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Local elections 2013: Cameron 'welcomes scrutiny of UKIP' Local elections 2013: Cameron 'welcomes scrutiny of UKIP'
(about 1 hour later)
Prime Minister David Cameron says he "welcomes the scrutiny" UKIP has had during the council election campaign, but declined to repeat other Tories' criticism of their rivals.Prime Minister David Cameron says he "welcomes the scrutiny" UKIP has had during the council election campaign, but declined to repeat other Tories' criticism of their rivals.
Senior Tories have described UKIP as "clowns" and a "fringe party" in a war of words ahead of Thursday's poll.Senior Tories have described UKIP as "clowns" and a "fringe party" in a war of words ahead of Thursday's poll.
Mr Cameron said their policies and candidates had come under the spotlight and they had to "explain themselves".Mr Cameron said their policies and candidates had come under the spotlight and they had to "explain themselves".
He told the BBC he accepted that many voters felt "frustrated". He told the BBC he accepted that some voters felt "frustrated".
Although people understood the government had had to take difficult decisions, their impact was still "unwelcome", he said. Although people understood the government had had to take difficult decisions, their impact was still "unwelcome" to some, he said.
He was speaking as campaigning for council, mayoral and one by-election in England - and one council in Wales - nears its end, with much attention on what impact UKIP might have on the results.He was speaking as campaigning for council, mayoral and one by-election in England - and one council in Wales - nears its end, with much attention on what impact UKIP might have on the results.
Tory peer Lord Tebbit said he thought many Tory voters might switch to UKIP in protest at David Cameron's government, but Foreign Secretary William Hague has urged Tory supporters not to "waste" their vote on UKIP.Tory peer Lord Tebbit said he thought many Tory voters might switch to UKIP in protest at David Cameron's government, but Foreign Secretary William Hague has urged Tory supporters not to "waste" their vote on UKIP.
Mr Hague dismissed UKIP as a "fringe party" and said the real choice was between Tory and Labour.Mr Hague dismissed UKIP as a "fringe party" and said the real choice was between Tory and Labour.
Asked about the threat posed by UKIP to his party in the elections, Mr Cameron said "parties must speak for themselves" and he preferred to talk about what Conservative councils were doing on council tax and the cost of living.Asked about the threat posed by UKIP to his party in the elections, Mr Cameron said "parties must speak for themselves" and he preferred to talk about what Conservative councils were doing on council tax and the cost of living.
'Free country''Free country'
In an interview with the BBC Radio 4's The World at One, Mr Cameron - who in 2006 dismissed UKIP as "fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists" - declined to mention UKIP by name but said their policies and candidates were coming under scrutiny.In an interview with the BBC Radio 4's The World at One, Mr Cameron - who in 2006 dismissed UKIP as "fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists" - declined to mention UKIP by name but said their policies and candidates were coming under scrutiny.
"That is a welcome part of the political debate," he said. "I welcome the scrutiny of other parties. That is only fair in a democracy. Where they come up short, they have to explain themselves.""That is a welcome part of the political debate," he said. "I welcome the scrutiny of other parties. That is only fair in a democracy. Where they come up short, they have to explain themselves."
Asked about the fact that Tory MP Priti Patel's father was standing as a UKIP candidate, Mr Cameron said it was a "free country" and "split loyalties" over politics were common in many families.Asked about the fact that Tory MP Priti Patel's father was standing as a UKIP candidate, Mr Cameron said it was a "free country" and "split loyalties" over politics were common in many families.
UKIP has increased its number of candidates in the elections and is targeting voters disillusioned with the big three parties at Westminster.UKIP has increased its number of candidates in the elections and is targeting voters disillusioned with the big three parties at Westminster.
The Conservatives are braced for losses on Thursday, with the 240-plus county council and unitary authority seats they gained in 2009, the last time the seats were contested, potentially looking the most vulnerable.The Conservatives are braced for losses on Thursday, with the 240-plus county council and unitary authority seats they gained in 2009, the last time the seats were contested, potentially looking the most vulnerable.
The prime minister said he was a participant not a pollster and he urged voters to focus on which councils delivered the best value for money.The prime minister said he was a participant not a pollster and he urged voters to focus on which councils delivered the best value for money.
He said Conservative-run councils were more likely to have frozen council tax in the past three years than those controlled by other parties, taking advantage of government subsidies encouraging councils to do so.He said Conservative-run councils were more likely to have frozen council tax in the past three years than those controlled by other parties, taking advantage of government subsidies encouraging councils to do so.
But asked about the third of councils - including Tory run Oxfordshire Council in his constituency - which have raised council tax, he replied: "It is their decision. I believe in localism. The money was there for a freeze if they wanted to take it up... it is a matter for them."But asked about the third of councils - including Tory run Oxfordshire Council in his constituency - which have raised council tax, he replied: "It is their decision. I believe in localism. The money was there for a freeze if they wanted to take it up... it is a matter for them."
'Ill-judged rant''Ill-judged rant'
Conservatives have been split over how to deal with UKIP, Cabinet minister Ken Clarke calling them a "collection of clowns", an intervention which Lord Tebbit described as a "singularly ill-judged rant" in his Daily Telegraph blog.Conservatives have been split over how to deal with UKIP, Cabinet minister Ken Clarke calling them a "collection of clowns", an intervention which Lord Tebbit described as a "singularly ill-judged rant" in his Daily Telegraph blog.
"Many former Conservative voters are so fed up with the Cameron Coalition that they will turn to UKIP as the party which comes closest to a traditional Conservative agenda," added the former Tory Party chairman."Many former Conservative voters are so fed up with the Cameron Coalition that they will turn to UKIP as the party which comes closest to a traditional Conservative agenda," added the former Tory Party chairman.
UKIP leader Nigel Farage accused Mr Clarke of "holding millions of people in this country in utter contempt" and said his party was "appealing to people due to the failure of the bloated self-satisfied political machine of which he is such a typical member".UKIP leader Nigel Farage accused Mr Clarke of "holding millions of people in this country in utter contempt" and said his party was "appealing to people due to the failure of the bloated self-satisfied political machine of which he is such a typical member".
'In the saddle''In the saddle'
On Thursday, a by-election will also be held for the Westminster seat of South Shields, vacated by Labour's David Miliband while elections will also be held for mayors in Doncaster and North Tyneside.On Thursday, a by-election will also be held for the Westminster seat of South Shields, vacated by Labour's David Miliband while elections will also be held for mayors in Doncaster and North Tyneside.
Labour has declined to say how it expects to do on Thursday, but experts have said it will be looking to retake control of councils such as Derbyshire and make inroads across the south of England at the very least.Labour has declined to say how it expects to do on Thursday, but experts have said it will be looking to retake control of councils such as Derbyshire and make inroads across the south of England at the very least.
Interviewed on the Today programme, Labour's deputy leader Harriet Harman confirmed that under the party's economic plans there would have to be a temporary rise in borrowing to fund a cut in VAT. In the long term, she said the measures would stimulate growth.Interviewed on the Today programme, Labour's deputy leader Harriet Harman confirmed that under the party's economic plans there would have to be a temporary rise in borrowing to fund a cut in VAT. In the long term, she said the measures would stimulate growth.
"We haven't been inconsistent in our messages... the government have cut too far and too fast" she added."We haven't been inconsistent in our messages... the government have cut too far and too fast" she added.
She said the party "will review... [the] universality of pensioners' benefits" such as winter fuel payments and free bus passes, amid calls for better-off pensioners to be stripped of them to save cash.She said the party "will review... [the] universality of pensioners' benefits" such as winter fuel payments and free bus passes, amid calls for better-off pensioners to be stripped of them to save cash.
Speaking on Tuesday, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said his party had been on the "back foot" electorally since entering government in 2010 but was "back in the saddle" and confident after its victory in March's Eastleigh by-election.Speaking on Tuesday, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said his party had been on the "back foot" electorally since entering government in 2010 but was "back in the saddle" and confident after its victory in March's Eastleigh by-election.
The Green Party of England and Wales are also hoping to make gains in county council contests where they are fielding candidates.The Green Party of England and Wales are also hoping to make gains in county council contests where they are fielding candidates.