Скачать или смотреть UK: LONDON: FINAL DAY OF CAMPAIGNING

(30 Apr 1997) English/Nat

On the eve of Britain's general election, Prime Minister John Major has played on the country's strong economy in a bid to get voters to return his Conservative Party to power.

But Major appears to be facing a tough battle - the opposition Labour Party is widely expected to win the election - opinion polls on Wednesday were predicting a 20 per cent lead.

But Labour leader Tony Blair is refusing to take victory for granted and has promised to carry on campaigning until polls close on Thursday night.

On the last day of campaigning before Britain's general election, Labour Leader Tony Blair said he couldn't be complacent about his widely predicted victory.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I certainly accept as I've said all the way through, the election's not over until it's over. That's the reason why we're keeping up the fight for every vote in every single corner of the country between now and when poles close tomorrow night."
SUPER CAPTION: Tony Blair, British Labour Party leader

Blair said his party - which he often describes as "New" Labour - has got rid of the disunity which dogged it in the past.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Now that we've got the Labour Party as the disciplined fighting force in British politics and the Tories (Conservatives) fall apart, people accuse us of being authoritarian. It is ridiculous, we have a unified position because we've won an argument within our own party for New Labour, and New Labour now is the party that is able to offer strength of leadership and unity of government to the British people now I think we should celebrate that."
SUPER CAPTION: Tony Blair, British Labour Party leader

While Blair refused to be complacent and set out on a final gruelling day of campaigning, Conservative leader John Major remained defiant in the face of the opinion polls.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
Q: "Nice to see you all smiling as you came in, but you've lost it haven't you?
A: "No - next question."
SUPER CAPTION: British Prime Minister John Major

In what many see as a last-ditch attempt to sway voters away from Labour, Major went all out to stress how his government has got the economy on the right track for prosperity.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Don't fall for it, don't be taken in by that marketing scam. One cross in the wrong place on the ballot paper tomorrow could wreck all that we have achieved over such a long period. Tomorrow will be Britain's day of destiny, low inflation too good to give up, low mortgages - too good to give up, falling unemployment - too good to give up, our economic success - too good to give up, our United Kingdom - too good to give up. Don't take the risk in one careless moment, don't throw our success away, it's too good to give up."
SUPER CAPTION: British Prime Minister John Major

But with Wednesday's opinion polls giving Labour a 20 per cent lead, the Conservatives have a tough fight on their hands convincing the British electorate to give them a fourth term in power.

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