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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Policy flurry as Tories gather | Policy flurry as Tories gather |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Tory leader David Cameron is expected to unveil a series of new policies on the eve of his party's conference. | Tory leader David Cameron is expected to unveil a series of new policies on the eve of his party's conference. |
| A plan to tax flights rather than individual passengers is expected from the Conservatives at their annual conference in Blackpool. | |
| Mr Cameron has insisted he will not be distracted from modernising the party. | Mr Cameron has insisted he will not be distracted from modernising the party. |
| Meanwhile, two opinion polls suggesting a significant Labour lead will fuel speculation that Prime Minister Gordon Brown may call a snap general election. | |
| Parliamentary gains | Parliamentary gains |
| The Tories will propose an Airline Pollution Duty, designed to encourage airlines to fly with full planes and penalise them for flights with only a few passengers on board. | The Tories will propose an Airline Pollution Duty, designed to encourage airlines to fly with full planes and penalise them for flights with only a few passengers on board. |
| Instead of making our own occupation of the political mainstream more secure, the Conservative Party turned in on itself Michael GoveShadow education secretary | Instead of making our own occupation of the political mainstream more secure, the Conservative Party turned in on itself Michael GoveShadow education secretary |
| BBC political correspondent Mark Sanders said that this year's Tory conference is crucial for David Cameron, who has faced criticism of his leadership from within his party. | BBC political correspondent Mark Sanders said that this year's Tory conference is crucial for David Cameron, who has faced criticism of his leadership from within his party. |
| In an interview, Michael Gove, the shadow education secretary and a Tory moderniser, said internal critics of Mr Cameron had handed Labour an electoral advantage. | In an interview, Michael Gove, the shadow education secretary and a Tory moderniser, said internal critics of Mr Cameron had handed Labour an electoral advantage. |
| He told the Daily Telegraph: "Instead of making our own occupation of the political mainstream more secure, the Conservative Party turned in on itself." | He told the Daily Telegraph: "Instead of making our own occupation of the political mainstream more secure, the Conservative Party turned in on itself." |
| Mr Brown is expected to spend the next 48 hours weighing up whether to go to the country with an early general election. | Mr Brown is expected to spend the next 48 hours weighing up whether to go to the country with an early general election. |
| Labour has enjoyed its lead - dubbed the "Brown bounce" - since Mr Brown took over as prime minister in June. | Labour has enjoyed its lead - dubbed the "Brown bounce" - since Mr Brown took over as prime minister in June. |
| A YouGov poll for the Daily Telegraph gives the party an 11-point lead, with Labour on 43%, the Conservatives on 32% and the Liberal Democrats on 15%. | A YouGov poll for the Daily Telegraph gives the party an 11-point lead, with Labour on 43%, the Conservatives on 32% and the Liberal Democrats on 15%. |
| The survey of 2,165 voters across Great Britain between 26 and 28 September suggests that 45% believe Mr Brown is in touch with people's concerns, compared to 18% who say the same of Mr Cameron. | The survey of 2,165 voters across Great Britain between 26 and 28 September suggests that 45% believe Mr Brown is in touch with people's concerns, compared to 18% who say the same of Mr Cameron. |
| A separate Populous poll for the Times puts Labour on 41%, the Tories on 31% and the Liberal Democrats on 17%. | A separate Populous poll for the Times puts Labour on 41%, the Tories on 31% and the Liberal Democrats on 17%. |
| But the Conservatives have said they are "very encouraged" by the latest English council by-election results - in which they took a seat from Labour, and achieved swings that would translate to Parliamentary gains. | But the Conservatives have said they are "very encouraged" by the latest English council by-election results - in which they took a seat from Labour, and achieved swings that would translate to Parliamentary gains. |