Election '97: Tories rallied for the 'battle of Britain'

John Major last night made an emotional appeal to the voters not to turn back from the path laid out by Margaret Thatcher 18 years ago and to reject the "siren voices" of Tony Blair and Labour.

He staked his final election appeal at a rally at the London Arena in Docklands on a pledge to halt European integration.

He was cheered by Tory supporters waving Union Jacks when he said he would tell the Inter-Governmental Conference in Amsterdam next month: "Thus far and no further".

He said he did not believe Britain could send someone as "naive" as Mr Blair to negotiate for us in Europe, yet that was the choice tomorrow.

"We have no desire to launch ourselves now, or ever, across uncharted waters to an unknown destiny.

"I must therefore say to our partners in Europe, if you wish to travel further down this federal road of which you speak, then so be it. It is your choice. But my duty is to speak for Britain.

"So when I see the plans for further integration in Europe I say: 'We've come far enough already - thus far and no further.' "

In what could clearly be his last keynote speech as Prime Minister, Mr Major departed from his text to recall the words he used when he first took office about his desire to create a classless society at ease with itself.

"That is the dream. That is what I came into politics to build. The possibility of achieving that dream is opening up if only now, at this midnight hour, we don't listen to the siren voices of change."

He said: "I say to the British people: 'don't turn back on 1 May. Come with us and complete the journey that Margaret Thatcher began in the barren wilderness of the Winter of Discontent 18 years ago'."

Mr Major, who is due to end his campaign today by visiting marginals in London and the home counties, repeated the main themes of the past six weeks in his final rallying call: that Tony Blair's Labour party could not be trusted; that Labour would break up the United Kingdom; that Mr Blair would sign up to a federal Europe; and that electing a Labour government would throw away the economic rewards which Mr Major had been hoping for throughout his period of office.

He said he had come into politics to deliver the "one nation" policies, including improvements to education and the health service, which were now within reach because the economy was about to deliver the results. Describing polling day as "a day of destiny" for Britain, he said it was "literally a battle for Britain".

"If we lose, Britain will change for ever; it will change for the worse. That is why I'm going out there to fight right up to the last second of the last minute to keep our economy booming, to stand firm in Europe and to keep our United Kingdom one."

Attacking Labour for its "bossiness, fussiness and pushiness", and its "smug we-know-better tone", Mr Major said he was glad he led a free party "for all its warts".