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Cameron 'to make Britain better' Cameron 'to make Britain better'
(about 1 hour later)
Conservative leader David Cameron has launched his party's election manifesto, which he says is a "plan to change Britain for the better".Conservative leader David Cameron has launched his party's election manifesto, which he says is a "plan to change Britain for the better".
He said the "optimistic" plan would bring a "new kind of government" with less state and more "people power".He said the "optimistic" plan would bring a "new kind of government" with less state and more "people power".
Pledges include allowing people to set up their own schools, veto high council tax rises and to cut the number of MPs. Pledges include allowing people to set up their own schools and veto high council tax rises.
Labour said it meant people would be left "on their own" the Lib Dems said it was "style over substance". Labour said it meant people would be left "on their own". The Lib Dems said it was "style over substance".
In other election developments on Tuesday:In other election developments on Tuesday:
In a speech launching the manifesto at Battersea Power Station in south London, Mr Cameron said it was the "the biggest call to arms this country has seen in a generation".In a speech launching the manifesto at Battersea Power Station in south London, Mr Cameron said it was the "the biggest call to arms this country has seen in a generation".
He said no government could solve all problems on its own and he wanted "everyone to get involved", adding government should be the "partner of the big society, not its boss".He said no government could solve all problems on its own and he wanted "everyone to get involved", adding government should be the "partner of the big society, not its boss".
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said there was a "difference in philosophy" between the Conservatives and Labour, with the Tories saying "government needs to be pushed along" by the general public, while Labour was pledging that "government can be on your side".
MANIFESTO PLEDGES Community 'right to bid' to run post officesEliminate bulk of structural deficit over a parliamentCut £6bn 'wasteful' spending in 2010/11Cut number of MPs by 10%Annual limit on non-EU economic migrantsGive parents power to save local schools due to closeGive voters power to sack MPs for "serious wrongdoing"Scrap ID cardsMPs to get vote on repealing hunting banRaise stamp duty threshold to £250k for first-time buyers Full Conservative manifesto (77MB) Download the reader hereMANIFESTO PLEDGES Community 'right to bid' to run post officesEliminate bulk of structural deficit over a parliamentCut £6bn 'wasteful' spending in 2010/11Cut number of MPs by 10%Annual limit on non-EU economic migrantsGive parents power to save local schools due to closeGive voters power to sack MPs for "serious wrongdoing"Scrap ID cardsMPs to get vote on repealing hunting banRaise stamp duty threshold to £250k for first-time buyers Full Conservative manifesto (77MB) Download the reader here
Mr Cameron said he had taken the Tories back to the "centre ground" of politics, away from the "narrow focus" it had in the past: "We stand for society, that's the right idea for a better future."Mr Cameron said he had taken the Tories back to the "centre ground" of politics, away from the "narrow focus" it had in the past: "We stand for society, that's the right idea for a better future."
The Tories' plan to block the bulk of Labour's planned 1% rise in National Insurance is in the manifesto. Mr Cameron said it would save more than 50,000 jobs and would make "seven out of 10 working people better off than under Labour".The Tories' plan to block the bulk of Labour's planned 1% rise in National Insurance is in the manifesto. Mr Cameron said it would save more than 50,000 jobs and would make "seven out of 10 working people better off than under Labour".
Labour say Tory plans to cut "wasteful" government spending by £12bn this year to fund the policy are based on "fantasy" calculations and are reckless.Labour say Tory plans to cut "wasteful" government spending by £12bn this year to fund the policy are based on "fantasy" calculations and are reckless.
Mr Cameron said: "Labour say the economy will collapse unless they keep on wasting your money."Mr Cameron said: "Labour say the economy will collapse unless they keep on wasting your money."
He accused the government of trying to "frighten" people while he presented an "optimistic" programme and would "trust" people.He accused the government of trying to "frighten" people while he presented an "optimistic" programme and would "trust" people.
Local referendumsLocal referendums
The Conservatives could "make things better without spending more money", he said and had radical plans to "help the poorest, protect the NHS, help people find work and support families". The Conservatives could "make things better without spending more money", he said, and had radical plans to "help the poorest, protect the NHS, help people find work and support families".
"This is a manifesto for a new kind of politics," he said."This is a manifesto for a new kind of politics," he said.
TORY MANIFESTO COVERAGE Analysis: Promising change Manifesto Watch: Style guide At-a-glance: Tory manifesto Reaction to the manifestoTORY MANIFESTO COVERAGE Analysis: Promising change Manifesto Watch: Style guide At-a-glance: Tory manifesto Reaction to the manifesto
"People power, not state power.""People power, not state power."
Among pledges in the manifesto are a community "right to buy scheme" - to allow people to protect post offices and pubs threatened with closure.Among pledges in the manifesto are a community "right to buy scheme" - to allow people to protect post offices and pubs threatened with closure.
People would be able to get local referendums on any issue if 5% of residents backed it - and would be able to use them to veto high council tax rises.People would be able to get local referendums on any issue if 5% of residents backed it - and would be able to use them to veto high council tax rises.
Parents and charities would be allowed to set up state-funded schools - based on a model used in Sweden and "unaccountable" police authorities would be replaced with a directly-elected official to set policing priorities, budgets and strategies. Parents and charities would be allowed to set up state-funded schools - based on a model used in Sweden - and "unaccountable" police authorities would be replaced with a directly-elected official to set policing priorities, budgets and strategies.
Mr Cameron dismissed suggestions there was no demand for people to set up their own schools as "cynical" - he said a network already set up to help them do just that had been "inundated" with offers and there was a "huge appetite" for people to get involved. Mr Cameron dismissed suggestions that there was no demand for people to set up their own schools as "cynical".
He said a network already set up to help them do just that had been "inundated" with offers and there was a "huge appetite" for people to get involved.
Other pledges include raising the stamp duty threshold for first-time house buyers to £250,000, to raise the inheritance tax threshold to £1m, to freeze council tax for two years and a voluntary "national citizen's service" for 16-year-olds.Other pledges include raising the stamp duty threshold for first-time house buyers to £250,000, to raise the inheritance tax threshold to £1m, to freeze council tax for two years and a voluntary "national citizen's service" for 16-year-olds.
Stamp dutyStamp duty
As well as pledges to reform out-of-work benefits, scrap ID cards and increase health spending there is also a pledge for an annual cap on non-European Union migrants who are allowed to live and work in the UK. As well as pledges to reform out-of-work benefits, scrap ID cards and increase health spending, there is also a pledge for an annual cap on non-European Union migrants who are allowed to live and work in the UK.
And there would be a referendum on any future European treaty "that transferred areas of power or competences" from Britain to the EU.And there would be a referendum on any future European treaty "that transferred areas of power or competences" from Britain to the EU.
BBC chief political correspondent Laura Kuenssberg said there were no new details of how the Conservatives would reduce the budget deficit - something the party have pledged to do "faster" than Labour, who say they will halve it in four years.BBC chief political correspondent Laura Kuenssberg said there were no new details of how the Conservatives would reduce the budget deficit - something the party have pledged to do "faster" than Labour, who say they will halve it in four years.
None of the main parties have definitively ruled out raising VAT and the Conservatives also do not make a pledge on income tax, which Labour have said they will not raise. None of the main parties has definitively ruled out raising VAT and the Conservatives also do not make a pledge on income tax, which Labour have said they will not raise.
The business and economy section of the Tories' manifesto is its ideological and intellectual heart Robert Peston BBC's business editor Read Robert's thoughts in full Read Nick Robinson's blog Read Stephanie Flanders' blog Read Rory Cellan-Jones's blogThe business and economy section of the Tories' manifesto is its ideological and intellectual heart Robert Peston BBC's business editor Read Robert's thoughts in full Read Nick Robinson's blog Read Stephanie Flanders' blog Read Rory Cellan-Jones's blog
But shadow foreign secretary William Hague told the BBC: "The plans we have don't involve raising VAT. We are not looking for tax rises. People feel over-taxed."But shadow foreign secretary William Hague told the BBC: "The plans we have don't involve raising VAT. We are not looking for tax rises. People feel over-taxed."
The UK Independence Party has launched its own manifesto, called "empowering the people" and has pledged not to field candidates against any "committed Eurosceptic" from other parties - including six Conservatives. The UK Independence Party has launched its own manifesto, called "empowering the people", and has pledged not to field candidates against any "committed Eurosceptic" from other parties - including six Conservatives.
Labour launched their manifesto on Monday pledging a "fair future". Gordon Brown said there was a "complete hole" at the centre of the Conservative manifesto and showed the party "hasn't changed". Labour launched their manifesto on Monday, pledging a "fair future".
Gordon Brown said there was a "complete hole" at the centre of the Conservative manifesto and it showed the party "hasn't changed".
"There is nothing in it to help the recovery. Indeed their measures would put the recovery at risk," he said."There is nothing in it to help the recovery. Indeed their measures would put the recovery at risk," he said.
"They are saying you are on your own. They are leaving people on their own to face the recession.""They are saying you are on your own. They are leaving people on their own to face the recession."
Lord Mandelson - who is heading up Labour's election strategy - said a "do-it-yourself" agenda for public services would not work "unless the frontline is properly protected and properly funded" and said Tories would "cut spending very sharply" to fund all their pledges. Lord Mandelson - who is heading up Labour's election strategy - said a "do-it-yourself" agenda for public services would not work "unless the frontline is properly protected and properly funded", and said Tories would "cut spending very sharply" to fund all their pledges.
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, who will launch his party's manifesto on Wednesday, said: "It's a manifesto of style over substance, you can't trust the Conservatives when they want to give tax breaks to double millionaires not tax breaks to everybody else." Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, who will launch his party's manifesto on Wednesday, said: "It's a manifesto of style over substance, you can't trust the Conservatives when they want to give tax breaks to double millionaires, not tax breaks to everybody else."