Conservative leader Michael Howard launched his party's General Election manifesto, insisting it was "time for change" after the "let-down" of eight years of Labour rule.

Mr Howard said he now led a "changed Conservative Party" and pledged to "battle relentlessly" to sort out the problems facing modern Britain.

Speaking at his party's campaign headquarters in central London, Mr Howard outlined the manifesto's key pledges on cleaner hospitals, more police, school discipline, controlled immigration, lower taxes and accountability.

He said a vote for Labour and Tony Blair would be a reward for eight years of "broken promises" and urged the electorate not to vote for "five more years of failure".

"You don't have to settle for that," Mr Howard said. "Use your vote to tell Mr Blair that it's just not good enough.

"Use your vote to take a stand. It's time for change. It's time for action."

Mr Howard began the manifesto launch by saying he had fought many battles in his life and that now he was going to "battle for Britain".

He admitted the manifesto did not have his picture on the cover, but said that instead it had "the simple longings of the British people - people who feel forgotten and ignored".

Mr Howard said people longed for hospitals that were clean and for more police on the streets "to enforce respect, discipline and the law".

He also said people were longing to see controlled immigration after "eight years of chaos" under Mr Blair. He said people were longing for a government that gave them value for money and lower taxes.