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Cameron Gets Personal In Miliband Attack

David Cameron has launched a strongly worded attack on Labour leader Ed Miliband, accusing him of having the "same old condescending, bossy, interfering, 'we know best' attitude of the Hampstead socialist".

In a speech that marks the start of a bitter six-week election campaign, the Prime Minister admitted that some people had to told him not to let things get personal.

"But when it comes to who's prime minister, the personal is national," he told delegates at the Conservative's Spring forum in Manchester, before claiming that the opposition leader would not hack it on the world stage.

"The leader who thinks leadership is climbing aboard the latest bandwagon - he could be the one taking the make or break calls in the middle of the night," he said.

Mr Cameron said Labour was no longer the party of previous leaders such as Clement Attlee, Harold Wilson or John Smith.

"This isn't the party of working people," he said. "It's the same old party of hypocrisy, the party of two faces, the party of two Jags and now, yes, the party of two kitchens," referring to the fact that Mr Miliband chose to be photographed in a smaller, second kitchen in his home.

Mr Cameron called Labour a "bunch of hypocritical, holier-than-thou sneering socialists".

A senior figure in the Labour Party hit back, telling Sky News Mr Cameron was resorting to personal snipes because he was running scared of Mr Miliband.

The source claimed the Conservatives were rattled by the Labour leader's performance in Thursday's election programme.

He argued that, although the snap polls had Mr Cameron ahead in the clash, more in-depth figures showed that Mr Miliband had convinced undecided voters.

Saturday's speech from Mr Cameron also appeared to try to broaden Conservative appeal.

There was only one mention of immigration and nothing on Europe - which led one heckler who has been a Tory member since 1979 to shout at the Prime Minister.

Instead, Mr Cameron focused on his hope that the Tories will be seen as the party of the "hardworking low paid, once more".

He said it was Conservatives fighting for a "northern powerhouse"- specifically mentioning Labour heartlands from Manchester itself to Sunderland and Dundee.

Mr Cameron also said he was committed to delivering a "truly seven-day NHS" for England - with access to consultants and diagnostic tests in hospitals on the weekend.

"For years it's been too hard to access the NHS out of hours. But illness doesn't respect working hours," he said.

"Heart attacks, major accidents, babies - these things don't just come from nine to five."

Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said the Conservatives had promised this before.

He said: "Not only has he failed to deliver on that promise, he made it harder for people to get a GP appointment from Monday to Friday."

The British Medical Association (BMA) has said there is a lack of funding to fulfil the promise.

The Tories say the money will come from £2bn already pledged for the NHS, but there have been warnings of a £8bn annual black hole in funding.