Conservatives claw away at Labour's dominance

In the first full day of campaigning since Prime Minister Tony Blair on Tuesday set May 5 as the election date, the Tories moved to replace a key figure who was ousted last month in a row over the party's budget plans.

Conservative leader Michael Howard barred Howard Flight, a deputy party chairman, from running as a candidate after the press published Flight's remarks to a private meeting suggesting the party had a program of secret cuts.

Flight had sought local party support to fight his removal but the Conservatives in his Arundel and South Downs constituency in southeast England were now preparing to replace him during a vote later Wednesday.

"We will not promise one thing before an election and do something else after an election," Howard said March 25 after barring Flight as a candidate. "We will not say one thing in private and another thing in public."

Meanwhile, Howard prepared later Wednesday for what promises to be a gloves-off duel with Blair in their last head-to-head session in parliament before it is dissolved for the elections.

The economy, which has performed well under Labour, is a key focus of the campaign and likely to be highlighted in debate Wednesday.

Blair and Howard were due to debate in the House of Commons for the weekly prime minister's questions, joined by Charles Kennedy, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, the second largest opposition party.

Howard was also due to visit the northern English region of Yorkshire, where he was to highlight law and order, in line with the focus he wants to place on the scourge of "yob culture," referring to thugs.