The FT analyses the differences between Labour and the Tories' public service plans, despite the similarity of their language.

The Conservatives yesterday pledged to scrap all centrally imposed hospital targets while later this week the government will promise to give patients the option of where they have a waiting list operations performed.

But the battle over who can best offer "choice" is set to escalate this week with set piece speeches from both Tony Blair and Michael Howard.

In a new pamphlet local government minister Nick Raynsford argues that providing choice does require more investment to create capacity, but that long run savings will be made through competitive pressures.

Meanwhile leading education sector figures have expressed fears that parent power will come at the expense of standards across state schools.