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Tory leader 'ready to fight back' Tory leader 'ready to fight back'
(20 minutes later)
Conservative leader David Cameron has promised to fight Labour's recent dominance in opinion polls and offer a "clear and compelling" alternative.Conservative leader David Cameron has promised to fight Labour's recent dominance in opinion polls and offer a "clear and compelling" alternative.
Arriving in Blackpool for his party's annual conference, Mr Cameron was asked if the Tories were ready for an election. He replied simply "you bet".Arriving in Blackpool for his party's annual conference, Mr Cameron was asked if the Tories were ready for an election. He replied simply "you bet".
He said the country had suffered 10 years of a Labour government and was ready for a change.He said the country had suffered 10 years of a Labour government and was ready for a change.
His comments come as it emerged that Labour have an 11-point poll lead.His comments come as it emerged that Labour have an 11-point poll lead.
On the eve of his second conference as party leader, Mr Cameron is expected to announce a raft of new policies, including a plan to tax flights rather than individual passengers.On the eve of his second conference as party leader, Mr Cameron is expected to announce a raft of new policies, including a plan to tax flights rather than individual passengers.
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.
Opinion polls suggesting a significant Labour lead will fuel speculation that Prime Minister Gordon Brown may call a snap general election. He said he would be "spelling out exactly" what changes he would make and added voters would only get change by voting for a Conservative government.
Amid speculation about a possible autumn election, Mr Cameron said: "This is going to be the week when the Conservative Party fights back. We are going to be setting out an absolutely clear and compelling alternative to this government."
Parliamentary gainsParliamentary 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 are expected to 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 government has dismissed the policies, saying Mr Cameron has to explain how the ideas are going to be paid for.The government has dismissed the policies, saying Mr Cameron has to explain how the ideas are going to be paid for.
"It's not proper opposition politics, let alone government politics, to come along with billion-pound announcements which you can't show where the money's going to come from," said Schools and Families Secretary Ed Balls."It's not proper opposition politics, let alone government politics, to come along with billion-pound announcements which you can't show where the money's going to come from," said Schools and Families Secretary Ed Balls.
"The question, I think, in families' minds is 'will we be hit on our mortgage rates or on our taxes to pay for these kind of proposals'.""The question, I think, in families' minds is 'will we be hit on our mortgage rates or on our taxes to pay for these kind of proposals'."
Instead of making our own occupation of the political mainstream more secure, the Conservative Party turned in on itself Michael GoveShadow education secretaryInstead 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 Mr Cameron, who has faced criticism of his leadership from within his party. BBC political correspondent Mark Sanders said that this year's Tory conference was crucial for Mr 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.
'Very encouraged''Very encouraged'
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.