Mr Howard helps a child paint at a nursery in Stockwell, south London

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.

Labour tend to believe it's all or nothing. You're either a stay at home mum or a career woman Mr Howard Mr Howard's speech in full Parents give their views

In a speech at Tory party headquarters in London, Mr Howard said a range of policies addressing varying needs was required.

"Mothers don't want to be told by government that the best thing to do is race back to work as soon as their baby's born.

"Nor do they want to stay at home indefinitely producing more and more children. They want to decide.

"Labour tend to believe it's all or nothing. You're either a stay at home mum or a career woman."

He said he would look at how statutory maternity pay, currently �102.80 a week for a limit of six months, could be increased and extended - but gave no figures.

He also said the Tories were looking at reforming the current childcare tax credit system.

HAVE YOUR SAY This is just a gimmick to get stay at home parents into work and paying taxes Adrian, UK Send us your comments

"We are looking at ways in which the childcare element of the of the working tax credit could be paid automatically in cash to parents who qualify for it.

"Parents will then be able to choose how to spend it - they will be in the driving seat," Mr Howard said.

He also said it was "daft" that grandparents who may have already brought up several children were not made to "feel welcome" as child minders.

Instead of having to retrain, they should be offered fast track courses to bring them up to date with childcare skills.

He also said he would consult on making childcare costs tax deductible.

Tony Blair serves breakfast to a child at a school in Hackney, east London

Ahead of his speech on Thursday afternoon, Mr Blair told GMTV he would be "building on what's already there".

He wanted to end the days of "latchkey kids" by making sure that between the hours of 0800 and 1800 universal affordable childcare for children between the age of five and 14 was available.

"The school day doesn't necessarily fit in with parents' working day.

"If both parents are working it's a real stress and struggle for them - if they're having to start work when their children aren't at school - if they're not finishing work until after the school day ends."

Some of the pressure would be taken off parents by the government providing childcare facilities in the community that could be trusted and allowed children to flourish, Mr Blair said.

Under his plans, councils will get a new legal duty to provide enough childcare.

'Empty promise'

He also said Labour planned to extend nursery education for three and four-year-olds and to extend maternity pay.

I want an end to latch-key kids Tony Blair Full text of Mr Blair's speech

In his speech, the prime minister gave more details of proposals expected in the government's 10-year childcare strategy next month.

Mr Blair said childcare had improved considerably since 1997 and achieved the biggest extension of nursery education since the Second World War.

The Liberal Democrats have said they would scrap Labour's Child Trust Fund plans to give better funding to early years education.

Education spokesman Phil Willis said the government's plans for "dawn 'til dusk childcare" was an "empty promise" until key details like how the plans would impact on teachers' pay were set out.