Don't desert us now

The two maintained their united front, urging Labour voters not to desert the party.

The Liberal Democrats highlighted their policies for pensioners, promising to lift one million out of means-testing.

Leader Charles Kennedy sought to re-assure floating voters that supporting his party would not let the Tories in "through the back door".

Mr Brown and Mr Blair campaigned together in Wales, after jointly unveiling a new Labour poster on the economy in London.

The Chancellor told supporters: "I believe there is a majority in this country for stability and for low mortgage rates. And let that not be a silent majority.

"Let it be, in this constituency and every constituency in this country, a voting majority."

"There is a majority in this country for full employment, the New Deal, the minimum wage. Let that not be a stay-at-home majority, let that be a voting majority for Labour.

"And there is a majority in this country for investing in our schools and hospitals, and for fairness to pensioners and hardworking families.

"Let that not be a sit-it-out majority, let that be a voting majority, a majority for Tony Blair to be our prime minister, not only on May 5 but on May 6 and afterwards, too."

Mr Blair, in his speech, stressed the vital importance of Labour getting its supporters to the polls next Thursday.

He said: "I think this next six days is about telling people how fundamental the choice is.

"Only one of two things is going to happen when people wake up on May 6. Either I will be back in No 10 Downing Street, Gordon in No 11 - or we will have Michael Howard in No 10 and Oliver Letwin in No 11.

"If people believe that it is not sensible to put the Conservative Party in, then they are going to have to come and vote to make sure it does not happen."

Mr Howard, also campaigning in Wales, told a news conference: "We're in the last few days now of the campaign in this General Election and it's time to focus on the wider choices people face in this campaign.

"Conservatives are taking a stand on the issues that matter."

He stressed campaign themes of controlled immigration, safer streets, school discipline and help for pensioners.

Having branded Mr Blair a liar over Iraq, Mr Howard added: "Character is an important issue for the British people but now they want to hear about something better - that is our approach to you."

Mr Blair this morning warned that if one in ten Labour supporters voted Lib Dem there could be a Conservative Government on May 6.

But on a campaign visit to Leeds, Mr Kennedy said: "There is no chance whatsoever of the Conservatives getting in by the back, the side or any other door because they have lost this election and people know they have lost this election.

"What Labour are worried about, as we have seen with the by-elections this parliament, is even if we are in third place, never mind challenging for second place, if people vote Liberal Democrat, they can elect Liberal Democrats and I think that is what millions of people want to do."

Mr Kennedy added: "After eight years in power with three-figure majorities and quite a benign economic backdrop, if the best you can turn round to the country and say is: 'Well, you must not vote for the Liberal Democrats for fear of something worse,' that just shows you what thin ice Tony Blair is skating on."

Despite the parties' determination to switch back to the domestic agenda, the row over Iraq continued with news of a possible legal challenge to the Government.

Rose Gentle, whose soldier son Gordon died in Iraq, revealed her intention to take action after Mr Blair published advice from Attorney General Lord Goldsmith warning that ministers and troops could end up in court over the war.

In his 13-page submission to the Prime Minister, Lord Goldsmith said that given the scale of opposition to the war, there might be legal challenges.

He added: "We cannot be certain they would not succeed."

Mrs Gentle, who is contesting the East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow seat against Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram, said: "My son was sent to die in a war that the Attorney General viewed as illegal without a second United Nations resolution.

"Tony Blair and the Labour Government sent Gordon and 86 other British troops to die in Iraq when he knew that it was an illegal war.

"I will now be taking legal action against the British Government for the death of my son in an illegal war."

Pte Gentle, 19, from the Pollok area of Glasgow, was serving with the Royal Highland Fusiliers when he was killed in a roadside blast in Basra on June 28 last year.