The election campaign goes into overdrive today as the party leaders criss-cross the country in the final 24 hours before the polls open.

William Hague, whose party saw an apparent revival in an opinion poll today, was preparing to attack Tony Blair's record on sleaze and public services.

He will claim that the forces of Conservatism are on the march, warning Britain against electing Labour for a second term.

On a visit to Smithfield market on Wednesday morning, Hague said: "Labour hasn't engaged in the real issues. They haven't wanted a debate. Tony Blair has kept calling for an honest debate, but he hasn't wanted to debate with me in this election."

Hague claimed that Tony Blair was asking for a second chance. "They are the people who have failed on all the promises they made four years ago and now make the same promises again," he said.

Tony Blair kicked off the final day of campaigning with interviews on GMTV and the BBC, before heading for a press conference in Nottingham.

Throughout the course of the days campaigning Blair will visit Scotland, England and Wales, where he will call on voters to back "economic stability" and put "schools and hospitals first".

Speaking on GMTV, Blair said the election remained "an open race".

Blair will finish the last day of the campaign in his County Durham constituency where aides say he will watch England's World Cup qualifying match against Greece.

He is expected to spend tomorrow putting the finishing touches to a post-election reshuffle.

Charles Kennedy kicked-off the day with his morning press conference where he focused on education and pensions.

He was then set to embark on a whistlestop tour of the country, visiting key marginals in Weston-Super-Mare, Cheadle, and Edinburgh.

Speaking today, he said: "If you want more investment in education and pensions, you have to vote Liberal Democrat. Only the Liberal Democrats are committed to investing properly in our young people and giving our older people the dignity they deserve."