Tony Blair and Gordon Brown have sought to move the election focus on from the war in Iraq, unveiling a new set of posters on their economic record.

The prime minister issued his starkest warning yet to disillusioned Labour voters thinking of switching to the Lib Dems.

He told them it would take only one in 10 Labour voters jumping ship to the third party to let in a Conservative government.

Blair said: "Today we're explaining to people that it's only if they come out and support us that a strong economy with the investment in health and education and law and order continues.

"There is a fundamental choice. On May 6 people will either wake up to a Conservative government with Michael Howard and Oliver Letwin, or a Labour government with myself and Gordon. It is forward or back, it's simple as that."

'Silent majority'

Gordon Brown also weighed in with an emphasis on stability.

"The central issue in this election is who you want to run the economy," the chancellor said.

"Since 1997, inflation has halved from the Tory average. Interest rates are half the Tory average, mortgage rates are half the Tory average and unemployment is half the Tory average.

"In the next parliament there could be a million more homeowners, a million new childcare places and a million new people benefiting from the New Deal and getting jobs. A million new children will be taken out of poverty.

"That is what is possible in the next parliament with economic stability and growth under a Labour government.

"There is a majority in this country for our policies of stability, help for hard-working families and investment in the hospitals and schools.

"Let's make this not a silent majority but a voting majority for the Labour Party."