Michael Howard launches his campaign.
Photograph: PA
Michael Howard has just stolen a march on Tony Blair and made a short election speech in front of a crowd of adoring Tory party workers. He told them that the election represents a "choice" for the British people, who can either "reward Mr Blair for eight years of broken promises and vote for another five years of talk ... or vote Conservative, a party that is committed to action".
Listing the opposition's core policies, the Tory leader promised not to shy away from tackling controversial issues such as asylum and immigration (derided as playing the race card by opponents), and to continue to speak out against "travellers who stick two fingers up to the law". "We can't make Britain a better place if you sweep difficult issues under the carpet," he added.
