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27/04/2010
Family And Crime Are Election Highlights
The UK's political parties continue to argue as polls suggest that no single party will win a majority on May 6.
Labour has attacked Lib Dem plans to axe child trust funds and Tory proposals to scale back child tax credits.
At a Labour press conference ministers Lord Mandelson, Yvette Cooper and Ed Balls outlined their family-friendly policies, including a promise of four weeks' paid paternity leave and a "toddler tax credit" of £200 a year to help family budgets.
They warned of the prospect of a "toddler tax" should the Conservatives win the election, with nurseries being allowed to charge "top-up fees", and said they aimed to cut support for children while increasing support for marriage.
Ms Cooper said Labour wanted to help all children, not just some, and warned Tory and Lib Dem plans would mean "millions of children losing hundreds of pounds" in support each year.
Labour's policies were not left unchallenged with questions being asked about the extent of cuts required to meet the government's commitment to halve the deficit in four years.
They were also asked why they were raising National Insurance and cutting university budgets, but keeping the £250 child trust fund voucher, which also benefits wealthy families.
A poll carried out by the Daily Mail has also revealed that voters no longer feel safe in Labour's hands because they have wasted so much money on the NHS.
The study found that fewer than one in five voters see significant improvements in the service, despite a doubling of budgets.
According to the Daily Mail poll voters believe Labour has squandered billions on bureaucracy and that the Tories are now the party best placed to look after them.
The Tories are focusing on the "broken society". David Cameron told the BBC it is a "tight contest" and said he will need "a great last 10 days" to win.
Despite criticism the Conservatives say their manifesto is the most family-friendly ever produced by a British party.
Emphasising his party's "big society" theme he said there had been a "moral failure of the big government approach" to deal with society's problems.
He said a "whole stew of violence, anti-social behaviour, debt, addiction, family breakdown, educational failure, poverty and despair" affected millions in Britain.
He pledged to bring "common sense and rigour" to government - "with a government focused on making life difficult for wrong-doers, and easy for those that want to do right by themselves, their family and their neighbourhood".
Meanwhile Lib Dem Leader Nick Clegg has called for the NHS to be "broken up" and said the Lib Dems should consider replacing it with a European-style insurance system.
In a little-noticed interview before he took over as leader, he said the party should consider a social insurance system to replace the present tax-funded Health Service.
It would mean healthcare would no longer be free at the point of use - with patients who can afford to pay more getting better care.
The comments raise huge question-marks over the Lib Dems' commitment to such a cherished institution as the NHS.
There are ten days left before the final outcome of the May 6 UK General Election.
(LB/BMcC)
Labour has attacked Lib Dem plans to axe child trust funds and Tory proposals to scale back child tax credits.
At a Labour press conference ministers Lord Mandelson, Yvette Cooper and Ed Balls outlined their family-friendly policies, including a promise of four weeks' paid paternity leave and a "toddler tax credit" of £200 a year to help family budgets.
They warned of the prospect of a "toddler tax" should the Conservatives win the election, with nurseries being allowed to charge "top-up fees", and said they aimed to cut support for children while increasing support for marriage.
Ms Cooper said Labour wanted to help all children, not just some, and warned Tory and Lib Dem plans would mean "millions of children losing hundreds of pounds" in support each year.
Labour's policies were not left unchallenged with questions being asked about the extent of cuts required to meet the government's commitment to halve the deficit in four years.
They were also asked why they were raising National Insurance and cutting university budgets, but keeping the £250 child trust fund voucher, which also benefits wealthy families.
A poll carried out by the Daily Mail has also revealed that voters no longer feel safe in Labour's hands because they have wasted so much money on the NHS.
The study found that fewer than one in five voters see significant improvements in the service, despite a doubling of budgets.
According to the Daily Mail poll voters believe Labour has squandered billions on bureaucracy and that the Tories are now the party best placed to look after them.
The Tories are focusing on the "broken society". David Cameron told the BBC it is a "tight contest" and said he will need "a great last 10 days" to win.
Despite criticism the Conservatives say their manifesto is the most family-friendly ever produced by a British party.
Emphasising his party's "big society" theme he said there had been a "moral failure of the big government approach" to deal with society's problems.
He said a "whole stew of violence, anti-social behaviour, debt, addiction, family breakdown, educational failure, poverty and despair" affected millions in Britain.
He pledged to bring "common sense and rigour" to government - "with a government focused on making life difficult for wrong-doers, and easy for those that want to do right by themselves, their family and their neighbourhood".
Meanwhile Lib Dem Leader Nick Clegg has called for the NHS to be "broken up" and said the Lib Dems should consider replacing it with a European-style insurance system.
In a little-noticed interview before he took over as leader, he said the party should consider a social insurance system to replace the present tax-funded Health Service.
It would mean healthcare would no longer be free at the point of use - with patients who can afford to pay more getting better care.
The comments raise huge question-marks over the Lib Dems' commitment to such a cherished institution as the NHS.
There are ten days left before the final outcome of the May 6 UK General Election.
(LB/BMcC)
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21 August 2009
Lib Dems Admit Donations Breach
The Liberal Democrats have been forced to repay a party donation of more than £1,300 after breaching electoral rules. South London MP Susan Kramer's son, Jonathan, donated the money to the party. When it was discovered Mr Kramer was not on the UK electoral register the Lib Dem were forced to hand back the cash.
Lib Dems Admit Donations Breach
The Liberal Democrats have been forced to repay a party donation of more than £1,300 after breaching electoral rules. South London MP Susan Kramer's son, Jonathan, donated the money to the party. When it was discovered Mr Kramer was not on the UK electoral register the Lib Dem were forced to hand back the cash.
11 May 2010
Government Still Hangs In The Balance
The future of the UK's hung parliament is still unsure as the Liberal Democrats continue to hold out for a better deal with either Labour or the Tories.
Government Still Hangs In The Balance
The future of the UK's hung parliament is still unsure as the Liberal Democrats continue to hold out for a better deal with either Labour or the Tories.
10 May 2010
Talks For No 10 Reach Crucial Stage
The third - and possibly final - day of negotiations between the Tories and the Lib Dems has begun. The Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, said the parties were "working flat out" to agree on a new government after the UK general election resulted in a hung parliament.
Talks For No 10 Reach Crucial Stage
The third - and possibly final - day of negotiations between the Tories and the Lib Dems has begun. The Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, said the parties were "working flat out" to agree on a new government after the UK general election resulted in a hung parliament.
22 September 2004
Lib Dems unveil anti-crime strategy at Bournemouth
A Lib Dem administration would scrap David Blunkett's ID card proposals and instead use the money to put 30,000 more police officers on the streets, the party's annual conference in Bournemouth has heard today.
Lib Dems unveil anti-crime strategy at Bournemouth
A Lib Dem administration would scrap David Blunkett's ID card proposals and instead use the money to put 30,000 more police officers on the streets, the party's annual conference in Bournemouth has heard today.
12 April 2005
Labour and Lib Dems attack Tory economic policy
Labour and the Liberal Democrats have launched attacks on the Conservatives economic policy. Speaking at a Labour press conference, Chancellor Gordon Brown described the manifesto published by the Conservatives yesterday as a " document of few words and fewer figures, a shopping list of promises based on sums that cannot and do not add up.
Labour and Lib Dems attack Tory economic policy
Labour and the Liberal Democrats have launched attacks on the Conservatives economic policy. Speaking at a Labour press conference, Chancellor Gordon Brown described the manifesto published by the Conservatives yesterday as a " document of few words and fewer figures, a shopping list of promises based on sums that cannot and do not add up.
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