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Brown says election 'wide open' Brown says election 'wide open'
(20 minutes later)
Gordon Brown is insisting the election is "wide open" as the party leaders step up campaigning over the weekend.Gordon Brown is insisting the election is "wide open" as the party leaders step up campaigning over the weekend.
Mr Brown will address party activists after a Sun opinion poll suggested the Lib Dems had pushed Labour into third place after Thursday's TV debate.Mr Brown will address party activists after a Sun opinion poll suggested the Lib Dems had pushed Labour into third place after Thursday's TV debate.
David Cameron meanwhile told activists they were in the "fight of our lives" to ensure there is a "decisive" Tory government, not a "hung parliament".David Cameron meanwhile told activists they were in the "fight of our lives" to ensure there is a "decisive" Tory government, not a "hung parliament".
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg is currently visiting Kingston Hospital.Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg is currently visiting Kingston Hospital.
Mr Cameron told supporters in Gloucester the bureaucracy of government needed to be reduced.Mr Cameron told supporters in Gloucester the bureaucracy of government needed to be reduced.
"Ask yourself this - would a hung parliament achieve that? Do you think a bunch of politicians sitting round would agree to cut the size of the House of Commons?"Ask yourself this - would a hung parliament achieve that? Do you think a bunch of politicians sitting round would agree to cut the size of the House of Commons?
"Would they agree to cut the perks? Would they agree to cut ministers' pay? The hell they would - you need a decisive Conservative government to clean up politics and to cut the cost of politics," he said."Would they agree to cut the perks? Would they agree to cut ministers' pay? The hell they would - you need a decisive Conservative government to clean up politics and to cut the cost of politics," he said.
'More scrutiny''More scrutiny'
Meanwhile Mr Brown and Mr Cameron have both indicated they think Nick Clegg performed well in Thursday's televised prime ministerial debate, but senior Labour and Conservative figures are now warning the Liberal Democrat leader to expect a lot more scrutiny between now and polling day.Meanwhile Mr Brown and Mr Cameron have both indicated they think Nick Clegg performed well in Thursday's televised prime ministerial debate, but senior Labour and Conservative figures are now warning the Liberal Democrat leader to expect a lot more scrutiny between now and polling day.
Mr Clegg, on a visit to Kingston Hospital in south west London with his wife Miriam, said he welcomed any focus on his party's policies, arguing the election must be a "contest of ideas, not advertising budgets".
He said "something exciting" was happening in politics and said a growing number of people were beginning to hope for "real change".
A Lib Dem spokesman said 250 people had joined the party via their website immediately after the debate, while bookmakers shortened odds on the Lib Dems making significant gains at the election.A Lib Dem spokesman said 250 people had joined the party via their website immediately after the debate, while bookmakers shortened odds on the Lib Dems making significant gains at the election.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the public reaction suggested the Lib Dems could "dream of doing better" than five years ago - when they won their largest number of seats for 80 years.BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the public reaction suggested the Lib Dems could "dream of doing better" than five years ago - when they won their largest number of seats for 80 years.
David Cameron : "We have to win this election house by house, street by street"David Cameron : "We have to win this election house by house, street by street"
And Mr Brown is claiming Lib Dem policies will "unravel" as they come under increasing scrutiny.And Mr Brown is claiming Lib Dem policies will "unravel" as they come under increasing scrutiny.
However, he stressed Mr Clegg's performance did not, in itself, mean people were more likely to vote for him or that he would be able to sustain the momentum into the other debates.However, he stressed Mr Clegg's performance did not, in itself, mean people were more likely to vote for him or that he would be able to sustain the momentum into the other debates.
Recent polls have suggested the Lib Dems could get anywhere between 17% and 22% of the national vote on 6 May - they got 22% in 2005.Recent polls have suggested the Lib Dems could get anywhere between 17% and 22% of the national vote on 6 May - they got 22% in 2005.
But a poll for Saturday's Sun, carried out by YouGov after the TV debate, suggests Labour are in third place on 28%, with the Lib Dems on 30% and the Conservatives on 33%.But a poll for Saturday's Sun, carried out by YouGov after the TV debate, suggests Labour are in third place on 28%, with the Lib Dems on 30% and the Conservatives on 33%.
Applying the figures from the survey of 1,290 people to the BBC News website's election seat calculator results in the following: Labour 276 seats; Conservatives 245 seats; Lib Dems 100 seats; Others 29 seats.Applying the figures from the survey of 1,290 people to the BBC News website's election seat calculator results in the following: Labour 276 seats; Conservatives 245 seats; Lib Dems 100 seats; Others 29 seats.
David Cowling, head of the BBC's political research unit, said the clutch of Sunday newspaper polls would be key in indicating whether the Sun's poll was an "immediate referendum on Thursday night's debate or represents the settled will of British voters".David Cowling, head of the BBC's political research unit, said the clutch of Sunday newspaper polls would be key in indicating whether the Sun's poll was an "immediate referendum on Thursday night's debate or represents the settled will of British voters".