This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7020501.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Cameron calls for early election Cameron pledges Tory 'fight-back'
(about 3 hours later)
David Cameron has urged Gordon Brown to call a snap election - and said he believes the Conservatives can win. David Cameron has rallied the Tory party to "mount the great Conservative fight-back" against Labour.
He said the party would show at its conference in Blackpool it could offer the "real change" people wanted after "10 years of failure" under Labour. At the first day of the Conservative conference, he said the fight-back would be based on "clear policies", "clear direction" and "clear choice".
Mr Cameron told BBC One's Andrew Marr programme Mr Brown needed to call an election to get a mandate to be PM. Mr Cameron urged Prime Minister Gordon Brown to call a snap election, saying he believed the Tories could win.
The Conservative leader admitted it would be a "huge challenge" but said they were ready, adding: "We can win." He said the choice was between "failure from Labour or real change from the Conservative Party".
The party conference got under way on Sunday with a pledge to abolish stamp duty for first-time buyers of homes under £250,000. 'Huge challenge'
Addressing the conference via video-link, governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger praised Mr Cameron's leadership, especially on the environment.
"By being a strong and forceful voice on climate change, David Cameron has revived your Conservative Party's green heritage and helped strengthen Britain's resolve and set an example on this issue," he said.
Mr Cameron earlier told the BBC's The Andrew Marr Show that Mr Brown needed to call an election to get a mandate to be PM.
The Tory leader admitted the poll would be a "huge challenge" but said the party was ready, adding: "We can win."
The party conference got under way with a pledge to abolish stamp duty for first-time buyers of homes under £250,000.
There will also be proposals for new green taxes - including an Air Pollution Duty on airlines - which would help fund cuts in family taxes, Mr Cameron said.There will also be proposals for new green taxes - including an Air Pollution Duty on airlines - which would help fund cuts in family taxes, Mr Cameron said.
We can all play the game of quoting polls, why not find out in a real general election. I tell you, I really want it David CameronConservative leader At-a-glance: Tory conference Analysis: Cameron challengeWe can all play the game of quoting polls, why not find out in a real general election. I tell you, I really want it David CameronConservative leader At-a-glance: Tory conference Analysis: Cameron challenge
The conference would be about "giving people more opportunity, power and control over their lives", he added.The conference would be about "giving people more opportunity, power and control over their lives", he added.
He brushed off a Sunday newspaper poll suggested an 11 point Labour lead saying he believed Mr Brown "has left it wide open". He brushed off a Sunday newspaper poll suggesting an 11 point Labour lead, saying he believed Mr Brown "has left it wide open".
"We can all play the game of quoting polls, why not find out in a real general election. I tell you, I really want it. "We can all play the game of quoting polls, why not find out in a real general election. I tell you, I really want it."
"I think we have the opportunity to put a very compelling alternative to people - ten more years of failure or real change with the Conservatives."
Parliamentary gainsParliamentary gains
Mr Cameron said the Airline Pollution Duty - which sees the flight taxed rather than passengers - would discourage flights with few passengers on board.Mr Cameron said the Airline Pollution Duty - which sees the flight taxed rather than passengers - would discourage flights with few passengers on board.
The new policy announcements are also expected to include tax breaks for parents who live together, worth up to £2,000 a year.The new policy announcements are also expected to include tax breaks for parents who live together, worth up to £2,000 a year.
Clearly they're thinking in the Labour Party that if they don't have an election soon, then Brown will be rumbled, and people will be fed up with him in very short order William HagueShadow foreign secretary We can beat Brown - Hague Your views: Tory conferenceClearly they're thinking in the Labour Party that if they don't have an election soon, then Brown will be rumbled, and people will be fed up with him in very short order William HagueShadow foreign secretary We can beat Brown - Hague Your views: Tory conference
The measure would be funded by a crackdown on benefits claimants who turn down jobs.The measure would be funded by a crackdown on benefits claimants who turn down jobs.
Mr Cameron said that the Conservatives would end the "couple penalty" in the tax credit system which left parents living apart better off than if they lived together.Mr Cameron said that the Conservatives would end the "couple penalty" in the tax credit system which left parents living apart better off than if they lived together.
They would also use the tax system to send a positive signal about the importance of marriage.They would also use the tax system to send a positive signal about the importance of marriage.
The government has dismissed many of the policies, saying Mr Cameron has to explain how the ideas are going to be paid for.The government has dismissed many of 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.
'Rumbled''Rumbled'
Labour has enjoyed its lead - dubbed the "Brown bounce" - since Mr Brown took over as prime minister in June. Labour has been enjoying an opinion polls lead since Mr Brown took over as prime minister in June.
Mr Brown, whose party held its conference last week, is expected to spend the next 48 hours weighing up whether to go to the country with an early general election.
David Cameron and his wife Samantha in BlackpoolDavid Cameron and his wife Samantha in Blackpool
Both Mr Cameron and Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell have accused Mr Brown - who can wait until May 2010 to call an election if he wants - of "dithering".Both Mr Cameron and Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell have accused Mr Brown - who can wait until May 2010 to call an election if he wants - of "dithering".
Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague opened the conference by pouring scorn on Mr Brown's "old politics" and saying he was to blame for crises on prisons, pensions and the health service. Shadow foreign secretary William Hague opened the conference by pouring scorn on Mr Brown's "old politics" and saying he was to blame for crises on prisons, pensions and the health service.
He said: "Clearly he (Gordon Brown) calculates he can pretend to be a new government, but he is the old government and after ten years of failure and disappointment he cannot be the change the country needs." He said: "Clearly he [Gordon Brown] calculates he can pretend to be a new government, but he is the old government and after ten years of failure and disappointment he cannot be the change the country needs."
'Very encouraged''Very encouraged'
MP for Southend West David Amess, said it was time for Mr Cameron to go on the attack.
"Forget about worrying about all the new initiatives, etc., just go for the government good and proper," he said.
"Everyone you speak to is totally dissatisfied with law enforcement. They [Labour] spent huge money on the health service, people again are dissatisfied with that and likewise in education."
Shadow chancellor George Osborne told Sky News the country was "crying out for change" and said that if Mr Brown did not now call an election he would have "bottled it".Shadow chancellor George Osborne told Sky News the country was "crying out for change" and said that if Mr Brown did not now call an election he would have "bottled it".
An Ipsos/Mori poll for the Observer suggests 60% of voters thought Mr Brown was best able to handle a crisis with 13% for Mr Cameron.An Ipsos/Mori poll for the Observer suggests 60% of voters thought Mr Brown was best able to handle a crisis with 13% for Mr Cameron.
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%. An earlier YouGov poll for the Daily Telegraph gave Labour an 11-point lead on 43%, with 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.
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.