国际英语新闻：Major British party leaders in last lap of election campaign

On campaign in Northern Ireland, Cameron courted the unionist parties, "This election presents a new opportunity to participate in the mainstream of British politics, in which people in Northern Ireland can participate at all levels of government in the UK -- from the council chamber right the way to the Cabinet table itself."

The prime minister and leader of the ruling Labour party Gordon Brown, took his doomed campaign to the north west of England and an election rally in the largely Labour city of Manchester.

The party faithful cheered as Brown delivered a message designed to pull Labour's traditional support back and to shore up wilting confidence in the final few hours of the campaign.

Earlier he had made a bid for Lib Dem voters when he told college students in the English Midlands, "There is an anti-Conservative majority in this country but most of the seats that are up here and in this area are a fight between the Labour party and the Conservatives. A vote for the Liberals may allow the Conservatives to be elected."

"Please make sure that you cast your vote in a way that we can secure the recovery, build our public services and make sure that we build also the jobs for the future in this country."