The Prime Minister was met by a small, noisy but good natured demonstration when he arrived in the marginal seat of Hove yesterday.

Tories shouted: "Welcome to Hove - a suburb ruined by Labour." Protesters from the Brighton-based vegetarian charity Viva shouted: "Labour lies, animals die."

Another demonstrator from the Friends of Brighton Library held-up a placard saying "Save Our Library from PFI Disease", referring to the proposed library in the city centre to be built using a public private partnership.

Just how much of the public sector private companies will be allowed to take on is a question that has dogged Tony Blair in his fight for a second term.

But he stayed on message and headed towards the Hangleton library.

One of the first people he met on the steps was first time voter Cally Reed, 21, from Downland Court, Hove, and her daughters Sophie and Lois.

She said she had got a job and a home of her own since 1997, both due to Labour policies.

She said: "In just four years my life has turned round."

Inside, Tony and Cherie Blair sat with children and mums who have joined the library's Bookstart scheme, aimed at encouraging young readers. Through the window behind them, Tory demonstrators waved placards.

Ivor Caplin, defending Hove for Labour, highlighted some of the party's flagship policies for children and families - among them the working families' tax credit, children's tax credit and increased child benefits.

He said: "These are important changes we have made to mums and children, which are widely recognised.

"People are concerned about Conservatives plans to abolish working families' tax credit and children's' tax credit, which would be severely detrimental to most of their incomes."

After the library visit it was off to Kemp Town, Labour's other Brighton and Hove marginal seat, to meet more families at Saltdean Lido.

Tony Blair shook hands and chatted to Labour supporters as the open top bus hired specially for the occasion made its way through Hove and along the seafront - winning more cheers than boos from passers-by.

Speaking to The Argus, Mr Blair said Labour had done more to combat poverty than the Conservatives managed in 18 years and defended his manifesto pledge to halve child poverty in ten years.

He said: "Already we have taken a million children out of poverty through things like the working families' tax credit, increases to child benefit, the minimum wage, the sure start programme, extra maternity pay and extra maternity grants - so you know we are getting there on that.

"We have got a quarter of the way now, we are going to just carry on moving forward.

"And of course the vital thing is the people who are poor, they need a job, and that is why programmes like the new deal are so important because the more people who are in work the less poverty there is."

Mr Blair is vulnerable to the charge that Britain was now more unequal than it was when he arrived at Downing Street.

Income inequality was greater in 1999/2000 than before Labour came to power and incomes across the social spectrum have grown slowly, particularly in the lowest fifth.

The number of poor families has hardly changed since 1997. Disposable income under Labour has grown by 2.3 per cent, compared to 2.6 per cent achieved by Margaret Thatcher's Government, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

Mr Blair said: "It is simply not true. What is true is we haven't penalised people who are successful or wealthy and neither should we. I am interested in levelling up not levelling down."

He also rejected the claim made by the library demonstrator about the private finance initiative (PFI).

He said: "If you can do it with a public private partnership and do it better and on time and on budget, then do it. And I think people would prefer to have the library."

Fears about what private finance will mean for the NHS are more difficult for Mr Blair to fend-off.

The independent health think-tank, the Kings Fund, says all hospitals so far funded through PFI have fewer beds.

Mr Blair said PFI meant you could build whatever you want, injecting private sector discipline into, particularly, the building part of the project and getting a "good return for the public sector".

He rebuffed claims a two-tier NHS was being created or it marked an end to free health care.

He said: "I think the important thing is that any services that are delivered within the NHS, even if it is within the private sector, is an NHS service free at the point of use.

"There is no question of charging people for it. We don't want to force people into the private sector and pay as the Conservatives do."

The Labour roadshow then arrived at Saltdean Lido, met by more supporters and the city's other Labour candidates, David Lepper and Des Turner.

In a short speech Mr Blair said: "June 7 is an important day, a big choice and we want to put schools and hospitals first and give a good deal to Britain's families, which they never had under the Tories."

Inside there were cheers as Tory demonstrators over the road waved their 'Keep the Pound' signs.