“During this campaign, I’ve been travelling all over Britain – visiting Oxford on Thursday. And one thing has been very clear: people want change. So the question is really: what kind of change? This is now a contest between the fake change offered by the Conservatives and the real, fair change offered by the Liberal Democrats.

“First, we’ll be straight with you about the public finances, and because of that we’ll be able to protect the services which really count. We won’t pretend we can make ends meet by cutting paperclips in Whitehall.

We’ve already identified £15bn of savings, like removing tax credits from higher earners, and we’ll use £10bn to reduce the deficit.

“Oxford Liberal Democrats have been fighting £45m of cuts to local health services because Labour haven’t cut unnecessary bureaucracy, like Strategic Health Authorities. Because we’ll cut things we don’t need, we’ll protect funding where it matters.

“And we’ll elect local health boards, so you can decide on healthcare in your area – not some bureaucrat in Whitehall.

“But there’s something else we can do to help people who are struggling: cut people’s taxes. So no one will pay income tax on the first £10,000 they earn, paid for by closing tax loopholes at the top.

“And we’ll help young people, phasing out tuition fees over six years – so people can go to university, whatever their bank balance.

“We’re also the only major party with plans for a new, greener economy.

“Right here in Oxford, BMW is field-testing all-electric cars – and we can do much more if we have the will. So in our first year we’ll invest £3.1bn, paid for in full by savings elsewhere, into a green jobs package. We’ll insulate schools and hospitals, bring empty homes into use and give people grants for greener homes. We’ll set serious targets for green energy, too.

“And we will clean up politics. It isn’t fair that so many people feel their vote won’t count; it isn’t right that so many MPs have jobs for life. We’ll give people the right to sack corrupt MPs – and we’ll end safe seats by bringing in fair votes.

“We all want something different. The question is whether we’ll get real change. Giving you power over your NHS, making taxes fair, building a green economy, decent politics: that’s real change. So if you like the sound of that, please vote for it – and choose the Liberal Democrats.”