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PM Brown 'in by-election bunker' PM Brown 'in by-election bunker'
(about 1 hour later)
David Cameron has accused Gordon Brown of hiding in "his bunker" - instead of going out to Crewe & Nantwich to explain axing the 10p tax band.David Cameron has accused Gordon Brown of hiding in "his bunker" - instead of going out to Crewe & Nantwich to explain axing the 10p tax band.
Mr Brown told MPs it was a prime ministerial convention not to campaign at by-elections and he had given £2.7bn to help those hit by tax changes.Mr Brown told MPs it was a prime ministerial convention not to campaign at by-elections and he had given £2.7bn to help those hit by tax changes.
Mr Cameron said ex-PM Tony Blair always "led from the front" at by-elections. Mr Cameron said ex-PM Tony Blair "led from the front" at by-elections.
The exchanges came as the three main parties took to the streets of Crewe for the final day of campaigning.The exchanges came as the three main parties took to the streets of Crewe for the final day of campaigning.
'Unbackable'
Labour deputy Harriet Harman, shadow home secretary David Davis and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg are all in the area to support their respective candidates.Labour deputy Harriet Harman, shadow home secretary David Davis and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg are all in the area to support their respective candidates.
'Tax con'
The by-election was sparked by the death of Labour MP Gwyneth Dunwoody, who had held the seat since 1983.The by-election was sparked by the death of Labour MP Gwyneth Dunwoody, who had held the seat since 1983.
But Ladbrokes have stopped taking bets on the outcome saying the Conservatives have become "unbackable" on 16/1. In the Commons, Mr Cameron accused the prime minister of planning another "tax con" by making tax cuts introduced after the 10p U-turn for one year only.
Mr Cameron has pledged to "pull out all the stops" to secure the seat, which would be the Conservatives' first by-election gain from Labour in 30 years. Instead of leading from the front, haven't you put yourself into your bunker? David CameronConservative leader class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7388751.stm">Full list of candidates
'Class warfare' He said it was a "huge issue" for voters and asked if the £2.7bn compensation package would be continued next year.
He has urged Crewe and Nantwich voters to send Mr Brown a message about the abolition of the 10p tax band and his performance since becoming prime minister last summer. Mr Brown replied: "We've already said that we want to continue to help those affected by the 10p rate and the chancellor will announce that in the Pre-Budget Report."
Labour have run a campaign accusing the Conservative candidate Edward Timpson - a barrister whose family founded the Timpson shoe repair business - of being a "toff" while their campaign promotes Ms Dunwoody, daughter of the late Gwyneth Dunwoody, as "one of us". But Mr Cameron hit back: "This is a one-off, one year only change. The government giving some people some money this September and taking it all back again in April.
What's very clear is there is a lot of support draining away from the Labour Party - an enormous amount Vince CableLiberal Democrats class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7388751.stm">Full list of candidates "It is just one tax con followed by another."
Mr Cameron claimed Labour's campaign was "backward looking, out of date and it's divisive" adding he did not believe people responded to "class warfare". Mr Brown rejected this, saying the government was giving a tax cut to those who needed it - people on low and middle income families.
But Labour's chief whip Geoff Hoon told BBC 2's Newsnight, the party's campaign was about "choosing the best person to best represent the people of Crewe and Nantwich" and he said Ms Dunwoody was "an excellent candidate". You can get by without substance for some of the time, but you will never get buy without substance all of the time Gordon BrownPrime Minister
Asked whether a loss for Labour would damage Mr Brown's premiership, he said: "I don't accept that for a moment." To which Mr Cameron asked why Mr Brown had not had "the courage to explain these points to people on the streets in these towns".
The prime minister has come under fire from the opposition for being the only main party leader not to visit the constituency during the course of the campaign. Mr Brown said it was convention that prime ministers did not campaign in by-elections, but Mr Cameron hit back that Mr Blair had done so.
Lib Dem leader Mr Clegg will be out with his party's candidate Elizabeth Shenton on Wednesday, talking to voters in Nantwich town centre. "Instead of leading from the front, haven't you put yourself into your bunker?" he said.
Mr Clegg's deputy, Vince Cable, told Newsnight his party was taking its chances of winning the seat very seriously. Mr Brown said Mr Cameron wanted people to believe his party helped the poor, yet it had opposed tax credits, the minimum wage and maternity leave.
Trains anger 'Unbackable'
"What's very clear is there is a lot of support draining away from the Labour Party - an enormous amount. "You can get by without substance for some of the time, but you will never get buy without substances all of the time."
"People haven't fully made their minds up how to use their vote. I think there's a lot of people who don't want to vote Conservative and find us an attractive alternative." Ladbrokes have stopped taking bets on the outcome of the by-election because the Conservatives have become "unbackable" on 16/1.
The Lib Dems - who specialize in snatching surprise by-election victories - have been trailing in the opinion polls in Crewe and Nantwich.
But deputy leader Vince Cable insisted on Tuesday's Newsnight the Lib Dems were taking their chances of success seriously very seriously.
"What's very clear is there is a lot of support draining away from the Labour Party - an enormous amount," he said.
Labour has come under fire for accusing the Conservative candidate Edward Timpson - a barrister whose family founded the Timpson shoe repair business - of being a "toff" while their campaign promotes Ms Dunwoody, daughter of the late Gwyneth Dunwoody, as "one of us".
But Labour's chief whip Geoff Hoon told Newsnight the party's campaign was about "choosing the best person to best represent the people of Crewe and Nantwich" and he said Ms Dunwoody was "an excellent candidate".
At the 2005 general election, Gwyneth Dunwoody won the seat for Labour with a 7,078 majority.At the 2005 general election, Gwyneth Dunwoody won the seat for Labour with a 7,078 majority.
But a survey of 1,001 adults in Crewe and Nantwich by ComRes for the Independent, published on Tuesday, gave the Conservatives a 13 point lead on 48%, compared with Labour's 35% and the Lib Dems on 12%.But a survey of 1,001 adults in Crewe and Nantwich by ComRes for the Independent, published on Tuesday, gave the Conservatives a 13 point lead on 48%, compared with Labour's 35% and the Lib Dems on 12%.
Meanwhile MPs from all parties have condemned Virgin Trains, after many of them were delayed on their journey to Crewe on Monday by a signal failure.
Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik has tabled a Commons motion, saying that whoever wins Thursday's by-election "will not have been assisted by Virgin Trains".
The motion is also signed by the former Conservative transport minister Peter Bottomley, and Labour MPs Alan Simpson, Lynn Jones and Ann Cryer, and the independent Labour MP Bob Wareing.
Here is a list of the 10 candidates for the Crewe and Nantwich by-election on Thursday 22 May:Here is a list of the 10 candidates for the Crewe and Nantwich by-election on Thursday 22 May:
The Flying Brick - The Official Monster Raving Loony PartyThe Flying Brick - The Official Monster Raving Loony Party
Tamsin Dunwoody - LabourTamsin Dunwoody - Labour
Gemma Garrett - IndependentGemma Garrett - Independent
Mike Nattrass - UK Independence PartyMike Nattrass - UK Independence Party
David Roberts - English DemocratsDavid Roberts - English Democrats
Elizabeth Shenton - Liberal DemocratsElizabeth Shenton - Liberal Democrats
Robert Smith - Green PartyRobert Smith - Green Party
Paul Thorogood - Cut Tax on Petrol and DieselPaul Thorogood - Cut Tax on Petrol and Diesel
Edward Timpson - ConservativesEdward Timpson - Conservatives
Mark Walklate - IndependentMark Walklate - Independent