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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Tory win 'is our patriotic duty' | Tory win 'is our patriotic duty' |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| Conservative leader David Cameron has said his party has a "patriotic duty" to beat Labour in the general election. | Conservative leader David Cameron has said his party has a "patriotic duty" to beat Labour in the general election. |
| 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". | 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". |
| As one opinion poll suggests the Conservatives' lead has narrowed to two points, the Conservative leader said his party faced a "real fight". | 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. |
| 'Utter mess' | '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 say | 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 say |
| The Conservatives have pledged 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. | |
| 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." | 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." |
| He added: "This is not an election that it would be quite good to win because we have got some good policies... | He added: "This is not an election that it would be quite good to win because we have got some good policies... |
| "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." | "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." |
| Mr Cameron said the economy was the "key issue" ahead of the election, attacking Mr Brown for "incompetence". | |
| 'Roll up our sleeves' | |
| He said: "At this election we are going to take out your record and tear it up, piece by piece." | |
| On the budget deficit, Mr Cameron said the government had to "get to grips" with public finances, adding: "I think the British people know that we are right... | |
| "We've got to roll up our sleeves to deal with this deficit and debt." | |
| The Conservative leader also told delegates: "Gordon Brown sometimes says that I'm a bit of a salesman and, you know what, I plead guilty. | |
| "In this country, with all of our difficulties, we are going to need some salesmanship. | |
| "I want to get around the world, not filling up the aeroplane with journalists but businessmen... I want a really clear message to go out that Britain is under new economic management and that we are open for business again." | |
| Mr Cameron said his party's election manifesto would be the "most family-friendly" in British political history and added: "I love the NHS and I will stand up to protect it." | |
| 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. |
| For Labour, Welsh Secretary Peter Hain told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show the latest opinion poll was "part of a trend". | |
| 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 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. |