Public services need more money than Labour is promising to spend, the Liberal Democrats have claimed.

During the party's morning press conference on Monday, Charles Kennedy challenged Tony Blair to spend more on public services and pensions. He used the occasion to launch a new press advert hitting directly back at Labour's "reminder" note.

He claimed that the Lib Dems would spend more than Labour and recruit 27,500 nurses, 4600 more doctors and employ 5000 extra teachers.

Kennedy showed new confidence in his belief that the party can pick up disaffected voters from both Labour and the Conservatives and used the occasion to hammer home the message that his party can deliver on public services.

"As we enter the final few days of the campaign, I have an urgent reminder for the prime minister. Schools, hospitals, pensions and the police need more resources. We'll provide more doctors and nurses to cut waiting times. More teachers, to cut class sizes. More police to cut crime. Plus free personal care and bigger pensions," Kennedy said.

He took a direct swipe at Labour, saying: "The British people aren't stupid. They know that you can't get something for nothing. As the campaign draws to a close it is clear that this approach offers the best alternative to the Labour programme."

Kennedy said that Labour had failed to deliver on its 1997 promise to save public services.

"If you take the words that the prime minister has been using over the last few days, he is saying that a vote for the Labour party is a vote for continuing the public spending that is in the pipeline. A vote for our party is a vote for spending that goes beyond that," he said.