Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced today that the General Election will be on May 6, and declared he would fight on the values instilled in him by his parents.

Mr Brown named the day in Downing Street after returning from Buckingham Palace, where he formally asked the Queen to grant a dissolution of Parliament.

Flanked by ranks of Cabinet ministers, he said the election date had been "probably the worst-kept secret of recent years".

He went on: "The Queen has kindly agreed to the dissolution of Parliament and a General Election will take place on May 6."

Mr Brown added: "I know where I come from and I will never forget the values... instilled in me by my parents."

Page 2: 10:56Mr Brown said he was seeking a "clear and straightforward mandate" from the country to carry on the work of economic recovery.

"Over the next few weeks I will go round the country - the length and breadth of our land - and I will take to the people a very straightforward and clear message - Britain is on the road to recovery and nothing we do should put that recovery at risk," he said.

Mr Brown was whisked to Buckingham Palace after a final Cabinet meeting this morning, arriving at 10.05am - 15 minutes after the Queen arrived from Windsor by helicopter. He left at 10.27am.

Earlier, David Cameron said the country would be facing a "big choice" at the ballot box.