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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
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| Campaign stepped up for election | Campaign stepped up for election |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Conservatives are publishing a draft version of their manifesto plans for the NHS, as campaigning ahead of the general election steps up a gear. | The Conservatives are publishing a draft version of their manifesto plans for the NHS, as campaigning ahead of the general election steps up a gear. |
| Tory leader David Cameron will promise "real choice" to women in England over childbirth and other services. | Tory leader David Cameron will promise "real choice" to women in England over childbirth and other services. |
| But Chancellor Alistair Darling said the Tories could not explain their spending promises and were campaigning "on a nod and a wink". | But Chancellor Alistair Darling said the Tories could not explain their spending promises and were campaigning "on a nod and a wink". |
| The election must be held by the start of June but is expected on 6 May. | |
| 'Credible plan' | 'Credible plan' |
| For the Conservatives, shadow work and pensions secretary Theresa May said: "We need to be honest about what we can deliver and how we fund what we are delivering." | For the Conservatives, shadow work and pensions secretary Theresa May said: "We need to be honest about what we can deliver and how we fund what we are delivering." |
| She told Sky News that the Tories would protect the NHS budget, adding: "That doesn't mean there will not have to be some changes in the way services are delivered." | She told Sky News that the Tories would protect the NHS budget, adding: "That doesn't mean there will not have to be some changes in the way services are delivered." |
| Before you sigh with weary cynicism, remember that underneath all this, some important choices are struggling to get through Nick RobinsonBBC Political Editor Read Nick Robinson's view Send us your comments | Before you sigh with weary cynicism, remember that underneath all this, some important choices are struggling to get through Nick RobinsonBBC Political Editor Read Nick Robinson's view Send us your comments |
| It was also important to "set out a credible plan to tackle the deficit... at the same time thinking how we can encourage growth in the economy". | It was also important to "set out a credible plan to tackle the deficit... at the same time thinking how we can encourage growth in the economy". |
| Mr Cameron and shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley are set to unveil policy proposals when they publish a chapter of the Conservatives' draft manifesto at an event in London. | Mr Cameron and shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley are set to unveil policy proposals when they publish a chapter of the Conservatives' draft manifesto at an event in London. |
| But Mr Darling said: "The Tories have made over £45bn of promises, but can barely explain how they can pay for a quarter of this. This leaves them with a credibility gap of £34bn. | But Mr Darling said: "The Tories have made over £45bn of promises, but can barely explain how they can pay for a quarter of this. This leaves them with a credibility gap of £34bn. |
| "These are not long forgotten promises from another time. All have been confirmed in the last two years. Most have been repeated in the last few months. | "These are not long forgotten promises from another time. All have been confirmed in the last two years. Most have been repeated in the last few months. |
| "You can't fight an election on a nod and a wink; sometimes claiming you are committed to these promises, and when challenged claiming you are not." | "You can't fight an election on a nod and a wink; sometimes claiming you are committed to these promises, and when challenged claiming you are not." |
| Tuition promise | Tuition promise |
| Schools Secretary Ed Balls told the BBC he did not know the date of the election, adding that he had "no inside knowledge" of Prime Minister Gordon Brown's thinking about its timing. | Schools Secretary Ed Balls told the BBC he did not know the date of the election, adding that he had "no inside knowledge" of Prime Minister Gordon Brown's thinking about its timing. |
| But, with some predicting an early March poll, he said he thought it would "probably" come later. | But, with some predicting an early March poll, he said he thought it would "probably" come later. |
| He said Labour would increase the amount of one-to-one tuition for failing primary school pupils in England and that spending on schools would rise "every year, year on year, this year, next year and the year after". | He said Labour would increase the amount of one-to-one tuition for failing primary school pupils in England and that spending on schools would rise "every year, year on year, this year, next year and the year after". |
| The Tories would instead opt to use the funding on tax cuts, Mr Balls added. | The Tories would instead opt to use the funding on tax cuts, Mr Balls added. |
| On Saturday Mr Cameron said that 2010 had to be the "year for change", while on Sunday Mr Brown said the Labour Party would fight "every inch of the way". | On Saturday Mr Cameron said that 2010 had to be the "year for change", while on Sunday Mr Brown said the Labour Party would fight "every inch of the way". |
| Former Liberal Democrat chief executive Lord Rennard told BBC Radio 4's Today a vote for either of the other main parties would mean "more of the same". | Former Liberal Democrat chief executive Lord Rennard told BBC Radio 4's Today a vote for either of the other main parties would mean "more of the same". |