Election 2015: Cameron pledges 'paid volunteering leave'

 

A Conservative government would offer up to 15 million workers three days' paid leave a year for volunteering.

The move, which will affect the public sector and large firms, comes alongside a separate Tory pledge guaranteeing that regulated rail fares will not go up by more than inflation until 2020.
Labour said the volunteering idea was a "re-announcement" from 2008.
It also questioned how the real-terms ticket freeze would be paid for, saying fares had risen by 20% since 2010.


In other election news:

• Labour say they will protect neighbourhood policing in England and Wales and ensure that forces will not have to cut officer numbers.
• The Conservatives say their rail fare pledge will cost "in the low hundreds of millions" but Labour question whether it can be delivered
• The Lib Dems pledge a new scheme to help young working people borrow up to £2,000 from government to put towards a tenancy deposit
• Three opinion polls published on Thursday give Labour a lead, ranging from three to six points, while two others put the Conservatives ahead by one
• The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition is to launch its manifesto in London, promising to field more than 130 candidates
• A UKIP candidate is to be questioned over allegations he tried to influence voters by giving away sausage rolls at a party event.