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/-/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8631120.stm
The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Parties fight to offer 'change' | Parties fight to offer 'change' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Political parties are battling over who can offer voters "change" - following a Lib Dem poll surge. | |
| The Tories say only they can "guarantee change" - arguing a vote for the Lib Dems could lead to a hung parliament in which Gordon Brown remains PM. | The Tories say only they can "guarantee change" - arguing a vote for the Lib Dems could lead to a hung parliament in which Gordon Brown remains PM. |
| Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said only his party "stands up for real change in the old economic and political order". | Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said only his party "stands up for real change in the old economic and political order". |
| But Lord Mandelson said Labour had learned lessons from its time in power to offer "real change" in key areas. | But Lord Mandelson said Labour had learned lessons from its time in power to offer "real change" in key areas. |
| In other election developments on Tuesday: | |
| |
| 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 polls continue to point towards a hung parliament. | |
| BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Brown was "very actively preparing" for a situation where deals have to be done with other parties - while the Tories were warning that a hung parliament would lead to a weak government. | |
| Lord Mandelson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the "flux" in the polls following last week's prime ministerial TV debate, was "real" and "palpable". | |
| 'Real change' | 'Real change' |
| He said: "I think the challenge for Labour and for Gordon Brown is to demonstrate and to succeed in putting across that he and the Labour government have used our experience of the global crisis and the crisis in our politics to learn some lessons, build on what we've achieved in government and to offer some real change in certain key areas - albeit in new very constraining financial circumstances." | |
| He said those areas included rebuilding the economy on "stronger foundations", reforming public services further and overhauling "aspects of our parliament". | He said those areas included rebuilding the economy on "stronger foundations", reforming public services further and overhauling "aspects of our parliament". |
| I think people want change and I think increasingly in the next two weeks the message we will want to get across is only the Conservatives can guarantee change Liam Fox UK election at-a-glance: 20 April | |
| "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. |
| 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. | 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 have long campaigned to change the voting system - although they prefer another system, the single transferable vote. | |
| Hung parliament | Hung parliament |
| Conservative leader David Cameron changed his party election broadcast on Monday night from one attacking Labour to one that "responds to the public mood". | |
| In it he said a "Conservative government with a strong mandate" was needed to "change a country" and warned against a hung parliament. | |
| The only party that now stands up for real change in the old economic and political order of this country are the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg | The only party that now stands up for real change in the old economic and political order of this country are the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg |
| Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox told the BBC the Tories "have to take" 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... The thing is that change is a process not a destination." | "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... The thing is that change is a process not a destination." |
| 'More unpredictable' | 'More unpredictable' |
| Asked about Mr Cameron's party election broadcast, Mr Clegg said: "Over the last few weeks, he has changed his policies, he has changed his ad agency and last night he changed his election broadcast, but that doesn't mean he can change Britain. | |
| "The only party that now stands up for real change in the old economic and political order of this country are the Liberal Democrats." | "The only party that now stands up for real change in the old economic and political order of this country are the Liberal Democrats." |
| Mr Clegg used his daily news conference to set out plans to split up the banks, to separate low risk deposit-taking banking from high risk investment banking, and set a new 10% levy on bank profits. | Mr Clegg used his daily news conference to set out plans to split up the banks, to separate low risk deposit-taking banking from high risk investment banking, and set a new 10% levy on bank profits. |
| But he continued to face questions about whether he would "prop up" Labour if they won the most seats. | But he continued to face questions about whether he would "prop up" Labour if they won the most seats. |
| Mr Clegg said he could not predict the future and it was "more exciting and more unpredictable than any election I can remember". | Mr Clegg said he could not predict the future and it was "more exciting and more unpredictable than any election I can remember". |
| Labour is launching its business plans, saying government must create the conditions in which firms prosper. | Labour is launching its business plans, saying government must create the conditions in which firms prosper. |
| Gordon Brown will say his party backs business but believes "that government must create the conditions within which firms prosper". | Gordon Brown will say his party backs business but believes "that government must create the conditions within which firms prosper". |
| "The Conservatives believe that growth can happen by itself so long as government gets out of the way, but growth doesn't happen by chance. That is the economics of yesterday." | "The Conservatives believe that growth can happen by itself so long as government gets out of the way, but growth doesn't happen by chance. That is the economics of yesterday." |
| And the Conservatives will launch plans to tackle welfare dependency. David Cameron will say the "free ride is over". | And the Conservatives will launch plans to tackle welfare dependency. David Cameron will say the "free ride is over". |
| He will say, if the Tories win power, they would introduce a single "work programme" by the end of 2010, to "get Britain working again". | He will say, if the Tories win power, they would introduce a single "work programme" by the end of 2010, to "get Britain working again". |
| Plans involve helping people find work and start up businesses, and "work clubs" to help unemployed people learn skills and get support - as well as sanctions for anyone who refuses to look for work. | Plans involve helping people find work and start up businesses, and "work clubs" to help unemployed people learn skills and get support - as well as sanctions for anyone who refuses to look for work. |
| Tuesday is also the deadline for people to register so they can vote on 6 May. | Tuesday is also the deadline for people to register so they can vote on 6 May. |