Cameron unveils draft manifesto NHS chapter
Conservatives unveil first chapter of draft manifesto focusing on healthcare
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Monday, 04, Jan 2010 05:42
By Richard James.
The Conservatives have unveiled the first chapter of their draft manifesto focusing on healthcare.
At an event in central London, David Cameron pledged to divert NHS resources to deprived areas, claiming the health service was his "number one priority".
The announcements follow a flurry of activity in Westminster as the political parties begin gearing up for the general election expected in May.
Speaking on Monday morning, Mr Cameron declared: "Today we are kick-starting our campaign to make our vision a reality.
"We are going to change the way the NHS works because it could be so much better."
The Tory leader also announced plans to link all local childbirth-related services in an effort to "meet mothers' needs".
Mr Cameron described childbirth as one of the "most daunting experiences" and said it should, if possible, be carried out in non-emergency settings.
The plans though have been criticised by chancellor Alistair Darling, who claimed the opposition had been unable demonstrate where they will find money to fulfil their promises.
"You can't fight an election on a nod and a wink, sometimes claiming you are committed to these promises, and when challenged claiming you are not," he said.
"It's now for them to say when and how they'll be paid for. Or come clean and withdraw them."
His criticism came after Labour published a 150-page dossier examining the Conservative election promises.
The dossier claims that Conservative plans for tax cuts would cost £21 billion a year, while reversing planned tax rises would cost another £13.3 billion.
Mr Darling said the Tories will need to make deeper cuts and raise taxes in order to fund their promises, and calls the disparity a "£34 billion credibility gap".
Gordon Brown must call the general election by June 1st, with many analysts expecting the prime minister to send the country to the polls on May 6th.