At-a-glance: Conservative manifesto
The Conservatives have launched the manifesto their supporters hope will return them to power after 13 years in opposition. Here are its key points:
IN A NUTSHELL
Sticking to the theme of "Big Society", rather than big government, the Conservatives call on the UK electorate to play a part in changing the country.
The manifesto encourages parents and charities to set up new academy schools, pledges to give people the power to veto council tax rises through local referendums, and promises communities the right to buy their local pub or post office.
Following the theme of encouraging local responsibility, it promises directly-elected police commissioners to hold forces to account.
Economic measures include the big early issue in the election campaign - the plan to reverse the government's proposed National Insurance rise - and promises to raise the inheritance tax threshold to £1m, freeze council tax for two years and to increase NHS spending in real terms every year.
We have annotated policies where they apply only for England, or for England and Wales
ON THE ECONOMY * Reverse Labour's planned National Insurance rise for anyone earning under £35,000 and raise payment thresholds * Conduct emergency budget within 50 days of taking office to eliminate bulk of deficit over five years and freeze public sector pay for a year in 2011, excluding one million lowest paid workers * Freeze council tax for two years by reducing spending on government advertising and consultants and scrap plans for band evaluation [England only] * Incorporate an allowance recognising marriage and civil partnerships * Consider bringing forward the date at which the state pension age starts to rise to 66 to as early as 2016 for men and 2020 for women * Cut Whitehall policy, funding and regulation costs by a third, saving £2bn a year by 2015, and save a further £1bn by cutting quangos * Save £12bn with measures