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Cameron urges 'good clean fight' | Cameron urges 'good clean fight' |
(4 days later) | |
Conservative leader David Cameron has used his new year message to call for the general election campaign to be a "good clean fight". | Conservative leader David Cameron has used his new year message to call for the general election campaign to be a "good clean fight". |
He said he wanted 2010 to be a year for "a new politics", and an election "free from fake political dividing lines". | He said he wanted 2010 to be a year for "a new politics", and an election "free from fake political dividing lines". |
Explaining this point, he urged the Liberal Democrats to focus on the similarities between their two parties. | Explaining this point, he urged the Liberal Democrats to focus on the similarities between their two parties. |
Mr Cameron said there was a "lot less disagreement than there used to be" between his party and the Lib Dems. | Mr Cameron said there was a "lot less disagreement than there used to be" between his party and the Lib Dems. |
"I don't think we should invent differences where there aren't differences," he said. | "I don't think we should invent differences where there aren't differences," he said. |
"There are many more areas where Liberal Democrats and Conservatives agree and that's a good thing but we need to have a decisive election. | "There are many more areas where Liberal Democrats and Conservatives agree and that's a good thing but we need to have a decisive election. |
"A hung Parliament would be bad for Britain, would be bad for the sort of strong united determined leadership that we need, but we shouldn't invent differences where they don't exist." | "A hung Parliament would be bad for Britain, would be bad for the sort of strong united determined leadership that we need, but we shouldn't invent differences where they don't exist." |
'Love bomb' | 'Love bomb' |
HAVE YOUR SAYI want the country to win at the next election, not a political party[MrWonderfulReality] Send us your comments | |
BBC political correspondent Iain Watson says this could be interpreted as laying the groundwork for a possible coalition in the event of a hung parliament. | BBC political correspondent Iain Watson says this could be interpreted as laying the groundwork for a possible coalition in the event of a hung parliament. |
But senior Conservatives sources say this is an attempt to "love bomb" Lib Dem supporters - not their MPs - and to convince them on green issues, decentralisation, and less state interference. | But senior Conservatives sources say this is an attempt to "love bomb" Lib Dem supporters - not their MPs - and to convince them on green issues, decentralisation, and less state interference. |
The message they want to get across is the Conservatives would be more effective in delivering their desired policies, our correspondent says. | The message they want to get across is the Conservatives would be more effective in delivering their desired policies, our correspondent says. |
It also fits into the overall message, which is to oppose Labour's "dividing lines" strategy by emphasising that Mr Cameron would try to pull the country together and wants a clean election fight. | It also fits into the overall message, which is to oppose Labour's "dividing lines" strategy by emphasising that Mr Cameron would try to pull the country together and wants a clean election fight. |
'Not trusted' | 'Not trusted' |
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg's chief of staff Danny Alexander said: "This kind of vacuous spin is fooling nobody. | Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg's chief of staff Danny Alexander said: "This kind of vacuous spin is fooling nobody. |
"David Cameron seems to be confused about what a fairer Britain means. | "David Cameron seems to be confused about what a fairer Britain means. |
"For the Liberal Democrats it means cutting taxes for the lowest-paid, for him it means cutting them for millionaires. | "For the Liberal Democrats it means cutting taxes for the lowest-paid, for him it means cutting them for millionaires. |
"Anyone who wants a fairer Britain knows Labour has failed to deliver and the Conservatives cannot be trusted where fairness is concerned." | "Anyone who wants a fairer Britain knows Labour has failed to deliver and the Conservatives cannot be trusted where fairness is concerned." |
Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell has said the next general election campaign should not descend into a "hideous" class war. | Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell has said the next general election campaign should not descend into a "hideous" class war. |
Earlier this month, Gordon Brown said Conservative policy had been "dreamed up on the playing fields of Eton". Mr Cameron called the comment "petty". | Earlier this month, Gordon Brown said Conservative policy had been "dreamed up on the playing fields of Eton". Mr Cameron called the comment "petty". |
Ms Jowell told the Sunday Telegraph the election campaign should not be a "to and fro of personality attack". | Ms Jowell told the Sunday Telegraph the election campaign should not be a "to and fro of personality attack". |