Tories seek support with tax cuts

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With speculation increasing that Prime Minister Gordon Brown will call an autumn general election, the Tory leader has had grim reading this weekend with several opinion polls putting him and his party way behind Mr Brown and Labour.

Ipsos Mori research for the Observer revealed that just 13% of voters viewed Mr Cameron as the party leader most able to handle a crisis - compared to 60% for the Prime Minister.

Overall the poll gives Labour a seven-point lead, on 41% with the Conservatives at 34% and the Lib Dems on 16%.

A telephone survey of local Conservative association chairmen carried out by the Sunday Mirror found that of the 68 who responded only 46% backed Mr Cameron to win an early vote, while 28 admitted a Tory victory was "unlikely" or "very unlikely".

But Mr Cameron showed no fear in an interview in the Sunday Times, telling the Prime Minister to "stop dithering" and call a general election.

As the Tories gathered in Blackpool, Mr Cameron's campaign to grab public support continued as he pledged to abolish stamp duty for first-time buyers on homes worth up to £250,000.

As a result nine out of 10 would-be home owners will not pay the levy, saving an average of £2,000 for some 285,000 people, according to the party.

The party also announced plans to hand 1.8 million families with children tax breaks worth up to £2,000 a year.

The £3 billion measure would be funded with a crackdown on "workshy" benefits claimants, including "aggressive" penalties for those who turn down jobs.