Election 2015: David Cameron promises to close the North/South economic gap

A Tory government would close the economic gap between the North and South of England, David Cameron has promised today (1 May).

The prime minister made the pledge with just six days to go before the general election on 7 May.

The Conservative leader said that his administration would build a "truly national recovery" and make sure that the North grows as quickly as the rest of the country over the next parliament.

"My message to everyone in the North is simple: the Conservative Party is the party for you. Forget about Labour, they've let you down before and they'll let you down again," Cameron declared.

"We have the ideas, the passion, the desire and yes the track record to create something special here.

"What I'm pledging to here is nothing less than the most important commitment to the North for decades: we're going to close the North-South growth gap. We're going to build a Northern Powerhouse, with more jobs and new investment coming to the North."

Cameron also argued that a Conservative government would fulfil his pledge by investing in infrastructure, improving skills, giving more economic power to local communities and back science and technology centres in the North.

Elsewhere, Ed Miliband will promise to scrap the so called "bedroom tax" on the first day in government.

The Labour leader will say: "We're going to abolish the bedroom tax in every corner of the United Kingdom. This bedroom tax is indefensible. It's cruel and it doesn't even work.

"It has punished those most in need in our society, causing untold misery for half a million families across the UK, two thirds of which include a disabled person."

The latest poll from YouGov, which questioned more than 1,700 voters, put Labour one point over the Tories (35% vs 34), with Ukip on 12%, the Liberal Democrats on 8% and the Greens on 5%.