David Cameron launched the Conservative General Election manifesto, saying it offered an "ambitious and optimistic" plan for economic recovery and growth, a strong society and radical political reform.
Printed as a hardback pamphlet with a sober plain blue cover and launched at Battersea power station in south London, the manifesto is presented as an invitation to voters to "join the government of Britain".
The manifesto sets out a range of policies which Tories say will devolve power from politicians to people and from central government to local communities.
It confirms Mr Cameron's pledge to reverse Labour's planned National Insurance hike. And it rejects Labour and Liberal Democrat claims that the £6 billion move is unaffordable, insisting that all the Tory policies are "fully costed and fully funded".
But the manifesto does not match Labour's pledge on Monday not to raise the basic, higher or top rates of income tax over the course of the next Parliament.
There is no mention of VAT, which Labour and the Lib Dems claim will have to be increased to 20 per cent or more to pay for Tory tax cut and spending pledges.
Mr Cameron made a bold bid for traditionally Labour territory in saying that Tories will draw on the "collective strength" of the British people to transform the country.
The manifesto promised to introduce "a programme of public spending control that will deal with Labour's debt crisis", to "bring law and order to our financial markets", to "encourage social responsibility in all its forms" and to "make Britain the most family-friendly country in Europe".
