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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Parties step up pre-election vows | Parties step up pre-election vows |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| The three main parties are stepping up their pre-election campaigning by issuing pledges on key policies. | The three main parties are stepping up their pre-election campaigning by issuing pledges on key policies. |
| Gordon Brown is to urge councils to follow the government's lead and protect the police from spending cuts. | Gordon Brown is to urge councils to follow the government's lead and protect the police from spending cuts. |
| Meanwhile, the Conservatives will announce plans to allow hundreds of schools in England to become academies, free from local authority control. | Meanwhile, the Conservatives will announce plans to allow hundreds of schools in England to become academies, free from local authority control. |
| The Liberal Democrats will also focus on schools, restating their commitment to cut class sizes for infants. | The Liberal Democrats will also focus on schools, restating their commitment to cut class sizes for infants. |
| 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. |
| In a speech in Reading, the prime minister is expected to say that central government will protect funding for frontline staff because the "police are important to people". | In a speech in Reading, the prime minister is expected to say that central government will protect funding for frontline staff because the "police are important to people". |
| "But police funding in this country has always and rightly been part national, part local," he will say. | "But police funding in this country has always and rightly been part national, part local," he will say. |
| We will immediately change the law so we can set hundreds of good schools free from political interference Michael GoveShadow schools secretary | We will immediately change the law so we can set hundreds of good schools free from political interference Michael GoveShadow schools secretary |
| "So my challenge to local authorities and police authorities around the country is to match our commitment to protecting front line policing - or else explain to their communities why they are not prepared to do so." | "So my challenge to local authorities and police authorities around the country is to match our commitment to protecting front line policing - or else explain to their communities why they are not prepared to do so." |
| He will also say it is not "acceptable" to miss the government target of putting neighbourhood PCs on patrol for at least 80% of the time. | He will also say it is not "acceptable" to miss the government target of putting neighbourhood PCs on patrol for at least 80% of the time. |
| Mr Brown will argue crime is down by more than a third since 1997 and dispute the Conservatives' claims that Britain is "broken". | Mr Brown will argue crime is down by more than a third since 1997 and dispute the Conservatives' claims that Britain is "broken". |
| Fresh from their spring conference in Brighton, and mindful of their narrowing lead in the polls, the Conservatives will focus on one of their flagship policies - increasing the number of academies. | Fresh from their spring conference in Brighton, and mindful of their narrowing lead in the polls, the Conservatives will focus on one of their flagship policies - increasing the number of academies. |
| They will allow schools to opt out of council control by September if they win the general election. | They will allow schools to opt out of council control by September if they win the general election. |
| 'Set free' | 'Set free' |
| In a speech to head teachers, shadow schools' secretary Michael Gove, along with party leader David Cameron, will say a Tory government would, within days of taking office, introduce legislation to give schools greater freedom over the curriculum, staff and discipline. | In a speech to head teachers, shadow schools' secretary Michael Gove, along with party leader David Cameron, will say a Tory government would, within days of taking office, introduce legislation to give schools greater freedom over the curriculum, staff and discipline. |
| The process would be speeded up by removing the need to consult local authorities before a school converted to an academy. | The process would be speeded up by removing the need to consult local authorities before a school converted to an academy. |
| "We will immediately change the law so we can set hundreds of good schools free from political interference and enable them to help struggling schools," Mr Gove is expected to say. | "We will immediately change the law so we can set hundreds of good schools free from political interference and enable them to help struggling schools," Mr Gove is expected to say. |
| They will also reveal proposals for schools judged "outstanding" by the Ofsted to be exempt from inspection, allowing the watchdog to concentrate on problem schools. | They will also reveal proposals for schools judged "outstanding" by the Ofsted to be exempt from inspection, allowing the watchdog to concentrate on problem schools. |
| Education is at the heart of the Liberal Democrats' vision for fairness Nick CleggLiberal Democrat leader | Education is at the heart of the Liberal Democrats' vision for fairness Nick CleggLiberal Democrat leader |
| Schools will also be on the Liberal Democrats' agenda on Monday. | |
| Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg will stress the importance of early years education in the home and pledge £2.5bn to help cut school class sizes. | Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg will stress the importance of early years education in the home and pledge £2.5bn to help cut school class sizes. |
| In a speech to the Salvation Army in London, he will call on all parents to provide the support their children need to thrive as they grow up. | In a speech to the Salvation Army in London, he will call on all parents to provide the support their children need to thrive as they grow up. |
| "I want to live in a society where every child has a chance. Education is at the heart of the Liberal Democrats' vision for fairness," he will say. | "I want to live in a society where every child has a chance. Education is at the heart of the Liberal Democrats' vision for fairness," he will say. |
| "But a good education doesn't end at the school gate. Governments can only make a difference if parents do their bit too." | "But a good education doesn't end at the school gate. Governments can only make a difference if parents do their bit too." |