Howard announces Conservatives election manifesto

Conservative leader Michael Howard has launched the party's election manifesto with promises to "battle for Britain" and make the country "a better place in which to live", promises quickly dismissed as unfeasable by both Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

The party's 28-page manifesto included measures to tackle crime, immigration and asylum, establish a low tax economy, reduce red tape, restore standards and discipline to education, boost investment in local hospitals and "stand fast" against the euro and the EU constitution.

Mr Howard said that the manifesto would "replace Labour's wasted years of squandered opportunity, talk and broken promises" and would "improve public services, reduce the burden of taxes and provide better value for money".

Speaking at a media conference at Conservative party headquarters ahead of a three-week nationwide campaign tour, Mr Howard also stressed that Conservative ministers would be held accountable for their actions and said they would be "ministers who tell the truth, do what they say and admit their mistakes. Who suffer the consequences if they do something wrong."

Mr Howard told voters: "On May 5, you can bring an end to the years of let-down and start sorting out the things that matter. You can let the sunshine of hope break through the clouds of disappointment we all feel. Use your vote to take a stand. It’s time for change. It’s time for action."

Alan Milburn, Labour's general election co-ordinator, said that the Conservatives; pledges were "a new manifesto from the same old Tories". He said: "By promising to tax less, spend more, borrow less – all at the same time, with the same money – the Tories are repeating the mistakes John Major made in the early 1990s. It would produce the same result – public finances out of control and inflation and interest rates through the roof. It is a risk for every hard working family and pensioner. It is an economic disaster waiting to happen."

Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy said: “People have already decided that they do not want the Conservatives back running health and education. They also know that Conservative pledges to put money back into public services at the same time as cutting taxes and borrowing are simply not credible.”

(KmcA)