BBC News considers how the government has fared in sticking to its pledges.

1997

Tony Blair insisted that education would be the central concern of a Labour government.

Labour view their pledges as a popular election strategy.

Labour said it would cut class sizes to 30 or under for five, six and seven-year-olds by using money from the assisted places scheme.

Some 10% of Key Stage One children were in class sizes of 30 or more in 1999/2000, compared with 1.7% in 2001/02, according to the Office of National Statistics.

But the Conservatives say there are one million children playing truant and a teacher is attacked every seven minutes.

Fast-track punishment for persistent young offenders would be sought by halving the time from arrest to sentencing.

The government essentially succeeded in achieving this aim, according to figures for magistrates' courts.

In 1999 the average time was 96 days, and four years later this had fallen to an average of 58 days, and subsequently 57 days in October 2004.

NHS waiting lists would be cut by treating an extra 100,000 patients as a first step by releasing �100m saved from NHS red tape, said Labour.

The waiting list figure was 1,160,000 in May 1997. Official NHS figures revealed that waiting lists in England stood at 1,033,000 on 31 May 2001.

But the Lib Dems say that patients often have to wait up to a year for diagnosis. They say these "hidden waiting lists" are "longer than ever".

The party said that it would get 250,000 under-25s off benefit and into work by using money from a windfall levy on privatised utilities.

In November 2000 the prime minister announced that 254,520 young people had moved off benefit and found work through the New Deal.

The pledge relating to the economy said that Labour would set tough rules for government spending and borrowing, ensure low inflation and strengthen the economy.

From tuition fees to the war in Iraq, Labour has failed to be honest and straightforward with the public Matthew Taylor Lib Dem party chairman

Gordon Brown instituted his so-called 'Golden Rule' to borrow only to invest during the first year of the 1997 Government.

The economy was buoyant between 1997 and 2001, but economic indicators suggest that the improvement began under the Conservative government.

And the Conservatives say the government has raised taxes 66 times - the average family paying �5,000 extra under Labour.

2001

Four years after its first set of pledges, the Labour party set about making a new raft of assurances.

It aimed to make mortgages as low as possible, in addition to low inflation and sound public finances.

Broadly speaking, inflation and mortgage rates have been lower under Labour, although that has more to do with granting independence to the Bank of England rather than any specific Labour policy.

Public finances have deteriorated since the last election.

The Labour party pledged 10,000 extra teachers and higher standards in secondary schools.

Tony Blair has had almost eight years in power, and now, just before a general election, he claims that he has the answers to the problems we all face Liam Fox Conservative party chairman

In England, teacher numbers increased from 429,760 in 2001 to 442,120 in 2004 - a rise of 12,360 - according to figures from the 2004 edition of 'Statistics of Education: School Workforce in England'.

And Labour's pledge to raise standards in secondary schools seems to have been achieved.

The percentage of students attaining five A* to C grades rose from 51.6% in the 2001 academic year to 53.6% in 2003.

But the Lib Dems point to Labour's "broken promises" over higher education, particularly the introduction of university top-up fees.

Labour said it would provide 20,000 extra nurses and 10,000 extra doctors in a reformed NHS.

In 2001, the nurse headcount was 350,381, compared with 396,000 in March 2004 - an increase of 45,619 - according to the Department of Health.

And the number of doctors rose by 9, 645 over the same period.

In 2001 the doctor headcount was 100,319, a figure which had risen to 109,964, by 2003.

But the Conservatives say 5,000 people die from hospital acquired infections every year.

In a bid to raise police numbers to their highest ever level, Labour pledged 6,000 extra recruits.

In the 12 months to 31 March 2002, the 43 police forces of England and Wales recruited 10,215 officers.

This was 38% more than in the previous year, and was "the highest annual total since at least 1975", according to Police Service Strength 10/02 England and Wales.

Yet the Conservatives say gun crime has doubled under Labour and over one million violent crimes were committed last year.

Pensioners' winter fuel payment would be retained, while the minimum wage would rise to �4.20, according to Labour's pledge.

In accordance with its assurances, the winter fuel payment was retained, and is currently �200 for single pensioners, or those on Pension Credit, aged 60-79, according to the Department for Work and Pensions.

And the minimum wage did rise.

In 2001 it was set at �3.70. The main rate increased to �4.10 in October 2001 and then to �4.20 in 2002.

It later rose to �4.85 in October 2004, says the Department for Trade and Industry.

But the Lib Dems say the government has not abolished means testing for pensioners and has failed to provide a fair system of long-term care for the elderly.