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Cameron 'to make Britain better' Cameron 'to make Britain better'
(30 minutes later)
Conservative leader David Cameron is launching his 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".
In a speech in south London he said he wanted it to be the "biggest call to arms" for a generation. He said it was an "optimistic" and "ambitious" programme for a "new kind of government for Britain".
Pledges include helping people to set up their own schools, sack MPs and veto high council tax increases.Pledges include helping people to set up their own schools, sack MPs and veto high council tax increases.
Labour says it is a throwback to old Tory policies while the Lib Dems say the Tories want a "DIY society".Labour says it is a throwback to old Tory policies while the Lib Dems say the Tories want a "DIY society".
In other election developments on Tuesday:In other election developments on Tuesday:
Mr Cameron said no government could solve all problems on its own and said he wanted "everyone to get involved". In a speech launching the manifesto at Battersea Power Station in south London, Mr Cameron said no government could solve all problems on its own and said he wanted "everyone to get involved".
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 Analysis: Promising change 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 href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8617433.stm">At-a-glance: Conservative manifesto class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8617442.stm">Analysis: Promising change
He said "good government" should be the "partner of the big society, not its boss" - accusing Labour of measuring "everything by money and how much they spend". He said government should be the "partner of the big society, not its boss" - accusing Labour of measuring "everything by money and how much they spend".
It was not about government on its own, or individuals on their own, he said: "We stand for society, that's the right idea for a better future."It was not about government on its own, or individuals on their own, he said: "We stand for society, that's the right idea for a better future."
He said the Conservatives could "make things better without spending more money" and said it was not about "harking back to bygone days" or a "narrow focus on a few issues" - but radical plans to "help the poorest, protect the NHS, help people find work and support families". He said the Tories' plan to block the bulk of Labour's planned 1% rise in National Insurance would save more than 50,000 jobs and would make "seven out of ten working people better off than under Labour".
Labour says 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."
He accused the government of trying to "frighten" people while he presented an "optimistic" programme and would "trust" people.
Local 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".
"This is a manifesto for a new kind of politics," he said."This is a manifesto for a new kind of politics," he said.
"People power, not state power.""People power, not state power."
BBC political correspondent Norman Smith said the message was a clear divide with Labour - who have positioned themselves on the side of "active government".BBC political correspondent Norman Smith said the message was a clear divide with Labour - who have positioned themselves on the side of "active government".
The Conservative manifesto confirms the party's plans to block the bulk of Labour's 1% planned rise in National Insurance from April 2011. Among key pledges in the manifesto are a community "right to buy scheme" - to allow people to protect post offices and pubs threatening with closure. They would be given a "right to bid" to run any community service instead of the state.
The issue dominated the first few days of the election campaign - with the Tories backed by 81 business leaders and Labour accusing them of funding the policy with "fantasy" savings. 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.
Part of the party's "big society" plans involves allowing parents and charities to set up new academy schools, giving people the power to veto council tax rises through local referendums and communities the right to buy their local pub or post office. Parents and charities would be allowed to set up state-funded schools - based on a model used in Sweden.
They will also pledge to cut stamp duty for first-time house buyers and let people elect police commissioners.
Inheritance taxInheritance tax
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said it was not an "abdication of government responsibility" to ask people to set up their own schools - rather than providing good ones.Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said it was not an "abdication of government responsibility" to ask people to set up their own schools - rather than providing good ones.
He said governments could not know how best to run services in every area of the country - as evidenced by "the wide range of failures that we have across our public services" after 13 years of Labour's "big government". It was about having "faith" in people, he added. He said governments could not know how best to run services in every area of the country. It was about having "faith" in people, he added.
The invitation's in the post but will you accept? David Cameron is inviting you "to join the government of Britain". Nick RobinsonBBC political editor Read Nick Robinson's blog dot.Rory: Bevanite EllieThe invitation's in the post but will you accept? David Cameron is inviting you "to join the government of Britain". Nick RobinsonBBC political editor Read Nick Robinson's blog dot.Rory: Bevanite Ellie
The Tories pledge to eliminate the bulk of the structural deficit over the parliament and say the long term unemployed who refuse a job would have to do community work to receive benefits. Other pledges include raising the stamp duty threshold for first-time house buyers to £250,000, to raise the inheritance tax threshold to £1m and freeze council tax for two years and to increase NHS spending in real terms every year.
They also a promise to raise the inheritance tax threshold to £1m and freeze council tax for two years and to increase NHS spending in real terms every year. And there would be a community "work for the dole" pledge for people who are long term unemployed who fail to find work, and an annual limit for the number of non-European Union migrants allowed in to live and work in the UK.
And they pledge to set an annual limit for the number of non-European Union migrants allowed in to live and work in the UK.
'Retread from 2005''Retread from 2005'
Meanwhile UKIP has launched its own manifesto, called "empowering the people" and pledged not to field candidates against any "committed Eurosceptic" from other parties.Meanwhile UKIP has launched its own manifesto, called "empowering the people" and pledged not to field candidates against any "committed Eurosceptic" from other parties.
As well as six Conservatives - the party says it will not run against Labour's David Drew in Stroud, Gloucestershire and will actively campaign on their behalf including, in some cases, putting up posters backing them.As well as six Conservatives - the party says it will not run against Labour's David Drew in Stroud, Gloucestershire and will actively campaign on their behalf including, in some cases, putting up posters backing them.
Labour launched its manifesto on Monday pledging a "fair future". Home Secretary Alan Johnson told the BBC that while Labour were "coming from behind" in the polls they believed people were now concentrating on policies - which he said was the Conservatives' "weakest" area.Labour launched its manifesto on Monday pledging a "fair future". Home Secretary Alan Johnson told the BBC that while Labour were "coming from behind" in the polls they believed people were now concentrating on policies - which he said was the Conservatives' "weakest" area.
He said the Tory plan to empower people "looks to me like they are going to abandon people" and was a "retread from 2005".He said the Tory plan to empower people "looks to me like they are going to abandon people" and was a "retread from 2005".
At a press conference on Tuesday morning, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said: "With the Conservatives you are on your own, they talk about a big society, in fact what they want is a DIY society, where if you are a banker, you get off scot free and you only get tax breaks if you are a millionaire."At a press conference on Tuesday morning, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said: "With the Conservatives you are on your own, they talk about a big society, in fact what they want is a DIY society, where if you are a banker, you get off scot free and you only get tax breaks if you are a millionaire."
The party will launch its manifesto on Wednesday.The party will launch its manifesto on Wednesday.