Leaders square up as election looms

Gordon Brown and David Cameron have stepped up their head-to-head election war as campaigning enters what is almost certainly its final six weeks.

With the polls still pointing to a hung parliament, the Prime Minister rallied Labour activists with the cry that they were fighting to win.

Tory leader Mr Cameron, making a similar address to his own supporters, admitted it would be a "close fight" but one that they had to win for the good of the country.

Last week's Budget appears to have made little impression on the state of the parties, with polls suggesting the Tories are still only between five and eight points clear.

That is not enough to assure Mr Cameron a Commons majority - and the keys to Number 10 - after the expected May 6 election.

Conservative hopes have been bolstered by the News of the World's decision to back the Tories. In its leader column, the paper said the country was "crying out for change".