The prime minister has insisted that Labour will win the support of the British people in June's elections.

Clashing with Michael Howard in the Commons on Wednesday, Tony Blair continued his election push with an attack on Conservative spending plans.

The Tory leader had quizzed the prime minister on comments by transport minister Kim Howells that appeared to suggest that motoring costs are too low.

But Blair said the government was not "taxing people out of their cars".

"What we are doing is making a huge investment in public transport, in roads as well as rail, and that is important for the future of the country," he told MPs.

"What is more, it is only as a result of that additional investment that we are able to see the improvements that there are."

Howard said the transport minister had backed moves to make driving more expensive.

But Blair said: "We are making out commitment to transport clear by putting a substantial extra investment year on year into our transport system."

"It is the Conservative proposal to cut in real terms the transport budget of this country," he added.

Howard said the prime minister was "misrepresenting" Conservative policies.

"The prime minister won't say whether he thinks petrol is cheaper than it should be," added the Tory leader

"But the chancellor obviously thinks it is because in September he is going to put up petrol tax again.

"Isn't this just another example of Labour letting people down?" Howard asked

But in election mode, Blair defended Labour's policies.

The government would invest in extra police, training for young people, local government spending and help for pensioners, he said.

"What we will not do is reintroduce the Poll Tax, abolish the minimum wage, abolish the New Deal and cut public spending," Blair added.

"That's why the British people will support us."

The Labour leader later added that "we have a very good story to tell" at the next election.