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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| David Cameron launches Conservative local elections campaign | David Cameron launches Conservative local elections campaign |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| David Cameron is set to launch the Conservative campaign for the local elections in England. | David Cameron is set to launch the Conservative campaign for the local elections in England. |
| The prime minster is expected to appeal for the votes of "hard-working people", during a visit to the Midlands. | The prime minster is expected to appeal for the votes of "hard-working people", during a visit to the Midlands. |
| Elections will be held for 27 county councils and seven unitary authorities in England, along with Anglesey in Wales, on Thursday 2 May. | Elections will be held for 27 county councils and seven unitary authorities in England, along with Anglesey in Wales, on Thursday 2 May. |
| The Greens will launch their campaign in Oxford later. Labour, Lib Dems and UKIP have already begun campaigning. | The Greens will launch their campaign in Oxford later. Labour, Lib Dems and UKIP have already begun campaigning. |
| At a speech in Warwickshire, Mr Cameron is expected to tell party members: "Remember what we're fighting for. | At a speech in Warwickshire, Mr Cameron is expected to tell party members: "Remember what we're fighting for. |
| 'Key achievements' | |
| "Yes, we're fighting for our councils but it's about more than that. | "Yes, we're fighting for our councils but it's about more than that. |
| "We're rebuilding our country. Backing hard-working people. Making this a country where if you work hard and do the right thing, you will get on." | "We're rebuilding our country. Backing hard-working people. Making this a country where if you work hard and do the right thing, you will get on." |
| Mr Cameron is also expected to hail progress on welfare reform, immigration and cutting income tax. | Mr Cameron is also expected to hail progress on welfare reform, immigration and cutting income tax. |
| Aides said he would also insist Tory-led town halls run better services and highlight what he sees as key achievements of the coalition administration in Westminster. | Aides said he would also insist Tory-led town halls run better services and highlight what he sees as key achievements of the coalition administration in Westminster. |
| They are to include job creation, progress on reducing the deficit, cuts in the income tax threshold and capping benefits. | They are to include job creation, progress on reducing the deficit, cuts in the income tax threshold and capping benefits. |
| Mr Cameron is also expected to highlight the government's scheme to encourage local authorities in England to freeze council tax bills by providing central cash to cushion the cut in real-terms income. | Mr Cameron is also expected to highlight the government's scheme to encourage local authorities in England to freeze council tax bills by providing central cash to cushion the cut in real-terms income. |
| But although it has helped keep the average rise to a below-inflation 0.8% across the country this year, many Conservative authorities are among the third of the total which have rejected the offer. | But although it has helped keep the average rise to a below-inflation 0.8% across the country this year, many Conservative authorities are among the third of the total which have rejected the offer. |
| 'Significant gains' | 'Significant gains' |
| Natalie Bennett, leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, will also set out her campaign objectives later. It the first time she has led her party in an election campaign, having succeeded MP Caroline Lucas in the job in September. | |
| The Greens are fielding close to 1,000 candidates in the elections and defending seats they hold in Oxfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk among other places. In 2009, the last time the equivalent seats were contested, they elected 17 councillors. | |
| The party are campaigning on a platform of opposing government welfare cuts, protecting the green belt, supporting a "living wage", introducing 20mph limits on more roads and stopping the construction of waste incinerators. | |
| UKIP are fielding a record number of candidates in the 2 May poll. Leader Nigel Farage said his party would "establish a bridgehead" in county councils across England. | |
| Labour are expected to make significant gains among the 2,449 seats up for grabs as they were last fought for in 2009, when Gordon Brown's government was unpopular nationally. | |
| When he launched the party's campaign earlier this month, leader Ed Miliband pledged to "stand up for those without power". | |
| Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg began the Lib Dems' campaign on Monday. | Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg began the Lib Dems' campaign on Monday. |
| Speaking during a visit to Kendal in Cumbria, he said the party had the "right priorities in tough times" and had proved it could be relied upon to deliver local services "as fairly as possible". | Speaking during a visit to Kendal in Cumbria, he said the party had the "right priorities in tough times" and had proved it could be relied upon to deliver local services "as fairly as possible". |
| In the most recent Westminster by-election, in Eastleigh, the Conservatives were pushed into third place behind the Liberal Democrats and UKIP while the Greens did not put up a candidate. |