TONY Blair says a Southampton scheme aimed at giving children the best start in life highlights why Labour should be trusted to lead Britain into the future.

Launching the party's election manifesto, the Prime Minister said the city's Sure Start programmes showed how Labour had successfully offered opportunities to deprived communities.

In a foreword to the 112-page blueprint, Mr Blair insisted Labour had "improved the lives of hard-working families" during its second term in power.

He said: "Britain could be better still. I know the change is possible. Not just because I have studied the statistics, but because I have seen it with my own eyes, across the length and breadth of the UK.

"I've been to communities in Southampton where the Sure Start programme is helping overcome disadvantage and seen for myself the remarkable revival of our great cities."

Sure Start, the government initiative for children from birth to four-years-old, is up and running in Weston, Redbridge and Millbrook.

The scheme draws together improved education, health, family support and other services. It provides advice on children's development, training for parents, a health service, antenatal and baby clinic as well as play sessions.

Elsewhere in the manifesto, there was bad news for commuters pinning their hopes on a commitment to build the South Hampshire Rapid Transit Scheme, shelved after costs spiralled to £270m.

It said only: "We will support light-rail improvements where they represent value for money and are part of integrated transport solutions."

The manifesto promised not to raise the basic or top rates of income tax during the next Parliament and vowed not to extend VAT to food, children's clothes, books, newspapers and public transport fares.

It gave no commitment on National Insurance contributions - an omission bound to be seized on by the Tories as proof Labour is intending to raise taxes.

Labour has pledged full employment, universal childcare for three to 14-year-olds and education or apprenticeship opportunities for all school-leavers by 2010.

Labour are committed to providing a neighbourhood policing team for every community by 2006 and promise no patient will wait longer than 18 weeks for hospital treatment by 2008. Other pledges include:

Raising the minimum wage to rise to £5.35 from October 2006.

Increasing home ownership by two million.

Rebuilding or refurbishing every secondary school.

Reforming council tax and capping local authorities who introduce "excessive rises".

FOR MORE NEWS ON THE 2005 GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN SEE PAGES 8 & 9 OF TODAY'S DAILY ECHO.