TONY Abbott was advised by his staff to cut a controversial budget cut from a key speech to be delivered today, in favour of trying to convince the media to like him.

Under pressure today from the Government to reveal the Coalition's policy agenda, the Opposition leader was expected today to set out his agenda for the election year.



However, an email exchange within his inner circle, including his wife Margie, obtained by The Daily Telegraph online, has revealed that Mr Abbott appeared more concerned with making friends in the media and convincing them to think he was a "good bloke".



In an email entitled "First draft for NPC speech", Mr Abbott asked his "team" to provide feedback on a draft in which he outlines his desire to be liked.



He appeared to dismiss the need for policy content, claiming it contained enough to stay "on message" with the release a campaign booklet last Sunday which contained no new policy.



But then he suggests that the speech contained enough personal stories "that's personal for the commentariat to say…yes he is a good bloke, and yes he is more fair dinkum..".



The email was sent to his key staff including chief of staff Peta Credlin, media advisors Andrew Hirst and James Boyce, his wife Margie, party director Brian Loughnane and several other key staff.

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Mr Hirst wrote back to Mr Abbott claiming he liked the speech but wanted him to be more visionary.



"I'd like to see more of the 'vision thing'," Mr Hirst advised him.



Mr Hirst also strongly advised Mr Abbott to drop a reference to the axing of a major – but as yet unidentified – program.



"I think it's a really bad idea…" Mr Hirst said.



Mr Abbott addressed the nation today in a speech to the Press Club in Canberra at 12.30pm.



But the Prime Minister's announcement of an election date yesterday has forced his team into a major re-write of his speech.



His team was still putting the final touches to it this morning.