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Party leaders hit campaign trail ahead of by-elections Party leaders hit campaign trail ahead of by-elections
(about 1 hour later)
Party leaders have stepped up campaigning efforts before two key by-elections take place next week.Party leaders have stepped up campaigning efforts before two key by-elections take place next week.
Ed Miliband and Nigel Farage are visiting Heywood and Middleton, where a by-election was triggered by the death of Labour MP Jim Dobbin in September.Ed Miliband and Nigel Farage are visiting Heywood and Middleton, where a by-election was triggered by the death of Labour MP Jim Dobbin in September.
In Clacton, ex Bread star Giles Watling said being the Conservative candidate gave him a "wonderful opportunity" to do something "for my patch". Prime Minister David Cameron is canvassing in Clacton with the Conservative candidate for the area, Giles Watling.
Douglas Carswell triggered the by-election after defecting to UKIP.Douglas Carswell triggered the by-election after defecting to UKIP.
Mr Carswell had been Conservative MP for Clacton since 2005, winning with a 12,000 majority in 2010.Mr Carswell had been Conservative MP for Clacton since 2005, winning with a 12,000 majority in 2010.
Giles Watling, who played a vicar in the comedy series Bread, told the BBC that "it wasn't really the plan" for him to stand as an MP, but having been active in local Conservative politics, he decided to do so after Mr Carswell's resignation. Mr Watling, who played a vicar in the comedy series Bread, told the BBC that "it wasn't really the plan" for him to stand as an MP, but having been active in local Conservative politics, he decided to do so after Mr Carswell's resignation.
Andy Graham is the Liberal Democrat candidate and Chris Southall is standing for the Green Party. Mr Graham said it had been wrong of Douglas Carswell to call the by-election in the first place, as it had "cost the taxpayer £250,000". The prime minister said Mr Watling would "stand up for local people", and that he would "help to deliver our long-term economic plan" in the constituency.
Asked about Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg's criticism of Home Secretary Theresa May earlier in the day, Mr Cameron said she had "set out a series of measures we have taken, and a series of measures a Conservative-only government would take to make us even more safe, and I think that was the right thing to say".
Andy Graham is the Lib Dem candidate for Clacton and Chris Southall is standing for the Green Party. Mr Graham said it had been wrong of Mrs Carswell to call the by-election in the first place, as it had "cost the taxpayer £250,000".
Tim Young, the Labour candidate for the constituency, told the BBC the most pressing issue for local people was "the state of the local and national NHS".Tim Young, the Labour candidate for the constituency, told the BBC the most pressing issue for local people was "the state of the local and national NHS".
Ed Miliband visited Clacton yesterday. When asked by the BBC's Adam Fleming if the prime minister had "stolen the Labour leader's thunder" by promising to ring-fence the NHS budget, Mr Young said his message to voters was: "Don't look at David Cameron's words, look at his deeds." Ed Miliband visited Clacton on Wednesday. When asked by the BBC's Adam Fleming if the prime minister had "stolen the Labour leader's thunder" by promising to ring-fence the NHS budget, Mr Young said his message to voters was: "Don't look at David Cameron's words. Look at his deeds."
'Ukippy kind of language''Ukippy kind of language'
Mr Carswell told the BBC David Cameron had been speaking a "Ukippy kind of language" in his conference speech on Wednesday.Mr Carswell told the BBC David Cameron had been speaking a "Ukippy kind of language" in his conference speech on Wednesday.
He said the current government's failures were "not just written in immigration statistics or gaping public debt", but also in local issues such as the "switching off of the streetlights, or the long queues of people queuing to get to see their GP".He said the current government's failures were "not just written in immigration statistics or gaping public debt", but also in local issues such as the "switching off of the streetlights, or the long queues of people queuing to get to see their GP".
In his conference speech David Cameron warned voters thinking of voting UKIP at the next election that they might "go to bed with" Nigel Farage on 7 May and "wake up with Ed Miliband". In his conference speech Mr Cameron warned voters thinking of voting UKIP at the next election that they might "go to bed with" Nigel Farage on 7 May and "wake up with Ed Miliband".
There was a further defection, by MP Mark Reckless, from the Conservatives to UKIP last week and former Conservative donor Arron Banks announced on Wednesday he was giving £1m to UKIP.There was a further defection, by MP Mark Reckless, from the Conservatives to UKIP last week and former Conservative donor Arron Banks announced on Wednesday he was giving £1m to UKIP.
Mr Farage is in the Greater Manchester constituency of Heywood and Middleton campaigning for the UKIP candidate Jon Bickley. In his speech to the UKIP conference Mr Farage said that UKIP were "parking their tanks on Labour's lawn" in this by-election battle. Mr Farage is in the Greater Manchester constituency of Heywood and Middleton campaigning for the UKIP candidate Jon Bickley. In his speech to the UKIP conference Mr Farage said that UKIP was "parking" its "tanks on Labour's lawn" in this by-election battle.
The Labour Party candidate is Liz McInnes. Ed Miliband is due to canvass with her later on Thursday. The Labour Party candidate is Liz McInnes. Mr Miliband is due to canvass with her later on Thursday.
Jim Dobbin, who had represented the area for the Labour Party since 1997, died on 6 September. In the 2010 election he won with 40% of the vote. The UKIP candidate received 2.6%.Jim Dobbin, who had represented the area for the Labour Party since 1997, died on 6 September. In the 2010 election he won with 40% of the vote. The UKIP candidate received 2.6%.
Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats, remains in London ahead of the start of his party's conference on Saturday. Mr Clegg remains in London ahead of the start of his party's conference on Saturday.
The full list of candidates, in alphabetical order by surname, in Clacton, is:The full list of candidates, in alphabetical order by surname, in Clacton, is:
Carswell, Douglas - UK Independence PartyCarswell, Douglas - UK Independence Party
Graham, Andy - Liberal DemocratsGraham, Andy - Liberal Democrats
Hope, Howling Laud - The Official Monster Raving Loony PartyHope, Howling Laud - The Official Monster Raving Loony Party
Rose, Charlotte - IndependentRose, Charlotte - Independent
Sizer, Bruce Francis - IndependentSizer, Bruce Francis - Independent
Southall, Chris - Green PartySouthall, Chris - Green Party
Watling, Giles - ConservativeWatling, Giles - Conservative
Young, Tim - LabourYoung, Tim - Labour
The full list of candidates, in alphabetical order by surname, in Heywood and Middleton, is:The full list of candidates, in alphabetical order by surname, in Heywood and Middleton, is:
Bickley, Jon - UK Independence PartyBickley, Jon - UK Independence Party
Gartside, Iain - The Conservative PartyGartside, Iain - The Conservative Party
Jackson, Abi - Green Party of England and WalesJackson, Abi - Green Party of England and Wales
McInnes, Liz - Labour PartyMcInnes, Liz - Labour Party
Smith, Anthony - The Liberal DemocratsSmith, Anthony - The Liberal Democrats