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Leaders face last Commons clash Leaders face last Commons clash
(40 minutes later)
Party leaders will clash at prime minister's questions later, for the last time before the general election. Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg are preparing for their final face-to-face House of Commons clash ahead of the 6 May general election.
Gordon Brown will face Tory and Lib Dem leaders, David Cameron and Nick Clegg before hitting the campaign trail. The session starts at 1200BST and comes as campaigning is stepped up after the election was called on Tuesday.
And parties will continue horse trading over remaining bills which must clear Parliament in the next two days. Among policies being highlighted are plans for political reform - including changes to the voting system.
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. There is also horse-trading over which outstanding legislation will be allowed to become law before the election.
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. Negotiations will continue between the parties for the last two working days of Parliament, the period known as the "wash-up" before it is dissolved on Monday, with several key measures already 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 Lib Dems say it was their pressure that led the government to shelve the plans for cider and 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 Day at-a-glance: 7 April Cider tax rise faces droppedThe big issue at the moment is can we sustain the recovery? Gordon Brown Day at-a-glance: 7 April 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.
Treasury minister Stephen Timms accused the Tories of being "fiscally irresponsible" by "playing the populist cards".Treasury minister Stephen Timms accused the Tories of being "fiscally irresponsible" by "playing the populist cards".
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.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.
"Hitting the moderate drinker is the wrong way to go about it," he told GMTV."Hitting the moderate drinker is the wrong way to go about it," he told GMTV.
'Vital' year'Vital' year
Other measures already dropped include plans to reduce fees for libel lawyers and for a referendum on changing the voting system. Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg attacked the "stitch up" between the two biggest parties which saw "the most mouse-like" attempts at reform - including a commitment to hold a referendum on changing the first-past-the-post voting system - shelved.
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. But Mr Brown is expected to outline later new plans to hold two referendums - one on changing the voting system and one on reforming the House of Lords, 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". In an interview with GMTV, 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 issuesLabour'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".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.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?.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."
VAT riseVAT rise
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 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".
But for the Conservatives, William Hague told GMTV there was not much "faith" in Gordon Brown and Chancellor Alistair Darling around the country.But for the Conservatives, William Hague told GMTV there was not much "faith" in Gordon Brown and Chancellor Alistair Darling around the country.
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." 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."
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/default.stm">More from Today programme Clegg critical of reform promises
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.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.
The Conservatives have called for a reduction in the number of MPs and ministers as part of plans to renew public trust in Parliament.The Conservatives have called for a reduction in the number of MPs and ministers as part of plans to renew public trust in Parliament.
But Mr Clegg says only the Lib Dems, not the two "old parties", can be trusted with renewing the political system. But Mr Clegg says only the Lib Dems, not the two "old parties", can be trusted with renewing the political system saying they had blocked "serious reform every step of the way".
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme both Labour and the Conservatives had "systematically blocked" plans for political reform. He also backs a right of "recall" for MPs who have been officially reprimanded over their behaviour. They would have to face a by-election if a petition managed to attract the votes of 5% of their constituency.
"Don't believe it. They are trying to treat you like fools," he said. He pointed out that he first proposed MPs should stop being able to buy second homes, subsidised by the taxpayer, after the expenses scandal.
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". And he said while his party was not "without blemish", none of his MPs had abused expenses on the "industrial scale" the other parties had.
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. "They let the flippers and those who avoided capital gains tax off scot free," he said.
"I think that this election is one opportunity not to repeat the same old patterns of the past," he said. He said both Labour and the Conservatives had "systematically blocked" plans for political reform.
He denied he intended to play down the party's pro-European stance during the election. "For Gordon Brown change is what you talk about when you want everything to stay the same, for David Cameron change stops on May 7, they are treating people like fools - you can't trust a word they say.
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." "A vote for the Labour or the Conservative parties is a vote for corrupt politics."
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.