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Campaign stepped up for election Cameron focuses campaign on NHS
(20 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 have promised to reform maternity care services in England as campaigning ahead of the coming election steps up a gear.
Tory leader David Cameron will promise "real choice" to women in England over childbirth and other services. Leader David Cameron said he would link all local childbirth-related services in an effort to "meet mothers' needs".
But Chancellor Alistair Darling said the Tories could not explain their spending promises and were campaigning "on a nod and a wink". He also promised to focus NHS spending on the poorest communities, as the Tories published the first part of a draft manifesto for the next election.
The election must be held by the start of June but is expected on 6 May. But Labour said the Conservatives could not explain their spending promises.
'Credible plan' The election must be held by the start of June but is expected on 6 May and all the main parties are seeking to set the agenda after the Christmas break.
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." 'Victorian inequalities'
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." Speaking at a launch in London, Mr Cameron said childbirth was one of life's "most daunting experiences" and that it was best to conduct this in a "non-emergency setting" where possible.
Labour's policies had "given us bigger and bigger baby factories", he added.
Mr Cameron said that "parts of Europe have a system that's more flexible and local, with more choices, and they have lower rates of infant mortality".
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 commentsBefore 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". He said that, if his party won the election, it would ensure that all maternity-related services in areas of England would be placed under the control of single, local bodies.
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 also promised to introduce a "health premium", with NHS funding being directed at the poorest communities, with the worst levels of health.
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. He said: "Health inequalities in 21st century Britain are as wide as they were in Victorian times... We must target resources at the worst-off areas."
Mr Cameron said he would improve the NHS, while tackling the government's budget deficit.
But Chancellor Alistair Darling, hosting what also looked much like the type of media conference seen during official election campaigns, launched an attack on the Conservatives' spending plans.
'Nod and a wink'
He 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 Mr Cameron said this was "junk", and that Mr Darling's comments were not based on actual promises made by his party.
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".
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".