Childcare election battle begins

The government wants to offer extended school hours in England

The battle for parents' votes is being stepped up as Labour and the Tories go head to head over plans to give more choice and flexibility over childcare.

Tory leader Michael Howard says he would make it easier for grandparents to act as childminders and overhaul the childcare tax credit system.

Tony Blair is pledging to give all pre-school children access to childcare.

He said he also wanted to help parents with school-based childcare at the start and end of the working day.

Giving parents a choice about how they both work and bring up children is being seen as a key election battleground.

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