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Tory meeting to focus on 'change' Tories reveal six election themes
(about 3 hours later)
Conservative Party activists are due to gather for their last UK-wide meeting before the general election campaign. The Conservatives will contest the general election on six themes, the party has announced at their spring conference in Brighton.
The party is holding its two-day spring conference in Brighton and revealed on the eve of the gathering its election slogan will be "vote for change". They cover the national debt, the economy, family, the NHS, schools and changes in Westminster.
Front bencher Theresa May said the party would be setting out "real changes" that the country needed. Shadow chancellor George Osborne is expected to say he wants to create the "solid economic foundations of a Britain that works for all".
Labour, holding a Welsh Labour Party conference in Swansea, will argue Tory policies would damage the Union. The Tories have revealed their election slogan will be "Vote for change".
They will use the Conservative conference as an opportunity to launch a new poster attacking the shadow chancellor George Osborne. Mr Osbourne is expected to add: "Our country stands at one of those forks we come across as we travel the roads of our history - and we have to make our choice.
"We can either continue down a path of decline and fall, a path with rising debts, higher interest rates, ever rising taxes and high unemployment.
"That is Labour's path. It always has been. We know where it leads and we must never allow this country to be dragged there once again.
CONSERVATIVE ELECTION THEMES Act now on debt to get the economy movingGet Britain working by boosting enterpriseMake Britain the most family-friendly country in EuropeBack the NHSRaise standards in schoolsChange politics
"Or we can change direction - tell the difficult truths, put debt and taxes back on a downwards trajectory, and create the solid economic foundations of a Britain that works for all. That is the Conservative path."
Tory front bencher Theresa May said the party would be setting out "real changes" that the country needed.
Labour, holding a Welsh Labour Party conference in Swansea, will argue that Tory policies would damage the Union.
They will use the Conservative conference as an opportunity to launch a new poster attacking Mr Osborne.
The election must be held by June but is expected to take place on 6 May. Recent polls have suggested the Conservative lead over Labour may be narrowing.The election must be held by June but is expected to take place on 6 May. Recent polls have suggested the Conservative lead over Labour may be narrowing.
The message of change likely to be central to David Cameron's main speech on Sunday.The message of change likely to be central to David Cameron's main speech on Sunday.
Change is needed in order to address the issues - changing the economy, changing our welfare system, change in our school system Theresa May, shadow minister for work and pensionsChange is needed in order to address the issues - changing the economy, changing our welfare system, change in our school system Theresa May, shadow minister for work and pensions
It was a theme underlined by Ms May, shadow minister for work and pensions.It was a theme underlined by Ms May, shadow minister for work and pensions.
She told the BBC: "Over 80% of people think this country is going in the wrong direction.She told the BBC: "Over 80% of people think this country is going in the wrong direction.
"We think real change is needed in order to address the issues - changing the economy from one that's built on debt to one that's built on investment, changing our welfare system, radical change in our school system."We think real change is needed in order to address the issues - changing the economy from one that's built on debt to one that's built on investment, changing our welfare system, radical change in our school system.
"These are the real changes we will be setting out.""These are the real changes we will be setting out."
Ms May also appeared to deny reports that the Tories have set up a unit to prepare for the event of a hung Parliament.Ms May also appeared to deny reports that the Tories have set up a unit to prepare for the event of a hung Parliament.
She said: "We are going out there to win the general election, to win it with a majority so we can put into place the change the country needs."She said: "We are going out there to win the general election, to win it with a majority so we can put into place the change the country needs."
'Little new''Little new'
BBC political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said the Tories had been using the word change for months and slogan was neither "original nor surprising".BBC political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said the Tories had been using the word change for months and slogan was neither "original nor surprising".
"This weekend's spring conference will see little in the way of new policy announcements," he said."This weekend's spring conference will see little in the way of new policy announcements," he said.
Mr Cameron is likely to use his speech to set out the extent of the economic challenges facing the next government.Mr Cameron is likely to use his speech to set out the extent of the economic challenges facing the next government.
Revised figures published on Friday confirmed that the UK did emerge from recession slightly stronger than initially thought, but all parties agree the recovery is still fragile. Revised figures published on Friday confirmed that the UK did emerge from recession slightly stronger than initially thought but all parties agree the recovery is still fragile.
Among those giving speeches on Saturday will be Mr Osborne, the party's official election co-ordinator, and shadow foreign secretary William Hague.Among those giving speeches on Saturday will be Mr Osborne, the party's official election co-ordinator, and shadow foreign secretary William Hague.
The Conservatives are also expected to unveil Professor David Kerr, a leading cancer specialist, as the party's new health adviser.The Conservatives are also expected to unveil Professor David Kerr, a leading cancer specialist, as the party's new health adviser.
For people who want real change, real fairness in Britain there is only one choice: the Liberal Democrats Danny Alexander MPLiberal Democrats Have your sayFor people who want real change, real fairness in Britain there is only one choice: the Liberal Democrats Danny Alexander MPLiberal Democrats Have your say
Prof Kerr was once a prominent supporter of Tony Blair and Labour's health reforms but said on Friday that he believed the Tories were now best placed to take the NHS forward.Prof Kerr was once a prominent supporter of Tony Blair and Labour's health reforms but said on Friday that he believed the Tories were now best placed to take the NHS forward.
The Tory conference begins a week after the prime minister revealed Labour's election slogan of "a future fair for all".The Tory conference begins a week after the prime minister revealed Labour's election slogan of "a future fair for all".
Labour is also releasing an image of Mr Osborne, accompanied by the slogan "Chancer not Chancellor".Labour is also releasing an image of Mr Osborne, accompanied by the slogan "Chancer not Chancellor".
The Liberal Democrats say only they offer a change to the existing way of conducting politics.The Liberal Democrats say only they offer a change to the existing way of conducting politics.
Danny Alexander, the Liberal Democrat leader's chief of staff, said: "It's between the old way of doing politics and the real change represented by the Liberal Democrats.Danny Alexander, the Liberal Democrat leader's chief of staff, said: "It's between the old way of doing politics and the real change represented by the Liberal Democrats.
"For people who want real change, real fairness in Britain there is only one choice: the Liberal Democrats."For people who want real change, real fairness in Britain there is only one choice: the Liberal Democrats.
"Labour has totally failed to make Britain fairer, and the Tories can't be trusted to.""Labour has totally failed to make Britain fairer, and the Tories can't be trusted to."