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Cameron launches Tory fightback Cameron pledges hospitals fight
(about 3 hours later)
David Cameron is seeking to regain the political initiative amid reports Prime Minister Gordon Brown has ordered aides to prepare for an early election. David Cameron has promised a "bare knuckle fight" with Prime Minister Gordon Brown as he launched a campaign to safeguard district hospitals.
The Tory leader is focusing on NHS reform with a campaign to stop district hospitals being downgraded. The Tory leader is seeking to regain the political initiative amid reports Mr Brown could capitalise on his poll lead by calling an early election.
He is also making crime a key battleground - renewing his pledge to mend Britain's "broken society". Mr Cameron has identified 29 hospitals he claims are under threat from cuts.
Labour accused Mr Cameron of making "misleading" promises on public spending and tax cuts.Labour accused Mr Cameron of making "misleading" promises on public spending and tax cuts.
Public health minister Dawn Primarolo said: "It's misleading or dishonest to, on Friday, for the Tory party to support £21bn worth of cuts from public services in supporting the Redwood commission proposals.Public health minister Dawn Primarolo said: "It's misleading or dishonest to, on Friday, for the Tory party to support £21bn worth of cuts from public services in supporting the Redwood commission proposals.
"And then come back and say suddenly not only are they not going to do that, they are going to invest in public services and we know that's not true.""And then come back and say suddenly not only are they not going to do that, they are going to invest in public services and we know that's not true."
'Bare-knuckle fight' Key battleground
The Conservatives last week pledged to consider tax cuts following a report by a policy group chaired by former Cabinet minister John Redwood.The Conservatives last week pledged to consider tax cuts following a report by a policy group chaired by former Cabinet minister John Redwood.
We believe that the district general hospital is an absolutely key part of the National Health Service David CameronConservative leader Q&A: Hospitals under threatWe believe that the district general hospital is an absolutely key part of the National Health Service David CameronConservative leader Q&A: Hospitals under threat
The report prompted Labour accusations the Conservatives were "lurching to the right" - something denied by Mr Cameron, who has pledged to fight on the centre ground.The report prompted Labour accusations the Conservatives were "lurching to the right" - something denied by Mr Cameron, who has pledged to fight on the centre ground.
Mr Cameron, who has returned from his summer holiday in France, promised to give the prime minister a "bare-knuckle fight" over hospital closures. Mr Cameron said the downgrading of services at district hospitals would be a key battleground at the next general election.
"We believe that the district general hospital is an absolutely key part of the National Health Service," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "I can promise what I've called a bare-knuckle fight with the Government over the future of district general hospitals. "We believe in them, we want to save them and we want them enhanced, and we will fight the government all the way."
"People have put money into the NHS - they've paid increased taxes. 'Wasteful'
"They want to see their district general hospital improved and people simply do not understand why maternity units and accident and emergency units are being shut down - when actually accident and emergency admissions are actually up and births are up." He launched his campaign on a visit to Worthing Hospital in West Sussex which faces the possible closure of its A&E, consultant-led midwifery and intensive care units.
The Conservative leader has identified 29 hospitals which he claims are under threat from service cuts. Mr Cameron called for an immediate moratorium, stopping cutbacks at district general hospitals and putting in place a system making it more likely that they can survive.
Mr Cameron will be visiting several of the hospitals on the list and will be asking the government to clarify whether district general hospitals have a future under Labour. He said: "What that means is scrapping a lot of the top-down health targets that the government has introduced, it means ending the pointless reorganisations, of which we have had nine over the last decade, and it means reviewing the costly and wasteful NHS computer.
"Then it means actually making sure that hospitals can work together and GPs are put in the driving seat in terms of commissioning care to their patients."
'Local communities''Local communities'
The government has said there are 13 NHS trusts where services are the subject of a review or consultation - which may include more than one hospital each.The government has said there are 13 NHS trusts where services are the subject of a review or consultation - which may include more than one hospital each.
This fight on health refocuses the Tories in the political centre BBC political correspondent Laura Kuenssberg Read Laura's thoughts in full "The NHS is looking at the safest and most effective way of delivering care," said a department of health spokesman.This fight on health refocuses the Tories in the political centre BBC political correspondent Laura Kuenssberg Read Laura's thoughts in full "The NHS is looking at the safest and most effective way of delivering care," said a department of health spokesman.
"This does not mean wholesale closures of district general hospitals but it does mean that NHS clinicians and managers need to work with local communities to decide on the best organisation of services for patients in their areas.""This does not mean wholesale closures of district general hospitals but it does mean that NHS clinicians and managers need to work with local communities to decide on the best organisation of services for patients in their areas."
Mr Cameron is also concentrating on the fight against crime, amid concern over an increase in knife crime. Mr Cameron is also concentrating on the fight against crime.
'Tough penalties''Tough penalties'
He told Today that if people broke the law they should expect "tough penalties" but that punishment was "not enough".He told Today that if people broke the law they should expect "tough penalties" but that punishment was "not enough".
"We are not going to deal with anarchy in the UK unless you actually strengthen families and communities in the UK.""We are not going to deal with anarchy in the UK unless you actually strengthen families and communities in the UK."
He suggested one way to do this was to have a tax and benefit system that encouraged families "to come together and stay together rather than driving people apart".He suggested one way to do this was to have a tax and benefit system that encouraged families "to come together and stay together rather than driving people apart".
Mr Cameron hit back at claims he had "underestimated" Gordon Brown, in an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme.Mr Cameron hit back at claims he had "underestimated" Gordon Brown, in an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"He's been chancellor for 10 years, he managed to dislodge the prime minister who had won three elections. I've never underestimated Gordon Brown.""He's been chancellor for 10 years, he managed to dislodge the prime minister who had won three elections. I've never underestimated Gordon Brown."
'Brown bounce'
But he said in the run-up to the next general election people would see all of the problems facing Britain - from NHS closures to social breakdown - can be traced back to Mr Brown "sitting at his desk in Number 11 Downing St as chancellor".But he said in the run-up to the next general election people would see all of the problems facing Britain - from NHS closures to social breakdown - can be traced back to Mr Brown "sitting at his desk in Number 11 Downing St as chancellor".
According to the Observer, Mr Brown has ordered his election team to produce a blueprint of options which would allow him to call a vote in October.
He is expected to hold a meeting of key figures - including Cabinet ministers Douglas Alexander and Ed Miliband - at the beginning of September to make a final decision.
The party is continuing to enjoy a "Brown bounce" in the opinion polls but senior Labour figures and MPs still believe that the timing of a vote is most likely to be next spring or summer.
Is your local district hospital under threat? Have you experienced problems with your NHS treatment?Is your local district hospital under threat? Have you experienced problems with your NHS treatment?
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