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| Cameron focuses campaign on NHS | Cameron focuses campaign on NHS |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Conservatives have promised to reform maternity care services in England as campaigning ahead of the coming 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. |
| Leader David Cameron said he would link all local childbirth-related services in an effort to "meet mothers' needs". | Leader David Cameron said he would link all local childbirth-related services in an effort to "meet mothers' needs". |
| 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. | 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. |
| But Labour said the Conservatives could not explain their spending promises. | But Labour said the Conservatives could not explain their spending promises. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 'Victorian inequalities' | 'Victorian inequalities' |
| BBC political editor Nick Robinson said a "long, long" campaign had begun, with some "important choices" over government spending priorities "struggling to get through" the rhetoric. | |
| Speaking at the launch in London of the first chapter of the Tories' draft election manifesto, 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. | 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". | 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 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 |
| 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. | 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 also promised to introduce a "health premium", with NHS funding being directed at the poorest communities, with the worst levels of health. | Mr Cameron also promised to introduce a "health premium", with NHS funding being directed at the poorest communities, with the worst levels of health. |
| 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." | 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. | 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. | 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' | '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. | 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." |
| Mr Cameron said this was "junk", and that Mr Darling's comments were not based on actual promises made by his party. | 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. |
| 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". |