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Parties fight to offer 'change' Parties fight to offer 'change'
(about 1 hour later)
Political parties are battling over who can offer voters "change" - following a Lib Dem poll surge. Political parties are battling over who can offer voters "change" as the polls suggest a continuing Lib Dem 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. Labour's Gordon Brown told BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat: "I'm here to be a vehicle of change for our community".
In other election developments on Tuesday: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.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.
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.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". For Labour, 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 Mr Clegg had to be "taken seriously" because he appealed to "a lot of people who feel Labour has had a good innings, and feel it's someone else's turn" but had "baulked" at a Conservative government.He said Mr Clegg had to be "taken seriously" because he appealed to "a lot of people who feel Labour has had a good innings, and feel it's someone else's turn" but had "baulked" at a Conservative government.
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".
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programmeFROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
"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. The Lib Dems want to change the voting system - although they prefer another 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.
In a debate on BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat, Mr Brown said he noted the "anti-politics mood" among voters who were "fed up" with MPs after the expenses scandal.
But he said he had got into politics to solve problems in his community like unemployment, adding: "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."
Hung parliamentHung 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". Conservative leader David Cameron changed his party election broadcast on Monday night to say a "Conservative government with a strong mandate" was needed to "change a country" and to warn against a hung parliament.
In it he said a "Conservative government with a strong mandate" was needed to "change a country" and warned against a hung parliament.
Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox told the BBC the Tories were also taking Mr Clegg "seriously" - and said the polls showed "people want change".Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox told the BBC the Tories were also taking Mr Clegg "seriously" - and said the polls showed "people want change".
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 Pundits discuss the Lib Dem surgeI 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 Pundits discuss the Lib Dem surge
"I think increasingly in the next two weeks the message we will want to get across is only the Conservatives can guarantee 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."
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.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."
'Unpredictable election''Unpredictable election'
Faced with questions about whether he would "prop up" Labour if they won the most seats, Mr Clegg said he could not predict the future but it was "more exciting and more unpredictable than any election I can remember".Faced with questions about whether he would "prop up" Labour if they won the most seats, Mr Clegg said he could not predict the future but it was "more exciting and more unpredictable than any election I can remember".
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".
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 and set a new 10% levy on bank profits.
Gordon Brown is launching Labour's business plans, saying government must create the conditions in which firms prosper.Gordon Brown is launching Labour's business plans, saying government must create the conditions in which firms prosper.
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".
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.
You can hear the full debate with Gordon Brown on BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat and BBC Radio 1xtra at 1245 BST.