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My duty to oust Brown - Cameron Tory win 'is our patriotic duty'
(about 4 hours later)
David Cameron is expected to declare that it is his "patriotic duty" to oust Gordon Brown when he speaks at the Conservative's spring conference. Conservative leader David Cameron has said his party has a "patriotic duty" to beat Labour in the general election.
The Tory leader is due to say the party has a duty to win because Britain is in a "complete and utter mess". Mr Cameron, who is speaking at the Tory spring conference in Brighton, said five more years of Gordon Brown as prime minister would be a "disaster".
He will deliver his 30-minute speech without notes, as one opinion poll suggests the Conservatives' poll lead has narrowed to two points. As one opinion poll suggests the Conservatives' lead has narrowed to two points, the Conservative leader said his party faced a "real fight".
Labour said voters were becoming more "fearful" of Mr Cameron and his party.Labour said voters were becoming more "fearful" of Mr Cameron and his party.
The general election must be held by June, but it is widely expected to take place on 6 May.The general election must be held by June, but it is widely expected to take place on 6 May.
'From the heart' 'Utter mess'
The Conservatives have spent their weekend in Brighton attacking Mr Brown's record.The Conservatives have spent their weekend in Brighton attacking Mr Brown's record.
They have also announced their election slogan will be "Vote for Change" - used by Barack Obama in his US presidential campaign.They have also announced their election slogan will be "Vote for Change" - used by Barack Obama in his US presidential campaign.
Tory party strategists say their narrowing lead helps them persuade voters another Gordon Brown government is possible - something they think will motivate people to back David Cameron BBC's Ross Hawkins Poll fears stalk Tory conference Have your sayTory party strategists say their narrowing lead helps them persuade voters another Gordon Brown government is possible - something they think will motivate people to back David Cameron BBC's Ross Hawkins Poll fears stalk Tory conference Have your say
In his keynote speech to the conference in Brighton, Mr Cameron is expected to say: "It is an election we have a patriotic duty to win because this country is in a complete and utter mess, and we have to sort it out." In his keynote speech to the conference in Brighton, Mr Cameron, speaking without notes, said: "They don't hand general election victories on a plate to people in this country and quite right too."
Mr Cameron told BBC 5 live that his address would be "straight from the heart". He added: "This is not an election that it would be quite good to win because we have got some good policies...
He said: "I believe that there are lots of questions that people have got about the Conservative Party. They want to know what we stand for and these changes are real, and I'm going to lay it out as plainly and frankly as I can." "It is an election we have a patriotic duty to win because this country is in a complete and utter mess, and we have to sort it out."
According to the YouGov poll published in the Sunday Times, the Conservative lead over Labour has narrowed to two points - down from six points last week.According to the YouGov poll published in the Sunday Times, the Conservative lead over Labour has narrowed to two points - down from six points last week.
It suggests that 37% would vote Tory, while 35% would opt for Labour and 17% for the Lib Dems.It suggests that 37% would vote Tory, while 35% would opt for Labour and 17% for the Lib Dems.
This, the Sunday Times says, could give Labour 317 seats, nine short of an overall majority, with the Tories on a total of 263 MPs.This, the Sunday Times says, could give Labour 317 seats, nine short of an overall majority, with the Tories on a total of 263 MPs.
'Tightening up''Tightening up'
Mr Cameron said: "It's one poll, but I think that the truth is the British people are angry and disaffected with their politics and politicians and they need a lot of convincing before they put their trust in anyone. Speaking to the BBC earlier, Mr Cameron said: "It's one poll, but I think that the truth is the British people are angry and disaffected with their politics and politicians and they need a lot of convincing before they put their trust in anyone."
"There can be five more years of Gordon Brown or there can be change and leadership from the Conservative Party." He said the election race was "tightening up", but also said: "These things come and go... I've never been happy with my opinion poll ratings. I wasn't happy when they were 20 points.
On opinion polls, he said the election race was "tightening up", but also said: "These things come and go... I've never been happy with my opinion poll ratings. I wasn't happy when they were 20 points.
"You always want to be convincing more people that you've got the right ideas.""You always want to be convincing more people that you've got the right ideas."
But, for Labour, Welsh Secretary Peter Hain told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show the latest opinion poll was "part of a trend".But, for Labour, Welsh Secretary Peter Hain told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show the latest opinion poll was "part of a trend".
'Old way''Old way'
He added that people were "more and more questioning David Cameron and more and more suspicious and fearful of the Conservatives as we come up to the election".He added that people were "more and more questioning David Cameron and more and more suspicious and fearful of the Conservatives as we come up to the election".
"That's what I've been feeling on the ground, campaigning and talking to people.""That's what I've been feeling on the ground, campaigning and talking to people."
The Conservatives have pledged "immediate and real" action in six key areas: dealing with the deficit; boosting enterprise; shoring up families; backing the NHS; raising standards in schools; and cleaning up politics.The Conservatives have pledged "immediate and real" action in six key areas: dealing with the deficit; boosting enterprise; shoring up families; backing the NHS; raising standards in schools; and cleaning up politics.
Shadow chancellor George Osborne confirmed a Tory government would hold an emergency budget within 50 days of coming to power, implementing business tax cuts by 2011 to "unleash the forces of enterprise".
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, chief of staff to party leader Nick Clegg, said: "It's between the old way of doing politics and the real change represented by the Liberal Democrats".Danny Alexander, chief of staff to party leader Nick Clegg, said: "It's between the old way of doing politics and the real change represented by the Liberal Democrats".
For its poll, YouGov spoke to 1,436 people from 25 to 26 February.For its poll, YouGov spoke to 1,436 people from 25 to 26 February.