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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Cameron vows government 'thrift' | Cameron vows government 'thrift' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Conservative leader David Cameron has pledged to "replace Labour's spendaholic government with a new government of thrift". | Conservative leader David Cameron has pledged to "replace Labour's spendaholic government with a new government of thrift". |
| In a speech to the party's spring forum, Mr Cameron will say cutting wasteful spending will not be enough to save Britain's finances. | In a speech to the party's spring forum, Mr Cameron will say cutting wasteful spending will not be enough to save Britain's finances. |
| What is needed is a "complete change of direction" across government and the public sector, he will say. | What is needed is a "complete change of direction" across government and the public sector, he will say. |
| Mr Cameron is also challenging Gordon Brown to hold a TV debate with him. | |
| The Tory leader made that challenge - something he has done before without success - in an interview with the Sunday Times. | |
| He is using the spring forum, being held at Cheltenham racecourse in Gloucestershire, to set out his priorities for a general election campaign, which could be less than a year away. | |
| 'Change of direction' | 'Change of direction' |
| Responding to the dire state of the public finances revealed in Wednesday's Budget, he will say Britain is entering a "new age of austerity" and there needs to a "complete change of direction" at the top. | |
| He will argue for a "whole new, never-been-done-before approach to the way the country is run". | He will argue for a "whole new, never-been-done-before approach to the way the country is run". |
| He will tell delegates: "Cutting out spending we can do without is not going to deliver the scale of change we need. | He will tell delegates: "Cutting out spending we can do without is not going to deliver the scale of change we need. |
| With a Conservative government, if ministers want to impress the boss, they'll have to make their budgets smaller, not bigger David CameronConservative leader | With a Conservative government, if ministers want to impress the boss, they'll have to make their budgets smaller, not bigger David CameronConservative leader |
| "Delivering more for less, on a sustained and long-term basis, cannot just be about top-down cuts imposed by ministers. We need a massive culture change at every level of government, so the state is no longer casual, but careful, with public money." | "Delivering more for less, on a sustained and long-term basis, cannot just be about top-down cuts imposed by ministers. We need a massive culture change at every level of government, so the state is no longer casual, but careful, with public money." |
| He will list examples of government waste and attack what he says is the culture in government that "prizes profligacy over prudence". | He will list examples of government waste and attack what he says is the culture in government that "prizes profligacy over prudence". |
| "With a Conservative government, if ministers want to impress the boss, they'll have to make their budgets smaller, not bigger. | "With a Conservative government, if ministers want to impress the boss, they'll have to make their budgets smaller, not bigger. |
| "On my watch it will be simple: if you do more for less you get promoted; if you do less for more, you get sacked. | "On my watch it will be simple: if you do more for less you get promoted; if you do less for more, you get sacked. |
| "If we'd had this approach over the last 12 years, I don't suppose there'd be a single minister left." | "If we'd had this approach over the last 12 years, I don't suppose there'd be a single minister left." |
| He will say the "culture of thrift" must also apply to the civil service, promising "a new fiduciary responsibility on senior civil servants - a contractual obligation to save the taxpayer money" and a "proper finance director" for every government department. | He will say the "culture of thrift" must also apply to the civil service, promising "a new fiduciary responsibility on senior civil servants - a contractual obligation to save the taxpayer money" and a "proper finance director" for every government department. |
| Top tax rate | Top tax rate |
| The Conservatives are using the spring conference to launch what is likely to be a key policy at the general election - extending the city academy programme to primary schools. | The Conservatives are using the spring conference to launch what is likely to be a key policy at the general election - extending the city academy programme to primary schools. |
| They will be hoping this will head off any rows over the new 50% top rate of income tax after Mr Cameron said it would not be a priority to cut it if the Tories win the election. | They will be hoping this will head off any rows over the new 50% top rate of income tax after Mr Cameron said it would not be a priority to cut it if the Tories win the election. |
| London Mayor Boris Johnson has said he would scrap the top rate but has so far managed to avoid being drawn into public criticism of Mr Cameron at the conference. | London Mayor Boris Johnson has said he would scrap the top rate but has so far managed to avoid being drawn into public criticism of Mr Cameron at the conference. |
| Boris Johnson has denied reports he "despises" the Tory leader | Boris Johnson has denied reports he "despises" the Tory leader |
| He made a typically colourful speech at a rally for Tory election candidates, in a room below the one of the main stands at the racecourse, telling them - to loud cheers - "break your piggy bank and put it on the jockey wearing blue" and saying "the Labour animal is knackered". | He made a typically colourful speech at a rally for Tory election candidates, in a room below the one of the main stands at the racecourse, telling them - to loud cheers - "break your piggy bank and put it on the jockey wearing blue" and saying "the Labour animal is knackered". |
| He has also denied, in an interview with the ConservativeHome website, a report in the Times' that he "despised" Mr Cameron, saying the report was "obvious tripe" and "fantasy". | |
| He also played down recent reports that he is planning to be prime minister saying that being London mayor is "almost certainly my last big job in British politics". | He also played down recent reports that he is planning to be prime minister saying that being London mayor is "almost certainly my last big job in British politics". |
| The Conservatives have said they want to make savings through spending cuts rather than tax rises if they get into power, which they argue would slow down any economic recovery. | The Conservatives have said they want to make savings through spending cuts rather than tax rises if they get into power, which they argue would slow down any economic recovery. |
| They have not said where any cuts will fall, beyond saying that health, schools, defence and international development will be protected from cuts in 2009 and 2010. | They have not said where any cuts will fall, beyond saying that health, schools, defence and international development will be protected from cuts in 2009 and 2010. |
| For 2010 to 2011 they only have two commitments - real terms increases in health spending and matching Labour's 2013 target for 0.7% of GDP to be spent on overseas aid. | For 2010 to 2011 they only have two commitments - real terms increases in health spending and matching Labour's 2013 target for 0.7% of GDP to be spent on overseas aid. |