see what work they might be able to do.The idea is for private training firms to be employed to prepare the unemployed for work and also to assess all 2.6m people on incapacity benefit to see what work they might be able to do.
The initial start-up cost of the change would be £600m, the Tory leader said.The initial start-up cost of the change would be £600m, the Tory leader said.
The Tories say they would cover the cost of the scheme by transferring more people from incapacity benefits to Jobseekers' Allowance.The Tories say they would cover the cost of the scheme by transferring more people from incapacity benefits to Jobseekers' Allowance.
They say they would extend a government pilot scheme aimed at getting people on incapacity benefit into work, which has a 19% success rate, across the whole of the UK.They say they would extend a government pilot scheme aimed at getting people on incapacity benefit into work, which has a 19% success rate, across the whole of the UK.
The government does not cut the amount of money get in benefits when they switch schemes.The government does not cut the amount of money get in benefits when they switch schemes.
The Conservatives say savings will effectively be made as the scheme goes along.The Conservatives say savings will effectively be made as the scheme goes along.
Lisbon TreatyLisbon Treaty
Giving his reaction to the Tory plans, Chancellor Alistair Darling said: "Proposing to end support for the economy and scrap the New Deal is entirely wrong and downright daft.Giving his reaction to the Tory plans, Chancellor Alistair Darling said: "Proposing to end support for the economy and scrap the New Deal is entirely wrong and downright daft.
"Either he doesn't understand what he is doing or he is not coming clean about what he is doing because nobody else is advocating what he is proposing.""Either he doesn't understand what he is doing or he is not coming clean about what he is doing because nobody else is advocating what he is proposing."
His policy on the Lisbon Treaty is also under fire, with calls for a referendum whether it has been ratified or not.His policy on the Lisbon Treaty is also under fire, with calls for a referendum whether it has been ratified or not.
In a survey for BBC2's Daily Politics programme by ComRes, 80% of Conservative Councillors said they wanted Mr Cameron to make a commitment to hold a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty irrespective of the result of the Irish referendum, compared with only 12% who thought he should not.In a survey for BBC2's Daily Politics programme by ComRes, 80% of Conservative Councillors said they wanted Mr Cameron to make a commitment to hold a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty irrespective of the result of the Irish referendum, compared with only 12% who thought he should not.
The Irish voted overwhelmingly to ratify the Treaty over the weekend.The Irish voted overwhelmingly to ratify the Treaty over the weekend.
'Bold shake-up''Bold shake-up'
Mr Cameron has said there will be no new announcements on the party's Lisbon Treaty policy during the party's conference in an effort to head off a row about the issue.Mr Cameron has said there will be no new announcements on the party's Lisbon Treaty policy during the party's conference in an effort to head off a row about the issue.
London Mayor Boris Johnson has denied there is a split at the top of the party on Europe, after he suggested the British people "deserved a say" on the Treaty.London Mayor Boris Johnson has denied there is a split at the top of the party on Europe, after he suggested the British people "deserved a say" on the Treaty.
He said there was "not a cigarette paper" between his and Mr Cameron's position, which is that the party would decide what to do about a referendum.He said there was "not a cigarette paper" between his and Mr Cameron's position, which is that the party would decide what to do about a referendum.
He denied he had been "rapped over the knuckles" by Mr Cameron after appearing to suggest in a Sunday Times interview that voters should have a say no matter what.He denied he had been "rapped over the knuckles" by Mr Cameron after appearing to suggest in a Sunday Times interview that voters should have a say no matter what.
The Conservatives are the last of the three main UK parties to hold their annual conference, running from Monday to Thursday in Manchester.The Conservatives are the last of the three main UK parties to hold their annual conference, running from Monday to Thursday in Manchester.
They are currently riding high in the opinion polls ahead of the general election which has to be held by next May at the latest.They are currently riding high in the opinion polls ahead of the general election which has to be held by next May at the latest.