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| Ed Miliband says unfunded spending claims 'completely false' | Ed Miliband says unfunded spending claims 'completely false' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Labour leader Ed Miliband has said Conservative claims of £20.7bn in unfunded spending pledges by his party are "completely false". | Labour leader Ed Miliband has said Conservative claims of £20.7bn in unfunded spending pledges by his party are "completely false". |
| Chancellor George Osborne and other Tory Cabinet ministers have said Labour's spending plans do not add up. | Chancellor George Osborne and other Tory Cabinet ministers have said Labour's spending plans do not add up. |
| But Mr Miliband said Labour were being most "cautious" of the main parties. | But Mr Miliband said Labour were being most "cautious" of the main parties. |
| He was speaking before a rally where he told supporters to hold four million conversations with voters before the general election. | He was speaking before a rally where he told supporters to hold four million conversations with voters before the general election. |
| With Labour focusing its campaign on the NHS, BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the two largest parties were attacking each other along "familiar" lines. | With Labour focusing its campaign on the NHS, BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the two largest parties were attacking each other along "familiar" lines. |
| 'Clear commitment' | 'Clear commitment' |
| Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Mr Miliband promised a "positive campaign". | Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Mr Miliband promised a "positive campaign". |
| "We are putting forward a positive case for a change in direction," he said. | "We are putting forward a positive case for a change in direction," he said. |
| And Mr Miliband defended Labour's economic plans, saying he had made a "clear commitment" that outside protected departments - which include health - public spending would fall. | And Mr Miliband defended Labour's economic plans, saying he had made a "clear commitment" that outside protected departments - which include health - public spending would fall. |
| "I'm afraid this is what the Tories are going to, the kind of campaign they're going to run," he said. | "I'm afraid this is what the Tories are going to, the kind of campaign they're going to run," he said. |
| "It's going to be a choice of hope with us and falsehood from the Conservatives. The Institute for Fiscal Studies, respected independent body, has said that Labour has been the most cautious of all the parties in making commitments." | "It's going to be a choice of hope with us and falsehood from the Conservatives. The Institute for Fiscal Studies, respected independent body, has said that Labour has been the most cautious of all the parties in making commitments." |
| Analysis by Nick Robinson, political editor | Analysis by Nick Robinson, political editor |
| The claims are all too familiar. You can't trust Labour not to spend and tax and borrow say the Conservatives. You can't trust the Tories with the NHS say Labour. | The claims are all too familiar. You can't trust Labour not to spend and tax and borrow say the Conservatives. You can't trust the Tories with the NHS say Labour. |
| The facts and the claims and the spin that underpin them are new, though, and they matter. | The facts and the claims and the spin that underpin them are new, though, and they matter. |
| What's also different from previous elections is the state of the public finances. Britain still has a massive deficit and growing debts so it is right that all parties should be heavily scrutinised to check they're being honest with voters about what spending they might cut, or what taxes they might increase if they get into power after May. | What's also different from previous elections is the state of the public finances. Britain still has a massive deficit and growing debts so it is right that all parties should be heavily scrutinised to check they're being honest with voters about what spending they might cut, or what taxes they might increase if they get into power after May. |
| Read more from Nick | Read more from Nick |
| Addressing Labour activists in Salford, Mr Miliband said no proposals in the Labour election manifesto would be funded by "additional borrowing". | |
| He predicted "the usual sound and fury" during the election campaign, saying the government were "pessimists". | |
| Meanwhile, in central London, Chancellor George Osborne and Leader of the House of Commons William Hague will be among the cabinet members who will say Labour's plans would amount to almost £1,200 extra borrowing for every working household in the UK. | |
| They will highlight the figure for unfunded spending, which is based on Treasury costings and "other reliable sources", a Conservative Party spokesman said. | They will highlight the figure for unfunded spending, which is based on Treasury costings and "other reliable sources", a Conservative Party spokesman said. |
| But the party has not said how the final figure was reached. | But the party has not said how the final figure was reached. |
| A Conservative Party spokesman said the figures showed the "Labour Party have not demonstrated the fiscal discipline or economic competence that earns an opposition the credibility to form a government. The evidence shows they are a risk to economic recovery." | A Conservative Party spokesman said the figures showed the "Labour Party have not demonstrated the fiscal discipline or economic competence that earns an opposition the credibility to form a government. The evidence shows they are a risk to economic recovery." |
| Time to talk | Time to talk |
| While the Conservatives have focused their attacks on the economy, Labour chose the NHS for its first campaign adverts. | While the Conservatives have focused their attacks on the economy, Labour chose the NHS for its first campaign adverts. |
| Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the health service would change "beyond recognition" if the Conservatives won power. | Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the health service would change "beyond recognition" if the Conservatives won power. |
| In a press conference on a busy first Monday back at Westminster after the festive break, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg will advocate "a strong coalition government, with Lib Dems anchoring it in the centre ground". | In a press conference on a busy first Monday back at Westminster after the festive break, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg will advocate "a strong coalition government, with Lib Dems anchoring it in the centre ground". |
| The deputy prime minister is expected to brand Conservative plans to tackle the deficit "a con". | The deputy prime minister is expected to brand Conservative plans to tackle the deficit "a con". |
| "They're trying to sell you an ideological approach to cuts to public services packaged up as continuity," he is expected to say. | "They're trying to sell you an ideological approach to cuts to public services packaged up as continuity," he is expected to say. |
| He is also set to claim Labour's policies represent a "clear and present danger" to the economic recovery. | He is also set to claim Labour's policies represent a "clear and present danger" to the economic recovery. |