Fight to win over working mothers

Tony Blair and Michael Howard unveiled lavish promises on childcare today as they went head-to-head to win the votes of working mothers.

The Prime Minister pledged that within five years every primary school will offer breakfast and after-school clubs, giving parents the option of up to 10 hours of cheap childcare every day.

Putting extra help for working families at the heart of Labour's election manifesto, he promised to make year-round affordable daycare available for all and free for the poorest.

In a separate speech, Mr Howard unleashed a blizzard of costly new ideas in an attempt to trump Labour on an issue its strategists regard as their own territory. He said the Conservatives were considering a major increase in maternity pay, from ?102 to ?150, plus tax relief on childcare spending.

The competing pledges were turning into an expensive race to win what election analysts believe to be a key group of swing voters, mothers aged from 20 to 45. Studies suggest women are more likely to switch support when they become mothers.

Mr Blair turned Labour's idea of using schools as day-care centres into a cast iron pledge. Every primary school will be legally bound to offer care from 8am, with healthy breakfasts and an after-school club.

Crucially, the 10-hour day would continue during school holidays. London will get extra funding from the Government to meet the higher costs of running the service.

In a speech at Milfields Primary School in Hackney, which already offers a similar package of care, Mr Blair will say: "I want to offer mums and dads more choice and flexibility with childcare."

Mr Howard was avoiding hard promises in his speech but instead offered to consult on a range of measures.

In an attempt to show the Tories sympathise with working parents, Mr Howard will say he sometimes felt like a "bad parent" because he worked such long hours.

"Balancing a career with your commitments as a parent has always been a juggling act."

Tory officials said the consultation would include raising maternity pay to ?150 and extending maternity leave from six months to a year.

Fathers might even be allowed to take up to a year off with their baby and claim the money instead of the mother.