Manchester Evening News - RSS Feed

Cameron seeks safe path to No 10

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:06:31 -0000

THERE was a point in David Cameron's speech when a cloud of doubt began to form: isn't this just a touch dull? It was only later that enlightenment streamed through. Of course it was a bit dull. That was the point.

Champagne row Tory admits being 'foolish'

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:21:50 -0000

A TORY party member arrested over claims he failed to pay for a £150 bottle of champagne has admitted behaving 'rather foolishly'.

It was revealed in yesterday's M.E.N. that Philip Whittington, 27, from London, was banned from the conference after he was held on suspicion of theft.

Cameron promises 'responsible society'

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:28:14 -0000

DAVID Cameron promised to create 'the responsible society' by rolling back the culture of big government bureaucracy installed during Labour's 12 years in power.

In his final conference speech before the general election, the Conservative leader said he had the character, temperament and judgment to be Prime Minister.

Channel M Tory debate

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:54:18 -0000

CHANNEL M is broadcasting a live debate on the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester.

Panellists include Susan Williams, the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Bolton West, Graham Stringer, who is Labour MP for Manchester Blackley, John Leech, the Lib Dem MP for Withington and Andrew Russell, a senior lecturer in politics at Manchester University.

Cameron: I am ready to be tested

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:30:52 -0000

DAVID Cameron was today declaring himself ready to govern as he laid out his vision of a better Britain.

The Conservative leader - closing the party's conference in Manchester - will pledge to 'tear down Labour's big government bureaucracy' and admit public spending cuts would be painful and hard to take for many people.

Tories plan to axe failing heads

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:57:54 -0000

AROUND 100 headteachers in 'failing' schools face the axe under Conservative proposals being announced today.

All schools that have been in special measures for one year by next summer, will have their governing bodies removed and replaced with a new governing body by the start of the autumn term.

Call to give cops power to ID criminals

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:57:53 -0000

POLICE should be given more power to identity criminals to the public, the Conservatives claimed.

The Tories said the rights of some lawbreakers were being put above public safety.

Strike threat over Tory pay freeze plan

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:56:48 -0000

UNION leaders have warned there could be strike action if Tory plans to introduce a pay freeze on public sector workers go ahead.

Shadow chancellor George Osborne, MP for Tatton, told the party conference in Manchester that all those on salaries of more than £18,000 would be affected.

Ex-minister's prison drugs revelation

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:31:26 -0000

DISGRACED former Tory cabinet minister Jonathan Aitken told a conference fringe meeting that drugs were so widely available while he was in jail, 'it was like a strange Moroccan souk'.

He spent seven months in jail after lying in court during his libel case against The Guardian and Granada Television.

Cameron: 'London benefits from a strong Manchester'

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:30:45 -0000

DAVID Cameron has pledged that Manchester would not miss out to London under a Conservative government.

The Tory leader was speaking to the Manchester Evening News after Boris Johnson stunned the party conference by claiming: "If you want to stimulate the Manchester economy, invest in London."

Plea for more support for victims of crime

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:12:02 -0000

THE widow of murdered Garry Newlove said victims of crime need more support to get the compensation they deserve.

Helen Newlove's husband was kicked to death outside his Warrington home in August 2007. She is now calling for more support for victims of crime to rebuild their lives.

Top Trafford Tory: 'No appetite for elected mayors'

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:25:43 -0000

THE former chief of Trafford Council has refused to toe the party line over elected mayors.

Susan Williams said there was 'no need' for a directly elected mayor in Manchester, despite the Conservative proposals announced yesterday.

Osborne plans public sector pay freeze

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:27:26 -0000

ALL public sector workers on salaries of more than £18,000 would see their pay frozen under Conservative plans to slash £7bn of government spending every year, while ministers' pay would be cut by five per cent.

The moves were announced by shadow chancellor George Osborne at the Conservative conference in Manchester today.

Tory war on speed cameras

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:55:46 -0000

THE TORIES today declared war on speed cameras as part of a package of measures aimed at hard-pressed motorists.

Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said a Conservative government would refuse to fund any new fixed cameras - and would block councils from doing so unless they could prove they were better than other road-safety policies.

Osborne: National Insurance break for business

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:55:44 -0000

NEW businesses should be given a National Insurance holiday for the first 10 employees they hire, the Conservatives said last night.

Shadow chancellor George Osborne announced the measure as the Tories began rolling out their plans to 'Get Britain Working'.