Labour plans to strengthen pledge card

Labour is to re-work its pledge card after accusations that promises are too vague to connect with voters, the Evening Standard has learned.

The card will include more specific promises on tax, crime and pensions once the Budget and full manifesto have been revealed. Tony Blair will this week seek to build on the momentum of his keynote speech at Labour's spring conference yesterday by staging another cross-country tour to flesh out the six-point card.

Party strategists have been stung by accusations that the 2005 version of the card is bland and unspecific and insist that more detail will be added between now and polling day.

Ministers, particularly Chancellor-Gordon Brown, are aware there are gaps in the card.

With the grey vote increasingly decisive, pledges on "a decent pension for all" are expected to be included, as is a pledge not to raise income tax and other concrete pledges on extra cash for children.