LIBERAL Democrat leader Charles Kennedy was today due to be the first of the three main party leaders to visit Hampshire as the general election campaign began in earnest.

Mr Kennedy was to be joined by sitting Romsey MP Sandra Gidley at Hampshire Cricket's Rose Bowl ground in West End as the party launched its mini-manifesto for families.

Mrs Gidley said: "Labour and the Conservatives have fallen into the trap of not recognising that families come in all shapes and sizes and include more than two generations.

"Liberal Democrats look after the family from the cradle to the grave. We would offer new mothers the option of receiving a maternity income guarantee equivalent to the minimum wage of £170 per week for the first six months after the birth of their first child.

"Liberal Democrats also believe that women should not be penalised for choosing to spend some time with their families and our proposals for a 'Citizens pension' mean that women will receive a pension in their own right.

"For those looking after an elderly relative, our proposals of free personal care for the elderly would ease the burden on families in later life."

THE GREEN Party candidate for Southampton Test John Spottiswoode has issued a challenge to his opponents in the general election race to a public debate over the health service.

Mr Spottiswoode claims that other parties all favour the use of the private sector in the NHS - something the Greens oppose as they claim it leads to more expensive care.

Mr Spottiswoode criticised Tory plans for subsidising NHS patients to use the private sector because he claimed it would lead to wealthier patients jumping the queue.

He also criticised New Labour and the Liberal Democrats for supporting Private Finance Initiatives (PFIs) saying that it would be bound to be more expensive and inefficient as private companies must pay a higher rate of interest to borrow money and make profits for shareholders.

He said: "The Greens say that a major cause of ill-health is inequality - and would reduce it by increasing income tax on high earners to 60 per cent of earnings over £100,000 and 50 per cent from those on £50,000 to £100,000, using the revenue to pay for the NHS."