Main parties step up pre-election campaigning

The party leaders continue to set out their pre-election stalls The three main parties are stepping up their pre-election campaigning by issuing pledges on key policies. Gordon Brown is to urge councils to follow the government's lead and protect the police from spending cuts. Meanwhile, the Conservatives will announce plans to allow hundreds of schools in England to become academies, free from local authority control. The Liberal Democrats will also focus on schools, restating their commitment to cut class sizes for infants. The general election must be held by June, but it is widely expected to take place on 6 May. In a speech in Reading, the prime minister is expected to say that central government will protect funding for frontline staff because the "police are important to people". "But police funding in this country has always and rightly been part national, part local," he will say. We will immediately change the law so we can set hundreds of good schools free from political interference Michael Gove Shadow schools secretary "So my challenge to local authorities and police authorities around the country is to match our commitment to protecting front line policing - or else explain to their communities why they are not prepared to do so." He will also say it is not "acceptable" to miss the government target of putting neighbourhood PCs on patrol for at least 80% of the time. Mr Brown will argue crime is down by more than a third since 1997 and dispute the Conservatives' claims that Britain is "broken". 'Greater freedom' Fresh from their spring conference in Brighton, and mindful of their narrowing lead in the polls, the Conservatives will focus on one of their flagship policies - increasing the number of academies. They will allow schools to opt out of council control by September if they win the general election. Education is at the heart of the Liberal Democrats' vision for fairness Nick Clegg Liberal Democrat leader In a speech to head teachers, shadow schools' secretary Michael Gove, along with party leader David Cameron, will say a Tory government would, within days of taking office, introduce legislation to give schools greater freedom over the curriculum, staff and discipline. The process would be speeded up by removing the need to consult local authorities before a school converted to an academy. "We will immediately change the law so we can set hundreds of good schools free from political interference and enable them to help struggling schools," Mr Gove is expected to say. They will also reveal proposals for schools judged "outstanding" by the Ofsted to be exempt from inspection, allowing the watchdog to concentrate on problem schools. 'Vision for fairness' Schools will also be on the Liberal Democrat's agenda on Monday. Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg will stress the importance of early years education in the home and pledge £2.5bn to help cut school class sizes. In a speech to the Salvation Army in London, he will call on all parents to provide the support their children need to thrive as they grow up. "I want to live in a society where every child has a chance. Education is at the heart of the Liberal Democrats' vision for fairness," he will say. "But a good education doesn't end at the school gate. Governments can only make a difference if parents do their bit too."