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Tories reveal six election themes Tories reveal six election themes
(about 2 hours later)
The Conservatives will contest the general election on six themes, the party has announced at their spring conference in Brighton. The Conservatives will contest the general election on six themes, the party has announced at its spring conference in Brighton.
They cover the national debt, the economy, family, the NHS, schools and changes in Westminster.They cover the national debt, the economy, family, the NHS, schools and changes in Westminster.
Shadow chancellor George Osborne is expected to say he wants to create the "solid economic foundations of a Britain that works for all".Shadow chancellor George Osborne is expected to say he wants to create the "solid economic foundations of a Britain that works for all".
Labour's Douglas Alexander said the plans were "reckless".
The Tories have revealed their election slogan will be "Vote for change".The Tories have revealed their election slogan will be "Vote for change".
'Difficult truths'
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.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."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."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 politicsCONSERVATIVE 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.""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. Opening the conference, shadow foreign secretary William Hague railed against the Prime Minister, saying Gordon Brown would have to be "dragged kicking and screaming" into the coming general election.
Labour, holding a Welsh Labour Party conference in Swansea, will argue that Tory policies would damage the Union. "He may not want to discuss his pension-destroying, gold-selling, golden-rule-breaking, national debt-doubling, money-wasting, tax-raising, colleague-rubbishing, pledge-betraying, election-bottling record, but we do - you can be sure of that," he said.
They will use the Conservative conference as an opportunity to launch a new poster attacking Mr Osborne. But Mr Brown, at a Welsh Labour Party conference in Swansea, argued Tory policies would be a "risk to the Union".
Labour are using 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 Theresa 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."
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". Mr Alexander, who is Labour's election co-ordinator, criticised Conservative plans, saying they offered the "wrong kind of change" - and one people "really can't afford".
"From George Osborne's reckless economic plans to their proposals to scrap our cancer guarantees and remove vital support from families, the Tories' proposals would hit millions of people across Britain hard," he said.
BBC political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said the Tories had been using the word change for months and the 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.
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 comes 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."