This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8616777.stm

The article has changed 27 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 9 Version 10
Cameron 'to make Britain better' Cameron 'to make Britain better'
(30 minutes 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 it was an "optimistic" and "ambitious" programme for a "new kind of government for Britain". He said the "optimistic" plan would bring a "new kind of government" with less state and more "people power".
Pledges include helping people to set up their own schools, sack MPs and veto high council tax increases. Pledges include allowing people set up their own schools and veto high council tax rises and to cut the number of MPs.
Labour says it is a throwback to old Tory policies while the Lib Dems say the Tories want a "DIY society". Labour said it meant people would be left "on their own" the Lib Dems say 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 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 At-a-glance: Conservative manifesto Analysis: Promising change
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".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." 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 class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8617433.stm">At-a-glance: Manifesto key points class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8617442.stm">Analysis: Promising change
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."
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".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.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."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.
"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". David Cameron: ''The Labour way assumes that only big government can solve our problems''
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. Among 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.
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. 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.
Inheritance tax Stamp duty
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 dismissed suggestions there was no demand was for people to set up their own schools as "cynical" - he said the 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.
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 Ellie
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.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.
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 Ellie
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 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.
'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". Gordon Brown said there was a "complete hole" at the centre of the Conservative manifesto and showed the party "hasn't changed".
He said the Tory plan to empower people "looks to me like they are going to abandon people" and was a "retread from 2005". "There is nothing in it to help the recovery. Indeed their measures would put the recovery at risk," he said.
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." "They are saying you are on your own. They are leaving people on their own to face the recession."
The party will launch its manifesto on Wednesday. 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."