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| Version 14 | Version 15 |
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| Parties fight to offer 'change' | Parties fight to offer 'change' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Political parties are battling over who embodies "change" as the polls point to a hung parliament after 6 May. | Political parties are battling over who embodies "change" as the polls point to a hung parliament after 6 May. |
| The Tories say only they can "guarantee change" - arguing a vote for the Lib Dems could deprive them of a decisive win and mean Gordon Brown remains PM. | The Tories say only they can "guarantee change" - arguing a vote for the Lib Dems could deprive them of a decisive win and mean Gordon Brown remains PM. |
| Nick Clegg says the Lib Dems stand for "real change" but refused to say if he would back Labour if they had most MPs but came third in terms of votes. | Nick Clegg says the Lib Dems stand for "real change" but refused to say if he would back Labour if they had most MPs but came third in terms of votes. |
| Labour's Gordon Brown said he was in politics to be a "vehicle of change". | Labour's Gordon Brown said he was in politics to be a "vehicle of change". |
| In other election developments on Tuesday: | In other election developments on Tuesday: |
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| Opinion polls published in two of Tuesday's newspapers suggest the Liberal Democrats continue to enjoy more support than Labour, but less than the Conservatives. | Opinion polls published in two of Tuesday's newspapers suggest the Liberal Democrats continue to enjoy more support than Labour, but less than the Conservatives. |
| But in terms of seats won in the general election on 6 May, the polls point towards a hung parliament. | But in terms of seats won in the general election on 6 May, the polls point towards a hung parliament. |
| Faced with questions about whether he would "prop up" Labour if they won the most seats but with fewer overall votes than the Tories or Lib Dems, Mr Clegg said: "I can't predict how 45 million people who are eligible to vote are going to vote. | Faced with questions about whether he would "prop up" Labour if they won the most seats but with fewer overall votes than the Tories or Lib Dems, Mr Clegg said: "I can't predict how 45 million people who are eligible to vote are going to vote. |
| "I'm not going to put the cart before the horse, I'm here to convince people to vote for the Liberal Democrats." | "I'm not going to put the cart before the horse, I'm here to convince people to vote for the Liberal Democrats." |
| 'Illegitimate' system | 'Illegitimate' system |
| But his deputy Vince Cable told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme it would be a "very perverse outcome" if Labour won the most seats on the fewest votes. | But his deputy Vince Cable told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme it would be a "very perverse outcome" if Labour won the most seats on the fewest votes. |
| "The whole system would then be completely and utterly discredited if such an absurd outcome were to happen," he said | "The whole system would then be completely and utterly discredited if such an absurd outcome were to happen," he said |
| It's the clearest sign that Gordon Brown and his team are preparing to woo Nick Clegg, having either ignored or belittled him in the recent past Read Nick Robinson's blog class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8631108.stm">UK election at-a-glance: 20 April class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/seealso/2010/04/daily_view_what_does_the_liber.htmll">Pundits discuss the Lib Dem surge | |
| He said it would make "the whole of this political system... illegitimate. There would have to be fundamental reform of the political system." | He said it would make "the whole of this political system... illegitimate. There would have to be fundamental reform of the political system." |
| BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Gordon Brown was "very actively preparing" for a situation where deals have to be done with other parties. | BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Gordon Brown was "very actively preparing" for a situation where deals have to be done with other parties. |
| Lord Mandelson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme Labour recognised Mr Clegg had to be "taken seriously". | Lord Mandelson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme Labour recognised Mr Clegg had to be "taken seriously". |
| He said the "challenge for Labour and for Gordon Brown" was to show that the government had used its experience of the banking and political crises "to learn some lessons, build on what we've achieved in government and to offer some real change in certain key areas". | He said the "challenge for Labour and for Gordon Brown" was to show that the government had used its experience of the banking and political crises "to learn some lessons, build on what we've achieved in government and to offer some real change in certain key areas". |
| "I also think people are coming to the view that if they really want change in politics they've got to change the electoral system as well," the business secretary said. | "I also think people are coming to the view that if they really want change in politics they've got to change the electoral system as well," the business secretary said. |
| 'Guaranteeing change' | 'Guaranteeing change' |
| Mr Brown has promised a referendum on changing the first-past-the-post voting system to an "alternative vote" (AV) system in which candidates are ranked in order of preference. The Lib Dems favour a different system - the single transferable vote. | Mr Brown has promised a referendum on changing the first-past-the-post voting system to an "alternative vote" (AV) system in which candidates are ranked in order of preference. The Lib Dems favour a different system - the single transferable vote. |
| Mr Brown took part in a discussion with first-time voters on Radio 1 | |
| Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox told the BBC the Conservatives were also taking Mr Clegg "seriously" - and said the polls showed "people want change". | Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox told the BBC the Conservatives were also taking Mr Clegg "seriously" - and said the polls showed "people want change". |
| "I think increasingly in the next two weeks the message we will want to get across is only the Conservatives can guarantee change. Because a vote from Labour and the Lib Dems could leave us stuck with Gordon Brown as prime minister and the uncertainty of a hung parliament could kill the economic recovery." | "I think increasingly in the next two weeks the message we will want to get across is only the Conservatives can guarantee change. Because a vote from Labour and the Lib Dems could leave us stuck with Gordon Brown as prime minister and the uncertainty of a hung parliament could kill the economic recovery." |
| Speaking in Burton, Tory leader David Cameron said only a Conservative victory would bring the "strong and decisive government" needed to tackle the country's problems and any other outcome would result in a "sort of stagnation". | Speaking in Burton, Tory leader David Cameron said only a Conservative victory would bring the "strong and decisive government" needed to tackle the country's problems and any other outcome would result in a "sort of stagnation". |
| But Mr Clegg said: "The only party that now stands up for real change in the old economic and political order of this country are the Liberal Democrats." | But Mr Clegg said: "The only party that now stands up for real change in the old economic and political order of this country are the Liberal Democrats." |
| And Gordon Brown, in a debate on BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat said: "I want to change things and that's why I'm in politics... I'm here to be a vehicle of change for our community, to get the things that should be done, done." | And Gordon Brown, in a debate on BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat said: "I want to change things and that's why I'm in politics... I'm here to be a vehicle of change for our community, to get the things that should be done, done." |
| FROM THE WORLD AT ONE More from The World At One | FROM THE WORLD AT ONE More from The World At One |
| Launching the SNP's manifesto in Glasgow, party leader Alex Salmond said Labour and the Conservatives were "very afraid" about the likelihood of a "balanced Parliament". | Launching the SNP's manifesto in Glasgow, party leader Alex Salmond said Labour and the Conservatives were "very afraid" about the likelihood of a "balanced Parliament". |
| But he said it was "within that balanced Parliament that Scotland's greatest opportunity exists" and said the way to get it for Scottish voters was to back his party and "bring an end" to the old "Westminster machine". | But he said it was "within that balanced Parliament that Scotland's greatest opportunity exists" and said the way to get it for Scottish voters was to back his party and "bring an end" to the old "Westminster machine". |
| Campaign snag | Campaign snag |
| Mr Clegg also used his daily news conference to set out plans to split up the banks and set a new 10% levy on bank profits. | Mr Clegg also used his daily news conference to set out plans to split up the banks and set a new 10% levy on bank profits. |
| The Conservatives outlined plans to tackle welfare dependency, including a new contract for benefit claimants offering them "unprecedented support" to find work but also sanctions if they refuse job offers. | The Conservatives outlined plans to tackle welfare dependency, including a new contract for benefit claimants offering them "unprecedented support" to find work but also sanctions if they refuse job offers. |
| The prime minister, meanwhile, launched Labour's business plans, saying government must create the conditions in which firms prosper. | The prime minister, meanwhile, launched Labour's business plans, saying government must create the conditions in which firms prosper. |
| But a visit by Mr Brown and other ministers to a school in Swindon ran into difficulty when accompanying journalists were not allowed into the building. | But a visit by Mr Brown and other ministers to a school in Swindon ran into difficulty when accompanying journalists were not allowed into the building. |
| Labour said they had been denied access by the town's Conservative controlled council for political reasons but the local authority said there were strict rules about the use of public buildings during election campaigns. | Labour said they had been denied access by the town's Conservative controlled council for political reasons but the local authority said there were strict rules about the use of public buildings during election campaigns. |
| During the same visit, Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband was heckled by a local resident who complained about a lack of investment in the town and business red tape. | During the same visit, Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband was heckled by a local resident who complained about a lack of investment in the town and business red tape. |
| Mr Brown later spoke to John Doyle, a pub landlord, about his concerns and Mr Doyle said he was "satisfied" with his response. | Mr Brown later spoke to John Doyle, a pub landlord, about his concerns and Mr Doyle said he was "satisfied" with his response. |
| Tuesday is also the deadline for people to register so they can vote on 6 May. The Electoral Commission, which is leading the drive to get people on the electoral roll, said more than 375,000 people had downloaded registration forms in the past 10 days. | Tuesday is also the deadline for people to register so they can vote on 6 May. The Electoral Commission, which is leading the drive to get people on the electoral roll, said more than 375,000 people had downloaded registration forms in the past 10 days. |