Chancellor Gordon Brown today put childcare at the heart of Labour's general election manifesto.

In an article for The Guardian, Mr Brown argued that childcare should be prioritised in the party's programme for a third term in office.

He said ensuring British children have the "best start in life" would be a legacy to match the creation of the NHS in 1948.

The provision of "generous tax credits", planned new SureStart children's centres and flexible working opportunities for parents would help achieve that goal, he said.

Mr Brown wrote: "As our manifesto and our programme for the coming decade should make clear, Labour's ambition is not simply tackling idleness but delivering full employment; not just attacking ignorance, disease and squalor but promoting lifelong education, good health and sustainable communities. Instead of just freedom from want, our aim is the freedom of every child and every adult to fulfil their potential."

He added: "In this decade what can best illustrate New Labour's ambition for a Britain of aspiration and achievement is a manifesto that, instead of the previous lottery of children's services and the patchwork of childcare, could make it our priority that not just some, but all British children have the best start in life."

The Chancellor said there could be no hesitation in breaking from the post-1945 days of the Government acting as the provider for children's services.

The new way forward for under-fives care and childcare was a mixed economy with private and voluntary sectors working alongside local authorities and community groups, he said.

Mr Brown said generous child tax credits and help from employers would help close the gap between available childcare places and affordable places.

He said the current 600 SureStart children's centres would mushroom to 3,500 by 2010 and would not only offer care but "tackle problems associated with poor infant health, early learning difficulties and deprivation".

Consultations with parents who want the choice to stay at home longer with their children would also take place, he added.