The General Election will be held on May 6.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown confirmed the election date while addressing the media outside 10 Downing Street today, describing it as the "least well kept secret of recent years".

He said Britain was on the road to economic recovery and appealed to voters to give him the mandate to continue Labour's work during a record fourth term in power.

Tory party leader David Cameron said: "We're fighting this election for the Great Ignored - young, old, rich, poor, black, white, gay, straight.

"They start businesses, operate factories, teach our children, clean the streets, grow our food and keep us healthy - keep us safe. They work hard, pay their taxes, obey the law.

"They're good, decent people - they're the people of Britain and they just want a reason to believe that anything is still possible in our country.

 

"This election is about giving them that reason, giving them that hope. That's the Conservatives mission - that's my mission - for the next 30 days and I can't wait to get started."