Leaders take to the same stage

Conservative Party leader David Cameron speaks at the Methodist Central Hall in London
12 April 2012

Prime Minister Gordon Brown gave an impassioned speech calling for "justice, dignity, fairness" as the three party leaders took to the same stage for the last time before Thursday's General Election.

Mr Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg each won warm applause on Monday as they set out their stalls in separate speeches to a rally of religious and community groups in Westminster, but did not debate directly or speak with one another.

The Prime Minister's speech was briefly interrupted by a man running on to the stage with a banner reading "NuKiller Power No", but Mr Brown was cheered as he forged on with his address after the protester was led away.

Visibly buoyed by his appearance before the Citizens UK assembly at Methodist Central Hall, a smiling Mr Brown told them: "You have given me heart today and you have inspired me by the way you are dealing with the important causes of our time."

Earlier, Mr Cameron told the non-partisan meeting that a Conservative administration would work with civil society organisations to build what he calls "the Big Society". "Together we can change this country, and I can't wait to get started," he said.

Mr Cameron told the audience of around 2,500 community organisers that they would be "in power" if the Tories win office on Thursday.

"You'll be in power because the idea which drives you and that drives me - the idea of building a Big Society - will be marching down the corridors of Whitehall," said the Conservative leader. "So I want you to come with me and help change this country."

Mr Clegg told the assembly that this week's election provided a "unique opportunity for us to do things differently and usher in a new politics which you once again can be proud of".

Mr Clegg won applause for the Lib Dems' proposal to regularise the position of illegal immigrants who have been in the country for a decade or more - a key demand of the Citizens UK manifesto. "It's a moral stain on our conscience and we will put an end to it once and for all," he said.

The policy has been criticised by the other parties as an amnesty which would attract more migrants. But Mr Clegg said the plight of those caught up in the "chaos" of the immigration system needed to be dealt with on a one-off basis.

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