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David Cameron urges defectors to Ukip to vote for Tories in general election David Cameron urges defectors to Ukip to vote for Tories in general election
(about 1 hour later)
David Cameron has issued a plea to former Conservative voters who defected to Ukip to “come back home” to the Tories or risk handing the keys of Downing Street to Ed Miliband. David Cameron has pleaded with former Conservative voters who defected to Ukip to “come back home” to the Tories or risk handing the keys of Downing Street to Ed Miliband.
The prime minister, who once described Ukip members as “fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists”, used emollient language as he said he understood the reasons why former Tories had been won over by Nigel Farage in recent years.The prime minister, who once described Ukip members as “fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists”, used emollient language as he said he understood the reasons why former Tories had been won over by Nigel Farage in recent years.
Cameron was speaking as Tories hit back angrily at claims by the Liberal Democrat treasury chief secretary, Danny Alexander, that he was told in private the Conservatives would look after the bosses while he should champion workers.
The prime minister, who knows that such claims have fuelled the rise in support for Ukip from “left behind” voters, went out of his way to reach out to former supporters attracted by Nigel Farage who casts himself as the political outsider.
Related: Nigel Farage calls on Ukip members to bolster South Thanet campaignRelated: Nigel Farage calls on Ukip members to bolster South Thanet campaign
But speaking at a Tory rally on the outskirts of Bristol, he pleaded with the defectors to return: “Come with us, come back home to us rather than risk all of this good work being undone by Labour.” Speaking at a Tory rally on the outskirts of Bristol, he pledged to address their concerns: “Come with us, come back home to us rather than risk all of this good work being undone by Labour.”
The prime minister’s appeal came amid cautious optimism among senior Tories that Ukip may struggle to win more than a handful of seats on 7 May after a poll showed that support for Farage has slipped in the Kent seat he is fighting, South Thanet. There are concerns, however, that Ukip could perform strongly in many Tory heartlands, potentially handing some safe Conservative seats to one of the other major parties. The prime minister’s appeal comes amid cautious optimism among senior Tories that Ukip may struggle to win more than a handful of seats on 7 May after a poll showed that support for Farage has slipped in South Thanet. But there are concerns that Ukip could perform strongly in many Tory heartlands, potentially handing some safe Conservative seats to one of the other major parties.
In language designed specifically to appeal to traditional Tories who moved over to Ukip, the prime minister said he understood their concerns on Europe and immigration. But he asked them to bear in mind that they were being asked to choose a government on 7 May. Cameron asked the former Tories to remember they are being asked to choose a government on 7 May. He said: “I’ll be appealing to those voters in the coming days and saying, look we have heard the message loud and clear about the things you want to see changed.
Cameron said: “What I would say to people who have voted Conservative in the past but who have gone towards Ukip in recent years - I would say to those people, I totally understand the frustration people have felt about issues like immigration when they want more done, and we will do more. I understand the frustration about Europe, where the country deserves a referendum – and with me as prime minister they will get that referendum. “We will change those things. But on the key choice about who has got the right team to run the economy, to keep your taxes down, to cut taxes further, to keep generating the jobs and the growth our country needs - come with us, come back home to us rather than risk all of this good work being undone by Labour. That will be the message.”
The issue of City funding of the Conservative party returned to the fore of the election campaign after Alexander said that a Tory had told him on the eve of the “omnishambles” budget in 2012 that they were interested in promoting the interests of the bosses.
Related: Inside the campaigns: ‘Disengagement is the meme'Related: Inside the campaigns: ‘Disengagement is the meme'
“But this election is not a time to send a message or to make a protest. This election is about choosing the government of our country for the next five years. The choice could not be starker between a Conservative government led by me, continuing with the plan that is working, and putting it all at risk with Labour. Alexander told the Independent: “I remember one meeting with a group of senior Conservatives and one of them – I’m not going to say who – said: ‘Listen, you take care of the workers and we’ll take care of the bosses’.”
“So I’ll be appealing to those voters in the coming days and saying: look we have heard the message loud and clear about the things you want to see changed. We will change those things. But on the key choice about who has got the right team to run the economy, to keep your taxes down, to cut taxes further, to keep generating the jobs and the growth our country needs - come with us, come back home to us rather than risk all of this good work being undone by Labour. That will be the message. The culture secretary, Sajid Javid, who was heavily involved in the 2012 budget preparations as Osborne’s parliamentary private secretary, described Alexander’s claims as “complete rubbish”. Alexander told The World at One on BBC Radio 4: “They can say what they like. I remember what was said and I remember the nervous laughter from the other side of the table when it was said.”
“That argument will become stronger and stronger because in the end we are choosing a government, we are choosing a team. I say choose the team with the track record and don’t risk it, because if you vote Ukip, if you vote for another minor party you end up with the risk of Ed Miliband propped up by Nicola Sturgeon driving us into even more spending, welfare unlimited, debt - all the problems.” The row threatened to overshadow the main Tory campaign message as the Easter weekend came to an end - ‘Money-back Monday’ in which the Tories highlighted the raising of the tax free personal allowance. Osborne will step up his campaign against Labour on tax by claiming that the governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown increased taxes on earnings on the average household by £1,895 a year in real terms.
The prime minister hopes his main campaign message of the bank holiday – ‘Money-back Monday’ in which the Tories highlighted the raising of the tax free personal allowance – will help to win back former Tories. The chancellor will say: “When it comes to tax rises, Ed Miliband and Ed Balls have done it all before – and they would do it all over again, if they had the chance. Higher taxes and higher debts under Labour would cost jobs and take Britain back to square one.”
Downing Street hopes that practical, consumer friendly measures will concentrate the minds of voters who are tempted by Ukip between general elections.