It's May 5 - but Blair warns against apathy

The Prime Minister e-mailed tens of thousands of party supporters within moments of his Downing Street announcement yesterday, appealing for their help to canvass voters and distribute leaflets.

The tone of the message - "If you're an old hand, we need you now more than ever" - reflected growing Labour fears that stay-at-home voters could result in a shock Tory triumph.

One poll yesterday put the Conservatives five points ahead among voters who were "absolutely certain" to vote. They made up 55 per cent of respondents - not far shy of the 59 per cent turnout at the 2001 election.

Even polls suggesting a three-point Labour lead are a far cry from the 20-point lead Mr Blair enjoyed at the start of that last campaign.

The jitters were heightened by warnings that the rescue plan for British car maker MG Rover - in the crucial West Midlands electoral battleground - was on the brink of collapse.

The fate of 6,000 Longbridge jobs and thousands in supply industries, in at least seven marginal Labour seats, hinge on agreement on a £100m Government loan. Last night, one source close to talks with Rover's proposed Chinese partners said the deal was still in trouble.

Mr Howard played the underdog as he launched his campaign, urging voters to wipe the smirk off the face of Mr Blair who was already "secretly grinning about the prospect of his third victory".

And Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy, on a visit to Lib Dem-run Newcastle, insisted only his party could challenge Labour in its "urban heartlands", where the Tories had been almost wiped out.

Mr Blair's long-predicted announcement that he would go to the country more than a year early was made late yesterday morning, after a visit to Buckingham Palace to ask the Queen to dissolve Parliament.

That will not happen until Monday, which gives Labour three days to try to strike agreement with the opposition parties on which of 16 Bills can be rushed onto the statute book.

Ministers have already confirmed that they will drop plans to outlaw the incitement of religious hatred and water down plans for "super-casinos" to allow only one to go ahead.

The leaders will go head-to-head for the last time before the election in the House of Commons today, but campaigning will stall on Friday for the Pope's funeral, followed by the Royal Wedding on Saturday.

Mr Blair attempted to strike a humble note yesterday as he said the election presented a "big choice", adding: "The British people are the boss and they are the ones that will make it."

Insisting he had a "driving mission" for a third term, the Prime Minister said: "I believe in a country where hard work and merit, not privilege or background, determine success.

"A country where Britain's families get the modern health care, education, child care services that they need, and on a fair and equal basis.

"A country where people who play by the rules get on and those that don't, don't."

Mr Blair left for Portland after his announcement, choosing Labour's most marginal seat of South Dorset, which has a majority of only 153 over the Tories, to launch his party's campaign.

Mr Howard, who visited London, Manchester and Birmingham yesterday, urged voters not to "reward Mr Blair for eight years of broken promises and vote for another five years of talk".

He added: "There is a better way. By rewarding people who do the right thing, who play by the rules.

"We will build a brighter, better future for our country.

"We will reward hard-working Britons who do the right thing by giving them value for money and lower taxes.

"We will restore discipline in our classrooms by giving head teachers control over their schools."

Mr Kennedy, on a five-city tour, said: "People feel badly let down by Labour.

"They're never going to regain the trust of the British people. Frankly, they don't deserve to.

"When you break your promises over tax increases and imposing student top-up fees, people don't forget."

* A father whose son was killed in Iraq will launch an attack against Tony Blair today when he begins his own election campaign.

Reg Keys, founder member of Military Families Against the War, will begin his campaign to contest the Sedgefield constituency in the General Election at a Press conference in Ferryhill, County Durham.

The former ambulance paramedic from Bala, Wales, who is standing as an independent, will also meet voters outside the Tesco supermarket, in Newton Aycliffe.

Mr Keys' son, Lance Corporal Tom Keys, 20, was one of six Red Caps killed by an Iraqi mob as they manned a small police station on June 24, 2003.

On the campaign trail - Page 3

Business - Page 11

Comment - Page 12