Tories launch draft election manifesto

LONDON: The Conservatives launched part of a draft manifesto yesterday and defended their plans to slash the budget deficit, looking to shore up votes with only a few months to go before a general election.

Chancellor Alistair Darling urged them to be clearer on how they would cut the deficit faster than his own plans to halve the burden over four years, warning moving too quickly would endanger the recovery.

The Conservatives are tipped to win power for the first time since 1997 this year at an election due by June but some polls point to a hung parliament. The Conservatives say high levels of borrowing have put Britain's top grade credit rating at risk and plan an emergency budget if they win power.