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Brown set to unveil policy plans Brown unveiling policy programme
(about 1 hour later)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown is to unveil his government's policy plans for the next year to MPs at 1530 BST. Prime Minister Gordon Brown is setting out his government's policy plans for the next year in the House of Commons.
The programme, seen by some as an early election manifesto, reportedly includes plans for local people in England to get priority on housing waiting lists.The programme, seen by some as an early election manifesto, reportedly includes plans for local people in England to get priority on housing waiting lists.
But before the statement Lord Mandelson said a scheduled review of spending would not be held before an election.But before the statement Lord Mandelson said a scheduled review of spending would not be held before an election.
Tory leader David Cameron called it a "relaunch without a spending tag" and accused ministers of "dishonesty".Tory leader David Cameron called it a "relaunch without a spending tag" and accused ministers of "dishonesty".
He said he preferred to fight the next election on "a straightforward, frank and honest platform" and warned that "riots on the street" might follow if spending cuts were made after an election campaign in which politicians "pretended" they were not needed. The policy document being unveiled by Mr Brown in the House of Commons is called "Building Britain's future" although many proposals are thought to relate to England only as a result of devolution in areas such as health and education.
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The spending period currently operating in government stretches beyond the next election and therefore it is reasonable to review public spending at that time." The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Brown had promised to reveal his vision when he decided not to call a general election in October 2007 - but had been delayed by the financial, then political crisis.
Dishonesty claim
Asked why there would be no spending review for the year 2010/11, when borrowing was far exceeding predictions, he said it was impossible to predict how the economy would perform over the next two years.
"We are not in a position, in June 2009, to be able to forecast what growth will be and what the performance of the economy will be in 2011. That is why we have to wait," he said.
Later a Treasury spokeswoman said no decision had been taken on whether there would be a comprehensive spending review this year.
Mr Cameron said delaying the review was a "blatant attempt to cover up the truth about Labour's cuts".
He said: "I believe there is a thread of dishonesty running through this premiership. From cancelling the election, and saying it had nothing to do with the opinion polls, to his claim that abolishing the 10p tax would have nothing to do in terms of hitting the poor."
What the government is going to do today is to move on and to focus on the policies and the changes that the public want Lord Mandelson Nick Robinson: Cameron's 'riots' fear Top Tories giving up second jobs Ministers to unveil cancer pledge
He said there had been a "pattern of deception about public spending".
"This morning, on the day of their relaunch, Peter Mandelson has announced that they are cancelling the spending review. So today we have a relaunch, without a spending tag".
The policy document being unveiled by Mr Brown in the House of Commons at 1530 BST is called "Building Britain's future" - although many of the proposals are thought to relate to England only as a result of devolution in areas such as health and education.
The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said the plans were the vision Gordon Brown had promised when he decided not to call a general election in October 2007 - but had been delayed by the financial, then political crisis.
And he said the plans essentially amounted to the Labour Party's manifesto for the next general election.
Health plansHealth plans
Speaking to the BBC Lord Mandelson said the government wanted "to move on and to focus on the policies and the changes that the public want". And he said the plans essentially amounted to the Labour Party's manifesto for the next general election.
He said they would be financed by switching funds within or between departments and would include responding to youth unemployment, "entrenching" people's rights and entitlements in hospitals, schools and policing and a "major new boost to social and affordable housing". Speaking to the BBC earlier Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said the government wanted "to move on and to focus on the policies and the changes that the public want".
Among other plans expected are a new venture capital fund to finance innovative companies in sectors like bioscience and low carbon.
The Guardian reports that local people will be given greater priority on waiting lists for social housing - seen as a response to the growth in a few traditional Labour areas of BNP support.The Guardian reports that local people will be given greater priority on waiting lists for social housing - seen as a response to the growth in a few traditional Labour areas of BNP support.
This is a cut and paste job of previous policy announcement all designed to try and secure Gordon Brown's position Danny AlexanderLiberal Democrats What the government is going to do today is to move on and to focus on the policies and the changes that the public want Lord Mandelson class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/">Nick Robinson: Cameron's 'riots' fear class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8124088.stm">Top Tories giving up second jobs class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8122798.stm">Ministers to unveil cancer pledge
Former minister Margaret Hodge was criticised by several Labour figures two years ago for saying social housing policy should be rethought to take account of length of residence, citizenship and National Insurance contributions.Former minister Margaret Hodge was criticised by several Labour figures two years ago for saying social housing policy should be rethought to take account of length of residence, citizenship and National Insurance contributions.
But, ahead of Mr Brown's announcement, housing minister John Healey told the BBC that councils should have more "leeway" to prioritise people with strong local connections or those who needed to move to the area to take up a job.But, ahead of Mr Brown's announcement, housing minister John Healey told the BBC that councils should have more "leeway" to prioritise people with strong local connections or those who needed to move to the area to take up a job.
In England, there are expected to be plans to give patients money to go private if NHS Trusts cannot meet the 18-week target between GP referral and treatment.In England, there are expected to be plans to give patients money to go private if NHS Trusts cannot meet the 18-week target between GP referral and treatment.
And primary care trusts may be required to pay for private consultations for people suspected of having cancer, if they are not given a specialist appointment within two weeks.And primary care trusts may be required to pay for private consultations for people suspected of having cancer, if they are not given a specialist appointment within two weeks.
Spending review
The British Medical Association has said most people were already seen in two weeks. The pledge that all cancer patients should be able to see a specialist within two weeks of initial referral was first made in a White Paper in 1998.The British Medical Association has said most people were already seen in two weeks. The pledge that all cancer patients should be able to see a specialist within two weeks of initial referral was first made in a White Paper in 1998.
Speaking on a visit to a primary care centre in London, Mr Brown said: "We have targets that are national, we now want to move to personal entitlements. That puts pressure of course on the local health service delivery.Speaking on a visit to a primary care centre in London, Mr Brown said: "We have targets that are national, we now want to move to personal entitlements. That puts pressure of course on the local health service delivery.
"But we believe that can be done with the extra resources we've already put into the health service and the extra resources we're putting in next year and this year.""But we believe that can be done with the extra resources we've already put into the health service and the extra resources we're putting in next year and this year."
But Liberal Democrat spokesman Danny Alexander said: "This is a cut and paste job of previous policy announcement all designed to try and secure Gordon Brown's position within the Labour Party. This is a cut and paste job of previous policy announcement all designed to try and secure Gordon Brown's position Danny AlexanderLiberal Democrats
Among other plans expected are a new venture capital fund to finance innovative companies in sectors like bioscience and low carbon.
Lord Mandelson said the plans would be financed by switching funds within or between departments, suggesting money could be moved from the Home Office and Department for Transport to finance a "major boost in the provision of social and affordable housing".
But he suggested on BBC Radio 4's Today programme that there would not be a spending review before the next general election.
"The spending period currently operating in government stretches beyond the next election and therefore it is reasonable to review public spending at that time," he said.
Dishonesty claim
He added it was impossible to predict how the economy would perform over the next two years: "We are not in a position, in June 2009, to be able to forecast what growth will be and what the performance of the economy will be in 2011. That is why we have to wait."
Later a Treasury spokeswoman said no decision had been taken on whether there would be a comprehensive spending review this year.
David Cameron: "I believe there is a thread of dishonesty"
Conservative leader Mr Cameron said he preferred to fight the next election on "a straightforward, frank and honest platform" and warned that "riots on the street" might follow if spending cuts were made after an election campaign in which politicians "pretended" they were not needed.
He said delaying the review was a "blatant attempt to cover up the truth about Labour's cuts".
He said: "I believe there is a thread of dishonesty running through this premiership. From cancelling the election, and saying it had nothing to do with the opinion polls, to his claim that abolishing the 10p tax would have nothing to do in terms of hitting the poor."
He said there had been a "pattern of deception about public spending".
"This morning, on the day of their relaunch, Peter Mandelson has announced that they are cancelling the spending review. So today we have a relaunch, without a spending tag".
Liberal Democrat spokesman Danny Alexander said: "This is a cut and paste job of previous policy announcement all designed to try and secure Gordon Brown's position within the Labour Party.
"This is about internal issues within the government, not about a vision for the future.""This is about internal issues within the government, not about a vision for the future."