In a widely anticipated move, the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, has announced the dissolution of Parliament and called a general election for June 7th.
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Mr Tony Blair.
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Before making his speech, Mr Blair visited a classroom at St Saviour's & St Olave's Church of England School in south east London, with Education Secretary Mr David Blunkett before going on to the main hall to give his address.
"Earlier today I saw the Queen at Buckingham Palace to ask for a dissolution of Parliament so that there can be a General Election on June 7th," Mr Blair told an audience of schoolchildren.
Mr Blair said he had a sense of humility, "because though we can take pride in many achievements since May 1997, we know we still have so much to do, so many challenges to overcome.
"And we know also that though we have striven for your trust at all times, there have been times of difficulty too."
The Prime Minister, who was earlier serenaded by the school choir, said he had a sense of hope "because in every area of our national life that we promised change, however much remains to do, there are also the foundations laid for a brighter future, real progress, beacons lit showing us a better way."
Apparently forgetting that few in his audience are eligible to vote, Mr Blair said: "Four years ago you gave us, New Labour, a majority larger than I or anyone else believed you would. That large majority was never a reason to do the job quickly. It added the responsibility to do it properly, for the long term.
"No government of change, in any country I can think of, has done it all in one programme, one budget, or one term.
"There is a lot done, there is a lot more to do and there is a lot at stake in this election, which offers a more fundamental choice between the two main parties than for many years.''
Mr Blair, speaking from a makeshift podium on the school stage and flanked by stained glass windows bearing the school motto `Heirs of the past... Makers of the future', went on to highlight his government's record on the economy saying: ``Nothing is possible without that basic hard won economic stability.''
"The work goes on and now I seek a mandate not simply for more of the same. I seek a fresh mandate for radical change,'' said Mr Blair.
Meanwhile the Tory party launched their campaign with Mr William Hague claiming that the Labour party was not a party looking for a second term, but a party looking for a second chance.
PA