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Leaders face last Commons clash Leaders face last Commons clash
(about 3 hours later)
Party leaders will clash at prime minister's questions later, for the last time before the general election.Party leaders will clash at prime minister's questions later, for the last time before the general election.
Gordon Brown will face Tory and Lib Dem leaders, David Cameron and Nick Clegg before hitting the campaign trail.Gordon Brown will face Tory and Lib Dem leaders, David Cameron and Nick Clegg before hitting the campaign trail.
And parties will continue horse trading over remaining bills which must clear Parliament in the next two days.And parties will continue horse trading over remaining bills which must clear Parliament in the next two days.
The Tories say they have forced the government to drop three tax-raising plans - Labour says shelved plans will be in a new bill if it is re-elected.The Tories say they have forced the government to drop three tax-raising plans - Labour says shelved plans will be in a new bill if it is re-elected.
After the official start of the election campaign on Tuesday, the focus will briefly return to Parliament later as the three leaders take part in the last prime minister's questions before Parliament is dissolved on 12 April. After the official start of the election campaign on Tuesday, the focus will briefly return to Parliament as the three leaders take part in the last prime minister's questions before Parliament is dissolved on 12 April.
Cider taxCider tax
In negotiations between the parties in the last two working days of Parliament, the period known as the "wash-up", several key measures were dropped from the Finance Bill.In negotiations between the parties in the last two working days of Parliament, the period known as the "wash-up", several key measures were dropped from the Finance Bill.
The Conservatives say they forced the government to scrap a 10% increase in tax on cider, plans for a 50p duty on land lines to fund broadband expansion and plans to end tax relief on holiday homes. The Conservatives say they forced the government to scrap a 10% increase in tax on cider, plans for a 50p duty on land lines to fund broadband expansion and plans to end tax relief on holiday homes. The Lib Dems say it was their pressure that led the government to shelve the plans for cider and holiday homes.
The big issue at the moment is can we sustain the recovery? Gordon Brown The big issue at the moment is can we sustain the recovery? Gordon Brown class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8605923.stm">Day at-a-glance: 7 April class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8606373.stm">Cider tax rise faces dropped
The tax on cider, which came into force on 29 March, will be reversed on 30 June unless Labour wins the general election.The tax on cider, which came into force on 29 March, will be reversed on 30 June unless Labour wins the general election.
Labour said none of the policies had changed and the government had agreed there would have to be further legislation for the cider tax relief and the other measures would be included in a second finance bill.Labour said none of the policies had changed and the government had agreed there would have to be further legislation for the cider tax relief and the other measures would be included in a second finance bill.
Other measures already dropped include plans for a referendum on changing the voting system - although the prime minister will outline new plans for a referendum on the "alternative vote" (AV) system later - and one on reforming the House of Lords, which would take place within 18 months of a Labour win. Treasury minister Stephen Timms accused the Tories of being "fiscally irresponsible" by "playing the populist cards".
'Mandate sought' But, for the Conservatives, William Hague said the plan for tax on cider was not the way to tackle alcohol misuse - instead super-strength drinks should be taxed more.
In an interview with GMTV on Wednesday Mr Brown said he was enjoying campaigning around the country and meeting people - and was looking forward to the televised debates with Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg. "Hitting the moderate drinker is the wrong way to go about it," he told GMTV.
"The big issue at the moment is can we sustain the recovery?," he said. 'Vital' year
Other measures already dropped include plans to reduce fees for libel lawyers and for a referendum on changing the voting system.
But the prime minister will outline new plans later for a referendum on the "alternative vote" (AV) system - and one on reforming the House of Lords, which would take place within 18 months of a Labour win.
In an interview with GMTV on Wednesday Mr Brown said this year was "vital for the recovery" and said the Conservatives would "cut middle class child tax credits".
Labour's tax on jobs will kill the recovery and we've got to get that message across William Hague Election-at-a-glance: 7 April LIVE: Text and video coverage Your say: Your election issues
Asked about his plans to raise National Insurance - which the Tories oppose - Mr Brown said it was necessary to protect public services and said business leaders who backed Tory plans had been "deceived".
Ocado founder Tim Steiner, Asos chief executive Nick Robertson, Monsoon's Peter Simon and Yell chairman Bob Wigley are the latest to publicly back the Tories' pledge to scrap the bulk of the NI rise.
Mr Brown said: "I think they have been deceived because the big issue at the moment is can we sustain the recovery?.
"Don't put that at risk. The Conservative policies are going to take £6bn out of the economy this year, in 2010.""Don't put that at risk. The Conservative policies are going to take £6bn out of the economy this year, in 2010."
He said this year was "vital for the recovery" and said the Conservatives would "cut middle class child tax credits". VAT rise
In the campaign you will hear a lot about political reform Nick Clegg class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8605923.stm">Election-at-a-glance: 7 April class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8590155.stm">LIVE: Text and video coverage class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/haveyoursay/2010/04/what_are_the_most_important_el.html">Your say: Your election issues Asked if he had ruled out a rise in VAT, Mr Brown told GMTV: "We looked at it and we decided on National Insurance, we thought that was a better and fairer tax." He said a VAT rise was "not our plan".
Asked about his plans to raise National Insurance - which the Tories oppose, Mr Brown said it was necessary to protect public services. But for the Conservatives, William Hague told GMTV there was not much "faith" in Gordon Brown and Chancellor Alistair Darling around the country.
Asked if he had ruled out a rise in VAT, he told GMTV: "We looked at it and we decided on National Insurance, we thought that was a better and fairer tax." He said a VAT rise was "not our plan". He criticised the planned National Insurance rise : "Labour's tax on jobs will kill the recovery and we've got to get that message across."
While Mr Brown prepares to outline plans for constitutional reform, Mr Cameron will outline plans to make MPs more accountable, give voters the power to remove misbehaving MPs before elections and restrict lobbying. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/default.stm">More from Today programme
But Mr Clegg will say only his party can be trusted with renewing the political system. Later Conservative leader Mr Cameron will outline plans to make MPs more accountable, give voters the power to remove misbehaving MPs before elections and restrict lobbying.
'People's PMQs' The Conservatives have called for a reduction in the number of MPs and ministers as part of plans to renew public trust in Parliament.
Each will be looking to build up momentum for the four-week campaign ahead and to try and score early points before the launch of the parties' manifestos next week. But Mr Clegg says only the Lib Dems, not the two "old parties", can be trusted with renewing the political system.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme both Labour and the Conservatives had "systematically blocked" plans for political reform.
"Don't believe it. They are trying to treat you like fools," he said.
He said that while the Conservatives and Labour tried to play up differences, on big issues like banking reform and political reform, they were "strikingly similar" and would not take "radical enough action".
Only his party were promising to radically change the economy - by separating high street banks and investment banks - to prevent a repeat of the economic crisis, Mr Clegg said.
"I think that this election is one opportunity not to repeat the same old patterns of the past," he said.
He denied he intended to play down the party's pro-European stance during the election.
But, on Britain adopting the euro - which in 2005 the party argued for, in the right conditions and subject to a referendum - Mr Clegg said: "I don't believe the euro is for now."
He said Eurozone interest rates over the last few years "would have been wrong for Britain".
After PMQs, Mr Cameron is expected to campaign in the North West of England and Wales while Mr Clegg is also expected to visit the North West.After PMQs, Mr Cameron is expected to campaign in the North West of England and Wales while Mr Clegg is also expected to visit the North West.
Mr Brown is also due to take part in what is being called a "people's PMQs", in which he will answer questions from the public via internet sites.Mr Brown is also due to take part in what is being called a "people's PMQs", in which he will answer questions from the public via internet sites.
Mr Clegg will say on Wednesday that neither of the other two parties are truly committed to handing more power to the people.
"In the campaign you will hear a lot about political reform," he will say. "David Cameron will talk about cutting the cost of politics. Gordon Brown will talk about reforming the Lords.
"Their words are a smokescreen for the truth. Both of them would do anything to protect the corrupt two-party stitch-up and secrecy at Westminster."
The Conservatives have called for a reduction in the number of MPs and ministers as part of plans to renew public trust in Parliament.