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| Tories reveal six election themes | Tories reveal six election themes |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The Conservatives will contest the general election on six themes, the party has announced at its 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. |
| David Cameron dismissed criticism that the Tories were too "timid" in a video post on his WebCameron blog, saying their plans were "bold and radical". | David Cameron dismissed criticism that the Tories were too "timid" in a video post on his WebCameron blog, saying their plans were "bold and radical". |
| Labour's Douglas Alexander said the proposals were "reckless". | Labour's Douglas Alexander said the proposals 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' | 'Difficult truths' |
| In his blog, Mr Cameron, said: "The Conservative Party is a modern party and it's a bold, radical party - and that's the way it's going to stay." | In his blog, Mr Cameron, said: "The Conservative Party is a modern party and it's a bold, radical party - and that's the way it's going to stay." |
| Mr Brown 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 William Hague Shadow foreign secretary | Mr Brown 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 William Hague Shadow foreign secretary |
| He said Gordon Brown was taking the country in the "wrong direction" and Britain was "crying out" for the Conservative Party to bring "[their] values, ideas and energy" and make "big changes". | He said Gordon Brown was taking the country in the "wrong direction" and Britain was "crying out" for the Conservative Party to bring "[their] values, ideas and energy" and make "big changes". |
| "I defy anyone to look at our plans and call them timid - because the truth is they cannot be timid if we're to confront and defeat these problems," he said. | "I defy anyone to look at our plans and call them timid - because the truth is they cannot be timid if we're to confront and defeat these problems," he said. |
| Shadow chancellor George Osborne told the conference he wanted to create the "solid economic foundations of a Britain that works for all". | |
| He said: "Our country stands at one of those forks we come across as we travel the roads of our history," adding that the public had to make a choice. | He said: "Our country stands at one of those forks we come across as we travel the roads of our history," adding that the public had to make a choice. |
| "Britain can either continue down a path of decline and fall, a path with rising debts, higher mortgage rates, ever rising taxes and high unemployment. | "Britain can either continue down a path of decline and fall, a path with rising debts, higher mortgage rates, ever rising taxes and high unemployment. |
| 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 | 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 |
| "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. |
| "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." |
| 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. | 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. |
| "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. | "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. |
| 'Little new' | 'Little new' |
| Labour are using the Conservative conference, which coincides with a Welsh Labour Party conference in Swansea, as an opportunity to launch a new poster attacking Mr Osborne. | Labour are using the Conservative conference, which coincides with a Welsh Labour Party conference in Swansea, as an opportunity to launch a new poster attacking Mr Osborne. |
| 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 Douglas AlexanderLabour's election co-ordinator Brown attacks Tory cuts proposals | 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 Douglas AlexanderLabour's election co-ordinator Brown attacks Tory cuts proposals |
| 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. |
| 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". | 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. | "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". | 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. |
| For people who want real change, real fairness in Britain there is only one choice: the Liberal Democrats Danny Alexander MPLiberal Democrats Have your say | For people who want real change, real fairness in Britain there is only one choice: the Liberal Democrats Danny Alexander MPLiberal Democrats Have your say |
| Among those giving speeches on Saturday will be Mr Osborne, the party's official election co-ordinator. | Among those giving speeches on Saturday will be Mr Osborne, the party's official election co-ordinator. |
| The Conservatives also unveiled Professor David Kerr, a leading cancer specialist, as the party's new health adviser. | |
| 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 comes 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". |