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Election Challengers Set For Live TV Debate

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 16 April 2015 | 12.27

The five party leaders who are the challengers in next month's General Election will go head-to-head later - with the absent David Cameron and Nick Clegg hitting the campaign trail instead.

Ed Miliband, Leanne Wood (Plaid Cymru), Natalie Bennett (Green Party), Nicola Sturgeon (SNP) and Nigel Farage (UKIP) will square up for another televised debate.

They drew lots to decide where they will be standing on the night and the order they will be speaking.

Mr Miliband will be positioned to the far left next to Ms Wood and Mr Farage to the far right next to Ms Sturgeon with Ms Bennett in the middle of the group.

:: Full Coverage Of General Election 2015

The 90-minute programme will be shown on BBC1 from 8pm.

The leaders will be allowed to make short opening statements at the beginning of the programme, starting with Leanne Wood.

Then David Dimbleby will invite five questions from the audience of 200 voters.

Each leader will have one minute to get across their party's stance on each subject before 10 minutes of free debate.

Finally there will be closing statements with the last word going to Nigel Farage.


12.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

Karen Buckley Search: Police Find Remains

Karen Buckley Search: Police Find Remains

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Human remains have been found on a farm north of Glasgow by officers searching for missing student Karen Buckley.

Formal identification has yet to take place but police believe they may be those of the missing 24-year-old.

Her relatives have been informed of the discovery on the outskirts of Milngavie.

Ms Buckley was last seen in the early hours of Sunday morning after a night out in Glasgow.

A 21-year-old man has been arrested and police said they were "following a definite line of enquiry".

1/17

  1. Gallery: Police Search Discover Remains In Search For Missing Student

    The search for the missing student shifted to the area around High Craigton Farm, to the north of the city, on Wednesday

The road to the farm was closed off

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Fire service vehicles were later seen heading to the farm. Hours later police revealed that remains had been found

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Ms Buckley spent Saturday night with friends at Glasgow's Sanctuary nightclub but disappeared around 1am

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Police earlier searched near the flat in Dorchester Avenue where the student spent several hours on Sunday before apparently leaving around 4am

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Karen Buckley Search: Police Find Remains

We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.

Human remains have been found on a farm north of Glasgow by officers searching for missing student Karen Buckley.

Formal identification has yet to take place but police believe they may be those of the missing 24-year-old.

Her relatives have been informed of the discovery on the outskirts of Milngavie.

Ms Buckley was last seen in the early hours of Sunday morning after a night out in Glasgow.

A 21-year-old man has been arrested and police said they were "following a definite line of enquiry".

1/17

  1. Gallery: Police Search Discover Remains In Search For Missing Student

    The search for the missing student shifted to the area around High Craigton Farm, to the north of the city, on Wednesday

The road to the farm was closed off

]]>

Fire service vehicles were later seen heading to the farm. Hours later police revealed that remains had been found

]]>

Ms Buckley spent Saturday night with friends at Glasgow's Sanctuary nightclub but disappeared around 1am

]]>

Police earlier searched near the flat in Dorchester Avenue where the student spent several hours on Sunday before apparently leaving around 4am

]]>

12.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

Education Protected In Lib Dem Manifesto

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 15 April 2015 | 12.27

By Joey Jones, Deputy Political Editor

Nick Clegg has pledged to protect spending on education from ages two to 19 as a central part of the Liberal Democrat manifesto.

The Lib Dem leader says his party, unlike Labour or the Conservatives, will maintain funding for nurseries, schools and further education institutions in real terms and per pupil.

The pledge is nevertheless dependent on an economic plan that - like that of their coalition partners the Conservatives - depends on balancing the country's books by 2017-18.

Beyond that point, the party says it will allow public spending to rise in line with growth which, on current projections, would allow substantial investment in education and health.

On the NHS, the Lib Dems have pledged to meet what is described as a potential funding shortfall of £8bn per year by the end of the next parliament.

The Lib Dems are focussing on tried and tested policy ideas for their manifesto.

:: Full Coverage Of General Election 2015

:: All You Need To Know About Party Manifestos

Alongside investment in public services is a continued focus on increasing the personal tax allowance, a policy that was on the front of the party's 2010 manifesto and found such great favour with the Conservatives that it is now one of their own most-trumpeted accomplishments.

The 2010 manifesto, which in several key areas laid the foundations for five years of coalition government, was nevertheless scarred by a commitment to scrapping tuition fees which, when subsequently abandoned, destroyed the party's currency with a substantial number of supporters.

As a result, one can expect journalists and Lib Dem activists alike to be scouring the fine print to ensure there are no unwelcome surprises in their latest offering.

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UKIP Manifesto Promises Voters 'Real Change'

By Robert Nisbet, Sky News Correspondent

Nigel Farage will launch UKIP's election manifesto today with a direct appeal to struggling working families around the country.

He is trying to draw traditional Labour voters in the north of England, as well as disaffected Conservative voters in the south.

Mr Farage has set a number of pledges to try to entice support, including creating 6,000 police, prison and Border Agency jobs for armed service veterans.

He is also promising to cut rates for small businesses, increase defence spending to 2% of GDP in line with NATO obligations, and introduce an Australian-style points system to manage the number and skills of people coming into the UK.

Mr Farage will argue: "For the first time in 100 years, there is real change on the horizon. All you have to do is vote for it."

:: Full Coverage Of General Election 2015

:: All You Need To Know About Party Manifestos

The problem for UKIP is that it has relatively inexperienced and understaffed local networks to ensure supporters get to the polls on  7 May.

Although it consistently polls at between 12 and 15%, it does not have the party machinery of either the Conservatives or Labour.

The manifesto launch will also throw red meat to core supporters in what the party calls "serious, fully-costed policies that reflect what UKIP is all about: believing in our country".

The party says it will reduce the burden on the low-paid and unskilled, including a promise to help young people get onto the housing ladder by removing stamp duty on the first £250,000 for new homes built on brownfield sites.

It is also pledging to build a dedicated military hospital and abolish hospital parking charges, stopping what it calls the "the tax on illness".

UKIP is also vowing to invest an extra £12bn in the NHS, with another £5.2bn put into social care.

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Tories Put Right To Buy At Heart Of Manifesto

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 14 April 2015 | 12.27

By Anushka Asthana, Political Correspondent

David Cameron will say he leads the "party of working people" as he unveils a Conservative policy to extend the Right-to-Buy scheme to a further 1.3 million families.

The promise will be one of two big housing announcements in the Tory manifesto as the Prime Minister launches his detailed election pledges in Wiltshire.

As well as extending the ability to purchase your home at a discount to housing association tenants, the party will promise a £1bn fund for building 400,000 new properties on brownfield sites.

Mr Cameron will say: "At the heart of this manifesto is a simple proposition. We are the party of working people, offering you security at every stage of your life."

He will talk about young people looking for training, people trying to find a decent job, to buy their own home, needing help with childcare or relying on the NHS.

Other Tory policy pledges will include:

:: Raising the personal allowance for tax to £12,500

:: Increasing the starting salary for the 40p rate to £50,000

:: Raising the inheritance tax threshold for family homes to £1m

:: An annual £8bn boost for NHS funding

Mr Cameron's claim that the Conservatives are the party for workers comes after Labour said it wanted to be seen as the fiscally responsible option for government.

Mr Miliband has sought to highlight a number of policies put forward by the Conservatives that are unfunded - saying every Labour manifesto pledge will be fully paid for.

A senior Conservative source told Sky News that his party was not worried by the Labour promise because it meant the opposition was choosing to talk about an area in which it was "weakest" in the eyes of the public.

:: Full Coverage Of General Election 2015

:: All You Need To Know About Party Manifestos

He claimed the Conservatives had a "track record" that meant its promises would be believed.

The Right-to-Buy allows people to buy their home at a discount but has so far been available only to those in council homes, with some housing association tenants accessing the weaker "right to acquire" and some having no rights.

Under the new plans they will all be able to apply for the main scheme which can lead to a discount of up to 70% depending on the length of the tenancy. The homes will have to be replaced.

A Tory Government would fund the Brownfield Regeneration Fund, and replacement of properties sold under the extended Right-to-Buy, by requiring local authorities to manage their housing assets more efficiently.

They would also have to sell off their most expensive properties and replace them in the same area with normal affordable housing as they fall vacant.

Ministers say this will lead to the sale and replacement of about 15,000 homes a year, or around four in every thousand social properties.

Mr Cameron will add: "Conservatives have dreamed of building a property-owning democracy for generations, and today I can tell you what this generation of Conservatives is going to do.

"The next Conservative Government will extend the Right-to-Buy to all housing association tenants in this country; 1.3 million extra families; a new generation given the security of a home of their own.

"So this generation of Conservatives can proudly say it: the dream of a property-owning democracy is alive - and we will fulfil it."

He will call on voters "not to waste the past five years".

Labour says the plans are unfunded, accusing the Tories of turning to the "magic money tree" to put forward its ideas.

Emma Reynolds, Labour's Shadow Housing Minister, said: "Having exhausted the magic money tree, the Tories now want people to believe that they can magic up billions of pounds a year from selling off a few council homes.

"Under David Cameron home ownership is at its lowest point for three decades - there are over 200,000 fewer home owners since 2010."

Ruth Davison, Director of Policy and External Affairs at the National Housing Federation said: "While extending Right to Buy will see some people being able to buy their own home with help from the taxpayer, these are people already living in good secure homes on some of the country's cheapest rents.

"It won't help the millions of people in private rented homes who are desperate to buy but have no hope of doing so, nor the three million adult children living with their parents because they can't afford to rent or buy."

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Green Manifesto To Pledge 'Peaceful Revolution'

By Joey Jones, Deputy Political Editor

The Green Party will launch its manifesto vowing to combat austerity which it says has "failed" and should be ended by a "peaceful political revolution".

The party has been more prominent than ever before in this election campaign, though its chances of building on its current tally of a single seat (Brighton Pavilion) remain limited.

The party leader, Natalie Bennett, is expected to argue its proposals represent a "genuine alternative to our tired, business-as-usual politics".

While ecological policies remain central to the Green brand, the party is making inroads into Labour and Liberal Democrat territory.

The party calls for what it describes as a fairer society, with the wealthiest paying substantially more in taxation and a desire to create many more jobs paying the living wage.

:: All You Need To Know About Party Manifestos

:: Full Coverage Of General Election 2015

In national polling, the Greens have at times leaped ahead of the Liberal Democrats at around 7 or 8%.

However, under a first-past-the-post voting system they are likely to struggle to translate their success into larger parliamentary representation.

Nevertheless, what party leaders describe as the "Green surge" is making Labour and Lib Dem rivals anxious and is shifting the dynamic in some marginal seats.

The Greens' cause has not been helped by some halting performances by Natalie Bennett, most notably an interview with LBC's Nick Ferrari where she struggled to recall elements of party policy.

In recent weeks there are signs the leader has steadied the ship. She acquitted herself professionally in ITV's recent debate - but the knives will be out if there are any signs of frailty at this high-profile event.

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Election 2015: Party Pledges At A Glance

Written By Unknown on Senin, 13 April 2015 | 12.27

These are the policy pledges and stances of the parties who could be in the mix to form a coalition after the General Election on 7 May.

:: CONSERVATIVE

Health: Ring-fence the NHS budget and meet the health service's funding needs in full by providing £8bn a year of funding by 2020

Immigration: Four years before migrants can claim benefits like tax credits

Education: Protecting schools budget and creating three million apprenticeships

Housing: 100,000 new homes for first-time buyers and extending Help to Buy to 2020

Energy: Backing for nuclear power and shale gas extraction

Welfare: Freezing working-age benefits for two years from April 2015 and lowering benefits cap to £23,000

Inheritance Tax: Family homes will be taken out of inheritance tax by introducing a new allowance which effectively increases the threshold for tax to £1m.

Tax: Pledge to raise income tax threshold to £12,500

Defence: After severe cuts, no more reductions in the size of the regular Army. Trident to remain

EU Referendum: Pledged an in-out referendum in 2017

Transport: Rail fares frozen in real terms for five years

Volunteering: Fifteen million people will be able to take three days' paid leave a year to do voluntary work 

:: LABOUR

Health: Guaranteed GP appointment within 48 hours, a dedicated midwife before and after childbirth, and prioritise mental health issues. Extra £2.5bn a year funded through 'mansion tax'

Immigration: New migrants to get no benefits for at least two years and tougher border controls

Education: A drop in the tuition fee ceiling from £9,000 to £6,000 annually

Housing: Building 200,000 homes each year by 2020, with rent reforms banning letting fees

Energy: Freezing gas and electricity bills until 2017 and reform the energy market

Welfare: Give working parents 25 hours of free weekly childcare for three- and four-year-olds

Tax: Will scrap non-dom status. Also plans to crackdown on tax-dodgers, hoping to cut avoidance and evasion by at least £7.5bn a year 

Defence: A commitment to renewing the Trident nuclear deterrent

EU Referendum: No referendum pledge unless significant treaty change proposed by EU

Economy: The minimum wage would rise to £8 an hour over the next five years

:: LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

Health: Extra £1bn each year for the NHS with a priority on mental health

Immigration: Exit checks at borders and English language tests for Jobseekers' Allowance

Defence: Push to reduce the number of Trident nuclear submarines

Education: Guaranteed qualified teachers, with a curriculum set by independent experts

Housing: Build 300,000 houses a year by 2020 and cap rent increases. A Help to Rent scheme to help young people leave home with a government-backed loan. A Rent to Own scheme in which first-time buyers can build up a share in their home through renting

Welfare: Withdraw free TV licence and Winter Fuel Payment from 40% taxpayers and a 'yellow card' system for benefit claimants who break rules

Tax: Have set out their tax plans, promising "light at the end of the tunnel" with moves to eliminate Britain's deficit by 2017/18.

Energy: Legal targets for clean air and water to be introduced, plus a full charging network for electric cars

EU Referendum: Support a referendum on whether Britain remains an EU member next time there is a large new treaty proposal. Support Britain remaining in the EU

Online privacy: A Digital Rights Bill to protect people's data

:: SNP

Immigration: Supports a Canadian-style citizenship system to attract high-skilled immigrants

Health: Cut NHS bosses by a quarter and meet the £8bn funding requirement through increases in government spending

Defence: Campaign for the removal of Trident submarines from Scotland

Education: Keep tuition fees at zero in Scotland and build and refurbish schools

Housing: Oppose the bedroom tax and help to build new homes

Welfare: Extend paternity leave while protecting benefits for older people in Scotland

Energy: Wants better support for marine renewables and a nuclear-free future

EU Referendum: Wants Scotland to have a veto over a future referendum on EU membership

Economy: Increase minimum wage to £8.70 per hour by 2020

:: PLAID CYMRU

Immigration: Push for the closure of detention centres and allow asylum seekers to work in Wales while waiting for case decisions

Health: Hire 1,000 doctors in Wales and increase research and development funding

Defence: Pass an act to support health of military personnel

Education: Compulsory foreign language GCSE and teach more Welsh history and culture

Housing: Written tenancy agreements to be compulsory. Oppose the bedroom tax. A VAT cut for the construction industry to 5% 

Welfare: Living pension for those aged 80 or over, and no means testing for child-related benefits

Energy: Reduce emissions by 40% below 1990 levels by 2020. Opposition to nuclear power stations in Wales

EU Referendum: Agreement with the SNP that each UK nation should have its own vote

:: UKIP

Immigration: Australian-style points policy system and a priority lane for UK passport holders

Health: £3bn extra each year for the NHS paid for by EU withdrawal. Visitors and migrants must have medical insurance

Defence: Deport any migrant who has committed a terrorist act, create a Veterans Department and spend 2% of GDP on defence

Education: Scrap sex education lessons for the under sevens and have more grammar schools

Housing: Protect greenbelt land and have local referenda for major planning decisions

Welfare: Child benefit for first two children only, increase Carers' Allowance, scrap bedroom tax

Energy: Abolish Department of Energy and Climate Change  and scrap green energy subsidies

EU Referendum: Key policy is in-out EU referendum

:: GREENS

Immigration: Non-dangerous illegal migrants allowed to stay in the UK if they have been here for five years or more

Health: End to all types of NHS privatisation and promotion of tobacco and alcohol products

Defence: Immediate and unconditional nuclear disarmament, limit military so adequate to ensure security "but no more"

Education: End performance-related pay, abolish SATS, and raise school starting age to six

Housing: Build 500,000 social rented homes by 2020 and scrap Right to Buy

Welfare: Citizens' Income of £72 a week paid whether someone is in work or not, ban zero-hours contracts and scrap welfare cap

Energy: Insulation for all, investment in renewable energy, and ruling out nuclear and gas power

EU Referendum: Referendum on membership is backed by the party

Transport: Cut rail fares by 10% and spend £30 a head on walking and cycling measures

:: RESPECT

Immigration: "Colour-blind" points-based immigration system weighted to Commonwealth countries

Health: Raise pay for NHS staff and introduce free care for the elderly

Defence: Campaign against war, abandon Trident nuclear programme, and withdraw from NATO

Education: Abolish tuition fees and give free school meals to all children

Housing: Comprehensive programme of council house building and end to Right to Buy scheme for council homes

Welfare: Stop using Atos as benefit claim assessors, and introduce a living wage

Energy: Invest in alternative energy and support public investment in home insulation

EU Referendum: Hold an in-out referendum on Europe during the next parliament

:: SINN FEIN (Refuse to take their seats in Parliament)

Immigration: No policy position

Health: Wants extra money for health services and backs free at point of use NHS system

Defence: Party believes in Irish neutrality

Education: Supports the rights of the Irish language community in the education system

Housing: Opposes bedroom tax and wants a programme to build new homes

Welfare: Opposes austerity and the "welfare cuts agenda"

Energy: Opposes fracking and supports exploring alternative energy sources

EU Referendum: Wants separate referendum in Northern Ireland

:: DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY

Immigration: Supports tightening immigration laws

Health: Increase care in the community while cutting hundreds of millions of pounds of alleged waste in the NHS

Defence: Wants a commitment to maintain defence spending

Education: Remove cap on number of students in Northern Ireland and create specialist technology institute

Housing: Introduce a register for private landlords, and fund new builds while maintaining existing social homes

Welfare: Simplify the social security system and pilot automatic payment of benefits

Energy: Aim to secure 40% of energy from renewable sources by 2020

EU Referendum: The party supports an EU referendum

:: ALLIANCE PARTY OF NORTHERN IRELAND

Immigration: Ensure UK holds up its obligations to look after refugees, and have rational immigration debate

Health: Reduce reliance of accident and emergency services and focus on illness prevention

Defence: The party opposes Trident's renewal

Education: Additional funding for children on free school meals and sex education in schools

Housing: Create a free and cheap insulation programme and put together an affordable homes programme to help first-time buyers to buy a home

Welfare: Repeal the bedroom tax

Energy: Develop a climate change act for Northern Ireland and invest in renewables

EU Referendum: Supports UK's continued EU membership and opposes any membership referendum

:: SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC AND LABOUR PARTY

Immigration: Committed to international co-operation and the principle of free movement of citizens

Health: Has a plan for shorter waiting times and more hospital beds. Opposes privatisation

Defence: Will continue to vote against unnecessary military intervention abroad

Education: Improve parent choice for early years education with more funding for nurseries and primary schools

Housing: Supports increasing the supply of social housing. Wants a private landlord register

Welfare: Generally backs the welfare state to eradicate poverty

Energy: Sceptical about whether fracking should be allowed. Supports renewable energy investment

EU Referendum: Pro-Europe and against an in-out EU referendum

:: ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY

Immigration: Zero-tolerance approach to racism coupled with a "transparent and fair" immigration policy

Health: Offer mental health solutions and improve access to GPs and support for the elderly

Defence: Secure implementation of military covenant in Northern Ireland and grow the reserve and cadet forces

Education: Supports a single education system for all religions

Housing: Wants a mortgage-relief scheme and incentives for house building

Welfare: Improve the accuracy of benefit eligibility assessments, and support the working poor

Energy: Increased penalties for fuel laundering and exploiting renewable energy sources

EU Referendum: Believes the relationship between the UK and EU should be reviewed and renegotiated

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:: Full Coverage Of General Election 2015


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Labour Launches 'Responsibility Lock' Manifesto

By Jason Farrell, Senior Political Correspondent

Economic responsibility will be front and centre of Labour's manifesto, being launched in Manchester later.

The party will use the first page of the election document to make a 'Budget Responsibility Lock' pledge, claiming every policy is paid for.

The manifesto states: "Not one commitment requires additional borrowing. We are the first party to make that pledge and with this manifesto it is delivered."

Ed Miliband will promise that all of his party's commitments will be fully-funded, refuting Conservative claims that Labour's plans would lead to economic chaos.

He will say: "The very start of our manifesto is different to previous elections.

"It does not do what most manifestos do. It isn't a shopping list of spending policies.

"It does something different: its very first page sets out a vow to protect our nation's finances; a clear commitment that every policy in this manifesto is paid for without a single penny of extra borrowing."

The party says it will cut the deficit every year, placing the promise on "the first line of Labour's first budget".

Labour also says it will legislate to require all major parties to have their manifesto audited by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility.

:: All You Need To Know About Party Manifestos

:: Election 2015: Party Pledges At A Glance

Mr Miliband will also attack Tory economic plans saying: "In recent days you have seen the Conservatives throwing spending promises around with no idea of where the money is coming from, promises which are unfunded, unfair and unbelievable.

"That approach is bad for the nation's books. And nothing is more dangerous to our NHS than saying you will protect it without being able to say where the money is coming from. You can't help the NHS with an IOU."

This is a direct attack on the Tories' extra £8bn pledge on the NHS announced on Friday and it is striking that Labour now thinks it stands as the party of economic credibility.

But speaking ahead of Labour's manifesto launch, Chancellor George Osborne said: "It's clear Labour's manifesto will be a dangerous cocktail of higher taxes and more debt that will cost jobs and cut incomes.

"Labour must now answer two questions: Which taxes are they planning to increase to pay for it? And what is Ed Miliband willing to trade in the event he needs to be propped up by the SNP?"

:: Click here to make your own Government with our Shaker Maker

:: Full Coverage Of General Election 2015


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Tories Promise To Slash Inheritance Tax

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 12 April 2015 | 12.27

The Conservatives have said they will take family homes out of inheritance tax by introducing a new allowance which effectively increases the threshold for tax to £1m.

David Cameron said that if his party wins the 7 May election, parents will be offered a new £175,000 allowance to enable them to pass property on to children tax-free after they die.

For properties worth more than £2m, the allowance will be gradually tapered away so that those worth more than £2.35m do not benefit.

Inheritance tax is currently payable at a rate of 40% on the value of an estate above the £325,000 threshold - or £650,000 if a couple takes advantage of the existing allowance.

It is thought around 22,000 families will benefit from the move by 2020 and Mr Cameron said the costs would be paid for by a £1bn raid on pension tax relief for people earning more than £150,000.

Mr Cameron will say today: "We will take the family home out of inheritance tax.

"That home that you have worked and saved for belongs to you and your family.

"You should be able to pass it on to your children. And with the Conservatives, the taxman will not get his hands on it."

Conservatives promised a £1m inheritance tax threshold in the 2010 election, but were blocked by Liberal Democrats from implementing it when in coalition.

Labour Treasury spokesman Chris Leslie said the move was a "panicky promise from the Tories".

He added: "The Tories made a promise on inheritance tax before the last election and they broke it.

"At a time when our NHS is in crisis and most working people are paying more under the Tories, it cannot be a priority to spend £1bn on a policy which the Treasury says would not apply to 90% of estates.

"The Tories would choose to give a £140,000 tax cut for a house worth £2m while they have increased VAT on families and pensioners."

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Meanwhile, Labour has revealed its plans to crackdown on tax-dodgers if it wins the election, hoping to cut avoidance and evasion by at least £7.5bn a year by the middle of the next Parliament.

Shadow chancellor Ed Balls said it would take a Labour government to "call time" on the Tories' "lax approach", adding that Labour would set targets for HMRC to reduce tax avoidance by at least £7.5bn a year.

He said: "We will close the loopholes the Tories won't act on, increase transparency, toughen up penalties and abolish the non-dom rules.

"And our first Budget will make sure that, following an immediate review of HMRC, it has all the powers and resources it needs to come down hard on tax avoidance and evasion."

Conservative Treasury minister David Gauke said: "Ed Miliband and Ed Balls turned a blind eye to aggressive tax avoiding and evading for 13 years when they were in charge - they were the tax avoiders' friends."

The Lib Dems have also set out tax plans, promising "light at the end of the tunnel" with moves to eliminate Britain's deficit by 2017/18.

Click here for full coverage of the General Election campaigns

Nick Clegg said his plan has "a heart as well as a brain", trying to drive home his claim that his party will cut less than the Conservatives and borrow less than Labour.

Spelling out plans for a consolidation totaling £27bn by 2017/18, made up of £12bn in additional tax, £12bn in public spending reductions and £3bn in welfare cuts, Mr Clegg will challenge the other parties to spell out in similar detail how they would balance the nation's books.


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Tory Poll Boost As UKIP Fall To Two-Year Low

The Tories have gained three points to lead Labour in a new poll that puts UKIP on its lowest tally for two years.

The Opinium survey for the Observer has the Conservatives up three from a week ago on 36% - an apparent boost after several polls in recent days gave Labour a lead.

Ed Milband's party are also up a point on 34%.

These gains have largely come from UKIP, who are down three points on 11% - their lowest Opinium tally since 2013.

:: For full coverage of the General Election click here

While the two major parties appear to be consolidating their positions, the Liberal Democrats are unchanged from 10 April on 7% while the Greens fall one point to 6%.

Another poll by YouGov for The Sunday Times puts Labour and the Conservatives neck-and-neck on 34%.

Meanwhile, a bounce in popularity for several leaders following TV debates appears to have faded.

:: Track how the major parties are faring in the latest opinion polls with the Sky News poll of polls, which averages all the latest polls to get the overall picture

The net approval rating for Mr Miliband falls in the Opinium data from -15% to -18%; Nigel Farage of UKIP falls from -13% to -20%; and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg falls from -30% to -33%.

Conservative leader David Cameron remained the most popular leader on -2%.

The Opinium data is based on an online survey of 1,916 adults on 8 and 9 April.

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