ED Miliband yesterday unveiled Labour's General Election pledge card and promised the party would stand up to powerful interests beloved by the Tories.
However, addressing a pre-election rally in Birmingham, the Labour leader failed to mention one of his party's biggest problems - Scotland and the threat from the SNP.
Instead, he focused on the Conservatives, accused them of leaving families worse off.
He said: "The Tories say they want an election about leadership. Well, be my guest, because Britain does face a choice about the type of leadership it wants.
"It is not leadership to say 'We're all in it together', while cutting taxes for millionaires and imposing the cruel, vindictive, unfair bedroom tax.
"It is not leadership to be strong in the face of the weak but always weak in the face of the strong.
"And it is certainly not leadership to claim to be a strong leader but to refuse to defend your record in front of the British people in a TV election debate.
"Let me tell you what leadership is: It is about having strong, consistent ideas to change the country. It is about standing up for those ideas, through thick and thin, even in the face of powerful forces. And it is about standing up for people from every walk of life, not just those with the access, the power and the wealth."
Labour's pledge card promises are: A strong economic foundation; higher living standards for working families; an NHS with the time to care; controls on immigration; a country where the next generation can do better than the last.
Miliband insisted no manifesto commitment would need extra borrowing.
With the LibDems holding their pre-election conference in Liverpool yesterday, Nick Clegg announced Wednesday's Budget would contain £1.25bn for mental health services in England.
The five-year package will help more than 100,000 young people suffering from self-harm, depression and suicidal thoughts, and boost support for pregnant women and new mothers.
Visiting the city's Clock View Hospital, Clegg said the funding would "revolutionise" children's mental health care and end the "second-class" mental health service for new mothers.
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