Ed Miliband unveils Labour's five key election pledges

Ed Miliband has promised higher living standards for working families as he set out Labour's five key pledges.

Speaking at a pre-election rally in Birmingham, the Labour leader set out pledges, including a rise in the living wage and extending free child care.

Mr Miliband, who has already promised more immigration controls and a "rescue plan" for the NHS, said the changes were fundamental for economic recovery.

Tory chairman Grant Shapps said Labour would bring in higher taxes and debt.

'Clear choice'

He addressed about 1,500 party activists at the rally, which was held with 54 days to go until the general election on 7 May.

Labour party members were told: "Today we set out how we can replace a failed, tired government for the few with a government that is truly for all the people of Britain."

Mr Miliband said the choice at the forthcoming general election was "not simply between parties and leaders, but different visions of our country".

He added: "We say that a country where only the rich and powerful are better off is a country that is failing."

Harriet Harman, Ed Balls and Rachel Reeves were among those at the rally at the ICC in Birmingham

He said: "Today I urge the British people to choose optimism, to choose a country for the many, to choose the good of all, to choose hope - and to recognise that when working people succeed, nothing can stop us as a country."

He promised to improve living standards for working families through a series of policies such as an energy price freeze, a ban on "exploitative" zero-hour contracts and providing families with 25 hours of free childcare a week.

Mr Miliband also promised 20,000 more nurses, 8,000 more doctors, 5,000 more care workers and 3,000 more midwives, all paid for through a mansion tax.

He added: "The rescue of the NHS will be the proudest achievement of the next Labour government."

Labour's pledge card detailed by Mr Miliband on Saturday sets out five promises to voters:

• A strong economic foundation

• Higher living standards for working families

• An NHS with the time to care

• Controls on immigration

• A country where the next generation can do better than the last

The pledge card was a cornerstone of Labour's 1997 general election campaign under Tony Blair, with the party's five key promises condensed into a pocket-sized format.

Analysis

By Chris Mason, BBC political correspondent

This was a pre-election rally heavy on rhetoric and slogans rather than new policy announcements.

The repeated aim was to draw what Ed Miliband saw as the contrast between a future Labour government and a Conservative one.

But the electoral elephant in the Scottish political room was not mentioned once by the Labour leader: the SNP.

He will hope his message will remind Scottish voters only he or David Cameron can be prime minister.

But Conservative supporters gathered outside wearing Alex Salmond facemasks wanted to remind English voters of what they see as the danger of an Ed Miliband government propped up by the SNP.

Mr Miliband insisted that none of Labour's manifesto commitments will need additional borrowing.

His speech is separate from the party's manifesto launch, which comes next month.

Mr Miliband stepped up his campaigning earlier this week by carrying out a BBC television interview at home with his wife Justine.

But there was a media furore after it emerged from the filming that he has two kitchens in his £2m house in north London.

The revelation that the Labour leader has two kitchens in his London home prompted much press speculation

The story has led to critics branding him "Two Kitchens Ed" - a play on the "Two Jags" nickname given to Labour's John Prescott over his apparent fondness for official luxury cars when he was deputy prime minister.

Responding to the speech, Conservative Party chairman Mr Shapps said the choice for voters at the election would be one of "competence or chaos".

"The real choice at this election is between the stability and strong leadership of David Cameron and the Conservatives working to a long-term economic plan, securing a better future for Britain.

"Or Ed Miliband carried into Downing Street in the pocket of Alex Salmond and the SNP - meaning more borrowing, more debt, higher taxes and weaker defences," he said.